Determination and indication of included system features

• US 9,626,089 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
• Inventors: Wippler, Erik Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMAS, ASHISH
• Application Number:
  US14/599,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20160210031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/151 Instrument output devices for configurable output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/151 Reconfigurable output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/20 Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

Arrangements related to the selective indication of features included on a system are described. A plurality of graphical indicator elements can be provided. Each of the feature graphical indicators can represent a respective feature of a predefined set of features that are potentially included on the system. It can be determined whether one or more features of the predefined set of features are included on the system. In response to determining that one or more features of the predefined set of features are included on the system, the feature graphical indicators corresponding to the detected one or more features can be selectively displayed.

Claims

1. A method of selectively indicating the features included on a system, the method comprising:

analyzing, using one or more sensors, the system for all features in a predefined set of a plurality of features that are potentially included on the system;

determining whether one or more features of the predefined set of a plurality of features are included on the system; and

responsive to determining that one or more features of the predefined set of a plurality of features are included on the system, causing, using a controller, one or more feature graphical indicators corresponding to the one or more features determined to be included on the system to be selectively displayed, the feature graphical indicators being provided on a physical substrate, each of the feature graphical indicators on the physical substrate representing a respective one of the features of the predefined set of a plurality of features that are potentially included on the system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing one or more feature graphical indicators corresponding to the one or more features determined to be included on the system to be selectively displayed includes causing a light source to be selectively activated to illuminate the one or more feature graphical indicators corresponding to the one or more features determined to be included on the system.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

responsive to determining that one or more features of the predefined set of a plurality of features are not included on the system, feature graphical indicators corresponding to the one or more features that are determined to be not included on the system are not caused to be displayed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether one or more features of the predefined set of a plurality of features are included on the system includes determining whether one or more features of the predefined set of a plurality of features are at least one of available and enabled on the system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, responsive to determining that a previously included feature of the predefined set of features is no longer included on the system, discontinuing the display of the feature graphical indicator corresponding to the detected previously included feature.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the system is an audio system, and wherein at least one of the predefined set of features is a satellite radio system.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

providing an obscuring panel having an inner side and an outer side, wherein the feature graphical indicators are located on the inner side of the obscuring panel.

8. A method of selectively indicating the features included on a system, a plurality of feature graphical indicators being provided on a substrate, each of the feature graphical indicators representing a respective feature of a predefined set of features that are potentially included on the system the method comprising:

determining whether one or more features of the predefined set of features are at least one of available and enabled on the system;

responsive to determining that a feature of the predefined set of features is available and enabled on the system, selectively displaying a feature graphical indicator corresponding to the feature that is determined to be available and enabled on the system by causing a first light source associated with the feature to be activated with a first light energy output characteristic; and

responsive to determining that a feature of the predefined set of features is available and but not enabled on the system, selectively displaying a feature graphical indicator corresponding to the feature that is determined to be available but not enabled on the system by causing a second light source associated with the feature to be activated with a second light energy output characteristic, the second light energy output characteristic being different from the first light energy output characteristic.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first light energy output characteristic is wavelength of light energy emitted from the first light source, and wherein the second light energy output characteristic is wavelength of light energy emitted from the second light source, whereby the color of the light energy emitted from the first light source is different from the color of the light energy emitted from the second light source.

10. A system comprising:

an obscuring panel having an inner side and an outer side;

one or more light sources located on the inner side of the obscuring panel;

a plurality of feature graphical indicators provided on a physical substrate, the plurality of feature graphical indicators being located on the inner side of the obscuring panel between the one or more light sources and the obscuring panel, each of the feature graphical indicators corresponding to a respective feature that is potentially included on the system;

a feature detection system including one or more sensors, the feature detection system being configured to analyze an electronic system for all features in a predefined set of a plurality of features that are potentially included on the electronic system; and

a controller operatively connected to the one or more light sources and the feature detection system, the controller being configured to;

responsive to determining that one or more features of the predefined set of a plurality of features are included on the electronic system, causing the feature graphical indicators corresponding to the one or more features determined to be included on the electronic system to be selectively displayed.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the physical substrate is the inner side of the obscuring panel.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the physical substrate is a separate element from the obscuring panel.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the separate element is attached to the obscuring panel.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of feature graphical indicators are logos.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more light sources is a plurality of light sources, wherein at least one light source is provided for each of the feature graphical indicators.

16. The system of claim 15, further including a plurality of light conduits, each of the light conduits being operatively positioned between a respective one or more of the plurality of light sources and a respective one of the feature graphical indicators.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is operatively connected to adjust a light energy output characteristic of the one or more light sources.

18. The system of claim 10, further including a light conduit operatively positioned between the one or more light sources and the plurality of feature graphical indicators.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the electronic system is an audio system, and wherein at least one of the predefined set of a plurality of features is a satellite radio system.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the obscuring panel provides a smoky appearance.

21. A system for a vehicle comprising:

an electronic device included onboard the vehicle;

an obscuring panel having an inner side and an outer side, the obscuring panel being separate from the electronic device;

one or more light sources;

a substrate upon which a plurality of feature graphical indicators are provided, the plurality of feature graphical indicators being located on the inner side of the obscuring panel between the one or more light sources and the obscuring panel, the feature graphical indicators corresponding to a respective feature that is potentially included on at least one of the electronic device; and

a controller operatively connected to the electronic device and the one or more light sources, the controller being configured to;

determine whether one or more features of a predefined set of features are included on at least one of the electronic device or the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that one or more features of the predefined set of features are included on at least one of the electronic device or the vehicle, causing one or more feature graphical indicators corresponding to the included one or more features of the predefined set of features that are determined to be included on at least one of the electronic device or the vehicle to be displayed by activating one or more of the light sources associated with the one or more feature graphical indicators corresponding to the included one or more features of the predefined set of features that are determined to be included on at least one of the electronic device or the vehicle.