Automatic full screen display

• US 10,459,616 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2016
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Helm, Sean L., Pierfelice, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shrewsbury, Nathan K
• Application Number:
  US15/099,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20170300216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/111 for controlling multiple devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1876 according to vehicle situations
• 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 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3664 Details of the user input interface, e.g. buttons, knobs or sliders, including those provided on a touch screen; remote controllers; input using gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0613 The adjustment depending on the type of the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 : Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 : Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

An on-board vehicle navigation system (NAV system) may provide a variety of information and may be integrated with a variety of on-board vehicle systems or features. The NAV system may have the display set to show information about a single system in a full screen mode or have the display divided to show information about multiple systems simultaneously (mixed display mode). The NAV system may allow the user to select an automatic switching from a mixed display mode to a full display mode upon the occurrence of predetermined system conditions. The full display mode may be temporary and automatically return back to the previous display mode or may require a user acknowledgement prior to returning back to the previous display mode. The switch to the full display mode allows more information to be communicated to the user.

Claims

1. An on-board navigation system for a vehicle comprising:

a first subsystem and at least a second subsystem in the vehicle, each of the first and second subsystem supplying information about an operational condition;

a display operable to display visual information about an operational condition of the first and second subsystems, the display having a full screen mode and a mixed display mode, wherein the full screen mode corresponds to displaying operational information related to only one of the first and second subsystems on a majority portion of the display and the mixed display mode corresponds to displaying operational information about at least the first and second subsystems in discrete areas of the display; and

a controller configured to monitor a predetermined condition associated with the first subsystem and, when the predetermined condition is met, configured to cause the display to automatically switch to the full screen mode to display information specific to the predetermined condition,

wherein an electronic signal provided in response to a user selection selects which predetermined conditions associated with operation of an infotainment system cause the display to automatically switch to the full screen mode.

2. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include a new song.

3. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include a new station.

4. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include a complexity of an upcoming maneuver.

5. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include a number of maneuvers within a predetermined period associated with an upcoming maneuver.

6. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include a geofence and the display maintains a current display mode when within the geofence regardless of the other predetermined conditions and any associated maneuver.

7. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include a time of a voice prompt associated with an upcoming maneuver.

8. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined conditions include at least one of a severe weather condition occurring in proximity to a current location and a location along a route guidance.

9. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein after a predetermine period the display returns to its previous display mode after automatically switching to the full screen mode.

10. The on-board navigation system of claim 1, wherein the display remains in the full screen mode until a user acknowledgement is received.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for displaying information within an on-board navigation system for a vehicle,

the on-board navigation system including:

a first subsystem and at least a second subsystem, each of the first and second subsystem supplying information about an operational condition,

a display operable to display visual information about an operational condition of the first and second subsystems, the display having a full screen mode and a mixed display mode, wherein the full screen mode corresponds to displaying operational information related to only one of the first and second subsystems on a majority portion of the display and the mixed display mode corresponds to displaying operational information about at least the first and second subsystems in discrete areas of the display; and

the non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to monitor a predetermined condition associated with the first subsystem and,

when the predetermined condition is met, cause the display to automatically switch to the full screen mode to display information specific to the predetermined condition,

wherein an electronic signal provided in response to a user selection selects which predetermined conditions associated with operation of an infotainment system cause the display to automatically switch to the full screen mode.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the predetermined conditions include at least one of a new song, a new station, and a new source.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the predetermined conditions include a complexity of an upcoming maneuver, a number of maneuvers within a predetermined period associated with an upcoming maneuver, a time of day relative to a current location, a timing of a voice prompt, and a geofence,

wherein the display maintains a current display mode when within the geofence regardless of the other predetermined conditions and any associated maneuver.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the predetermined conditions include at least one of a severe weather condition occurring in proximity to a current location and a location along a route guidance.

15. A method for displaying information within an on-board navigation system for a vehicle,

the on-board navigation system including:

a first subsystem and at least a second subsystem, each of the first and second subsystem supplying information about an operational condition,

a display operable to display visual information about an operational condition of the first and second subsystems, the display having a full screen mode and a mixed display mode, wherein the full screen mode corresponds to displaying operational information related to only one of the first and second subsystems on a majority portion of the display and the mixed display mode corresponds to displaying operational information about at least the first and second subsystems in discrete areas of the display; and

the method comprising;

monitoring predetermined conditions associated with a first subsystem;

ascertaining if a user has authorized an automatic

switch to a full screen mode for the monitored predetermined conditions;

causing a display to automatically switch to the full screen mode to display

information specific to the predetermined condition based on the predetermined condition and an authorization;

ascertaining if a full screen mode event is concluded; and

returning from the full screen mode to a previous display mode after the full screen mode event is concluded.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the predetermined conditions associated with the first subsystem includes monitoring at least one of a song change, a station change and a source change.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the predetermined conditions associated with the first subsystem includes monitoring at least one of a complexity of an upcoming maneuver, a number of maneuvers within a predetermined period associated with an upcoming maneuver, a time of day relative to a current location, and a timing of a voice prompt,

and

wherein ascertaining if the full screen mode is authorized includes ascertaining if a current location is within a geofence and maintaining a current display mode when within the geofence regardless of the other predetermined conditions associated with the first subsystem and any associated maneuver.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein monitoring the predetermined conditions associated with the first subsystem includes monitoring at least one of a severe weather condition occurring in proximity to a current location and a location along a route guidance.