Monitoring Device For Monitoring A Display Device

• US 20100309312A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Hennig, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles

Abstract

A monitoring device for monitoring a display device, displaying target values. The values being predetermined by a target value specification device. The monitoring device has an image acquisition device, an analysis device, and a comparison device. The image acquisition device generates a recording of said display. The analysis device generates an analysis of the recording. The comparison device compares the analysis and the target value. A signal can be generated if the analysis and the target value are different.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A monitoring device configured to monitor a display device that displays desired values that are prescribed by a desired value stipulation device by a display, comprising:

an image acquisition device configured to generate a recording of the display;

an evaluation device configured to generate an evaluation value of the recording;

a comparison device configured to compare the evaluation value and the desired value; and

a generator configured to generate a signal at least when the evaluation value and the desired value are different.

10. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a mirror arranged in a beam path between the display and the image acquisition device.

11. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the mirror is semi-transparent.

12. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a further mirror arranged in the beam path between the display and the image acquisition device.

13. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display is arranged in a combination instrument of a motor vehicle.

14. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the desired value stipulation device prescribes a gear position of a motor vehicle to be displayed.

15. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the monitoring device is designed to monitor a plurality of desired values to be displayed.

16. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the display and a device that supplies the desired values is blocked based at least in part on the signal.

17. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a further mirror arranged in the beam path between the display and the image acquisition device.

18. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the desired value stipulation device prescribes a gear position of a motor vehicle to be displayed.

19. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a printed circuit board on which the display and the image acquisition device are arranged.

20. The monitoring device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a printed circuit board on which the display and the image acquisition device are arranged.

21. A method for operating a monitoring device comprising:

providing, to a drive device, a desired value to be displayed by a desired value stipulation device;

converting the desired value to be displayed into corresponding drive signals for a display device and a comparison device;

optically acquiring by an image acquisition device a content of the display device;

providing the optically acquired image to an evaluation device;

evaluating the optically acquired image by the evaluation device;

comparing the evaluated optically acquired image with the desired value to be displayed; and

outputting a signal when the displayed value and the desired value to be displayed do not match.

22. The method for operating a monitoring device according to claim 21, wherein the desired value is a gear position of a motor vehicle.

23. The method for operating a monitoring device according to claim 21, further comprising inhibiting the display based at least in part on the output signal.

24. The method for operating a monitoring device according to claim 22, further comprising inhibiting the display based at least in part on the output signal.

25. The method for operating a monitoring device according to claim 21, wherein the desired value is a speed of a motor vehicle.