Systems and Methods for Presenting Information to an Automobile Driver

• US 20110137519A1
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Christie, Cameron
• Granted Patent: US 9,145,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/193 for improving awareness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• 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 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• 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: 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: B60K 37/02 Arrangement of instruments arrangement of lighting devices for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying ambient information in a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a dial including a first dial hand, an ambient light source with a variable light intensity and a variable light color, a first data source and a second data source, a mode selector for selecting between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, and a controller coupled to the mode selector, the ambient light source, and the first dial hand. The controller is configured to, in the first mode of operation, control the position of the first dial hand according to the first data source; and, in the second mode of operation, control at least one of the variable light intensity or the variable light color of the ambient light source according to the second data source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying ambient information in a vehicle comprising:

a dial including a first dial hand;

an ambient light source with a variable light intensity and a variable light color;

a first data source and a second data source;

a mode selector for selecting between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation; and

a controller coupled to the mode selector, the ambient light source, and the first dial hand, the controller configured to;

in the first mode of operation, control the position of the first dial hand according to the first data source; and

in the second mode of operation, control at least one of the variable light intensity or the variable light color of the ambient light source according to the second data source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein in the second mode of operation the controller controls the position of the first dial hand according to the second data source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the dial further includes a second dial hand; and

the controller is further configured to;

in the first mode of operation, control the second dial hand according to the first data source; and

in the second mode of operation, control the second dial hand according to the second data source.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a microprocessor and a memory.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a layer of translucent material forming a face of the dial, wherein:

the ambient light source includes a multicolor light emitting diode positioned behind the layer of translucent material; and

the first dial hand is positioned in front of the layer of translucent material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second data source includes a radio receiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the controller receives a plurality of data values and at least one configuration parameter from the second data source.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein in the second mode of operation, the controller is configured to control the variable light intensity and the variable light color based at least in part on the configuration parameter and at least one of the plurality of data values received from the second data source.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one configuration parameter may be modified by a user via a web browser.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first data source includes a real-time clock providing an hour and a minute, and, in the first mode of operation, the controller controls the first dial hand according to the hour of the real-time clock and the controller controls the second dial hand according to the minute of the real-time clock.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the controller is further configured to:

in the first mode of operation, set the variable light intensity to a default intensity and set the variable light color of the ambient light source to a default color;

in the second mode of operation, control the position of the first dial hand according to the first data source.

12. A method of displaying ambient information in a vehicle comprising:

receiving a first user input selecting a first mode of operation;

setting a variable light intensity of an ambient light source incorporated into a dial to a default intensity and a variable light color of the ambient light source to a default color;

receiving a first data value from a first data source;

positioning a first dial hand on the dial according to the first data value received from the first data source;

receiving a second user input selecting a second mode of operation;

receiving data from a second data source; and

setting the variable light intensity and the variable light color according to the second data source.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the first mode of operation a controller controls the position of a first dial hand according to the first data source.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein in the second mode of operation a controller controls the position of a first dial hand according to the second data source.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second data source includes a radio receiver.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving a plurality of data values and at least one configuration parameter from the second data source.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of setting the variable light intensity and the variable light color according to second data source further comprises setting the variable light color based at least in part on the at least one configuration parameter and at least one of the plurality of data values received from the second data source.

18. A controller for displaying ambient information in an instrument component that includes a dial including a first dial hand, an ambient light source with a variable light intensity and a variable light color, a first data source, and a second data source, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a first user input selecting the first mode of operation;

set the variable light intensity of an ambient light source incorporated into a dial to a default intensity and the variable light color of the ambient light source to a default color;

receive a first data value from the first data source;

control the position of a first dial hand on the dial according to the first data value received from the first data source;

receive a second user input selecting the second mode of operation;

receive data from the second data source; and

set the variable light intensity and the variable light color according to the second data source.

19. The controller of claim 18, further configured to receive a plurality of data values and at least one configuration parameter from the second data source.

20. The controller of claim 19, wherein setting the variable light intensity and the variable light color according to second data source further comprises setting the variable light color based at least in part on the at least one configuration parameter and at least one of the plurality of data values received from the second data source.