Display device for motor vehicle and information display method in the device

• US 4,787,039 A
• Filed: 05/30/1986
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Murata, Hajime
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US06/869,050
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424, 364/444, 364/565, 364/433, 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 340/716, 340/722, 340/753, 340/754, 340/756
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/10 for dashboards

Abstract

A display device and a method for displaying information in motor vehicles utilizes a single display for both bar graph information and emergency messages using alphanumeric characters and symbols. A dot matrix display device is arranged in close proximity to a scale indicator. A controller for the display includes means for judging whether emergency information such as disconnection of power or oil level or an incomplete closing of a door is to be displayed by symbol display or whether information such as engine speed is to be displayed by graph display. The controller then selects the appropriate display mode and displays the information in the proper format.

Claims

1. An information display method in display device for motor vehicles with dot matrix display unit, comprising the steps of:

(i) judging whether or not there is input emergency display information;

(ii) interrupting the ordinary information display if there is input emergency display information;

(iii) judging whether the emergency information is to be symbol displayed or graph displayed; and

(iv) processing the emergency display information for symbol display or for graph display, based on the result of the judgement of whether the emergency information is to be symbol displayed or graph displayed, and outputting the result of the processing to the dot matrix display unit.

2. An information display method in display device for motor vehicles with dot matrix display unit, comprising the steps of:

(i) judging whether or not there is input emergency display information;

(ii) interrupting the ordinary information display if there is input emergency display information;

(iii) processing the emergency display information for symbol display and outputting the result of the processing to the dot matrix display unit.

3. A display device for motor vehicles with dot matrix display unit, comprising:

(i) means for judging whether or not there is input emergency display information;

(ii) means for interrupting the ordinary information display if there is input emergency display information; and

(iii) means for processing the emergency display information for symbol display and outputting the result of the processing to the dot matrix display unit.