Method and device for displaying a measured value in a vehicle

• US 6,721,634 B1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hauler, Peter, Walther, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/110,829
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• 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

Abstract

A method and a device for providing for the adapted display of measured values in a freely programmable instrument cluster, in which the display is adaptively adjusted as a function of the driving and operating data of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a measured value in a freely programmable instrument cluster in a vehicle, the instrument cluster being controlled by a processing unit, the method comprising:

determining a maximum scale value of a scale for the measured value as a function of at least one further value, the at least one further value being one of a stored value and an ascertained value from driving and operating data, the scale further having a variable minimum scale value;

displaying the measured value on the scale with one of a pointer depicted in a display and an indicator bar depicted in an inscribed bar indicator; and

determining a value for the variable minimum scale value, in addition to the maximum scale value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving and operating data include an oil pressure, a coolant temperature, a functioning of the generator, and an outside temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a vehicular speed is selected as the measured value.

4. A method for displaying a measured value in a freely programmable instrument cluster in a vehicle, the instrument cluster being controlled by a processing unit, the method comprising:

determining a maximum scale value of a scale for the measured value as a function of at least one further value, the at least one further value being one of a stored value and an ascertained value from driving and operating data;

displaying the measured value on the scale with one of a pointer depicted in a display and an indicator bar depicted in an inscribed bar indicator; and

displaying the scale at least partially in a warning color if at least one of special action and special attention is required by a driver for the ascertained driving and operating data.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying the scale enlarged if at least one of special action and special attention is required by a driver for the ascertained driving and operating data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein a vehicular speed is selected as the measured value.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining a position of the vehicle with a navigation device;

determining a road classification from the position of the vehicle; and

determining a maximally allowed speed as a function of the road classification.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

detecting a traffic sign with a camera; and

determining a maximally allowed speed as a function of a maximum speed indicated on the traffic sign.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

transmitting a maximally allowed speed to the vehicle via a radio link.

10. A method for displaying a measured value in a freely programmable instrument cluster in a vehicle, the instrument cluster being controlled by a processing unit, the method comprising:

determining a maximum scale value of a scale for the measured value as a function of at least one further value, the at least one further value being one of a stored value and an ascertained value from driving and operating data; and

displaying the measured value on the scale with one of a pointer depicted in a display and an indicator bar depicted in an inscribed bar indicator;

wherein the maximum scale value is determined so that it exceeds a maximally allowed measured value by at least a first percentage value and at most by a second percentage value, the second percentage value being greater than the first percentage value.

11. A method for displaying a measured value in a freely instrument cluster in a vehicle, the instrument cluster being controlled by a processing unit, the method comprising:

determining a maximum scale value of a scale for the measured value as a function of at least one further value, the at least one further value being one of a stored value and an ascertained value from driving and operating data, wherein the vehicle speed is selected as the measured value;

displaying the measured value on the scale with one of a pointer depicted in a display and an indicator depicted in an inscribed bar indicator; and

inputting a maximally allowed speed of the vehicle manually via an input unit, the maximally allowed speed being used as the maximum scale value of the scale.