Multidimensional vehicle health graphics

• US 7,702,437 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions LLC (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Gilbert, Harry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kim T
• Application Number:
  US11/955,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/31, 701 33- 36, 382/141
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/00 Testing of vehicles testing fluid tightness G01M3/00; testing elastic properties of bodies or chassis, e.g. torsion-testing, G01M5/00; testing alignment of vehicle headlight devices G01M11/06; testing of engines G01M15/00

Abstract

A method of displaying a vehicle'"'"'s information, includes measuring a set values of the vehicle, comparing the set of measured values with a set of related normal values of a vehicle of the same type as the vehicle being measured, and operating within a preset normal range, and displaying on a video image a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the normal set of values of the same type of vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a vehicle'"'"'s information, comprising:

measuring via a computing device a set of diagnostic and state values of the vehicle;

comparing via a processor of the computing device the set of measured values with a set of related normal values, the normal values being within a preset range for operation of the vehicle;

displaying on a display a video image having a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the related normal set of values, with the related set of normal values being predetermined and displayed at a certain region of the video image, and the set of measured values being displayed on the video image in relation to the certain region of the normal values;

indicating varying levels of relative health of the vehicle according the placement of an icon relative to areas of the graphical depiction of the measured set of values; and

wherein the video image is a plurality of concentric circles, with measured values of the vehicle being located closer to center as the measured values are closer to the values of the related normal set of values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the icon includes a value indicating the measured set of values of the health of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the video image further comprises the graphical depiction of the values having a dependency on a location within the display to indicate the comparison to the normal set of values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video image is sectioned into a plurality of concentric circles with the measured values being located according to the comparison to the normal set of values, and the concentric circles being sectioned further into a plurality of subdivisions, with each subdivision representing an additional dependency on a predetermined variable.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising of coloring or shading the regions of the video image according to a deviation from the normal set of values.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising of dividing different regions of the video image according to a set range of deviations from the normal set of values.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising altering the video image according to the display of the measured values as compared to the related normal set of values.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the video image includes a plurality of icons representing particular measured variables of the vehicle and measured values being displayed adjacent to the respective icons, and the icons and measured values being moved around a concentric circle at a same distance from a center of the concentric circle in order to not overlap the displayed image of the icon and related measured value.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of the method comprise a set of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable media.

10. An apparatus for displaying a vehicle'"'"'s measured information, comprising:

a communication interface connecting to the vehicle and accommodating measuring of the vehicle'"'"'s information through a plurality of sensors;

a memory connected to the communication interface, storing a software for displaying of the vehicle'"'"'s measured information;

a processor connected to the memory and controlling the software, the software including instructions for measuring a set values of the vehicle, and comparing the set of measured values with a set of related normal values of a vehicle of the same type as the vehicle being measured, and operating within a preset normal range;

a display displaying a video image having a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the normal set of values of the same type of vehicle;

an icon configured to indicate varying levels of relative health of the vehicle and positioned on the graphical depiction of the measured set values; and

wherein the video image is a plurality of concentric circles, with measured values of the vehicle being located closer to center as the measured values are closer to values of the related normal set of values.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the icon includes a value indicating the measured set of values of the health of the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the video image further comprises a video depiction of the values having a dependency on a location within the display to indicate the comparison to the normal set of values.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the video image is sectioned into a plurality of concentric circles with the measured values being located according to the comparison to the normal set of values, and the concentric circles being sectioned further into a plurality of subdivisions, with each subdivisions representing an additional dependency on a predetermined variable.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising of coloring or shading different regions of video image according to a deviation from the normal set of values.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising of dividing different regions of the video image according to a set range of deviations from the normal set of values.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising altering the video image according to the display of the measured values as compared to the related normal set of values.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the video image includes a plurality of icons representing particular measured variables of the vehicle and measured values being displayed adjacent to the respective icons, and the icons and measured values being moved around a concentric circle at a same distance from a center of the concentric circle in order to not overlap the displayed image of the icon and related measured value.

18. A system for displaying a vehicle'"'"'s information, comprising:

a means for measuring a set values of the vehicle;

a means for comparing the set of measured values with a set of related normal values of a vehicle of the same type as the vehicle being measured, and operating within a preset normal range;

a means for displaying a video image having a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the normal set of values of the same type of vehicle;

an icon configured to indicate varying levels of relative health of the vehicle and positioned on the graphical depiction of the measured set values; and

wherein the video image is a plurality of concentric circles, with measured values of the vehicle being located closer to center as the measured values are closer to value of the related normal set of values.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the icon includes a value indicating the measured set of values of health of the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the video image further comprises a video depiction of the values having a dependency on a location within the means for displaying to indicate the comparison to the normal set of values.