Vehicle information display and method

• US 8,536,996 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2012
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Watson, David, Watson, Angela L., Merchant, Sohel, Sandvig, Craig, Hernandez, Ivette, Bishop, Steven, Erdogan, Engin, Sendil, Altay Jun Wakui, Stage, Susanne, Skaff, Ryan J., Hartl, Derek, Belloli, James, Greenberg, Jeffrey, Blommer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/483,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20120235806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/462
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An information display system for a vehicle includes an information display for displaying a plurality of selectable information display levels according to an information display hierarchy. Each selectable information display level may include one or more visual gauges for conveying vehicle information. Each successive selectable information display level may include additional and/or alternative vehicle information when compared to the preceding selectable information display level. The information display system further includes a controller configured to display the plurality of selectable information display levels according to an at least one driver input. In this way, the information display can display a particular selectable information display level best suited to a driver'"'"'s individual preferences or understanding of the vehicle'"'"'s operations.

Claims

1. A vehicle display method comprising:

receiving driver input corresponding to a selected content level of vehicle information associated with one of a plurality of selectable information display levels; and

displaying the vehicle information associated with one of the plurality of selectable information display levels corresponding to the selected content level, the plurality of selectable information display levels including at least a first selectable information display level and a second selectable information display level, the first selectable information display level and the second selectable information display level including at least one visual gauge having at least a first content level state and a second content level state, the second content level state including additional vehicle content associated with the at least one visual gauge than the first content level state, wherein the first selectable information display level is associated with the at least one visual gauge in the first content level state and the second selectable information display level is associated with the at least one visual gauge in the second content level state.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first selectable information display level includes at least a first visual gauge and the second selectable information display level includes the first visual gauge and at least a second visual gauge.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first visual gauge is the at least one visual gauge having at least the first content level state and the second content level state.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each selectable information display level displays includes at least battery state of charge gauge.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying the battery state of charge gauge in a first content level state when the selected content level corresponds to the first selectable information display level, wherein the first content level state includes at least a battery state of charge indicator.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying the battery state of charge gauge in a second content level state when the selected content level corresponds to the second selectable information display level, wherein the second content level state includes at least a battery state of charge indicator and a regenerative braking indicator.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying the battery state of charge gauge in a second content level state when the selected content level corresponds to the second selectable information display level, wherein the second content level state includes at least a battery state of charge indicator and a charging direction indicator.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein each selectable information display level includes at least a fuel level gauge.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the fuel level gauge includes a fuel level line and an area below the fuel level line that changes colors when the fuel level line reaches a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein each selectable information display level includes at least an engine coolant temperature (ECT) gauge, the engine coolant temperature gauge including an engine coolant temperature telltale that illuminates when the engine coolant temperature reaches a predetermined value.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving driver input corresponding to a selected content level of vehicle information comprises:

receiving driver input corresponding to a request to display a display settings menu, the display settings menu including an information display hierarchy listing the plurality of selectable information display levels arranged by degree of vehicle content associated with each selectable information display level;

displaying the display settings menu; and

receiving driver input corresponding to a selection of one of the plurality of selectable information display levels from the information display hierarchy.

12. An information display for displaying vehicle information associated with one of a plurality of selectable information display levels, the information display comprising:

a first display portion on one side of a speedometer; and

a second display portion on an opposite side of the speedometer;

wherein the first and second display portions display at least a first visual gauge upon selection of a first selectable information display level, and the first and second display portions display the first visual gauge and at least a second visual gauge upon selection of a second selectable information display level.

13. The information display of claim 12, wherein each selectable information display level includes at least a fuel level gauge.

14. The information display of claim 12, wherein at least the first visual gauge has a first content level state and a second content level state, the second content level state including additional vehicle content associated with the first visual gauge than the first content level state.

15. The information display of claim 14, wherein the first content level state is associated with the first selectable information display level and the second content level state is associated with the second selectable information display level.

16. The information display of claim 15, wherein the first visual gauge is a battery state of charge gauge, the first content level state including at least a battery state of charge indicator, the second content level state including at least the battery state of charge indicator and a regenerative braking indicator.

17. A vehicle display comprising:

a first selectable information display level including at least one visual gauge displayed in a first content level state; and

a second selectable information display level including the at least one visual gauge displayed in a second content level state, the second content level state including additional vehicle content associated with the at least one visual gauge than the first content level state.

18. The vehicle display of claim 17, wherein the first selectable information display level includes at least a first visual gauge and the second selectable information display level includes the first visual gauge and at least a second visual gauge.

19. The vehicle display of claim 18, wherein the first visual gauge is the at least one visual gauge displayed in the first content level state or the second content level state.

20. The vehicle display of claim 17, wherein the at least one gauge is a battery state of charge gauge, the first content level state including at least a battery state of charge indicator, the second content level state including at least the battery state of charge indicator and a regenerative braking indicator.