Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Patent
1992-07-06
1995-04-11
Oberley, Alvin E.
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
362 26, 362 30, 116DIG36, G09G 300, G01D 1128
Patent
active
054063035
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is related to instrument display methods and systems and, in particular, to conventional and projection-type instrument display methods and systems for passenger vehicles.
BACKGROUND ART
Automotive instrumentation clusters serve the useful function of providing a wealth of information about vehicle operation to the driver. Typically, the cluster provides primary operational information such as vehicle speed, engine speed and temperature, fuel level and oil pressure, in addition to providing secondary operational information regarding vehicle security (door ajar, etc.), use of seat belts, emissions, and the like.
Conventional instrument displays in automobiles are located in an area in front of the driver, below the windshield or windscreen which is normally referred to as the dashboard or instrument panel. As is well known, this arrangement requires drivers wishing to check their current rate of speed to momentarily lower their eyes so that they are focusing on the speedometer on the dashboard and not watching the road.
Prior art instrumentation clusters generally are quite large and bulky and require complex manufacturing equipment and processes. This is due to the size and quantity of hardware typically required for analog and digital instrumentation, such as motors, wiring and lighting.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,636,447, issued to Gelenius, discloses a wide-angle electrical gauge having two coils. The two coils are angularly displaced at 90.degree. to each other. A circuit supplies current as approximate sine and cosine waves to the coils, resulting in a wide-angle displacement of an indicator needle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,311, issued to Baker et al., discloses an air core gauge with an expanded pointer range. Pulse generators control a switching means so as to cause excitation of a plurality of angularly oriented coils. The excitation creates a resultant mmf vector, resulting in the displacement of a magnet and its associated pointer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,027, issued to Bohner et al., discloses a dynamic motor controller for a high-performance, lightweight and low cost motor. The position control of the motor is accomplished by the use of an electronic braking apparatus, which includes a piezoelectric transducer for applying a braking force to the rotor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,058, issued to Ikeda, discloses a combination indicator apparatus for an automotive vehicle. The indicator apparatus includes a plurality of cross-coil (air gauge) movements for use as analog indicators, the movement being driven by a single controller in a time-sharing serial transmission mode of operation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,944, issued to Ito, discloses a cross coil type instrument wherein a plurality of coils are cross-arranged around a rotatable permanent magnet. The instrument further includes a needle secured to the magnet to rotate therewith. Rotation of needle is caused by a generated composite magnetic field.
Air core or cross-coil type gauges thus have distinct sizing, cost and efficiency disadvantages especially when utilized with projection-type instrumentation such as head-up displays (HUD's). These disadvantages are due primarily to the construction and control of the gauges.
For safety reasons and reasons of general convenience, it has been suggested that a head-up type display, similar to those found in fighter aircraft, be used in the environment of an automobile to provide the driver with a means for reading the automotive instrumentation without removing the driver's visual attention from the roadway.
It is considered impractical from the viewpoint of cost, to simply apply aircraft head-up display technology to the environment of an automobile. The cost of such a head-up display would be an appreciable fraction of the normal cost of the automobile. Thus, the benefits to be derived from a head-up display would not justify the cost of installing such a device.
Head-up displays of the type used in military aircraft occupy a substantial volume. A straightforward installation
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Ehle David L.
Hovis Jeffrey G.
Salmon Michael E.
Nu-Tech and Engineering, Inc.
Oberley Alvin E.
Saras Steven J.
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