Integrated message display system for a vehicle

Details Integrated message display system for a vehicle Integrated message display system for a vehicle

1999-03-18

2001-09-11

Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)

Data processing: database and file management or data structures

Database design

Data structure types

C701S029000, C701S030000, C701S031000, C701S033000, C701S036000, C340S435000, C340S438000, C340S439000, C340S440000, C340S441000, C340S903000, C180S167000, C180S169000, C342S069000, C342S070000, C342S072000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06289332

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to audio-visual message displays for vehicles that provide operating, diagnostic, and warning information to the driver.
BACKGROUND
Over the past several years, a variety of vehicle electronics products have been developed to assist drivers, and provide vehicle operating, trip and diagnostic information. This is particularly true in long-haul trucks, where a number of options are available such as collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and wireless communication systems. Some collision warning systems use radar to apprise the driver of collision dangers. Adaptive cruise control is an advanced feature of collision warning systems that uses radar and the vehicle's cruise control system to maintain a desired following distance (called “headway”). In addition to these new electronics products, existing components now typically include electronic controls that can provide additional vehicle diagnostic and operating data.
While these electronic products can provide useful information to the driver, they can also overload the driver with information. Even with careful design of displays and indicator lights for each new feature, the driver can easily become overwhelmed by the displays associated with these new products. As such, the driver may ignore, or worse, become distracted by the displays.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an audio-visual message system for a vehicle that receives information about operating conditions from a variety of sources throughout the vehicle and generates visual and auditory outputs via a centralized message center. The system includes an instrumentation control unit that manages the output of alerts through a visual display and audio transducer. The instrumentation control unit receives information about operating conditions from other electronic control units in the vehicle. In response, the instrumentation control unit determines the appropriate messages to generate based on a general, extendable prioritization scheme.
The system prioritizes alerts based on their relative importance. It organizes alerts into levels of importance, where each level has a corresponding visual and auditory alert that distinguishes it from other levels. When an event is detected that triggers an alert, the instrumentation control unit overrides a default screen and plays the corresponding alert. When more than one alert is activated, the instrumentation control unit resolves conflicts based on the priority of each alert.
Another aspect of the invention is the integration of collision warning messages into the system's message scheme. A collision warning system communicates collision warning conditions to the instrumentation control unit. The instrumentation control unit determines whether to override the current message with a collision warning alert based on the relative priority of the alert and the current message. The collision warning alerts use a combination of visual and auditory warnings that grow progressively more intense as the degree of danger of a collision danger increases. This approach eases the driver's workload because the collision alerts are integrated into the instrumentation control unit's message center, which provides a centralized source of information to the driver.
Yet another aspect of the invention is the integration of adaptive cruise control messages into the system's centralized message scheme. The instrumentation control unit prioritizes adaptive cruise control messages in a similar manner as collision warning messages. In particular, it determines whether to override the current message based on the relative priority of the current message and a new adaptive cruise control message. In one implementation, for example, the instrumentation control unit manages the display of three types of adaptive cruise control messages: function set messages, system failure messages, and danger ahead messages. It generates function set messages in response to user input, such as when the driver sets a desired headway for the adaptive cruise control system. It generates system failure messages in response to detecting a failure of some aspect of the adaptive cruise control system. Finally, it generates danger ahead messages in response to collision warning events that occur while the vehicle is in adaptive cruise control mode.
Another aspect of the invention is the integration of transmission messages into the system's centralized message scheme. The instrumentation control unit integrates the display of transmission messages, such as the current gear and mode of the transmission, by displaying this information along with the display of a default screen or an alert screen.
Further features of the invention will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.


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