Patent Application
20050278091
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a multiple display system for automotive applications.
2. Description of Related Art
Vehicle entertainment systems are commonly provided to rear seat passengers. Currently, the driver of a motor vehicle is required by law, in many states, not to watch video images from a vehicle entertainment system, while driving a vehicle. Due to the requirement that drivers are not allowed to view vehicle entertainment systems while driving, the front passenger is typically also not provided with the ability to view images from a vehicle entertainment system.
Systems have been developed that allow the passenger to view images from a vehicle entertainment system while blocking the view of the driver, for example by using louvers to restrict the viewing angle of the display screen. However, little space is available in the dash board area for mounting an additional display to provide the passenger an individual display for the purposes of utilizing a vehicle entertainment system. Typically, space in the dash board area is used for providing the driver of the vehicle information such as vehicle status information or for housing safety devices, such as, air bags.
In view of the above, it is apparent that there exists a need for an improved display system for automotive applications.
In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides an improved display system for automotive applications. The display system includes a display controller, a display, a navigation system, and a vehicle entertainment system. The display controller is in communication with the display to provide a driver side image and a passenger side image. The navigation system is in communication with the display controller to provide information used to generate the driver side image. The vehicle entertainment system is also in communication with the display controller to provide a video signal used to generate the passenger side image.
In another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle information system is in communication with the display controller to provide vehicle status information used to generate the driver side image.
In another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle information system generates a control signal indicating a driver side configuration.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the vehicle information system provides a control signal indicating a non-driving state exists. The display controller is configured to generate the driver side image based on the video signal from the vehicle entertainment system when the control signal indicates the vehicle is in a non-driving state. Further, the display controller monitors the control signal indicating a non-driving state and automatically stops displaying the driver side image based on the video signal from the vehicle entertainment system when the non-driving state ends.
Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of the following description, with reference to the drawings and claims that are appended to and form a part of this specification.
Referring now to
Various configurations of display hardware may be used to simultaneously display two images that are independently viewable from different view angles. One such configuration is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,593,904, issued to März et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, and yet another configuration is described below.
Referring to
Referring again to
The driver information system may include, alternately or in addition to the navigation system 20, a vehicle status system 26 in communication with the display controller 12 to provide control signals to the display controller 12 regarding status information of the vehicle. The vehicle status system 26 provides a signal to the display controller 12 to incorporate vehicle status information such as speed, miles traveled, fault conditions, fuel consumption, rearward video or other status video, or other vehicle status information into the driver side image 16. Being displayed in either textual or graphical form, the vehicle status information may be combined with the navigational information or displayed independently.
In addition, the vehicle status system 26 provides a control signal indicating a driver side configuration of the vehicle. The control signal includes whether the vehicle is a left side driver vehicle, as used in the United States, or a right side driver vehicle, as used in the United Kingdom. The display controller 12 would have the ability to display the driver side image 16 viewable on the right or left side of the display 14 based on the driver side configuration of the vehicle. For a left driver side vehicle the display controller 12 is configured to display the driver side image 16 being viewable on the left-hand side of the vehicle. Conversely, the display controller displays the driver side image 16 on the right-hand side of the vehicle for a right driver side vehicle configuration. Accordingly, the passenger side image 18 is displayed on the right side of the vehicle for a left side driver vehicle configuration, and the passenger side image 18 is displayed viewable from the left-hand side of the vehicle in a right side driver vehicle configuration.
In addition, the vehicle status system 26 provides a control signal indicating a non-driving state exists. When a non-driving state exists, the display controller 12 may generate a driver side image 16 based on the video signal from the vehicle entertainment system 24. The display controller 12 is configured to continuously monitor the control signal indicating driving state, such that, if the vehicle enters a driving state, the display controller 12 automatically stops providing the driver image 16 based on the vehicle entertainment system 24. Further, the display controller 12 reverts to a driver side image based on the navigation system 20 or the vehicle status system 26.
The display system 10 also has the capability to generate the passenger side image 18 based on information from the driver information system. For example this would include navigation information from the navigation system 20 or vehicle status information from the vehicle status system 26. In addition, the passenger is provided access to functions which are normally driver restricted function, such as, navigation functions not available to the driver while the vehicle is in a driving state. Driver restricted functions may include but are not limited to point of interest entry, destination entry, map pan functions, or map zoom functions.
As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of the principles of this invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention in that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change, without departing from spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.
