System and method for indicating a vehicle driving mode
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorHongjie Wu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A display system for a vehicle is provided. The display system includes an information display that changes color based upon an operating state of a vehicle. The information display includes display lighting that illuminates at least a portion of the display in a color associated with the vehicle's current operating state to indicate the operating state to a driver.
Claims20
A display system for a vehicle comprising:
- an information display having associated display lighting;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine an operating state of the vehicle;
- and
- transmit a signal indicative of the operating state of the vehicle so that the display lighting illuminates at least a portion of the information display in a color corresponding to the determined operating state, wherein the display lighting illuminates the information display according to at least one of a first set of color properties when an engine is being used to propel the vehicle, a second set of color properties when the engine is not being used to propel the vehicle and a state of charge of an energy storage device is above a predetermined threshold indicative of a state of charge near which the engine will turn on, and a third set of color properties when the engine is not being used to propel the vehicle and the state of charge is below the predetermined threshold.
A method for indicating an operating state of a vehicle comprising:
- determining the operating state of the vehicle from a plurality of operating states;
- and
- illuminating at least a portion of an information display in a color corresponding to the determined operating state, wherein the information display illuminates in at least one of a first color state when an engine is being used to propel the vehicle, a second color state when the engine is not being used to propel the vehicle and a state of charge of an energy storage device is above a predetermined threshold indicative of a state of charge near which the engine will turn on, and a third color state when the engine is not being used to propel the vehicle and the state of charge is below the predetermined threshold.
A display system for a vehicle including an engine, at least one electric machine and an energy storage device, the engine and the at least one electronic machine operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle and to provide electric power to charge the energy storage device, the energy storage device configured to provide electric power to the at least one electric machine, the information display system comprising:
- an instrument cluster display having a backlight for illuminating a background of the instrument cluster display;
- and
- a controller in communication with the instrument cluster display configured to:
- receive input indicative of whether the engine is being used to propel the vehicle;
- receive input corresponding to a state of charge of the energy storage device;
- transmit a first signal indicative of an engine on drive mode so that the backlight illuminates the background of the instrument cluster display in a first color when the engine is being used to propel the vehicle;
- transmit a second signal indicative of an electric vehicle (EV) drive mode so that the backlight illuminates the background of the instrument cluster display in a second color when the engine is not being used to propel the vehicle and the state of charge is above a predetermined threshold, wherein the predetermined threshold is indicative of a state of charge near which the engine will turn on;
- and
- transmit a third signal indicative of the EV drive mode so that the backlight illuminates the background of the instrument cluster display in a third color when the engine is not being used to propel the vehicle and the state of charge is below the predetermined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.