GB2120386A

GB2120386A - A device for detection and indication of journey parameters of a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2120386A
Application number: GB08310469A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gianfranco Mora
Original assignee: Fiat Auto SpA
Current assignee: Fiat Auto SpA
Priority date: 1982-04-21
Filing date: 1983-04-18
Publication date: 1983-11-30
Also published as: FR2525789B1; FR2525789A1; IT8253211U1; GB8310469D0; IT8253211V0; DE3313364A1

Abstract

A device for detecting and selectively indicating the journey parameters of a motor vehicle comprising a cup-shape housing within which are housed electronic processor means, a cover (6) which closes the housing and which has a plurality of openings (11) one of which exposes a solid state display unit (12) whilst at least some of the others expose a plurality of push-buttons (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23) which project out from the cover (6) and which are connected within the housing (2) to the said electronic processor means (5) to enable a selected parameter e.g. time, date, elapsed time, external temperature and average speed, to be displayed by display unit 12. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for detection and indication of journey parameters of a motor vehicle The present invention relates to a device for detecting and indicating journey parameters in a motor vehicle.

Numerous devices are known for detecting and indicating the journey parameters of a motor vehicle. Such devices are mounted on the dash board and provide the driver with various items of information relating to several of the functions which occur during the course of a journey such as, for example, the time elapsed since departure, the average speed, the real time, the date etc.

There are also known devices which are capable of providing other services not strictly dependent on the journey, such as, for example, an indication of the external temperature, the generation of an alarm signal at predetermined times, etc.

Currently, the above mentioned devices are commercially available only separately-so that their installation creates significant problems of encumbrance in that these must be mounted in a position which is clearly visible to the driver.

However, it is to be observed that none of the known assembly arrangements is currently totally satisfactory. Moreover such devices are not easily adaptable, from the aesthetic point of view, to structurally identical dash boards having different colours.

The object of the present invention is that of providing a device able to perform, simultaneously, the functions until now performed by the above mentioned devices, and which overcomes as a whole the disadvantages of these.

The said object is achieved by the present invention in that it relates to a device for detecting and indicating the journey parameters of a motor vehicle, characterised by the fact that it comprises:- a cup-shape housing in which electronic processor means are housed, and which can be fitted in a corresponding space formed in the dash board of the motor vehicle and a cover which closes the said housing and which has a plurality of openings respectively engaged by a solid state display unit and by a plurality of push-buttons projecting through the said cover and connected to the said electronic processor means within the said housing.

For a better understanding of the present invention a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of non limitative example, and with reference to the attached drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a front view of a front panel of a device according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a side view, partially in section, of the device of Figure 1 shown mounted on the dash board of a motor vehicle.

With particular reference to Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a device for detecting and indicating the journey parameters of a motor vehicle, formed according to the principles of the present invention.

In more detail, the device 1 includes a cupshape housing 2, (see Figure 2) which can be mounted in a corresponding space 3 formed in a dash board 4 of a motor vehicle. The housing 2 houses within it electronic processor means 5 of known type and is closed by a cover 6 which, by means of resiliently deformable toothed projections 8 snap-engages onto a radially outwardly extending annular rim 7 of the housing 2. A cover 6 is mounted in an oblique position with respect to the lateral walls of the housing 2 in such a way as to follow an outer profile, indicated 9, of the dash board 4.

In accordance with the present invention the cover 6 has a plurality of openings 1.1, a first of which is engaged by a solid state display unit 12 having four display elements 1 3 of the seven segment type and one cruciform display element 14. Alongside the display unit 12, which is recessed with respect to the plane defined by the cover 6 for the purpose of making the indications provided by it more easily read, there are provided two push-buttons 1 5, 1 6 respectively, on which are indicated the letters "h" and "m". These pushbuttons, if pressed, allow corrections to be made to the indications of the hours (h) and the minutes (m) which, in a predetermined configuration, are displayed on the unit 12.

Beneath the unit 12 and substantially along the opposite sides of the cover 6 there are disposed two sets of three push-buttons 17, 18, 19 and 21, 22, 23 respectively. Alongside each of the push-buttons now mentioned there is mounted a corresponding indicator lamp 27,28,29 and 31, 32, 33 respectively, together with a respective symbol or word. In particular, alongside the lamps 27, 28, 29 are indicated the words or symbols 'TIME", "DATE", "E.T." respectively; alongside the lamps 31, 32, 33 there are indicated the words or symbols "TIMER", "TO EST", "Km/h" respectively. Each word or symbol relates to a pre-determined function which can be selected by the respective push-button and displayed by the display unit 12.

In a central position the cover 6 has a further push-button 20 on which is indicated the word "RESET" and, above this, an acoustic indicator 30.

All the push-buttons, the lamps and the acoustic indicator mentioned above are lodged within a respective aperture 11 of the cover 6.

The functions associated with each of the push-buttons 27, 28, 29 and 31, 32, 33 are respectively as follows: TIME: calls up the "clock" function (hours and minutes or vice versa); DATE: calls up the "date" function (month and day or vice versa); E.T.: calls up the "journey time" function which is based on a count starting from the beginning of the journey; TIMER: calls up the "alarm" function according to which the device 1 generates an acoustic signal through the acoustic indicator 30 at a predetermined moment; TO EST: calls up the "external temperature" function, which causes the display unit 12 to indicate the external temperature detected by means of a suitable sensor mounted on the motor vehicle; Km/h: calls up the "average speed" function, which is calculated by taking account of the time elapsed since the beginning of the journey and the number of kilometres traversed since the beginning of the journev.

By means of the push-button 20 (RESET) it is possible to effect zeroing of the journey time and the average speed value mentioned above.

The push-buttons 1 5 and 1 6 (h, m) allow the two symbols to the left and the two symbols to the right of the display unit 12 to be incremented for the purpose of adjusting the exact indication of the real time, or else the alarm time.

From an examination of the characteristics of the device 1 formed according to the present invention the advantages which can be obtained will be apparent. Above all the size is extremely limited in that each function requires substantially a single push-button whilst the display unit 12 is common to all the functions. Therefore it is much easier for the driver to select the desired function and, moreover, the cost connected with the installation is drastically reduced since only one device must be mounted on the dash board of the motor vehicie.

Other advantages arise from the fact that the display unit, being partially encased within the housing 2, is particularly protected from external light so that the indications which it provides are well constrasted and therefore easily read by the driver.

Finally, given that the cover 6 is snap-engaged on the housing 2 and there are no mechanically fixed elements (push-buttons, lamps, etc.,) fixed to it which contribute to the operation of the device 1, it is apparent that the replacement of the cover 6 is extremely simple; this allows the colour of the cover 6 to be selected to harmonise with the colour of the dash board or else with the colour of the internal trim of the motor vehicle.

Finally, it is clear that the device 1 described above can be modified and varied without by this departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for detecting and indicating journey parameters of a motor vehicle, characterised by the fact that it comprises:- a cup-shape container (2) housing electronic processor means (5), and which is adapted to be fitted into a corresponding opening (3) formed in the dash board (4) of the said motor vehicle; and a cover (6) which closes the said housing (2) and which has a plurality of openings (11) respectively engaged by a solid state display unit (12) and a plurality of push-buttons (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23) partially projecting from the said cover (6) and connected to the said electronic processor means (5) within the said housing.

2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cover (6) is coupled to the said housing by resiliently deformable means (8).

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said cover (6) is disposed obliquely with respect to the lateral walls of the said housing (2) in such a way as to follow a profile (9) of the dash board (4).

4. A device according to any of the preceding Claims, characterised by the fact that the said display unit (12) is partially recessed in an upper region of the said cover (6).

5. A device according to any preceding Claim, characterised by the fact that alongside a set (17, 18, 19, 21,22,23) of the said push-buttons (15, 16,17, 18,19,21,22,23) there is arranged a respective warning lamp (27, 28, 29, 31,32, 33).

6. A device according to Claim 5, characterised by the fact that the said set of push-buttons (17, 1 8, 1 9, 21, 22, 23) is sub-divided into a first and a second sub group (17,18,19) and (21,22,23) each of which is arranged along opposite lateral edges of the said cover (6); there being provided a push button (20) for zeroing the display unit and an acoustic indicator (30) in an intermediate zone between the said sub groups of push buttons.

7. A device according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, characterised by the fact that each said warning lamp (27,28,29,31,32,33) and the said acoustic indicator (30) respectively engage in a respective said opening (11) in the said cover (6).

8. A device for detecting and indicating journey parameters of a motor vehicle substantially as described with reference to the attached drawing.