GB2048541A - Display device for motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A display device for indicating the condition of the doors, boot, or other closures in a motor vehicle body comprises a display screen (1) defining a plurality of discrete illuminable areas (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), arranged in a visual representation (2) of the relative positions of the closures in the motor vehicle body, and means such as light- emitting diodes or liquid crystals for separately altering the illumination of each of the areas of the display in response to signals from respective ones of the closures generated for example, by separate switches. A vehicle driver can rapidly identify whether any of the closures are open, and if so, which of the closures in the vehicle body requires closing. When a closure is open, a flashing display of that item may be made visible. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display device for motor vehicle body closures This invention relates to display devices for indicating the condition of a plurality of closures in a motor vehicle body.

According to the present invention there is provided a display device for indicating the condition of a plurality of closures in a motor vehicle body comprising a display screen defining a plurality of discrete illuminable areas arranged in a visual representation of the relative positions of the closures in a motor vehicle body, and means for separately altering the illumination of each of the areas in response to input signals from respective ones of the closures.

When the display device of the invention is incorporated in a motor vehicle, the driver can quickly obtain information as to whether the closures in the motor vehicle body, for example, a vehicle door, the boot lid, and the engine compartment hood, are either open or closed and, since the display device produces a visual representation of the relative positions of the closures in the motor vehicle body, the operator can quickly identify which of the various closures are open and closed.

Any suitable device may be used to alter the illumination of the areas in the display screen. For example, the display screen may be in the form of a liquid crystal display, the discrete areas being defined by the shape of the electrodes in the liquid crystal display.

In the embodiment of the invention described herein, each of the discrete areas of the screen is associated with a respective light-emitting diode.

Preferably, each of the light-emitting diodes is adapted for connection to a respective switch operable upon closure of a respective one of the closures in the vehicle body. In order to ensure that each light-emitting diode illuminates only its associated display area when activated, the light-emitting diodes are preferably masked from each other.

Desirably, the means for altering the illumination of the discreet areas on the display screen are arranged to produce periodically varying illumination of each of the areas in response to the input signals from the closures. For example, where light-emitting diodes are used, the diodes may be connected to a common flasher unit incorporated in the display device.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a display screen incorporated in the display device of the invention; and Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a display device.

Referring to the drawings, the display device comprises a display screen (1 ) composed of transparent plastic material having printed thereon a layer of opaque material which indicates schematically the shape of a motor vehicle (2) in plan. Five areas, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, in the continuous layer of opaque material are omitted in positions corresponding to the four doors of the vehicle and the vehicle boot.

The display screen (1) is mounted on a support (8) which also carries five light-emitting diodes (10), (11), (12), (13), (14). Each ofthe light-emitting diodes (10) to (14) is positioned immediately behind a respective one of the areas (3) to (7) in the screen (1) and is surrounded by a respective mask (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), which screens each of the lightemitting diodes (3) to (7) from its neighbours and ensures that all the light emitted therefrom is directed through the area (3) to (7) on the screen (1).

Each ofthe light-emitting diodes (10) to (14) is connected to a respective input terminal (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), and to a common supply terminal (25) via an integrated circuit assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral (26) which contains a conventional flasher unit, voltage regulator, and suppressor. The components of the integrated circuit (26) will be well known to those skilled in the art and further description of them is unnecessary.

Typically, such components are identified by the reference N E 555 and L M 3909.

In use, the display device is installed in an instrument display panel in the motor vehicle and the supply terminal (25) is connected to the vehicle battery via an ignition switch (not shown). Each of the input terminals (20) to (24) is connected to a respective switch (31), (27), (28), (29), (30), which is mounted on the vehicle body and which is operable by a respective one of the four doors of the vehicle or the vehicle boot. Switches (27) to (31) are arranged to be closed when the door or boot associated therewith is open.

When the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on, thereby supplying electrical power to the terminal (25), the light-emitting diodes (10) to (14) will be activated whenever the door or boot lid associated therewith is open. In this condition, the vehicle driver will observe a flashing light in the display device in the area corresponding to the position of the door or boot on the vehicle.

1. A display device for indicating the condition of a plurality of closures in a motor vehicle body comprising a display screen defining a plurality of discrete illuminable areas arranged in a visual representation of the relative positions of the closures in the motor vehicle body, and means for separately altering the illumination of each of the areas in response to signals from respective ones of the closures.

2. A display device according to Claim 1 wherein each of the discrete areas of the screen is associated with the respective light-emitting diode.

3. A display device according to Claim 2 wherein each of the light-emitting diodes is adapted for connection to a respective switch operable upon closure of a respective one of the closures in the vehicle body.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for separately altering the illumination of each of the areas produces a periodic variation in the illumination of the area in response to the signal from the respective one of the closures.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Display device for motor vehicle body closures This invention relates to display devices for indicating the condition of a plurality of closures in a motor vehicle body. According to the present invention there is provided a display device for indicating the condition of a plurality of closures in a motor vehicle body comprising a display screen defining a plurality of discrete illuminable areas arranged in a visual representation of the relative positions of the closures in a motor vehicle body, and means for separately altering the illumination of each of the areas in response to input signals from respective ones of the closures. When the display device of the invention is incorporated in a motor vehicle, the driver can quickly obtain information as to whether the closures in the motor vehicle body, for example, a vehicle door, the boot lid, and the engine compartment hood, are either open or closed and, since the display device produces a visual representation of the relative positions of the closures in the motor vehicle body, the operator can quickly identify which of the various closures are open and closed. Any suitable device may be used to alter the illumination of the areas in the display screen. For example, the display screen may be in the form of a liquid crystal display, the discrete areas being defined by the shape of the electrodes in the liquid crystal display. In the embodiment of the invention described herein, each of the discrete areas of the screen is associated with a respective light-emitting diode. Preferably, each of the light-emitting diodes is adapted for connection to a respective switch operable upon closure of a respective one of the closures in the vehicle body. In order to ensure that each light-emitting diode illuminates only its associated display area when activated, the light-emitting diodes are preferably masked from each other. Desirably, the means for altering the illumination of the discreet areas on the display screen are arranged to produce periodically varying illumination of each of the areas in response to the input signals from the closures. For example, where light-emitting diodes are used, the diodes may be connected to a common flasher unit incorporated in the display device. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates a display screen incorporated in the display device of the invention; and Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a display device. Referring to the drawings, the display device comprises a display screen (1 ) composed of transparent plastic material having printed thereon a layer of opaque material which indicates schematically the shape of a motor vehicle (2) in plan. Five areas, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, in the continuous layer of opaque material are omitted in positions corresponding to the four doors of the vehicle and the vehicle boot. The display screen (1) is mounted on a support (8) which also carries five light-emitting diodes (10), (11), (12), (13), (14). Each ofthe light-emitting diodes (10) to (14) is positioned immediately behind a respective one of the areas (3) to (7) in the screen (1) and is surrounded by a respective mask (15), (16), (17), (18), (19), which screens each of the lightemitting diodes (3) to (7) from its neighbours and ensures that all the light emitted therefrom is directed through the area (3) to (7) on the screen (1). Each ofthe light-emitting diodes (10) to (14) is connected to a respective input terminal (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), and to a common supply terminal (25) via an integrated circuit assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral (26) which contains a conventional flasher unit, voltage regulator, and suppressor. The components of the integrated circuit (26) will be well known to those skilled in the art and further description of them is unnecessary. Typically, such components are identified by the reference N E 555 and L M 3909. In use, the display device is installed in an instrument display panel in the motor vehicle and the supply terminal (25) is connected to the vehicle battery via an ignition switch (not shown). Each of the input terminals (20) to (24) is connected to a respective switch (31), (27), (28), (29), (30), which is mounted on the vehicle body and which is operable by a respective one of the four doors of the vehicle or the vehicle boot. Switches (27) to (31) are arranged to be closed when the door or boot associated therewith is open. When the ignition switch of the vehicle is turned on, thereby supplying electrical power to the terminal (25), the light-emitting diodes (10) to (14) will be activated whenever the door or boot lid associated therewith is open. In this condition, the vehicle driver will observe a flashing light in the display device in the area corresponding to the position of the door or boot on the vehicle. CLAIMS

1. A display device for indicating the condition of a plurality of closures in a motor vehicle body comprising a display screen defining a plurality of discrete illuminable areas arranged in a visual representation of the relative positions of the closures in the motor vehicle body, and means for separately altering the illumination of each of the areas in response to signals from respective ones of the closures.

2. A display device according to Claim 1 wherein each of the discrete areas of the screen is associated with the respective light-emitting diode.

3. A display device according to Claim 2 wherein each of the light-emitting diodes is adapted for connection to a respective switch operable upon closure of a respective one of the closures in the vehicle body.

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the means for separately altering the illumination of each of the areas produces a periodic variation in the illumination of the area in response to the signal from the respective one of the closures.

5. A display device substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.