HK1021049B - Indication device - Google Patents

Description

Display device

The invention relates to a display device for a system, in particular for a motor vehicle system, which generates an alarm signal or a fault signal when having a predetermined operating state and/or a deviating operating state from a setpoint. It has a control device which is connected upstream of the display device and stores previously monitored warning signals or fault signals.

Display devices and fault displays are commonly used in motor vehicles. Brake pad wear displays are one such example. The signal lamp or the like in such a display is switched on immediately whenever the thickness of one brake pad of the service brake of the motor vehicle is below a predetermined value.

In addition, the motor vehicle can be equipped with monitoring devices which interrogate the various operating states normally provided or fault signals of the motor vehicle system and store corresponding data over a long period of time. This data can then be displayed and/or converted into a fault signal using a separate interrogation unit. Furthermore, when a fault occurs, the display can be activated immediately. A suitable construction thereof is the subject of DE 3229411 a 1.

DE 3121645C 2 discloses a computer-aided control system which is used primarily for controlling the engine and/or for controlling the ignition of the engine, for monitoring individual vehicle systems and for storing status data and fault signals in the process. In this way, the operational capability of the control system can also be used for diagnostic purposes, i.e. diagnostic inquiries can be performed in the time intervals between control measurements.

DE 3902339 a1 relates to data acquisition in battery-powered electric vehicles. All vehicle data and battery data are collected and processed in an information processor and an information memory, and the data are transmitted from there to a data evaluation unit.

The german publication "on board-diagnosese-EinWeg zu h * her fahrzeugverfugbarkeit" [ "a way of improving the service performance of a motor vehicle" ], ("regional traffic practice") No.9/1995, pages 268 to 270) written by b.eberwein W.D * rks relates generally to the utility of automatic diagnostic systems in motor vehicles. They greatly simplify the servicing of numerous motor vehicles.

EP 0308944 a2 describes a fault diagnosis device for a motor vehicle control system. Wherein the fault information is stored and recalled before repair or maintenance work. In this respect, EP 0308944 a2 deals with the problem of preventing erroneously stored fault information from being displayed. For this purpose, it is proposed that the display of the fault information item is suppressed if the fault information is not repeated within a predetermined time period. However, the suppressed fault information can also be displayed again, for example, to facilitate diagnostic work in a service shop. As soon as the motor vehicle engine is switched off (by means of the ignition switch), the motor vehicle control system and the fault diagnosis device are switched off.

US-a 4447801 relates to a diagnostic system which, when the ignition of a motor vehicle engine is started, will cause a corresponding display to illuminate if a fault is detected. In this respect it is described that drivers generally tend to ignore these warning displays, since too many displays are illuminated at the same time. US-a 4447801 suggests various solutions to overcome this problem:

the warning display can be detected before the motor vehicle is started.

In addition, the warning display can be continuously detected before the motor vehicle is started.

Furthermore, the warning display can be switched on simultaneously and then continuously off when the motor vehicle is started.

Finally, the warning display may be activated continuously upon request by the driver.

In each case, the warning system relates to a state variable which is independent of the operation of the motor vehicle engine.

The object of the invention is to provide an advantageous display device, by means of which the distraction of monitoring the display device by a person or the driver of the motor vehicle can be avoided.

According to the invention, a display device for a system, in particular for a motor vehicle system, which generates an alarm signal or a fault signal when having a predetermined operating state and/or a deviating set-point operating state, has a control device which is connected upstream of the display device and stores the above-mentioned alarm signal or fault signal, characterized in that the control device temporarily activates the display device at least in the case of a shut-down signal being received which is generated when the operation of the monitored system or motor vehicle has ceased.

The invention is based on the general idea that for operating states in which a measurement is required or desired only after a relatively long time, the display is only carried out after the end of the operation, so that, in this motor vehicle example, only the really important signals are displayed to the driver while he is driving. This is to be taken into account that it is often desirable to monitor the individual systems and functions in a motor vehicle, but if these display signals occur at "wrong moments: the associated signal display will be distracting to the driver. It is also considered that the continuously occurring signal display is easily ignored by the driver.

The invention also comprises the following features:

the alarm signal or the fault signal is displayed momentarily without delay.

The control device briefly activates the display device and/or its signal transmitter when the monitored system is switched on or when the motor vehicle is started.

The control device has a memory for storing signals of one monitored system or signals of a plurality of monitored systems.

The memory may be cleared when needed and/or automatically after the display device and/or the respective signal transmitter has been activated.

In this invention, advantageously, activating the display device during the operation stop ensures in particular that: attention is focused on the display.

The invention provides the advantage that a wide variety of functions can be monitored if desired, and signals can be generated if not directly effected. This is because, thanks to the invention, the signal does not cause distraction to the operator or driver during operation.

This also takes into account that a large number of systems have a redundant structure, so that relatively few subsystem failures are negligible in themselves, but they can be detected equally, so that in each case precautions can be taken within a suitable time.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is also possible, if appropriate: when the corresponding signal occurs, the display device or the trouble display is temporarily started even if the corresponding system is operating, and the display is started again in the case where the operation is stopped.

Furthermore, advantageous features of the invention can be taken from the claims and the following description of the figures, with reference to which a specific preferred embodiment will be described below.

Here, the single figure shows a schematic block circuit diagram of a motor vehicle display device according to the invention.

The motor vehicle, which is not shown in detail, is provided with an operating switch 1, which is switched on to start the motor vehicle engine (not shown) and which is switched off when the motor vehicle engine is to be stopped. For example, the operation switch 1 starts engine ignition. During their turn-on and turn-off processes, signals that differ from each other can be drawn from the output of the operating switch. In addition, the vehicle has various systems 2 and 3 which are switched on and off together with the vehicle engine and which generate suitable signals at the output when deviating from the setpoint operating state. The above-mentioned signals of the operating switch 1 and the systems 2 and 3 are supplied to a control device 4, which is arranged on the input side of a display device 5. The display device has signal transmitters 6 and 7, which are assigned to the systems 2 and 3, respectively, and are activated by the control device 4.

According to the invention, the control device 4 operates as follows:

the control device 4 activates the signal transmitters 6 and 7 for a limited time upon receiving an on signal from the operating switch 1, so that the operating capability of said signal transmitters 6 and 7 can be detected.

If one system 2 or 3 deviates from its setpoint operating state and supplies a corresponding signal to the control device 4, this signal will be stored in the memory 4' by the control device 4.

If appropriate, the control device 4 can briefly activate the signal transmitter 6 or 7 for the respective system 2 or 3.

When receiving a switch-off signal for operating the switch 1, the control device 4 will check the memory 4', and when having a signal stored therein, can activate the respectively assigned signal transmitter 6 or 7 during at least a predetermined time interval.

If appropriate, after receiving the switch-off signal from the operating switch 1, the activation of the signal transmitters 6 and 7 does not take place until a switch 8 assigned to the control device 4 and/or the display device 5 is manually operated. This is particularly advantageous if the required signals are displayed for inspection purposes only.

The memory 4' can be cleared automatically and/or, if required, once a corresponding signal has been displayed after the motor vehicle has been stopped or the switch 1 has been switched off.

Claims (5)

1. Display device for systems, in particular for motor vehicle systems, which generates an alarm signal or a fault signal when having a predetermined operating state and/or a deviating set-point operating state, having a control device (4) which is connected upstream of the display device (5) and stores the above-mentioned alarm signal or fault signal, characterized in that the control device (4) temporarily activates the display device at least in the case of the reception of a shut-down signal which is generated when the operation of the system or motor vehicle to be monitored ceases.

2. A display device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the alarm signal or the fault signal is displayed momentarily without delay.

3. A display device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: the control device briefly activates the display device (5) and/or its signal transmitter (6, 7) when the monitored system (2, 3) is switched on or when the motor vehicle is started.

4. A display device according to claim 1, characterized in that: the control device (4) has a memory (4') for storing signals of one monitored system or signals of a plurality of monitored systems (2, 3).

5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein: the memory (4') can be cleared when required and/or automatically after the display device (5) and/or the respective signal transmitter (6, 7) has been activated.