Instrument Panel Display Unit for Fuel and Additive Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of controls and display instruments in modern commercial vehicles complicates the instrument panel layout, making it difficult for drivers to maintain a clear and structured field of vision, especially with the need to monitor critical filling levels like fuel and additives for emission standards compliance.
Innovation Solution
A single display unit is used to show the filling levels of at least two operating materials, prioritizing safety, ecology, and economy, allowing drivers to monitor all instruments clearly, with options for manual or automatic display intervals and symbol differentiation based on fill levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate display instruments are provided for monitoring filling levels of different operating materials, then the monitoring precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and instrument panel clutter increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple filling level displays for different operating materials (fuel, additives) into a single display unit. The display unit shows multiple filling level indicators simultaneously, allowing the driver to monitor all critical levels in one location rather than requiring separate instruments for each material.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit is designed to serve multiple functions by displaying filling levels for various operating materials through a single instrument. The unit can show different filling levels using distinct symbols and color codes, making one device perform the role of multiple specialized displays.
2Loss of information
If the number of display instruments is increased to monitor all operating materials, then the information completeness is improved, but the ease of operation and driver attention are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit segments different filling level information using distinct visual symbols for different operating materials. Each material (fuel, additives) has its own symbol representation, allowing complete information to be presented in an organized, non-overwhelming manner that is easy for the driver to distinguish and monitor.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit uses different color codes and symbol representations to indicate different filling levels and operating materials. This visual differentiation allows the driver to quickly identify and distinguish between various materials and their respective levels without confusion, maintaining ease of operation while providing complete information.
3Ease of operation
If the display unit diameter is reduced to maintain instrument panel clarity, then the ease of operation is improved, but the measurement precision and visibility are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit utilizes vertical arrangement and radial positioning of symbols within the circular display area to accommodate multiple filling level indicators. By organizing information in different spatial dimensions within the limited diameter, the design maintains panel clarity while preserving sufficient display precision through efficient use of available space.
Data Source
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AI summary
The vehicle has an instrument panel comprising a display device in a field of vision of a driver. The display device is provided for displaying fill levels of the operating fluids stored in storage tanks. The display device has a display unit (3) that displays fill levels of different storage tanks. The display unit displays the fill levels in temporal interval to each other, where the different fill levels are automatically displayed in dependence of a stored algorithm. An independent claim is also included for a method for operating a display device.