IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,623,538
Granted Patent B2
US 12,623,538 · App. 18/569,262 · Granted May 12, 2026

Device and method for displaying traffic signs with a supplementary sign

Inventors: Martin Hofmann (Lehre, DE); Johanna Sandbrink (Braunschweig, DE); Norwin Schmidt (Braunschweig, DE)
Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
B60K35/22B60K35/10B60K35/213B60K35/28B60K35/29B60K35/60B60K37/00B60K2360/168B60K2360/1876B60K2360/21
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,623,538
App. No.
18/569,262
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device for improved visualization of an indication in an instrument cluster of a transportation vehicle and a corresponding system, method and computer program. Due to the greatly limited display area of the mini-FID in the instrument cluster, the device displays traffic signs, supplementary signs and warning lights in one display region. The supplementary signs information is displayed in reduced size in response to a warning light appearing above the traffic signs in the display region.

Claims (29)

1 . A device for visualization of a notification for a transportation vehicle user in an instrument cluster of the transportation vehicle, the device comprising:

an input interface that receives notification data containing information on the notification and indicator light data containing information on an operating state of the transportation vehicle, wherein the input interface receives notification data with information relating to a traffic sign recognized by components of the transportation vehicle;

an analysis unit that determines a representation for the notification in response to on the notification data and the indicator light data and generates a control command that controls a display unit of the instrument cluster of the transportation vehicle; and

an output interface that transmits the control command to the display unit of the instrument cluster of the transportation vehicle,

wherein the control command controls display of an indicator light symbol on a display panel of the display unit in response to the analyzed indicator light data when the operating state of the transportation vehicle requires a message to be output by display of the indicator light symbol,

wherein the control command controls display of the notification in a complete form including a display of the recognized traffic sign in response to an available display area of the display panel being sufficiently large to output a complete display of the notification, and

wherein the control command controls display of the notification in a reduced form in response to the available display area of the display panel being smaller than a display area required for a complete display of the notification.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the output interface transmits the control command to a display unit as a mini-FID and is installed in a transportation vehicle and is part of an on-board computer, infotainment and/or navigation system.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit determines whether a recognized traffic sign comprises a main sign and/or a supplementary sign based on the notification data.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit prioritizes a recognized main sign and/or a recognized supplementary sign, and determines a control command which displays the traffic sign with low priority as a reduced output of a notification as a placeholder.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit assigns a recognized supplementary sign a lower priority than a recognized main traffic sign.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the analysis unit assigns an indicator light symbol a higher priority than a recognized traffic sign.

7 . A system for improved visualization of a notification in an instrument cluster of a transportation vehicle, the system comprising:

the device of claim 1 ; and

a display unit in the instrument cluster for outputting an indicator light symbol and/or the notification in response to a control command of the device.

8 . A method for visualization for a transportation vehicle user of a notification in an instrument cluster of the transportation vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving notification data with information on the notification and indicator light data with information on an operating state of the transportation vehicle, wherein the input interface receives notification data with information relating to a traffic sign recognized by components of the transportation vehicle;

determining a representation for the notification in response to the notification data and the indicator light data;

generating a control command for controlling a display unit of the instrument cluster of the transportation vehicle; and

transmitting the control command to the display unit of the instrument cluster,

wherein the control command controls display of an indicator light symbol on a display panel of the display unit in response to the analyzed indicator light data when the operating state of the transportation vehicle requires a message to be output by display of the indicator light symbol,

wherein the control command controls display of the notification in a complete form including a display of the recognized traffic sign in response to an available display area of the display panel being sufficiently large to output a complete display of the notification, and

wherein the control command controls display of the notification in a reduced form in response to the available display area of the display panel being smaller than a display area required for a complete display of the notification.

9 . A non-transitory computer readable medium with a computer program having program code for performing the method of claim 8 , when the computer program is executed on a computer or a corresponding computing unit.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the output interface transmits the control command to a display unit as a mini-FID and is installed in a transportation vehicle and is part of an on-board computer, infotainment and/or navigation system.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the analysis unit assigns a recognized supplementary sign a lower priority than a recognized main traffic sign.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the analysis unit assigns an indicator light symbol a higher priority than a recognized traffic sign.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the analysis unit determines whether a recognized traffic sign comprises a main sign and/or a supplementary sign based on the notification data.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the analysis unit prioritizes a recognized main sign and/or a recognized supplementary sign, and determines a control command which displays the traffic sign with low priority as a reduced output of a notification as a placeholder.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: HOFMANN, MARTIN
To: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 066495/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: SANDBRINK, JOHANNA
To: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 066495/0885 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 20, 2024
From: SCHMIDT, NORWIN
To: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 066496/0115 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 207 259.3 · Jul 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240367520A1 · Nov 7, 2024
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