Device for Displaying the Arrival Time of a Vehicle

Abstract

A device and method for displaying the arrival time of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, are provided. The device includes: at least one display device which is designed to show a display, in particular a time display; a detection device which is designed to detect a parked position of the vehicle and/or that the vehicle has stopped, and output corresponding signals; and a computing unit which is communicatively connected to the detection device and the display device and which is designed to output the display on the display device while taking into consideration the signals.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A device for displaying arrival time of a vehicle, comprising: at least one readout apparatus, which is configured to display a readout, a detection apparatus, which is configured to detect a parking position and/or parking of the vehicle, and to output corresponding signals; a computing unit, which is communicatively connected to the detection apparatus and the readout apparatus, and which is configured to output the readout on the readout apparatus while taking into consideration the signals.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the readout is a time readout.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the detection apparatus comprises a position determination module that determines the parking position of the vehicle in order to output the readout on the readout apparatus in view of the parking position of the vehicle.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the position determination module is a GPS module.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the detection apparatus comprises at least one acceleration sensor configured to detect the parking of the vehicle in the parking position in order to output the readout on the readout apparatus based on the parking of the vehicle.

21. The device according claim 16, further comprising: a communication apparatus, which is communicatively connected to the computing unit, and which is configured to interchange data with at least one remote apparatus.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the communication apparatus and/or the computing unit is further configured to receive parking information data from the remote apparatus, the parking information data including information regarding a parking time limit and/or a parking disk obligation at the parking position of the vehicle, in order to output the readout on the readout apparatus based on the parking time limit and/or the parking disk obligation of the parking position of the vehicle.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein the communication apparatus and/or the computing unit is further configured to wirelessly convey a warning to a user terminal about the parking time limit being reached.

24. The device according to claim 16, wherein the readout has a height of at least 2 cm.

25. The device according to claim 16, further comprising: an input apparatus for activating and/or deactivating output of the readout.

26. The device according to claim 16, wherein the readout apparatus comprises a display and/or a projector for showing the readout.

27. A motor vehicle, comprising: a device for displaying arrival time of the vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the readout apparatus is arranged in a dashboard of the vehicle, the readout apparatus is oriented in the dashboard such that the readout is visible outside the vehicle, on and/or through a windshield of the vehicle.

28. A method for displaying an arrival time of a vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a parking position of the vehicle, via a detection apparatus of the vehicle comprising a position determination module and/or an acceleration sensor; outputting a readout on a readout apparatus, which is arranged in a dashboard of the vehicle, the readout being visible outside the vehicle on and/or through a windshield of the vehicle, in consideration of parking and/or the parking position of the vehicle.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising: receiving parking information data from a remote apparatus by way of a communication apparatus of the vehicle, the parking information data including information regarding a parking time limit and/or a parking disk obligation at the position of the vehicle; and adapting the readout on the readout apparatus in consideration of the parking time limit and/or the parking disk obligation of the position.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising: wirelessly conveying a warning about the parking time limit being reached to a user terminal by way of the communication apparatus of the vehicle.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the wireless conveyance of the warning to a user terminal takes place at least 15 minutes before the parking time limit is reached, and/or the wireless conveyance of the warning to a user terminal takes place on reception of a request signal, the request signal being sent to the communication apparatus of the vehicle by way of the user terminal.

32. A computer product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein program code which, when executed by a computing unit, carries out: detecting a parking position of the vehicle, via a detection apparatus of the vehicle comprising a position determination module and/or an acceleration sensor; outputting a readout on a readout apparatus, which is arranged in a dashboard of the vehicle, the readout being visible outside the vehicle on and/or through a windshield of the vehicle, in consideration of parking and/or the parking position of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle having a device for displaying an arrival time according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0043] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of a vehicle having a device for displaying an arrival time according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] FIG. 1 schematically shows a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle 10 having a device for displaying an arrival time.

[0045] In one exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 10 comprises at least one readout apparatus 11. This readout apparatus may comprise for example a display and/or a projector, with the result that a readout 11a is discernible from outside the vehicle 10 on a windshield 15 and/or through the windshield 15.

[0046] In one exemplary embodiment, the projector may be in the form of a projector of a head-up display of the vehicle.

[0047] In one exemplary embodiment, the readout 11a displays a time, which reflects a time of the start of parking of the vehicle 10 in a parking space or a parking zone P.

[0048] In one exemplary embodiment, the displayed time of the start of parking on the readout 11a may differ from the actual, current clock time, since it may be necessary (depending on regulations of the parking zone P) to round the displayed clock time to the nearest half-hour, for example. According to the invention, depending on (local and/or country-specific) regulations of the parking zone P, rounding that differs from the rounding described previously may also take place or the actual, current clock time at the start of parking may be output on the readout 11a.

[0049] The vehicle 10 further comprises a detection apparatus 12, which is designed to detect a local, or nearby, parking position and/or to detect parking of the vehicle 10 in a parking space or a parking zone P, and to output corresponding signals.

[0050] The vehicle 10 additionally comprises a computing unit 13, which is communicatively connected to the detection apparatus 12 and the readout apparatus 11, and which is designed to output the readout 11a on the readout apparatus 11 based on the signals.

[0051] In one exemplary embodiment, a communicative connection may comprise for example a BUS system, such as a FlexRay and/or a CAN BUS and/or an Ethernet connection.

[0052] The detection apparatus 12 comprises a position determination module 12a. In one exemplary embodiment, the position determination module 12a is in the form of a GPS module of the vehicle 10. The position determination module 12a may comprise a navigation system of the vehicle 10.

[0053] In one exemplary embodiment, the computing unit 13 may be formed by at least one onboard computer. This onboard computer may store map material for the navigation system of the vehicle.

[0054] The position determination module 12a is designed to determine the parking position of the vehicle 10, for example by locating the vehicle 10 and/or determining the GPS coordinates thereof, and to output corresponding signals regarding the position of the vehicle 10 to the computing unit 13.

[0055] In this way, the readout 11a may be output on the readout apparatus 11 while taking into consideration the parking position or the GPS coordinates of the vehicle 10, in particular with comparison against the map material.

[0056] In this manner, the position determination module 12a and/or the computing unit 13 may identify whether the parking space or the parking zone P is a parking zone P with a parking disk obligation. In one exemplary embodiment, output of the readout 11a may be activated and/or deactivated for example by way of a position determination using the position determination module 12a.

[0057] The detection apparatus 12 comprises at least one acceleration sensor 12b, which is designed to detect the parking of the vehicle 10 by way of a corresponding (specific) change of movement of the vehicle 10 in its parking position and to output corresponding signals regarding the change of movement to the computing unit 13.

[0058] The acceleration sensor 12b may acquire data regarding parking or stopping and/or starting of the vehicle 10, the readout 11a being output on the readout apparatus 11 in consideration of these data acquired by the acceleration sensor 12b. In one exemplary embodiment, output of the readout 11a may be activated by stopping the vehicle 10 and/or deactivated by starting the vehicle 10, for example.

[0059] Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the detection apparatus 12 to comprise at least one pressure sensor, which is arranged in a driver's seat of the vehicle 10. In this manner, the pressure sensor may be used to ascertain a pressure in the driver's seat. This pressure in the driver's seat is an indicator of whether the driver gets out of the vehicle 10 (as a result of the driver leaving the driver's seat) and/or gets into the vehicle 10 (as a result of the driver sitting in the driver's seat). As an alternative or in addition to the stopping (and/or starting) of the vehicle 10, output of the readout 11a is activated or deactivated as soon as the driver leaves the vehicle and/or gets into the vehicle 10.

[0060] Furthermore, the computing unit 13 comprises a graphics module, which is designed to output video data to the readout apparatus 11, in particular in order to graphically represent the readout 11a on and/or using the readout apparatus 11.

[0061] In one exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 10 comprises a communication apparatus 16, which is communicatively connected to the computing unit 13, and which is designed to interchange data with at least one remote apparatus 30.

[0062] The remote apparatus 30 may be formed for example by a control center and/or a cloud of a vehicle manufacturer and/or of a third-party provider, the remote apparatus transmitting parking information data about parking zones and/or parking time limits, which are received by the communication apparatus 16 of the vehicle 10 and/or may be forwarded from the communication apparatus 16 to the computing unit 13 for processing, in particular in order for the output of the readout 11a to be taken into consideration by and/or using the readout apparatus 11.

[0063] The parking information data may comprise for example a (legal) requirement for how the readout 11a is shown, in particular a size and/or a font and/or symbols of the readout 11a, and/or whether additional information, in particular a text box, is discernible on the readout 11a.

[0064] Furthermore, the parking information data may comprise a parking time limit for the parking zone P that the vehicle 10 is in.

[0065] The parking information data may alternatively or additionally be stored on a memory of the computing unit 13 and/or may be present thereon in stored form.

[0066] In one exemplary embodiment, the communication apparatus 16 is designed to convey a message to a user terminal 40. In particular, this allows a user of the user terminal, the user preferably being the driver or the vehicle keeper of the vehicle 10, to be notified of (imminent) expiry of the permitted parking period.

[0067] In one exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 10 comprises an input apparatus 17, which is designed to activate and/or deactivate output of the readout 11a. The input apparatus 17 may be operated for example by way of a switching element and/or by way of a voice input, preferably by the driver.

[0068] FIG. 2 schematically shows a front view of an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle 10 having a device for displaying an arrival time.

[0069] The vehicle 10 comprises a windshield 15. Furthermore, the vehicle 10 comprises a dashboard 14. In one exemplary embodiment, the readout apparatus 11 is permanently installed in the dashboard 14 of the vehicle 10, in such a way that the readout 11a may be easily seen from outside the vehicle 10 through the windshield 15 and/or on the windshield 15.

[0070] In one exemplary embodiment, the readout 11a is arranged on a front-seat passenger's side of the vehicle 10, for example. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the readout 11a is arranged on the driver's side.

[0071] In a concrete exemplary embodiment, the readout 11a may include for example a text box, preferably “arrival time:”, and additionally a time readout and/or a graphical representation, the time readout corresponding to a time that signals the start of parking. Depending on (local) regulations, it may be a time statement that is rounded up from the current clock time to the nearest half-hour.

[0072] In one exemplary embodiment, the readout 11a may comprise a digital time readout, for example. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the readout 11a may comprise a graphical representation of an analog time readout.

[0073] It will be pointed out at this juncture that all parts described above are claimed as essential to the invention on their own and in any combination, in particular of the details shown in the drawings.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 10 vehicle [0075] 11 readout apparatus [0076] 11a readout [0077] 12 detection apparatus [0078] 12a position determination module [0079] 12b acceleration sensor [0080] 13 computing unit [0081] 14 dashboard [0082] 15 windshield [0083] 16 communication apparatus [0084] 17 input apparatus [0085] 30 remote apparatus [0086] 40 user terminal [0087] P parking zone or parking space