THIS INVENTION relates to a display. In particular, the invention relates to a
display apparatus and a method of displaying information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The inventor is aware of display systems in vehicles and in other
applications where information is to be displayed to a user in an easy understandable,
clear and concise manner. However, in many instances a user is still required to
interpret numbers or dials before the actual information relayed by such numbers or
dials can be assessed. The present invention aims to address some of these
shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a display apparatus which
includes
input means operable to receive information for display;
processing means operable to process the information received from the input
means;
display means, operable to display at least one figure of which the physical
characteristics are based on processed information.
The invention extends to a method of displaying information, which
includes
reading information for display;
processing the information by generating a figure of which the physical
characteristics are based on the processed information; and
displaying the figure of which the physical characteristics represent the
processed information.
The input means may be in the form of a digital or analogue interface
operable to receive an input signal which is to be displayed. For example, the
interface may be in the form of an optical interface, an electrical interface, a magnetic
interface, or the like, operable to receive discrete or analogue signals which are to be
displayed.
Reading information for display may thus include reading input signals
from the interface ready to process the signals for display.
Typically the input means may receive an input signal from a sensor, a
remote processor, or the like.
The processing means may be in the form of a digital processor,
operable to assign a value to the input signal or to perform a mathematical operation
on the value assigned to the input signal. For example, the input signal may be
processed as a binary number, a discrete value, an analogue value, or the like. More
particularly, if a mathematical operation is performed on the value, a derivative of the
value may be taken, the value may be integrated, or another mathematical operation
may be performed on the value.
For example, the processing means may be operable to set limits for
each signal value, to determine a rate of change of the signal value by mathematically
taking the derivative of the signal value, to determine a cumulative value of the signal
value by mathematically taking the integral of the signal value, by setting limits on
the derivative or integral and to perform other mathematical operations on the signal
values.
In addition to performing mathematical operations on the signal values, the method
may include prioritizing information comprising signal values by flagging
information which exceeds certain predefined signal value limits or by summarizing
different types of signal information on a single display.
The physical characteristics of the figure may refer to any one or more
of the shape of a two-, three-, or multi-dimensional figure, the colour of a figure, the
geometry of a figure, or the like.
In particular, the figure may be in the form of a geometrical shape of
which the dimensions are determined by one or more of the processed signals. For
example, if the figure is a circle, the radius may be determined by one of the signals,
or it may be based on a processed value of one of the signals. Similarly, if the figure
is a quadrilateral, the length of each side may each be determined by one of the
signals, or may be based on a processed value of one of the signals.
The figure may be in the form of a geometrical shape such as a circle, a
triangle, a square, a pentagon, or the like. For the purposes of this invention, the sides
of the geometrical shapes may each have different lengths. Furthermore depending
on the value to be displayed, the figure may be based on a geometrical shape, but may
be broken, i.e. one or more of the sides may be removed from the figure to indicate a
particular status of an input value.
Displaying a figure may include displaying a figure in a particular
colour, in a particular line thickness or shape, displaying the figure in a static or a
flashing fashion, or the like, depending on a particular status of an input value.
The figure may include an icon, or may be associated with an icon.
The figure may include limit indicators. For example, if a figure is in
the form of a circle, the limit indicators may be in the form of other circles of which
the radius is different. Alternatively, the limit indicators may be any type of figure
and may be of a different line type, line colour, or the like. For example, the figure
may be in the form of squares through which the circle's side passes.
The method may include displaying the figure on a display in a
peripheral sight of a viewer, such that when the physical characteristics of the figure
changes, the viewer is able to detect such changes without directly looking at the
figure.