Multi-Display Vehicle Information System and Method

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a vehicle human machine interface (HMI) for control by a vehicle occupant. The HMI may include a first graphical display, a second graphical display, a plurality of input controls, and a vehicle computer communicating with the first and second graphical displays. The vehicle computer may be configured to receive user input defining user instructions for controlling one or more functions of the vehicle. In response to the input, the computer may be configured to present on the first and second graphical displays a vehicle function identifier color associated with the vehicle function.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle human machine interface (HMI) comprising:
 a graphical display including a touch-screen;   a plurality of input controls; and   a vehicle computer, communicating with the first graphical display, configured to:   receive user input defining user instructions for controlling one or more vehicle functions; and   responsive to the input, present, on the first graphical display, a vehicle function identifier color, associated with the vehicle function, the display including four corners, each displaying a different vehicle function and associated identifier color.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle computer presents the vehicle function identifier color on the graphical display in response to the user input. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 1  wherein at least one vehicle function is an in-vehicle climate control function. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 3  wherein the vehicle computer is further configured to store one or more configured climate control settings, wherein the climate control function further includes an input control for enabling the configured climate control settings. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 2  wherein the graphical display includes a bezel defining a boundary for receiving the user input at the touch-screen. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 1 , wherein at least one function relates to communication. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 1 , wherein at least one function relates to entertainment. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 1 , wherein at least one function relates to navigation. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle HMI of  claim 1 , wherein at least one function relates to climate. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-implemented method for operating one or more functions of a vehicle, the method comprising:
 receiving a first input defining user instructions for controlling one or more functions of a vehicle, the input being received from a touch-screen input on a graphical display, the input located in proximity to one or more corners of the graphical display, wherein   the display includes four corners, each corner having touch-screen input capability corresponding to a different category of vehicle functions and an associated identifier color;   in response to the first input, presenting on the graphical display a first vehicle function identifier color associated with the vehicle function; and   in response to a second input, presenting on the graphical display, a second vehicle function identifier color associated with the displayed information.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first and second vehicle function identifier colors are the same color. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the categories include communication. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the categories include entertainment. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the categories include navigation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the categories include climate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein a second input device for inputting the second input is disposed on a vehicle steering wheel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the graphical display includes a bezel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising utilizing the bezel for identifying a boundary for the touch-screen input. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 associating each of a plurality of vehicle function categories with a different color;   receiving input from at least one of a plurality of vehicle controls, defining user instructions for controlling a vehicle function within one of the plurality of categories;   presenting, on a graphical displays, an input-responsive vehicle function identifier color; and   emitting colored light from one or more vehicle controls corresponding to the presented vehicle function identifier color.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the graphical display includes a first display, the method further comprising displaying the vehicle function identifier color in proximity to at least one corner of the first display.