WO2003057523A1

WO2003057523A1 - Instrument cluster

Info

Publication number: WO2003057523A1
Application number: PCT/US2003/000162
Authority: WO
Inventors: David B. Busch; Jinwoo Kang; Heather Jane Barnes
Original assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
Priority date: 2002-01-04
Filing date: 2003-01-04
Publication date: 2003-07-17
Also published as: WO2003057522A8; WO2003057523A8; WO2003057522A1; AU2003202880A1; AU2003202881A1

Abstract

An instrument cluster for a vehicle interior includes a control circuit, and a LDC reconfigurable display (60) coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive data relating to at least one vehicle system and to determine a level of criticality of the data. The reconfigurable display (60) is configured to display data of a first level of criticality in a first color (red), and to display data of a second level of criticality in a second color (yellow). Norminal data is green.

Description

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001 ] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/346,704 ("INSTRUMENT CLUSTER") filed January 4, 2002 under 35 U.S.C. § 1 1 9, incorporated in the present application by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Automotive vehicles include instrumentation to provide information about the operations of the vehicle to the vehicle driver. Typically, several instrumentation displays are disposed in close proximity to provide an instrument cluster. The instrument cluster should minimize driver distraction and workload, giving the driver what is needed when the driver needs it and what is wanted when the driver wants it. The instrument cluster should also separate mission critical information from entertainment, and prioritize information for the driver based on its importance. [0003] Accordingly, there is a need for an instrument cluster having improved functionality. The teachings hereinbelow extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned needs.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0004] According to an exemplary embodiment, an instrument cluster for a vehicle interior includes a control circuit, and a reconfigurable display coupled to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to receive data relating to at least one vehicle system and to determine a level of criticality of the data. The reconfigurable display is configured to display data of a first level of criticality in a first color, and to display data of a second level of criticality in a second color.

[0005] According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for displaying information relating to a vehicle system on an automobile instrument cluster includes receiving data relating to at least one vehicle system, determining a level of criticality of the data, displaying data of a first level of criticality in a first color, and displaying data of a second level of criticality in a second color. [0006] According to another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for providing information relating to at least one automobile system to an automobile occupant includes means for receiving data relating to the at least one automobile system, means for determining a level of criticality of the data, and means for displaying data of a first level of criticality in a first color and a second level of criticality in a second color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument cluster, according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the instrument cluster of FIG. 1 in communication with various vehicle systems according to an exemplary embodiment;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a front view of the instrument cluster of FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment;

[001 1 ] FIG. 4 is a reconfigurable display in the instrument cluster of FIG. 1 illustrating several exemplary alternative images;

[0012] FIGS. 5-8 are front views of the instrument cluster of FIG. 1 during operation, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

[0013] FIG. 9 is a schematic front view of instrument clusters according to various alternative embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring first to FIG. 1 , an instrument cluster 1 0 is illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment. Instrument cluster 1 0 is configured for use in an automobile or other vehicle, such as a bus, train, aircraft, etc. Instrument cluster 10 includes features which make it suitable for a mid-range cost option for vehicles, as will be described hereinafter, but may be modified for lower- or higher-cost applications. Instrument cluster 1 0 includes a housing 1 2 fabricated from plastic or other polymeric material, metal, wood, etc. and includes mounting brackets 1 4 for mounting cluster 1 0 to an instrument panel of an automobile, preferably in the area in front of the driver. Alternatively, one or more components of cluster 1 0 may be mounted in other areas on the instrument panel, such as in the area between the driver and front seat passenger, or in front of the front seat passenger. Housing 1 2 includes a clear plastic front surface 1 6 and a smooth, curving perimeter 1 8 configured for optimal user appeal. Alternatively, one or more components of cluster 1 0 can be fabricated in a module configured for insertion in and coupling to a housing integral with an instrument panel.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of instrument cluster 1 0 is illustrated in communication with various vehicle systems. Instrument cluster 1 0 includes a control circuit 20, which may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other digital and/or analog control circuitry configured to perform the functions described herein. Control circuit 20 is configured to receive vehicle data from a plurality of vehicle systems 22 and to provide the data to the instrument cluster actuators 24, display 26, and speaker 28 via an interface circuit 30. Interface circuit 30 may be any type of mechanical or electrical connection coupled between control circuit 20 and actuators 24, display 26, and speaker 28 and may include suitable interface circuitry, such as a display driver circuit, audio amplifier circuit, etc. Actuators 24 include stepper motor, rotatable motors configured to provide an analog, pointer-type display on cluster 10. In this exemplary embodiment, actuators 24 control the analog display elements for a speed indicator, a rotations-per-minute (RPM) indicator, and a fuel indicator, as will be described hereinbelow. Display 26 includes a reconfigurable display, back-lighting elements including single-color and multi-color LEDs, and other suitable display elements for an instrument cluster. Speaker 28 provides audible tones having one or more frequencies to the user of the vehicle, as will be described hereinbelow.

[0016] Vehicle systems 22 include, in this exemplary embodiment, a tire monitoring system 32 configured to provide information regarding the pressure, temperature, or other characteristics of tires on the vehicle, including the tire location (e.g., left front, right rear, etc.), to control circuit 20 via a vehicle bus 34. An engine control module 36 is coupled to various sensors, including a fuel level sensor 38, an engine oil temperature sensor 40, a vehicle speed sensor 42, an engine speed sensor 44, and other sensors 46 for other systems. Engine control module 36 provides information from these and other sensors and systems on vehicle bus 34. Systems 22 further include navigation system 48, such as a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, which may also include a geographic information system (GIS) database, a vehicle compass, a gyroscope, vehicle speed sensors, or other navigation sensors and systems. Navigation system 48 provides vehicle location, waypoint, destination, and other data via vehicle bus 34 to control circuit 20. Near obstacle detection system 50 may be a parking assistant system including infrared, radio frequency, sound, or other sensors in the vicinity of the vehicle for identifying the distance between the vehicle and nearby objects, such as walls in a parking garage. System 50 provides near obstacle detection data via vehicle bus 34 to control circuit 20. Other systems 52 may also be provided such as, outside air temperature, conditions, etc. It is also understood that buses of various types may be implemented between vehicle systems 22 and control circuit 20, including fixed buses, single-wire buses, controller area network (CAN) buses, differential buses, etc. Further, the functions hereinafter will illustrate other modifications of the system disclosed in FIG. 2 required to achieve the intended functions of instrument cluster 1 0.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 3, a front view of instrument cluster 1 0 is illustrated. Advantageously, instrument cluster 1 0 organizes a display of information in a hierarchical manner to optimize the vehicle driver's attention.

In one example of this hierarchical order, a vehicle speed indicator 54 is disposed in a central one-third of cluster 1 0, an engine speed indicator 56 is disposed in a left one-third of cluster 1 0, and a fuel level indicator 58 is disposed in a right one-third of cluster 1 0. In a further example, a reconfigurable display (shown as reconfigurable display screen 60) is disposed in the central one-third of cluster 10, in a lower half of the central one-third.

The reconfigurable display screen 60 is disclosed centrally due to the importance of information which is displayed thereon, as will be described hereinafter, but is disposed in the lower half of the central one-third since the vehicle speed indicator 54 is typically used more frequently during driving. In alternative embodiment, wherein vehicle speed indicator 54 is provided as part of the reconfigurable display, display screen 60 can occupy a majority of the central one-third of the display. In this example, with the vehicle stopped, the vehicle speed indicator 54 can disappear and a majority of display screen 60 can be used to provide other vehicle information.

[0018] Vehicle speed indicator 54 is the primary instrument in this exemplary embodiment. Engine speed indicator 56, or tachometer, and fuel level indicator

58 are secondary instruments in this exemplary embodiment. Display screen

60 provides tertiary information. A plurality of critical telltale indicators 62 are disposed along the periphery of the right-most edge of cluster 1 0. Critical telltale indicators 62 comprise a cruise control indicator, a vehicle battery indicator, a seatbelt condition indicator, an engine oil level indicator, a vehicle security system indicator, an emergency brake indicator, a traction control on/off indicator, and a check engine indicator, or other critical indicators. A plurality of cautionary telltale indicators 64 are disposed along the left-most perimeter of cluster 1 0 and include a high-beam indicator, a low-beam indicator, a fog light indicator, a rear fog light indicator, a rear window defrost indicator, a service engine soon indicator, an antilock brake system (ABS) indicator, and an airbag indicator, or other cautionary indicators. Thus, indicators relating to critical vehicle information are disposed together along a right periphery of cluster 1 0 and indicators providing cautionary vehicle information are disposed together along a left perimeter of cluster 1 0. Critical telltale indicators 62 include a red lighting color to indicate the criticality of the telltales, and cautionary telltale indicators 64 include a yellow, gold, or amber lighting color to indicate a cautionary condition. The high-beam indicator is blue, per conventional use.

[0019] Each of vehicle speed indicator 54, engine speed indicator 56, and fuel level indicator 58 includes a step- or motor-driven pointer which emits light per light supplied from a multi-colored LED disposed behind the surface of cluster 1 0. Each of indicators 54, 56 and 58 further includes back-lit numerals or letters and level indicator marks or tick marks 66. Level indicator marks 66 and letters or numerals 68 may be back-lit with a single color, such as white, red, or gold, or may alternatively be back lit with multiple colors, for example, wherein tick mark 70 is back lit with a gold color to indicate a cautionary level of fuel and tick mark 72 is back lit with a red color to indicate a critical fuel level. Tick marks and numerals that represent engine speed at or above 6,500 RPMs, such as tick mark 74, are also colored in red in this exemplary embodiment. As a further feature, various sets of tick marks and/or numerals may be one or more colors at different times during operation based on user configuration and the state of the measured sensor, as will be described in exemplary form hereinafter. Alternatively, one or more of indicators 54, 56 and 58 may be reconfigurable displays. According to one alternative, all or most of the display elements of cluster 1 0 are displayed on a single reconfigurable display. In this alternative embodiment, the display can be configured to display images from cameras coupled to the vehicle and configured to scan areas in or around the vehicle. [0020] The reconfigurable display may be any type of color or gray-scale display having a display screen 60. According to one exemplary embodiment, a Sharp TFT-LCD #LQ049B5DG01 color dot matrix (active matrix) display having a size of 1 20 mm x 36 mm may be used. In this exemplary embodiment, a dividing member 78 (e.g., partition, trim piece, bezel, divider, etc.) is disposed in a circular configuration around vehicle speed indicator 54. Dividing member 78 is disposed across a portion of the display screen 60. Although the display (and display screen 60) is a square display, when dividing member 78 is disposed over the display, the combination of dividing member 78 and display screen 60 provides the illusion of multiple reconfigurable displays, such as, PRNDL display 80, odometer display 82, and reconfigurable display 84. Thus, dividing member 78 divides, partitions or separates display screen 60 into a plurality of portions which may have curved edges and curved shapes. Providing curved edges and curved shapes in a liquid crystal display is typically very costly. Therefore, the combination of dividing member 78 with display screen 60 provides the appearance of the curved display without the attendant costs thereof, because a square-shaped reconfigurable display can be utilized. Dividing member 78 further distributes the display screen 60 in a hierarchical manner to provide critical information (e.g., tire pressure) centrally (i.e., inside dividing member 78) and less critical information (e.g., PRNDL or odometer information peripherally (i.e., outside dividing member 78). This feature provides the illusion of multiple displays having rounded edges from a single display having a rectangular shape. The advantages are not only aesthetic, but also include the advantages of organizing critical information centrally and less critical information peripherally to further assist the driver. According to one exemplary embodiment, the instrument cluster is configured to display both mission critical and non-mission critical information and further configured to automatically display cautionary or critical conditions of the vehicle using color to indicate the level of warning.

[0021 ] According to various alternative embodiments shown in FIG. 9, one or more displays may be provided (designated in FIG. 9 as D1 , D2, etc.). The one or more displays may be provided adjacent to each other (see display screen 60a, having displays D1 and D2 provided adjacent to each other), or in a variety of other spatial configurations (see display screen 60b, having displays D1 and D2 separated from each other). A variety of dividing members having a variety of different shapes may be provided on the display (see, e.g., dividing members 78a and 78b). For example, the dividing member may include a circular portion (see display 60a), a rectangular portion (see also display 60a), an oval portion (see display 60c) . The one or more dividing members are configured to divide the one or more display screens into one or more information zones, display portions, or display areas (designated in FIG. 9 as E1 , E2, E3, etc.) .

[0022] Reconfigurable display screen 60 may be configured to provide one or more types of information based on certain events in the vehicle. For example, the status of fluids, such as battery, oil, engine temperature, and tire pressure, may be provided. Optionally, the direction of the vehicle as determined by a vehicle compass, a turn-by-turn navigation system, a parking aid, or other accessories may also be provided. Further still, text messages, such as warnings (e.g., "low fuel level"), or other "what to do" instructions may be provided to the user.

[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary reconfigurable display screen 60 is illustrated showing turn-by-turn navigation instructions based on information received from navigation system 48. In this example, reconfigurable display screen 60 instructs the driver to turn on New York Avenue which is 2.5 miles ahead. A direction icon 86 instructs the user to turn right. During turn-by-turn navigation, the information displayed in reconfigurable display screen 60 can be color-coded to indicate how near the destination is. For example, if the destination is several miles distant, the information is provided in the color green. If the destination is less then one mile distant, the information is provided in amber. If the destination has been passed, the information is provided in red. [0024] Further, display screen 60 illustrates an option wherein the user may toggle between an odometer reading on odometer display 82 and a trip odometer reading in response to actuation of an operator input device, such as a switch, button, or voice command. Diagram 90 illustrates the display of tire pressure status indicating a nominal or "O.K. " tire pressure condition for the left front tire. The text "Left Front 34 PSI" and the symbol "O.K." are provided in the color green, as is a tire indicator 92. Tire pressure information, or other tire information, is displayed automatically during the vehicle's start-up, and may also be provided while the vehicle is operating, in response to actuation of an operator input device. Further still, if a critical or cautionary tire condition occurs, reconfigurable display screen 60 will override the information currently being displayed on display screen 60 and replace that information with tire pressure information. For example, in diagram 94, a visual cue for a critical tire pressure event is displayed to the user, wherein the words "Right Front 1 8

PSI", the "\ symbol", and the right-front tire are all illustrated in red. In addition to the displayed visual cue, speaker 28 provides a single long tone to indicate to the user the critical condition. The tire pressure thresholds which determine whether a tire pressure is nominal, critical, or low/cautionary are preferably pre-programmed into instrument cluster 1 0, but may alternatively be programmed by the user or the sales representative of the vehicle. Diagram 96 illustrates a cautionary/low tire pressure event, wherein the cautionary information is displayed in yellow or amber, and diagram 98 illustrates a nominal tire pressure condition for the right rear tire.

[0025] Diagram 1 00 illustrates engine coolant temperature by displaying in digital form an analog-type display having a needle disposed against an array of temperatures ranging from "C" for cold to "H" for hot. The engine coolant temperature displayed further includes an engine temperature icon 1 02 which may change color based on the condition of the engine coolant. In diagram

100, engine coolant is nominal, and engine temperature icon 1 02 is white in color. In diagram 1 04, a high-temperature/cautionary event is illustrated by an amber engine temperature icon 102 and further by an amber needle 1 06. In diagram 1 08, a critical temperature event is illustrated by the visual cue of a red engine temperature icon 102 and by the red zone 1 10 pulsating or flashing.

Further, an audio cue of a single long tone is provided to indicate the critical temperature event.

[0026] Diagram 1 1 2 illustrates a high engine temperature cautionary warning by displaying the words "High Engine Temperature" and an engine temperature icon 1 14 in amber. Diagram 1 1 5 displays a critical service engine condition by displaying the words "Service Engine" and engine temperature icon 1 1 4 in the color red.

[0027] Other vehicle events may be illustrated using this scheme wherein one color, such as green, represents a nominal condition, a second color, such as amber or yellow, represents a second, cautionary condition, and a third color, such as red, represents a critical condition.

[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 5-8, exemplary features and functions of instrument cluster 1 0 will now be described. When the vehicle is turned off

(i.e., the ignition is off), instrument cluster 1 0 enters a security mode wherein the numerals 68, tick marks 66, pointers 1 20, 1 21 , and 1 22, and reconfigurable display 84 are all turned off. Thus, the only visual display is that provided by the shiny surface of dividing member 78 and the dull, dark surfaces of trim pieces 1 1 6 and 1 1 8 surrounding fuel level indicator 58 and engine speed indicator 56, respectively.

[0029] When the ignition is turned on, all lights and motors on the cluster are actuated for a short period of time to indicate to the user that the cluster

1 0 is functioning properly. Cluster 1 0 then enters a vehicle walk-around stage wherein the vehicle first displays a compass heading 97 (FIG. 5), then cycles through each of the tire pressures, as shown in diagrams 92-98 (FIG. 4), then displays battery condition, engine temperature, oil pressure, and then a textual message indicating "system check complete".

[0030] When the vehicle is moved from park to reverse, the letter displayed in PRNDL display 80 switches from "P" to "R" as the user puts the vehicle into reverse and "D" when the user puts the vehicle into drive. [0031 ] Referring now to FIG. 6, cluster 1 0 displays data from near obstacle detection system 50 including an icon of a car 1 30 and an icon 1 32 indicating a nearby obstacle in the vicinity of the car. A textual message 1 34 indicating "Rear Impact in 9 feet" is displayed. Textual message 1 34, car icon 1 30, and obstacle icon 1 32 are displayed in green, illustrating a safe condition until the vehicle comes within six feet of the barrier, after which the indicators turn yellow, until the vehicle is within three feet of the barrier, at which point the indicators turn red and an audible tone is provided to the user. Similar displays are provided for obstacles in front of the vehicle.

[0032] According to one feature of this exemplary embodiment, a high-speed awareness system is provided. In this feature, as the vehicle speed exceeds a first threshold (e.g., 70 mph), a cautionary speed warning is provided by changing the color of the speedometer needle 1 20 to amber and also providing an amber color at the tick marks and numerals in the range of 70 to 90 mph. As the vehicle speed continues to increase, if the vehicle speed passes a second threshold (e.g., 90 mph), the needle 1 20 turns red and the tick marks and numerals from 90 to 1 20 mph also turn red, indicating a critical speed condition. The multi-colored speedometer needle 1 20 is enabled by a multicolor LED within cluster 1 0. According to one alternative embodiment, the driver may select first, second, and additional threshold speeds to correspond to cautionary "yellow" and critical "red" levels either when the vehicle is purchased or by using an operator input device mounted to the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, instrument cluster 1 0 provides a fixed display using an analog display element 1 20 (e.g., a pointer) which changes colors to indicate normal (white), cautionary (yellow), or critical (red) conditions. Advantageously, the warning levels are user-configurable and transparent (i.e., the driver does not see the preset threshold until a warning condition exists) . According to a further feature, a textual message may also be displayed in reconfigurable display screen 60, such as "Caution: High Vehicle Speed" when certain preset thresholds are exceeded. [0033] According to yet a further feature, instrument cluster 1 0 may receive information from a GPS system and a GIS system, wherein the cautionary and critical threshold speeds change in real time as the vehicle travels from one speed zone to another. In this feature, the thresholds or levels for cautionary and critical speeds are continuously changing as the vehicle travels from one speed zone (e.g., 35 mph) to another speed zone (e.g., 55 mph). The driver may further set the thresholds or levels at speeds relative to the continuously changing threshold (e.g., threshold plus 5 mph) .

[0034] According to one exemplary embodiment, an operator input device is provided, which may be a dial, rocker switch, or other push button coupled to a vehicle element which allows the user to cycle through the various options to be provided on reconfigurable display 84. During normal driving operation, reconfigurable display screen 60 provides no display of information, to avoid unnecessary distraction of the driver unless a cautious or critical vehicle condition arises, at which time cluster 1 0 provides a corresponding message on display screen 60. Alternatively, engine temperature, oil temperature, battery, etc., may be displayed during normal operations instead of a blank screen. If the user wishes to find out more information about the vehicle, the user actuates the operator input device which is coupled to control circuit 20 to cycle through displays for compass, oil pressure, engine temperature, battery, tire pressure, etc.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 7, according to another exemplary feature, cluster 10 may cease lighting all indicators except for vehicle speed indicator

54. This display will eliminate unnecessary sources of light during certain vehicle operations, such as when operating at night.

[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 8, according to another feature of this exemplary embodiment, during a cautionary or critical fuel level event, fuel level needle 1 22 turns yellow (cautionary) or red (critical), fuel icon 1 24 also turns yellow or red based on the condition, and a textual message in yellow or red indicating the number of miles to "empty" is displayed in reconfigurable display screen 60. The display will override information of a lower criticality (e.g., critical information overrides cautionary information and cautionary information overrides nominal information) . If multiple critical or cautionary information is to be provided, reconfigurable display is configured to cycle through the displays of each information before proceeding to the next level of criticality.

[0037] The features described herein and the details thereof are provided in exemplary form. For example, various display elements may be used to provide one or more of the indicators or reconfigurable displays, including a liquid crystal display, light-emitting diodes, back-lighting, florescent or incandescent bulbs, colored gels, multi-colored light emitting diodes, etc. User inputs to the cluster 1 0 can be provided by push button switch, rocker switch, dial, or other input devices. Further, the information which is displayed in reconfigurable display can include other information from other vehicle systems in addition to those described herein.

[0038] While the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the FIGS, and described above are presently preferred, it should be understood that these embodiments are offered by way of example only. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to a particular embodiment, but extends to various modifications that nevertheless fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . An instrument cluster for a vehicle interior comprising: a control circuit; and a reconfigurable display coupled to the control circuit; wherein the control circuit is configured to receive data relating to at least one vehicle system and to determine a level of criticality of the data; wherein the reconfigurable display is configured to display data of a first level of criticality in a first color, and to display data of a second level of criticality in a second color.

2. The instrument cluster of Claim 1 , wherein the reconfigurable display is further configured to display data of a third level of criticality in a third color, and wherein the first level of criticality is critical data, the second level of criticality is cautionary data, and the third level of criticality is nominal data.

3. The instrument cluster of Claim 2, wherein the reconfigurable display is further configured to: provide nominal information if no cautionary information or critical information is determined by the control circuit; provide cautionary information if no critical information is determined by the control circuit; and provide critical information if critical information is determined by the control circuit.

4. The instrument cluster of Claim 2, wherein the first color is red, the second color is yellow or amber, and the third color is green.

5. The instrument cluster of Claim 1 , wherein the reconfigurable display is further configured to sequentially display multiple data of a same level of criticality.

6. The instrument cluster of Claim 1 , wherein the vehicle system is at least one of a tire monitoring system, a fuel level sensor system, an engine oil temperature sensor system, a vehicle speed sensor system, an engine speed system, a navigation system, and a near obstacle detection system.

7. The instrument cluster of Claim 1 , wherein the reconfigurable display is disposed in a lower half of a central third of the instrument cluster.

8. The instrument cluster of Claim 1 , wherein the instrument cluster is an automobile instrument cluster.

9. A method for displaying information relating to a vehicle system on an automobile instrument cluster, the method comprising: receiving data relating to at least one vehicle system; determining a level of criticality of the data; displaying data of a first level of criticality in a first color, and displaying data of a second level of criticality in a second color.

10. The method of Claim 9, further comprising displaying data of a third level of criticality in a third color, and wherein the first level of criticality is critical data, the second level of criticality is cautionary data, and the third level of criticality is nominal data.

1 1 . The method of Claim 1 0, further comprising: providing nominal information if no cautionary information or critical information is received; providing cautionary information if no critical information is received; and providing critical information if critical information is received.

1 2. The method of Claim 1 0, wherein the first color is red, the second color is yellow or amber, and the third color is green.

1 3. The method of Claim 9, further comprising sequentially displaying multiple data of a same level of criticality.

1 4. The method of Claim 9, wherein the vehicle system is at least one of a tire monitoring system, a fuel level sensor system, an engine oil temperature sensor system, a vehicle speed sensor system, an engine speed system, a navigation system, and a near obstacle detection system.

1 5. An apparatus for providing information relating to at least one automobile system to an automobile occupant, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving data relating to the at least one automobile system; means for determining a level of criticality of the data; and means for displaying data of a first level of criticality in a first color and a second level of criticality in a second color.

1 6. The apparatus of Claim 1 5, wherein the means for displaying data is further configured to display data of a third level of criticality in a third color, and wherein the first level of criticality is critical data, the second level of criticality is cautionary data, and the third level of criticality is nominal data.

1 7. The apparatus of Claim 1 6, wherein the means for displaying is further configured to: provide nominal information if no cautionary information or critical information is determined by the means for determining the level of criticality of the data; provide cautionary information if no critical information is determined by the means for determining the level of criticality of the data; and provide critical information if critical information is determined by the means for determining the level of criticality of the data.

1 8. The apparatus of Claim 1 6, wherein the first color is red, the second color is yellow or amber, and the third color is green.

1 9. The apparatus of Claim 1 5, wherein the means for displaying data is further configured to sequentially display multiple data of a same level of criticality.

20. The apparatus of Claim 1 9, wherein sequentially displaying multiple data of a same level of criticality further comprises cycling through different data related to different automobile systems having the same level of criticality.

21 . The apparatus of Claim 1 5, wherein the automobile system is at least one of a tire monitoring system, a fuel level sensor system, an engine oil temperature sensor system, a vehicle speed sensor system, an engine speed system, a navigation system, and a near obstacle detection system.