Abstract:
A monitor for a vehicle displays multiple language choices upon the operation or activation of one or more devices (usually buttons). When a language choice is made, the monitor displays all subsequent screens in the selected language.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described and claimed herein relates to a method and apparatus for displaying information on a monitor of a vehicle and, in particular, to a method and apparatus for displaying such information in multiple languages. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Work vehicles are conventionally equipped with display monitors which communicate machine status to the operator, i.e., display vehicle information. These monitors allow the same electronics to be used in different markets, markets which often require the information to be displayed in different languages. Conventional monitors may include a number of different languages through which the vehicle information may be displayed but the language setting choices are buried deep within the menu structure making it difficult for an operator to navigate when the initial display language is one that is not understood. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described herein has, among other things, overcome the limitations of conventional display monitors for construction vehicles by displaying a list of language choices in their respective languages upon the operation of one or more typical operational selectors, i.e., switches, buttons, icons, etc. This is done without the need for multiple menus. In this manner, the operator may, upon completing the simple act of operating an operational selector, view the language of choice in the operator&#39;s own language and, thereby, easily make a language selection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a work vehicle utilizing the invention, i.e., the multi-language display system; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates and exemplary embodiment of a diagram for the multi-language display system; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary flowchart of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary menu of language choices; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a monitor screen with data in the language chosen. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a work vehicle which uses the invention. The work vehicle which is, in this particular case, an excavator  10  includes: a cab  11 ; a frame  12 ; an undercarriage  13 ; supporting the frame  12 ; a linkage  14 ; and a multi-language display system  100  which includes a display monitor  110 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a diagram for the multi-language display system  100  which includes a conventional battery  15 , a conventional ignition  16  having an “ignition on state” in which power flows to the multi-language display system  200  and an “ignition off state” in which power does not flow to the multi-language display system  100 , the display monitor  110 , the vehicle controller  120 , a microcontroller  113  in communication with the vehicle controller  120  and operably connected to the display monitor  110 , a memory device  114  in communication with the microcontroller  113 , a conventional power supply  115 , and operational selectors  112   a - 112   b  which, in this exemplary embodiment, includes: an information button  112   a ; a “1” button  112   b ; a “2” button  112   c ; a left arrow button  112   d ; a menu button  112   e ; a down arrow button  112   f ; and an up arrow button  112   g . The memory storage device  114 , which may, in this embodiment, be a USB memory stick may house, inter alia, programming, i.e., software, and language content, which may load when the ignition  16  is in the ignition on state. Note that all of the components are interconnected and that the battery  15  is the only self powered component. Thus, the multi-language monitor  110  and the vehicle controller  120  are powered only when the ignition  16  allows electrical power from the battery  15  to flow to them, i.e., only when the ignition is in the ignition on state. 
     In the described embodiment, any one of the buttons  112   a - 112   g , i.e., operational selector(s), or combination thereof, is “activated” when merely pressed; and “operated” when pressed for a predetermined length of time such as, for example, five (5) seconds. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary flowchart  200  for the invention. As illustrated, when the ignition  16  is turned on, i.e., when the ignition  16  is placed in the ignition on state, at step  210 , the display monitor  110  may determine if a language menu has been requested at step  220 , i.e., if at least one of the operational selectors  112   a - 112   g  was activated at the time the ignition  16  entered the ignition on state. If at least one of the operational selectors  112   a - 112   g , such as, for example, the menu selection button  112   e , was activated when the ignition  16  entered the ignition on state, the multi-language display monitor  110  may, via programming, display a list of available languages on the liquid crystal display  111  at step  230  as illustrated. In the displayed list, the last selected language may appear highlighted as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The list may be scrolled through using operational selectors  112   f ,  112   g , i.e., up and down arrow buttons. A language may be selected at step  240  by activating one of the operational selectors  112   a - 112   e  such as, for example, the menu selection button  112   e . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the language menu will continue to be displayed at step  230  until either a language is selected at step  240  or the ignition  16  is turned off, i.e., the ignition  16  is in the ignition off state. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , once a language is selected at step  240 , the microcontroller  113  detects the selection and, in step  250 , sends a coded signal to the vehicle controller  120  identifying the selected language. In step  250 , the vehicle controller (1) may send a coded signal to the display monitor  110  instructing the display monitor  110  to display all text in the selected language; and (2) may send vehicle data values conforming to the text of the language displayed. The display monitor  110  may then display the selected language with conforming data as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , if none of the operational selectors  112   a - 112   e  was activated at step  220 , then the multi-language display system  100  may, at step  270 , display its default startup screen in the language last selected and displayed. Information in all subsequent screens may also be displayed in the language last selected. If a language selector(s) is subsequently operated at step  280 , the microcontroller  113  moves to step  230  via software and the multilanguage display system  100  continues through the subsequent steps as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and described above. 
     Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.