Roof construction comprising display means and vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle with a roof construction comprising a panel (3) mounted in an opening (2) in a fixed roof (1) of the vehicle, and a roof lining (10) on the inner side of the fixed roof for concealing the fixed roof (1) and a fixed frame (11) from view. At least one display device (4) is capable of displaying images from its display screen (5, 6) to an occupant (RO, FO) in the vehicle. A drive system (20-24) is provided for moving the display screen (5, 6) at least into a storage position and into an operating position in which the display screen (5, 6) is visible to an occupant (RO, FO) in the vehicle. The display screen (5, 6) is flexible and in its storage position is moved at least substantially into a cavity (9) above the roof lining (10) and thus substantially concealed from view.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vehicle with a roof structure. Background Technology

[0002] For example, display devices in vehicles are known from the prior art, wherein the display device is attached to the inside of the vehicle roof and can be easily pivoted from a storage position to an operating position, in which the display screen is readable by the occupants of the vehicle.

[0003] The use of display devices becomes more complicated when a vehicle is equipped with a roof structure featuring either a fixed, semi-transparent panel or an openable, semi-transparent panel, especially when the roof structure has more than one semi-transparent panel and thus occupies a large area of ​​the roof. In such cases, it is difficult to use display devices attached to the roof because, when in their storage position, they will obstruct the view through the semi-transparent panel and the amount of light that might reach the interior. Similarly, such display devices in their storage position will affect other functions of the roof structure, such as interfering with or completely covering the semi-transparent panel from the inside, or obstructing ventilation when the panel is open.

[0004] From a consumer perspective, there is a trend towards increasing the size of display devices to allow occupants to view larger images. Such larger displays are not suitable for simply rotating downwards from their storage position to the operating position, as this would cause the rotating display to move closer to or even into the occupant's face area. To avoid this, the display device can be moved from its storage position to the operating position in a different manner. In that case, the display device is positioned overhead in a horizontal plane with the screen facing down, and it can move horizontally forward while simultaneously rotating downwards, whereby the front portion of the display device first rotates downwards towards the operating position. This avoids the display device protruding into the occupant's face area. However, even with this improved movement, the display device still interferes with the function of the roof structure. Furthermore, when the screen is facing down in its storage position, there is a risk of damage, for example, due to objects moving inside the vehicle. And when the display devices are visible inside the vehicle in their storage position, there is an incentive for them to be stolen. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle with a roof structure for use in conjunction with a display device, which can be used independently of the function of the roof structure and is protected from damage and theft.

[0006] The stated purpose is achieved according to the roof structure and vehicle of this application.

[0007] Because the display device is positioned above the headliner when in its storage location, it is protected from damage that could be caused by moving objects within the interior space. Since the headliner also conceals the display device from view, it does not interfere with, for example, allowing light to enter through an open or transparent panel when in its storage location. The flexibility of the screen allows for undisturbed movement of the display screen into and out of its operating position.

[0008] In one embodiment, the flexible display screen is connected to at least first and second support elements. The first support element is movable along a generally horizontal guide to move the display screen away from and into the cavity. The second support element is also movable along the guide and is movable downward and upward to move the screen to and from its lower operating position. A winding roller is provided to allow the second support element to form the display screen by unfolding it.

[0009] Therefore, not only can the display screen be moved to its storage location without obstruction, but its size is also minimized by winding it onto the winding roller. The display screen can be unfolded in a manner that does not disturb the occupants.

[0010] At least one of the first and second support elements may include a winding roller to unfold and wind the flexible display screen.

[0011] Preferably, the display device may include a third support element that can also move along the generally horizontal guide, and a support beam that carries the second support element via a vertical motion mechanism, preferably a vertical link, the vertical motion mechanism forming at least a portion of the drive system, wherein the display screen preferably extends between the first and second support elements and between the second and third support elements to display images in two opposite directions.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first to third support elements and the support beam can move as a unit along the generally horizontal guide to move the display screen from a storage position within the cavity and to a storage position within the cavity, while the first and third support elements are connected to the vertical link via a horizontal link and are configured to move relative to each other and relative to the support beam to activate the horizontal link and thereby activate the vertical link to move the second support element downward and upward.

[0013] The drive system may include at least one drive motor capable of driving at least one pair of flexible drive cables extending along the guide, the drive cables being connected to at least one of the support elements.

[0014] The at least one panel may be at least semi-transparent and may be covered from the inside by a sunshade to block light reaching through the panel. The sunshade is preferably in the form of a roller shutter, which may be rolled onto or unrolled from a winding roller positioned within a cavity for the at least one display screen. The display screen is preferably positioned below the sunshade so that the sunshade can be closed when the display device is in its operating position, and thus direct sunlight cannot reach the display screen.

[0015] In one embodiment, the drive cable is operatively connected to the sunshade and the display device, and the drive system of the display is provided with a coupling / disengagement member to couple to or detach from the drive cable or the guide.

[0016] In one particular embodiment, the display screen is formed from a sunshade screen in the form of a roll-up screen. Thus, the sunshade screen and the display screen are integrated.

[0017] The present invention also includes a roof structure for use in a vehicle as described above. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the roof structure and vehicle according to the invention.

[0019] Figure 1 A very schematic longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle with a roof structure.

[0020] Figure 2A-2C Shown at a slightly larger scale Figure 1 It is part of the vehicle's interior, where the display device is located in three different positions.

[0021] Figure 3AThis is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the roof structure, in which the display device is in its operating position.

[0022] Figure 3B Shown at a larger scale Figure 3A Details IIIB.

[0023] Figures 4A-4C A side view of the display device is shown, illustrating three different positions of the display device.

[0024] Figure 5 shows the corresponding... Figure 4C This is a view, but it shows another embodiment of the display device.

[0025] Figures 6A-6D correspond to Figures 4A-4C The view shown is of another embodiment and has a different location for the display device.

[0026] Figure 7A -7D is a view corresponding to Figures 6A-6D, but shows yet another embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1 The vehicle shown is, in this case, an SUV passenger vehicle, having a fixed roof 1, the fixed roof 1 including an opening 2 formed therein and a roof structure attached thereto. Figure 1 The roof structure includes, preferably, at least a semi-transparent panel 3. Figure 1 The roof structure shown is equipped with one or more movable panels 3 or a combination of a fixed panel 3' in the rear of the roof opening 2 and a movable panel 3 in the front of the roof opening 2. However, the roof structure may also include a (large) fixed panel.

[0028] The display device 4 is further shown in an operating position. The operating position of the display device 4 is the position where the rear occupants RO (one or more) have the best line of sight to the display screen 5 of the display device 4. Figure 1 The display shows not only the 5 for rear occupants RO (one or more), but also the 6 for front occupants FO (one or more) (if they turn 180 degrees to look back). This is particularly useful in fully autonomous vehicles where no driver is required to operate the car.

[0029] Displays 5 and 6 can be flexible OLED screens or other flexible screens that emit images themselves, but they can also be passive displays that can project images onto the passive displays using a separate projector. When displays 5 and 6 are in their operating position, the projector or similar projectors can be arranged in a fixed or movable manner at a certain distance from displays 5 and 6.

[0030] Figure 2A The view shows the interior of the vehicle, where a portion of the roof structure takes the form of a sunshade 7, which is here a flexible sunshade (roller blind) that can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a winding roller 8. The winding roller 8 is positioned within a cavity 9 above a roof liner 10, which covers from below the fixed roof 1 and the frame 11 of the roof structure (see...). Figure 3A And it is hidden out of sight. As further shown in Figure 2, the display device 4, and at least a portion of the displays 5 and 6, are also positioned, at least substantially, within the cavity 9 when in their storage position, in which they are also hidden out of sight. The opening 12 at the front of the cavity 9 allows the display device 4 and the sun visor 7 to enter and exit the cavity 9. Two elongated guides 13 also extend through the opening 12 between the cavity 9 and, in this case, the front of the roof opening 2. The guides 13 extend below the side edges of the roof opening 2 and are used not only to guide the generally horizontal movement of the components of the display device 4, but also to guide the components of the operating mechanism (not shown) for the movable panel 3 and to guide the sun visor 7, and particularly the operating beam 14 to which the sun visor 7 is attached, the free forward end of the sun visor 7. Typically, the guides 13 are covered from below by the roof liner 10.

[0031] Figure 2B This illustrates how the display device 4 moves forward along the guide 13 from its storage position within the cavity 9 to a position just behind the front seat 15 at a suitable viewing distance for the rear occupant RO. It is also shown that the display device 4 moves to this position simultaneously with the operating beam 14 to deploy the sun visor 7.

[0032] exist Figure 2A-2C As can be seen, the display device 4 includes a rear support element 16 that carries the rear winding roller 16', a second support element 17 in the form of a vertically movable central guide beam that defines the lower edge of the displays 5 and 6, and a third support element 18 that includes the front winding roller 18'. Figure 2A and 2B Between their positions, these support elements 16-18 move as a unit. Figure 2BIn this position, the rear winding roller 16' is locked relative to the guide 13 and unlocked from the front winding roller 18' and the central guide beam 17. As the operating beam 14 moves further forward, it still carries the front winding roller 18', while the rear winding roller 16' remains stationary. This relative movement between the support elements 16 and 18 is used to move the central guide beam 17 downward, thereby unfolding the flexible displays 5 and 6 from the winding rollers 16' and 18' to move them into their operating positions. Figure 2C As shown, when the front winding roller 18' and the center guide beam 17 have reached their end positions, the operating beam 14 can separate from the front winding roller 18' so as to move to the front side of the opening 2 and thus completely cover the opening 2 to prevent sunlight from entering the vehicle interior through the roof opening 2 and the panels 3, 3'.

[0033] Figure 3A and 3B An example of a drive system is shown that uses the relative movement of support elements 16 and 18 to move guide beam 17. First, there is a support beam 19, which is slidably guided in guide member 13 through its ends. Guide beam 17 is moved by support beam 19 via vertical link 20 (in... Figure 3B Only one of the connecting rods is shown, but identical but mirror-image connecting rods are provided near the opposite ends of support beam 19, see [reference]. Figure 3A The horizontal link 21 (also present on the other side) is connected to the first and third support elements 16, 18 and the vertical link 21, such that when the leg of the horizontal link 21 moves from a parallel position to a triangular shape (with the guide 13 as the base), the parallel leg of the vertical link 20 also moves from a parallel (horizontal, lateral) position to a triangular shape (with the support beam 19 as the base), so that the guide beam 17 moves downward.

[0034] like Figure 3B As shown, the legs of the horizontal link 21 are pivotally connected to the slider 22 on the support beam 19, while one of the legs of the vertical link 20 is also pivotally connected to the slider 22. As a result, the movement of the horizontal link 21 is transmitted as the vertical movement of the vertical link 20, and thus as the vertical movement of the guide beam 17 to unfold the displays 5 and 6. The subsequent movement of the displays 5 and 6 to the storage position occurs in reverse order.

[0035] The support elements 16, 18 and support beam 19 for the winding rollers 16', 18' will have sliding pads at the ends of sliding grooves in their engagement guides 13, allowing for sliding movement relative to these guides 13, just like the operating beam 14. When the operating beam 14 is electrically operated, there is an electric motor 23 mounted on the frame 11, and a push-pull cable 24 connecting the electric motor 23 to the end of the operating beam 14 via the guides 13. This type of drive system is well known in the art. Mechanisms for engaging and disengaging or locking and unlocking components relative to the drive cable or guide 13 are also known. Figure 3B The components 25 and 26 of such a locking / unlocking system are shown in the figure.

[0036] Figures 4A-4C To demonstrate again how to unfold displays 5 and 6: First, lock the rear winding roller 16' ( Figure 4A And then the sliding motion of the front winding roller 18' continues. Figure 4B And use this relative horizontal movement to convert it into the vertical movement of the guide beam 17 until the displays 5 and 6 are in their operating positions. Figure 4C ).

[0037] Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment in which only the display screen 5 is wound on the rear winding roller 16'. The front winding roller 18' is only used to generate relative horizontal movement, but this can also be achieved by the support element 18 without the winding roller. The display screen 5 is fixedly connected to the support beam 19 at its end away from the rear winding roller 16'. In another embodiment, it is also conceivable to fix the display screen 5 to the guide beam 17. In the embodiment according to Figure 5, the vertical screen 6 can still be used to display images to the front occupant FO. If the linkage between the first support element 16 and the support beam 19 can activate the vertical linkage 20, the front winding roller 18' and its support element 18 can be completely omitted.

[0038] Figures 6A-6D further illustrate how the operating beam 14 of the sunshade 7 controls the movement of the display device 4 so that the sunshade 7 is always closed / at least partially deployed when the displays 5 and 6 are moved to their operating positions. This is not illogical, because the displays 5 and 6 will display their images with optimal quality when the sunshade 7 blocks direct sunlight. If it is desired only to close the sunshade 7, the display device 4 will always move to its operating position unless the operating beam 14 can disengage from the front winding roller 18' at the start of its forward movement, so that the display device 4 remains stationary in its storage position within the cavity 9.

[0039] exist Figure 7AIn the -7D embodiment, the display device 4 and the sunshade 7 have their own (manual or electric) drive mechanisms so that the movement of the display device 4 and the sunshade 7 (operating beam 14) is completely independent of each other.

[0040] As can be clearly seen from the foregoing description, the present invention provides a vehicle with a display screen that can be integrated into the roof of the vehicle, has advantageous deployment movement, and is hidden from view when not in use.

[0041] This invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described above, which can vary in different ways within the scope of the appended claims. For example, it is possible that the sun visor and the display screen are integrated, such that a portion of the sun visor can move downwards into the shape shown to form the display screen. For example, in the operating position of the display screen, two parallel, spaced-apart support rollers can be arranged below the closed sun visor, while a vertically movable guide beam, although above the sun visor, is positioned between the support rollers such that when it moves downwards, it forms a downward V-shape in the sun visor. Both legs of the V-shape can serve as the display screen. Furthermore, it is possible that instead of the first and / or third support elements comprising winding rollers (one or more), a second support element is used. The embodiment shown in the drawings shows a display screen extending from one guide to another, thus being approximately as wide as the panel. If a central longitudinal beam exists along the roof inside the vehicle, this central beam can carry additional guides, allowing two separate displays to be formed: one on each side of the central beam.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a roof structure, comprising: At least one panel (3) is mounted in a roof opening (2) in a fixed roof (1) of the vehicle. A fixed frame (11), to which at least one panel (3, 3') is connected. The roof liner (10) on the inside of the fixed roof is used to hide the fixed roof (1) and the fixed frame (11) from view. At least one display device (4), said at least one display device (4) being capable of displaying images from its display screen (5, 6) to the occupants (RO, FO) in the vehicle, and A drive system for moving the display screens (5, 6) at least to a storage position and to an operating position, in which the display screens (5, 6) are visible to the occupants (RO, FO) of the vehicle. The feature is that the display screen (5, 6) is a flexible display screen, and in its storage position it moves at least substantially into the cavity (9) above the roof liner (10) and is therefore substantially hidden from view. The flexible display screen is connected to at least a first support element (16) and a second support element (17). The first support element (16) is movable along a generally horizontal guide (13) to move the display screen away from and into the cavity (9). The second support element (17) is also movable along the guide (13) and is movable downward and upward to move the display screen (5, 6) to and from its lower operating position. Winding rollers (16', 18') are provided to allow the second support element (17) to form the display screen (5, 6) by unfolding the display screen (5, 6).

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one of the first support element (16) and the second support element (17) includes a winding roller (16') to unfold and wind the flexible display screen.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first support element (16) includes the winding roller (16').

4. The vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that, The second support element (17) includes the winding roller (16').

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, including a third support element (18) that can also move along the generally horizontal guide, and a support beam (19) that carries the second support element (17) via a vertical movement mechanism.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that, The vertical motion mechanism is a vertical link (20), which forms at least a part of the drive system.

7. The vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that, The display screens (5, 6) extend between the first support element (16) and the second support element (17) and between the second support element and the third support element (17, 18) to display images in two opposite directions.

8. The vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first support element (16), the second support element (17), and the third support element (18) and the support beam (19) can move as a unit along the generally horizontal guide (13) to move the display screen (5, 6) from the storage position in the cavity (9) and to the storage position in the cavity (9), while the first support element (16) and the third support element (18) are connected to the vertical link (20) via a horizontal link (21) and are configured to move relative to each other and relative to the support beam (19) to activate the horizontal link (21) and thus activate the vertical link (20) to move the second support element (17) downward and upward.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive system includes at least one drive motor (23) capable of driving at least one pair of flexible drive cables (24) extending along the guide (13), the drive cables (24) being connected to at least one of the first support element (16) and the second support element (17).

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one panel (3, 3') is at least semi-transparent and can be covered from the inside by a sunshade (7) to block light reaching through the panel (3, 3').

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sunshade (7) is in the form of a roller shutter that can be rolled onto or unrolled from a winding roller (8) positioned in the cavity (9) for at least one of the displays (5, 6).

12. The vehicle according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The drive system includes at least one drive motor (23) capable of driving at least one pair of flexible drive cables (24) extending along the guide (13), the drive cables (24) being connected to at least one of the first support element (16) and the second support element (17), and the drive cables being operatively connected to the sunshade (7) and the display screen (5, 6), wherein the drive system of the display screen is provided with coupling / disengagement members (25, 26) to couple to or detach from the drive cables (24) or the guide (13).

13. The vehicle according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The display screens (5, 6) are located below the sunshade screen (7).

14. The vehicle according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that, The display screens (5, 6) are formed by a sunshade screen (7) in the form of a roll-up screen.

15. A roof structure for a vehicle, comprising: At least one panel (3, 3') is mounted in a roof opening (2) in a fixed roof (1) of the vehicle. A fixed frame (11) is provided, and at least one semi-transparent panel (3, 3') is connected to the fixed frame (11). At least one display device (4) is capable of displaying images from its display screen (5, 6) to the occupants of the vehicle. A drive system for moving the display device (4) at least to a generally horizontal storage position and to an operating position, in which the display screen (5, 6) is visible to occupants in the interior space of the vehicle. The fixed frame (11) is characterized by having a longitudinal guide (13) for the display screen (5, 6), the display screen (5, 6) being flexible to allow the drive system to move the display device (4) into its storage device at the end of the guide (13), such that after the roof structure is installed in the vehicle, the display device (4) will be covered from below in its storage position by the vehicle's roof liner (10), wherein the roof liner (10) surrounds the periphery of the at least one translucent panel (3, 3') and has an opening (12) to allow the display screen (5, 6) to enter and exit the cavity (9) above the roof liner (10). The flexible display screen (5, 6) is connected to at least a first support element (16) and a second support element (17). The first support element (16) is movable along a generally horizontal guide (13) to move the display screen away from and into the cavity (9). The second support element (17) is also movable along the guide (13) and is movable downward and upward to move the display screen (5, 6) to and from its lower operating position. Winding rollers (16', 18') are provided to allow the second support element (17) to form the display screen (5, 6) by unfolding it.

16. A vehicle having a roof structure, comprising: At least one panel (3, 3') is mounted in a roof opening (2) in a fixed roof (1) of the vehicle. A fixed frame (11), to which at least one panel (3, 3') is connected. The roof liner (10) on the inside of the fixed roof (1) for concealing the fixed roof (1) and the fixed frame (11) out of sight. At least one display device (4), said at least one display device (4) being capable of displaying images from its display screen (5, 6) to the occupants in the vehicle, and A drive system for moving the display screens (5, 6) at least to a storage position and to an operating position, in which the display screens (5, 6) are visible to one or more occupants (RO, FO) in the interior space of the vehicle. The display screens (5, 6) are flexible and connected to at least a first support element (16) and a second support element (17). The first support element (16) is movable along a longitudinal guide (13) to move the display screens (5, 6) away from and into the storage position. The second support element (17) is also movable along the guide (13) and is further movable downward and upward to move the display screens (5, 6) into and from the operating position. Winding rollers (16', 18') are provided to allow the second support element (17) to form the display screens (5, 6) by unfolding them.

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