Display device for motor vehicle

Abstract

A display device for a motor vehicle comprises at least one display (1), the display having a display surface (2) for displaying content, wherein the content is displayed on the at least one display surface (2) in a plurality of pixels by light (13), wherein the display device comprises a light-guiding optical system (3), the light-guiding optical system having at least one incident surface (5) and an exit surface (6), wherein, during operation of the display device, light (13) emitted by the at least one display surface (2) of the at least one display (1) enters the light-guiding optical system (3) through the at least one incident surface (5) and exits from the exit surface (6), thereby displaying the content on the exit surface (6), wherein the exit surface (6) has a shape and / or size different from that of the at least one display surface (2), and / or the display device comprises a plurality of displays (1) having display surfaces (2) spaced apart from each other, and the light-guiding optical system (3) has only one exit surface (6) or a plurality of exit surfaces (6) directly adjacent to each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a display device for a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A display device of the aforementioned type is known from DE 10 2017 107 646 A1. One of the display devices described therein includes an LC display for displaying content. The LC display is, for example, arranged in the rear area of a vehicle so that the content displayed on the display can be perceived by an observer outside the vehicle.

[0003] Typically, displays used in vehicles to display safety-related information come from the field of display screens. These displays are flat and mostly rectangular. The illuminating surfaces in a vehicle's lighting systems, such as headlights or taillights, are often equipped with sweep angles and bevels. Furthermore, many surfaces are curved. These contours cannot be accommodated on flat displays. Furthermore, displays known from the field of display screens can only transmit information to one recipient. Furthermore, the information displayed on such displays must always be coordinated for all recipients.

[0004] In communication between automated vehicles and other road users, it is desirable to send information only in certain directions. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a display device of the type mentioned at the outset which can be adapted to the typical contours of a motor vehicle and / or can selectively emit information in different directions.

[0006] According to the invention, this is achieved by a display device for a motor vehicle of the type mentioned in the introduction.

[0007] According to the present invention, the display device includes a light-guiding optical system having at least one incident surface and an exit surface, wherein, during operation of the display device, light emitted by the at least one display surface of the at least one display enters the light-guiding optical system through the at least one incident surface and exits from the exit surface, so that the content is displayed on the exit surface, wherein:

[0008] The exit surface has a shape and / or size different from that of the at least one display surface, and / or

[0009] The display device includes a plurality of displays having display surfaces spaced apart from one another, and the light-guiding optical system has only one exit surface or a plurality of exit surfaces directly adjacent to one another.

[0010] By means of this construction, the display device can be adapted to the design of, for example, headlights or taillights. In particular, the exit surface can have an aspect ratio that is different from the aspect ratio of the at least one display surface. The exit surface can be inclined or provided with a sweep angle. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one display surface can be flat and the exit surface can be curved. Thus, the display device can be integrated into a curved taillight, for example. The light-guiding optical system generates the at least one pixelated display surface of the one or more displays on a curved exit surface. The aspect ratio of one or more displays can be adapted to different requirements by a corresponding construction of the light-guiding optical system.

[0011] It can be provided that the display device comprises a plurality of displays, in particular spaced apart from one another, each having a display surface, wherein the light-guiding optical system comprises a plurality of light-guiding optical components, and one of the optical components is assigned to each of the display surfaces, so that light emitted by the respective display surface enters the optical component via an incident surface of the assigned optical component, in particular light incident via the respective incident surfaces of the optical component exits via a common exit surface or via a plurality of mutually adjacent exit surfaces. The light-guiding optical system can be designed in particular such that, during operation of the display device, light emitted by the plurality of display surfaces exits via the one exit surface or via a plurality of mutually adjacent exit surfaces, in particular the plurality of display surfaces are projected side by side, preferably seamlessly side by side, onto the one exit surface or onto the plurality of mutually adjacent exit surfaces. In this way, the light-guiding optical system can fill in the structurally determined distances between the display surfaces of the displays, so that, for example, a curved exit surface gives the impression of a single display.

[0012] There is the possibility that the at least one incident surface of the light-guiding optical system lies against the at least one display surface, thereby ensuring that the light generated for displaying the content on the display surface enters the light-guiding optical system or the light-guiding optical component with as little loss as possible.

[0013] It can be provided that the display device includes a deflection unit, which is arranged on the exit surface of the light-guiding optical system and, in particular, has a plurality of deflection elements, which are designed for refractive, diffractive, or holographic display. The deflection unit can assign different solid angles to different groups of pixels of light emitted by the exit surface, so that different content can be emitted within different solid angles. This is advantageous in the context of communication between automated vehicles and other road users. Thus, for example, a vehicle can display different content within a first solid angle, where pedestrians are located, than within a second solid angle, where bicycles or other vehicles are located. Each of the deflection elements can deflect a group of pixels. In particular, each of the deflection elements can contribute to each of the images that are emitted within different solid angles. This also allows content emitted within different solid angles to be displayed separately across the entire exit surface.

[0014] If the display device uses a display with a high number of pixels, so that there are very many pixels per deflection element, objects can be generated stereoscopically in 3D by the deflection unit.

[0015] It is possible for the light-guiding optical system, in particular each of the light-guiding optical components, to have an enlarged cross-section extending from the at least one display surface, wherein the cross-section is preferably in the shape of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid, with the smaller diameter of the truncated cone or truncated pyramid facing the at least one display surface. This geometry allows for the distances between the display surfaces of different displays to be bridged using simple components. However, it is also possible for the exit surface of the light-guiding optical system to be smaller than the display surface of the corresponding display. In this case, the larger diameter of the truncated cone or truncated pyramid faces the at least one display surface.

[0016] It can be provided that the light transmission within the light-guiding optical system, in particular within each of the light-guiding optical components, is based on Anderson localization, preferably transverse Anderson localization. Transverse Anderson localization allows light to propagate in the light-guiding optical system or in the light-guiding optical components essentially only in the direction in which the entrance surface and the exit surface are opposite each other. In this way, it is ensured that the arrangement of the pixels on the display surface of the display corresponds as accurately as possible to the arrangement of the pixels on the exit surface of the light-guiding optical system. The light-guiding optical system constructed in this way can therefore transform the flat shape of the display into any curved shape while maintaining the image information.

[0017] It is possible that the light-guiding optical system, in particular each of the optical components, includes at least two transparent light-guiding materials with different refractive indices, one of which can be air, for example. Two light-guiding materials with different refractive indices can lead to the occurrence of transverse Anderson localization. The effect is particularly pronounced when the difference in refractive index is as large as possible. In particular, the transparent light-guiding material can be plastic, glass, or ceramic.

[0018] It can be provided that the light-guiding optical system, in particular each of the light-guiding optical components, comprises a plurality of fibers, wherein each fiber preferably has a cross-section of less than 500 nm. The fibers having dimensions within the wavelength range of visible light or within a range below the wavelength range of visible light also facilitates the occurrence of transverse Anderson localization.

[0019] It is possible that the light-guiding optical system, in particular each of the optical components, includes a plurality of first fibers having a first refractive index and a plurality of second fibers having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index. The alternating fibers correspond to the two light-guiding materials having different refractive indices.

[0020] It can be provided that the at least two transparent light-guiding materials, in particular the first fiber and the second fiber, having different refractive indices are randomly arranged side by side in a transverse direction, wherein the transverse direction is perpendicular to the propagation direction of the light propagating from the at least one incident surface to the exit surface. As a result, the at least two optical materials with different refractive indices are arbitrarily or randomly arranged along two transverse dimensions of the light-guiding optical system or light-guiding optical component and extend uniformly along a third dimension, wherein the third dimension corresponds to the propagation direction of the light propagating from the at least one incident surface to the exit surface. Consequently, the refractive index is constant along one dimension along the respective fiber and random along the remaining two dimensions for all fibers. This facilitates the occurrence of transverse Anderson localization, so that the light propagates essentially only along the third dimension or the direction in which the incident surface and the exit surface are opposite each other.

[0021] There is the possibility that the light-guiding optical system, in particular each optical component in the optical assembly, is manufactured in the following manner: a plurality of the first fibers and the second fibers or a plurality of fibers with bubbles are compressed, heated and stretched in a random arrangement structure, thereby producing a mixed light-guiding material with at least two different refractive indices by melting different fibers or fibers with bubbles. By heating and stretching, the cross-section of the fiber can be reduced to a specification of less than 500 nm. In addition, a strong connection is thereby produced between the individual fibers. If only one fiber with bubbles is used, an elongated air channel is produced by each bubble by heating and stretching, and the air channel extends between the incident surface and the exit surface. In addition, a large number of fibers and bubbles are also arranged arbitrarily or randomly here.

[0022] It can be provided that the display is designed as an LED display, an OLED display, or an LC display, or that the display comprises an LED display, an OLED display, or an LC display. Such a display is suitable for being placed without a spacer on the entrance surface of a light-guiding optical system.

[0023] Preferably, the display device can be integrated into a headlight or a taillight. By configuring the light-guiding optical system, the exit surface can be matched to the configuration of the headlight or the taillight. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are exemplary figures.

[0025] Figure 1 A top view showing a first embodiment of a display device according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 Shown in accordance with Figure 1 a perspective view of a display device;

[0027] Figure 3 A perspective view showing a second embodiment of the display device according to the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 A top view showing a third embodiment of the display device according to the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 A top view showing a fourth embodiment of a display device according to the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 A top view showing a fifth embodiment of the display device according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7 A sixth embodiment of the display device according to the invention is shown in a plan view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In the figures, identical and functionally identical components are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0033] According to the display device of the present invention, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The embodiment shown in FIG comprises a display 1 having a display surface 2. The display 1 can be designed, for example, as an LED display, an OLED display, or an LC display. The display surface 2 is flat.

[0034] According to the display device of the present invention, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The embodiment shown in FIG also includes a light-guiding optical system 3, which in particular consists of a light-guiding optical component 4 with an entrance surface 5 and an exit surface 6. In this case, the entrance surface 5 faces the display surface 2 of the display 1 and rests against it, which is not shown in the exemplary illustration for reasons of clarity.

[0035] The light-guiding optical component 4 has essentially the shape of a truncated pyramid, wherein the entrance surface 5 has smaller dimensions than the exit surface 6. The optical component 4 widens from the entrance surface 5 to the exit surface 6. The entrance surface 5 is flat so that it can lie face-on against the display surface 2 of the display 1. The exit surface 6 is convexly curved.

[0036] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the exit surface 6 has a rectangular contour. However, it is entirely possible to provide other shapes for the exit surface.

[0037] The optical component 4 can be composed of two transparent light-conducting materials with different refractive indices, which can in particular constitute a first fiber and a second fiber. The fibers can be randomly arranged side by side in a transverse direction, wherein the transverse direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the incident surface 5 and the exit surface 6 are opposite each other.

[0038] As a result, the refractive index is constant in one dimension along the respective fibers and random across all fibers in the remaining two dimensions, resulting in an effect known as transverse Anderson localization. Accordingly, light within the interior of the optical component 4 propagates essentially only in the third dimension, or in the direction in which the entrance and exit surfaces lie opposite each other. This ensures that the arrangement of the pixels on the exit surface 6 of the light-guiding optical system 3 or light-guiding optical component 4 corresponds as accurately as possible to the arrangement of the pixels on the display surface 2 of the display 1.

[0039] In the display device according to the present invention Figure 4In the embodiment shown in FIG, a deflection unit (not shown) is provided on the exit surface 6 of the optical component 4 of the light-guiding optical system 3. The deflection unit comprises a plurality of deflection elements that are designed to be refractive, diffractive, or holographic. The deflection elements are very thin and are applied to the exit surface 6 as a coating.

[0040] The deflection unit can assign different solid angles to different groups of pixels of light emitted by the exit surface 6 so that different contents can be emitted in different solid angles. This is advantageous in the case of communication between an autonomous vehicle and other road users. Figure 4 As shown in FIG, the display device Figure 4 A warning of slippery roads is issued in the form of a corresponding image 8 in the first solid angle 7 extending to the right. Figure 4 In a second solid angle 9 extending to the left, the display device issues a warning in the form of a corresponding image 10 about wild animals crossing the street.

[0041] Each of the deflection elements can deflect a group of pixels. In particular, each of the deflection elements can contribute to each of the images 8, 10, which are emitted within different solid angles 7, 9. This also allows the content emitted within different solid angles 7, 9 to be displayed on the entire exit surface 6.

[0042] In the display device according to the present invention Figure 3 In the embodiment shown in FIG, two displays 1a, 1b with two display surfaces 2a, 2b spaced apart from each other and a light-guiding optical system 3 with two optical components 4a, 4b are provided. In this case, the entrance surfaces 5a, 5b of the optical components 4a, 4b are respectively in contact with the display surfaces 2a, 2b.

[0043] The exit surfaces 6a, 6b of the optical components 4a, 4b adjoin each other essentially seamlessly, so that the exit surfaces 6a, 6b provide a large, undivided surface for displaying content. Thus, during operation of the display device, light emitted by the two display surfaces 2a, 2b can be emitted through the two adjacent exit surfaces 6a, 6b in such a way that the content displayed on the two display surfaces 2a, 2b is seamlessly projected onto the two adjacent exit surfaces 6a, 6b. In this way, the distance between the two display surfaces 2a, 2b of the displays 1a, 1b can be bridged, so that the curved exit surfaces 6a, 6b give the impression of a single display.

[0044] Alternatively, a one-piece optical component with two entrance surfaces 4 a , 4 b and a continuous exit surface 5 can also be provided.

[0045] In accordance with Figures 5 to 7 In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , the display 1 is designed as an LC display. Figures 5 to 7 Different possibilities for illuminating an LC display from behind through the back side 11 of the display 1 are shown.

[0046] In accordance with Figure 5 In the embodiment of FIG, light 13 emitted by light source 12 is coupled into a light conductor 14, which extends behind rear side 11 of display 1. Light 13 is emitted from light conductor 14 via a suitable structuring and enters rear side 11 of display 1. Light 13 emitted from display surface 2 of display 1 enters entrance surface 5 of the optical component, which is adjacent to the display surface, and exits from the optical component through exit surface 6.

[0047] In accordance with Figure 6 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , a plurality of light sources 12 , for example in the form of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), are arranged behind the rear side 11 of the display 1 and directly illuminate the rear side 11 .

[0048] In accordance with Figure 7 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , a plurality of light sources 12 , for example in the form of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), are arranged behind the rear side 11 of the display 1 and illuminate the rear side 11 via a plurality of reflectors 15 .

[0049] Reference Signs List

[0050] 1.1a, 1b Display

[0051] 2.2a, 2b Display surface of the monitor

[0052] 3 Light-guiding optical system

[0053] 4. 4a, 4b Light-guiding optical components of light-guiding optical systems

[0054] 5.5a, 5b Incident surface of the light-guiding optical system

[0055] 6, 6a, 6b: Exit surface of the light-guiding optical system

[0056] 7 First solid angle

[0057] 8 Image emitted within the first solid angle

[0058] 9 Second solid angle

[0059] 10 Image emitted within the second solid angle

[0060] 11 Back of the monitor

[0061] 12 Light Source

[0062] 13 Light emitted by a light source

[0063] 14 Light conductor for light emitted by the light source

[0064] 15 Reflector for light emitted by a light source

Claims

1. A display device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one display (1, 1a, 1b) having a display surface (2, 2a, 2b) for displaying content, wherein: The content is displayed on the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b) by light (13) in a plurality of pixels, characterized in that the display device comprises a light-guiding optical system (3), the light-guiding optical system having at least one incident surface (5, 5a, 5b) and an exit surface (6, 6a, 6b), the display device comprises a deflection unit, the deflection unit is arranged on the exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) of the light-guiding optical system (3), the deflection unit has a plurality of deflection elements, which are configured to be refractive, diffractive or holographic, wherein, during operation of the display device, light (13) emitted by the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b) of the at least one display (1, 1a, 1b) enters the light-guiding optical system (3) through the at least one incident surface (5, 5a, 5b) and exits from the exit surface (6, 6a, 6b), so that the content is displayed on the exit surface (6, 6a, 6b), wherein The exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) has a different shape and / or different size than the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b), and the deflection unit equips different groups of pixels of the light (13) emitted by the exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) with different solid angles (7, 9), so that different contents can be emitted in different solid angles (7, 9).

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The display device comprises a plurality of displays (1, 1a, 1b) having display surfaces (2, 2a, 2b) spaced apart from one another, and the light-guiding optical system (3) has only one exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) or a plurality of exit surfaces (6, 6a, 6b) directly adjacent to one another.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) has an aspect ratio different from that of the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b), and / or the exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) is curved and the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b) is flat.

4. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The display device comprises a plurality of displays (1, 1a, 1b), each of which has a display surface (2, 2a, 2b), wherein the light-guiding optical system (3) comprises a plurality of light-guiding optical components (4, 4a, 4b) and one of the optical components (4, 4a, 4b) is assigned to each of the display surfaces (2, 2a, 2b), so that light (13) emitted by the corresponding display surface (2, 2a, 2b) is incident on the optical component through an incident surface (5, 5a, 5b) of the assigned optical component (4, 4a, 4b).

5. The display device according to claim 4, characterized in that The plurality of displays are spaced apart from each other.

6. The display device according to claim 4, characterized in that Light incident through the respective incident surfaces (5, 5a, 5b) of the optical component (4, 4a, 4b) is emitted through a common exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) or through a plurality of exit surfaces (6, 6a, 6b) adjacent to each other.

7. The display device according to claim 4, characterized in that The light-guiding optical system (3) is configured such that light (13) emitted from a plurality of display surfaces (2, 2a, 2b) during operation of the display device is emitted through the one exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) or through a plurality of exit surfaces (6, 6a, 6b) adjacent to each other.

8. The display device according to claim 7, characterized in that A plurality of display surfaces (2, 2a, 2b) are mapped in parallel onto the one exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) or the plurality of exit surfaces (6, 6a, 6b) adjacent to each other.

9. The display device according to claim 7, wherein A plurality of display surfaces (2, 2a, 2b) are seamlessly and juxtaposedly mapped onto the one exit surface (6, 6a, 6b) or the plurality of exit surfaces (6, 6a, 6b) adjacent to each other.

10. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The at least one incident surface (5, 5a, 5b) of the light-guiding optical system (3) abuts against the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b).

11. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The light-guiding optical system (3) has an enlarged cross section starting from the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b).

12. The display device according to claim 4, characterized in that Each of the light-conducting optical components (4, 4a, 4b) has an enlarged cross section starting from the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b).

13. The display device according to claim 11, wherein The cross section is in the form of a truncated cone or a truncated pyramid, and the smaller diameter of the truncated cone or the truncated pyramid faces the at least one display surface (2, 2a, 2b).

14. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The light transmission within the light-guiding optical system (3) is based on Anderson localization.

15. The display device according to claim 14, characterized in that The light transmission within the light-guiding optical system (3) is based on transverse Anderson localization.

16. The display device according to claim 4, characterized in that Light guidance within each of the light-guiding optical components (4, 4a, 4b) is based on Anderson localization.

17. The display device according to claim 16, characterized in that Light guidance within each of the light-guiding optical components (4, 4a, 4b) is based on transverse Anderson localization.

18. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The light-guiding optical system (3) comprises at least two transparent light-guiding materials having different refractive indices.

19. The display device according to claim 4, wherein Each of the optical components (4, 4a, 4b) has at least two transparent light-guiding materials with mutually different refractive indices.

20. The display device according to claim 18, wherein One of the light-guiding materials is air.

21. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The light-guiding optical system (3) comprises a plurality of fibers.

22. The display device according to claim 4, characterized in that Each of the light-guiding optical components (4, 4a, 4b) comprises a plurality of fibers.

23. The display device according to claim 21, characterized in that Each fiber has a cross-section of less than 500 nm.

24. The display device according to claim 21, wherein The light-guiding optical system (3) includes a plurality of first fibers having a first refractive index and a plurality of second fibers having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index.

25. The display device according to claim 22, wherein Each of the optical assemblies (4, 4a, 4b) includes a plurality of first fibers having a first refractive index and a plurality of second fibers having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index.

26. The display device according to claim 18, wherein The at least two transparent light-guiding materials having different refractive indices are randomly juxtaposed in a lateral direction, wherein the lateral direction is perpendicular to a propagation direction of light (13) propagating from the at least one incident surface (5, 5a, 5b) to the exit surface (6, 6a, 6b).

27. The display device according to claim 24, characterized in that The first fibers and the second fibers are randomly juxtaposed in a transverse direction, wherein the transverse direction is perpendicular to a propagation direction of light (13) propagating from the at least one incident surface (5, 5a, 5b) to the exit surface (6, 6a, 6b).

28. The display device according to claim 24, characterized in that The light-guiding optical system (3) is manufactured in the following manner: a plurality of the first fibers and the second fibers or a plurality of fibers with bubbles are compressed, heated and stretched in a random arrangement structure, thereby generating a mixed light-guiding material with at least two different refractive indices by melting different fibers or fibers with bubbles.

29. The display device according to claim 25, characterized in that Each of the optical components (4, 4a, 4b) is manufactured in the following manner: a plurality of the first fibers and the second fibers or a plurality of fibers with bubbles are compressed, heated and stretched in a random arrangement structure, thereby generating a mixed light-guiding material with at least two different refractive indices by melting different fibers or fibers with bubbles.

30. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The display (1, 1a, 1b) is designed as an LED display, an OLED display, or an LC display, or the display comprises an LED display, an OLED display, or an LC display.

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