Instrument clusters for motor vehicles with reflector plates

Abstract

The present invention relates to an instrument cluster for a motor vehicle, the instrument cluster comprising: a digital display screen for being concealed relative to the passengers of the vehicle and capable of displaying a source image, the source image including a plurality of indicator modules for the driver of the vehicle; and a plate (20) located below the digital display screen, wherein at least a central main portion (20A) and an upper main portion (20B) of the plate are opaque and reflective, the plate (20) being tilted relative to the display screen to reflect the source image toward the driver so that the driver perceives a virtual image located in front of the plate (20) in his field of vision, characterized in that the lateral portions (20C) and the lower portion (20D) of the plate (20) are transparent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an instrument cluster for motor vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] An instrument cluster is a device typically integrated into the dashboard of a motor vehicle to provide the driver with a wealth of data related to the vehicle's operation (such as the vehicle's instantaneous and average speed, engine speed, fuel level, or further average consumption). The instrument cluster can also display warning signals (excessive engine temperature, insufficient fuel level, or a door not closed) and evidence indicating the activation of certain vehicle devices (flashing lights, handbrake, position lights, low beam headlights, or high beam headlights).

[0003] These instrument clusters, which used to consist of multiple analog dials with luminous indicator lights, now primarily consist of active matrix LCD rectangular digital displays (LCD-TFT), the same type of displays found on televisions and computer monitors.

[0004] These instrument clusters offer excellent image quality in terms of resolution, contrast, and brightness, and can be configured by the vehicle's driver via controls located on the steering wheel or below the display panel. The driver can thus at least partially select the modules they wish to see displayed on the screen, as well as their style and background atmosphere.

[0005] Unfortunately, incorporating such a large rectangular flat screen into the dashboard would impose significant limitations on stylistic possibilities and thus require a particularly large amount of integration effort during the dashboard's design phase.

[0006] Also known from document FR3074925A1 is an instrument cluster for a motor vehicle, the instrument cluster comprising: a digital display screen for being hidden relative to the passengers of the vehicle and capable of displaying a source image including a plurality of indicator modules for the driver of the vehicle; and an opaque reflective plate located below the digital display screen and tilted relative to the digital display screen to reflect the source image toward the driver, so that the driver perceives a virtual image located in front of the plate in his field of vision.

[0007] The advantage of this instrument cluster is that it can be more harmoniously integrated into the dashboard of any type of motor vehicle because the form and size of the reflector plates can be modulated almost without limitation to optimally match the construction and style of the dashboard.

[0008] The opaque nature of the instrument cluster panel ensures a clear field of vision for the driver to compare with information contained in the source image, and also allows the panel's support components (which connect the panel to the vehicle's dashboard) to be hidden relative to the driver's eyes.

[0009] However, in use, the driver's line of sight tends to be disturbed by the abrupt transition between the opaque panel and the bottom wall of the dashboard (which are located in two planes that are longitudinally offset from each other). Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention is therefore intended to improve the situation described.

[0011] To this end, the present invention provides an instrument cluster for a motor vehicle, the instrument cluster comprising: a digital display screen for being hidden relative to the passengers of the vehicle and capable of displaying a source image, the source image including a plurality of indicator modules for the driver of the vehicle; and a plate located below the digital display screen, wherein at least a central main portion and an upper main portion of the plate are opaque and reflective, the plate being tilted relative to the display screen to reflect the source image toward the driver, so that the driver perceives a virtual image located in front of the plate in his field of vision, characterized in that the lateral and lower portions of the plate are transparent.

[0012] The side and lower portions of the panel are transparent, which allows for a less prominent transition between the panel of the instrument cluster and the bottom wall of the dashboard located in front of the panel, while giving the same panel a particularly aesthetically pleasing floating impression.

[0013] These lateral and lower sections also highlight the underbody covering of the dashboard, a larger surface of which is visible to the driver.

[0014] According to the preferred features of the instrument assembly conforming to the present invention:

[0015] - The transparent side and lower portions have a width of at least 20 mm;

[0016] - The transparent lateral and lower portions are separated from the opaque central main portion by a transition region, the degree of opacity of which varies according to a degradation from transparent to opaque;

[0017] - The instrument cluster also includes a base frame, which includes a base for supporting the digital display screen and a support member connected to the base and supporting the panel. The support member extends in front of the opaque central main portion and upper main portion of the panel, facing the central main portion and upper main portion, so as to remain invisible to the driver.

[0018] - The lateral and lower portions of the plate are also reflective;

[0019] - The instrument assembly includes: a plurality of transparent information symbols disposed on an opaque upper portion of the plate; and an illumination component abutting the front surface of the opaque upper portion of the plate to provide backlighting for the information symbols;

[0020] - The plate is formed of a semi-transparent substrate, which carries an opaque covering layer on its front surface and a reflective covering layer on its rear surface;

[0021] - The transparent informational symbols are implemented by scratching or laser ablation of the opaque overlay; and / or

[0022] The instrument cluster also includes a supplemental side display module disposed on the bottom wall of the instrument panel in front of the panel, so that it is visible to the driver of the vehicle through two transparent so-called side portions of the panel.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present invention aims to provide a motor vehicle including such an instrument cluster. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustrative rather than limiting example only, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a digital instrument cluster according to the invention integrated into a motor vehicle dashboard is shown; and

[0026] Figure 2 This is a front view of the panels included in the digital instrument assembly according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] Figure 1The digital instrument cluster 1 shown above is used to integrate into the instrument panel of a motor vehicle along the steering wheel axis in order to provide the driver with a large amount of data related to the operation of the vehicle (such as the vehicle's instantaneous and average speed, engine speed, fuel level, or further average consumption). The digital instrument cluster is also capable of displaying warning signals (excessive engine temperature, insufficient fuel level, or doors not closed) and indicating evidence of activation of some of the vehicle's devices (flashing lights, handbrake, position lights, low beam headlights, or high beam headlights).

[0028] In the following description, by convention the terms “lower,” “upper,” “longitudinal,” and “lateral” are used to define the instrument cluster 1 in relation to its mounting position on such a vehicle.

[0029] Additionally, the term "basic" is used to indicate that slight deviations from a predetermined nominal position or arrangement are permissible while remaining within the scope of the invention. For example, "basic level" means that a deviation of approximately 10° to 15° from a strict level of orientation is permissible within the scope of the invention.

[0030] The digital instrument cluster 1 includes a digital display screen 10, a reflector plate 20, and an illumination component 30.

[0031] like Figure 1 As shown above, the digital display screen 10 extends substantially horizontally below the cover 2 of the vehicle's dashboard so as to be hidden relative to the driver's eyes, and the display surface of the digital display screen is oriented toward the vehicle's dashboard.

[0032] The display screen 10 is advantageously constructed from a rectangular liquid crystal panel with a thin-film transistor matrix (commonly referred to as TFT LCD, or "thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display"). This type of screen offers both low cost and sufficiently high brightness required for implementing the present invention.

[0033] In a variant, the display screen 10 may be composed of an active-matrix panel with organic light-emitting diodes (usually referred to as AMOLED, or further composed of an electronic ink panel).

[0034] The digital display screen 10 is connected to a graphics computer (not shown in the accompanying drawings), which transmits a source image 11 to the digital display screen in real time. The source image includes a number of indicator modules (instantaneous speed central module, FM radio module, fuel gauge module, rev counter module, etc.) which are drawn in a certain style (e.g., a "classic" style for reproducing the display of an analog dial, or a "digital" style in which all information is displayed in digital form).

[0035] Due to the configuration of screen 10, the source image is not directly visible to the driver. The source image 11 is updated in real time based on the evolution of data collected by the Smart Service Box (BSI) connected to the vehicle's graphics computer. The source image can also be constructed by the driver of the vehicle using controls, for example, located on the steering wheel, so that the driver can at least partially select the indicator modules to be displayed and can select the style to be applied to these indicator modules.

[0036] A reflective plate 20 is positioned below the digital display screen 10 along the driver's field of vision axis. This reflective plate 20 is tilted relative to the screen 10 at an acute angle between 30° and 60° (advantageously equal to 45°) to reflect the source image 11 displayed on the screen towards the driver, so that the driver perceives a virtual image 21 in front of the reflective plate 20 within their own field of vision. This virtual image is tilted relative to the reflective plate at the same angle (thus, as...). Figure 1 As shown above, when the tilt angle between screen 10 and plate 20 is equal to 45°, the virtual image 21 extends substantially horizontally.

[0037] In a variant, the plate can be bent to modify the reflection angle of incident light rays from the source image, thereby modulating the display size and display plane of the virtual image.

[0038] exist Figure 2 As shown separately above, plate 20 here has the form of an isosceles trapezoid and is formed of a transparent substrate, which carries an opaque black overlay on its front surface and a reflective overlay on its rear surface.

[0039] Advantageously, the transparent substrate is molded from a thermoplastic material (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polycarbonate (PC)). The transparent substrate may also be made of glass.

[0040] The reflective overlay is preferably made by depositing material on the rear surface of the translucent substrate, and the reflective overlay has a reflectance of at least 30% (advantageously between 30% and 60%) so that the generated virtual image 21 is sufficiently bright.

[0041] In a variant, the reflective coating can also be obtained by a surface treatment method used to treat the rear surface of the transparent substrate.

[0042] The opaque black overlay is advantageously affixed to the front surface of the transparent substrate by screen printing. The opaque black overlay extends over the central main portion 20A and upper main portion 20B of the panel 20, but not over the lateral portions 20C and lower portions 20D of the panel, which thus remain transparent. This ensures a less protruding transition between the panel 20 and the bottom wall of the dashboard located in front of the panel, while giving the same panel a particularly aesthetically pleasing floating impression.

[0043] The transparent side portions 20C and lower portion 20D advantageously have a width of at least 20mm to ensure optimal floating effect of the plate 20.

[0044] In addition, to facilitate the driver's eye adaptation, the lateral and lower portions are preferably separated from the central main portion 20A and the upper main portion 20B of the plate 20 by transition regions 20E and 20F, the opacity of which varies according to a degradation from transparent to opaque.

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown above, the upper portion 20B of the plate 20 integrates a plurality of informational symbols 22, which are implemented by scratching or laser ablation of the opaque black overlay.

[0046] as Figure 2 In the case of the plate shown above, these informational symbols 22 can be composed of pictographs, which in this example represent the use of turn signal flashers, the presence of danger, and planned maintenance alarms.

[0047] These information symbols 22 may also be composed of other types of pictographs, words or letters that represent the current function or an alarm (signal light, temperature gauge or fuel gauge, airbag, etc.) emitted by the vehicle.

[0048] Each of the opaque reflective coatings, which are respectively attached to the rear and front surfaces of the plate 20, may also be covered with an anti-reflective and / or scratch-resistant varnish, or even a coating that facilitates its cleaning.

[0049] The lighting component 30 includes a housing 31 that abuts against the front surface of the opaque upper portion 20B of the plate 20 and houses a printed circuit board 32 on which a plurality of light-emitting diodes are arranged to ensure backlighting of the informational symbols 22 disposed on the plate 20.

[0050] These diodes are selectively powered to selectively display and illuminate one or more informational symbols 22 on board 20 according to control commands received by the circuit board and transmitted by the vehicle's Smart Service Box (BSI).

[0051] exist Figure 1 Invisible pads are inserted between the printed circuit board 31 and the board 20 to separate different lighting areas (each of which is associated with a corresponding informational symbol 22) and to prevent light leakage.

[0052] Because of the opaque portion of the rear surface of the lighting housing abutting the plate 20, the lighting housing 31 is completely hidden from the eyes of the vehicle's passengers (especially the driver's eyes).

[0053] Note that the luminescent information symbols 22 located in the plane of plate 20 are displayed to the driver's eyes in a forward longitudinal offset relative to the information present in the virtual image 21, which enables the display of these symbols associated with basic information to be prioritized.

[0054] The digital instrument cluster 1 also includes a base 40, which includes a base 41 that supports the digital display screen 10 at a generally horizontal level and a support 42 that extends below the base 41 and supports the reflector plate 20.

[0055] The base 41 includes a fixing member that rigidly connects the instrument cluster 1 to the cover 2 of the vehicle's dashboard. Note that the support member 42 for the supporting plate 20 extends in front of the opaque central main portion 20A and upper main portion 20B of the plate 20, facing the central and upper main portions, to remain invisible to the driver.

[0056] According to an embodiment variant not shown, the support member 42 of the chassis 40 is pivotally hinged relative to the base 41. A motorized component is also designed to adjust the tilt of the support member (and thus the tilt of the plate 20) to suit the position of the driver's eyes so that the driver can see the entirety of the virtual image 21 generated by the instrument cluster 1.

[0057] According to other embodiments not shown, the instrument cluster may also include a supplemental side display module disposed on the bottom wall of the instrument panel in front of panel 20, so as to be visible to the driver through two transparent side portions of the panel.

Claims

1. An instrument cluster for a motor vehicle, the instrument cluster comprising: A digital display screen (10) for concealing with respect to the passengers of the motor vehicle and capable of displaying a source image (11) comprising a plurality of indicative modules for the driver of the motor vehicle, and a sheet (20) located below the digital display screen (10) and of which at least a central main portion (20A) and an upper main portion (20B) are opaque and reflective, the sheet (20) being inclined with respect to the digital display screen (10) so as to reflect the source image (11) towards the driver in order to make the driver perceive a virtual image (21) located in front of the sheet (20) in his own field of view, characterized in that lateral portions (20C) and lower portions (20D) of the sheet (20) are transparent, wherein the lateral portions (20C) and lower portions (20D) which are transparent are separated from the central main portion (20A) which is opaque by transition zones (20E, 20F) whose degree of opacity varies according to a degradation from transparent to opaque. The lateral portions (20C) and lower portions (20D) which are transparent have a width of at least 20 mm.

2. The instrument cluster of claim 1, wherein, The instrument cluster also comprises a chassis (40) comprising a base (41) which carries the digital display screen (10) and a support (42) coupled with the base (41) and carrying the sheet (20), the support (42) extending in front of the central main portion (20A) and the upper main portion (20B) of the sheet (20) which are opaque so as to face them so as to remain invisible to the driver.

3. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The lateral portions (20C) and lower portions (20D) of the sheet (20) are also reflective.

4. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The instrument cluster comprises a plurality of transparent informative symbols (22) arranged on the upper main portion (20B) of the sheet (20) which is opaque and an illumination means (30) which abuts against the front face of the upper main portion (20B) of the sheet (20) which is opaque so as to implement the backlighting of the informative symbols (22).

5. The instrument cluster according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The sheet (20) is formed from a semi-transparent substrate which carries an opaque covering layer on its front face and a reflective covering layer on its rear face.

6. The instrument cluster of claim 5, wherein, The informative symbols (22) which are transparent are implemented by scratching or laser ablation of the opaque covering layer.

7. The instrument cluster of claim 6, wherein, The instrument cluster also comprises a supplementary lateral display module arranged on the bottom wall of the dashboard in front of the sheet (20) so as to be visible by the driver of the motor vehicle through the two lateral portions (20C) of the sheet (20) which are transparent.

8. The instrument cluster according to any one of claims 1, 2, 6 and 7, characterized in that, The motor vehicle comprises an instrument cluster according to any one of Claims 1 to 8.

9. Motor vehicle, characterized in that ​

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