Display system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a display system for a motor vehicle, having a display device with one or more display elements, which are arranged on the upper side of the dashboard such that the image is displayed reflected on a reflection area into the eye region of the driver and / or further vehicle occupants, characterized in that the one display element or the plurality of display elements is / are configured as a display with defined emission characteristics, by which the display image of the respective display element is output in a limited directional range and emission in a directional range different from the limited directional range is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display system for a motor vehicle, which is used to graphically display driving and vehicle-related information, navigation information, communication information and / or media information. Background Art

[0002] A plurality of display devices are installed in motor vehicles, which can be configured as simple illuminated symbols, pointer instruments or screen displays. These display devices are placed in a suitable manner so that the driver can obtain the information to be conveyed as quickly as possible.

[0003] Furthermore, by providing a projection display device, such as a head-up display, symbols or image information can be projected into the driver's eyes. Here, a composite surface, particularly in the form of a reflective surface on the windshield, is used to reflect the projected light beam from the projection device, so that the driver can view the image to be displayed without changing his or her line of sight. However, projection devices for head-up display require a significant amount of installation space, and large-area displays in the form of head-up displays are difficult to implement, particularly in smaller motor vehicles, because the required installation space is lacking inside the instrument panel (i.e., below the upper side of the instrument panel).

[0004] Furthermore, panoramic displays are known, which are formed by arranging a display device on the upper side of an instrument panel or dashboard. These panoramic displays produce a luminous image display that is reflected through the windshield into the eye area of ​​the vehicle occupants. Therefore, such panoramic displays are sufficient without complex optical systems and make a large virtual image visible to all vehicle occupants through the windshield. However, such display devices do not allow for displaying specific image content only for one or a subset of the vehicle occupants. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a display system for a motor vehicle which takes up little installation space and provides a large display area in which a plurality of regions are displayed so as to be visible only to some of the vehicle occupants.

[0006] This object is achieved by a display system according to the invention for a motor vehicle and by a method according to the invention for operating the display system.

[0007] According to a first aspect, a display system for a motor vehicle is provided, which has a display device with one or more display elements, which are arranged on the upper side of the instrument panel so that an image displayed on a reflective area is reflected into the eye area of ​​the driver and / or other vehicle occupants, wherein the one display element or the multiple display elements are constructed as a display with defined emission characteristics, through which the display image of the corresponding display element is output within a limited directional range and emission in a directional range different from the limited directional range is blocked.

[0008] Furthermore, the limited directional range can be defined as a function of the position of the display element and a predefined eye zone of the vehicle occupant.

[0009] The concept of the above-mentioned display system is to arrange a flat display device on the upper side of the instrument panel so that the driver and other vehicle occupants of the motor vehicle can perceive the display of the flat display device by reflection on the windshield.

[0010] The at least one display device is provided with a restricted emission characteristic, by which a display image is output in a limited range of directions and emission in a range of directions other than the limited range of directions is prevented. Providing the display device with a restricted emission characteristic makes it possible to output an image display only for one vehicle occupant, so that the remaining vehicle occupants cannot perceive the image display.

[0011] The display element can have a switchable emission characteristic in order to selectively direct the image display to corresponding reflection areas, so that the image display can be perceived in the eye region of one of the vehicle occupants.

[0012] Alternatively, the at least one display device can be designed to switch the emission characteristic between two different directional ranges for the emission of images. The possibility of providing the display device with a selectable emission characteristic makes it possible to selectively output an image display for one vehicle occupant, while preventing the remaining vehicle occupants from perceiving the image display.

[0013] In particular, a plurality of display devices can be arranged on the upper side of the instrument panel, each having a different emission characteristic and therefore each being perceptible only in an eyebox assigned to a vehicle occupant.

[0014] It can be provided that the control unit is designed to detect seat occupancy and to control the emission characteristics of the display element individually depending on the seat occupancy. By correspondingly actuating the display device on the upper side of the instrument panel, the image display can be made individually visible to the driver and the front passenger and, if necessary, to other passengers.

[0015] Configuring a display device to output an image display only in a specific, limited range of directions can be achieved, for example, with the aid of an orientable backlighting device. For example, the backlighting device can be equipped with a so-called passive shutter film, which limits the directional range of backlight emission from a transparent display unit (e.g., an LCD display unit) through the image display so that the corresponding image display or the image display reflected on the windshield is only visible to vehicle occupants in specific seats. By providing multiple, individually switchable display devices on the upper side of the instrument panel, different image displays can be displayed individually for each vehicle occupant.

[0016] It may be provided that the plurality of display elements are arranged adjacent to one another over at least a partial region of the width of the instrument panel.

[0017] Furthermore, the control unit can be designed to detect a viewing direction with the aid of the camera system and to control the emission characteristic of the display element individually as a function of the viewing direction.

[0018] Alternatively, the control unit can be designed to detect a spoken or gestural user input by means of a voice assistant or a gesture recognition system and to control the emission characteristic of the display element individually as a function of the user input. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The following describes the embodiment in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of a motor vehicle is shown to illustrate the arrangement of a display device on the upper side of the instrument panel;

[0021] Figures 2a to 2c Various alternatives for directionally emitting image output through a display element are shown;

[0022] Figure 3a to Figure 3b A diagram showing an embodiment for variably controlling an emission characteristic;

[0023] Figure 4 shows an embodiment in which the emission characteristics of a display element are achieved by different incidence characteristics into a backlight light guide;

[0024] Figures 5a to 5c shows embodiments in which different backlight arrangements are provided;

[0025] Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the display elements of the display device on the upper side of the instrument panel relative to the lower edge of the windshield;

[0026] Figure 7A diagram showing a top view of a display device and a light path according to one embodiment; and

[0027] Figure 8 A diagram showing the course of the beam of the image displayed by the display element is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic cross-section through a motor vehicle 1 in the longitudinal direction is shown, wherein a windshield 2 and an instrument panel 3 are arranged in a known arrangement. The instrument panel 3 is arranged in a conventional manner below the windshield 2 and adjoins the lower edge 21 of the windshield, so that the instrument panel extends into the interior 4 of the motor vehicle 1. The instrument panel 3 has a substantially horizontal surface 31 that extends substantially over the entire width of the motor vehicle 1.

[0029] In particular, one or more display elements 61 of a display device 6 are arranged on the upper side 31 of the instrument panel 3 between the steering wheel 5 and the windshield 3. The display element 61 can display or output a graphic representation in a controlled manner.

[0030] The display elements 61 are individually controllable elements, each of which has a defined emission characteristic. The emission characteristic is understood here to be the directionality of the displayed or emitted image display of the display element 61. Figure 8 As shown for display element 61 in FIG, the emitted light beam of the image display is directed and reflected on the reflection area of ​​windshield 2 in such a way that the image display is perceptible in the eye region of one of the vehicle occupants.

[0031] The display element 61 of the display device 6 is self-luminous and can be designed as a micro-LED display device or an LCD display device with a controllable backlighting device. The display element 61 is designed so that the emission characteristics allow the image display to be emitted only in a limited range of directions.

[0032] The display element 61 with image output in a restricted range of directions may comprise, for example, an LCD display with a backlight, which is assigned a specific emission characteristic by means of a shutter or the like.

[0033] Figures 2a to 2c Various alternatives for directional emission of image output via display element 61 are shown. Embodiment 2a shows an aperture plate 62, which is arranged parallel to a self-luminous display device (OLED display) or an LCD display device with backlighting. The aperture plate 62 has evenly spaced openings that are configured as a rectangular grid or as parallel longitudinal slits. The positional relationship of the aperture plate 62 relative to the display element 61 predetermines one or more display directions of the emission characteristic.

[0034] Figure 2b The use of a film 63 having a prismatic structure over a display element 61 , in particular an LCD display with backlighting, is shown in order to achieve directional emission properties.

[0035] Figure 2c The use of a film 64 with lenticular lenses over a display element 61 , in particular an LCD display with backlighting, is shown in order to achieve directional emission properties.

[0036] Alternatively, the display element 61 can also be designed with a switchable emission characteristic, which enables a switch between the respective orientation areas of the output image display.

[0037] Figure 3a to Figure 3b A possible approach to variably controlling the emission characteristics by moving optical elements is shown. Figure 3a and Figure 3b Similar to Figure 2c In an embodiment, a film 64 with a lenticular lens 61 is shown that can be moved transversely to the LCD display device, so that the emission direction can be changed. For this purpose, an electrically controllable movement actuator 60 is provided, which is controlled by a suitable control unit to move the film 64 transversely relative to the display element 61 according to the desired emission characteristics.

[0038] Figure 4 An embodiment is shown in which the emission characteristic of a display element 71, in particular an LCD display, is achieved by different incidence characteristics into a backlight light guide 72. The emission direction or the emission characteristic is adjusted depending on the selection of one of a plurality of incident light sources 73.

[0039] Figures 5a to 5c Embodiments are shown in which different backlight arrangements are provided. Figure 5a An embodiment of the invention has a collimating lens 75 as a backlight arrangement, which can be illuminated by laterally offset light sources 74 , so that the emission characteristic can be adjusted by selectively electrically driving the light sources 74 .

[0040] Figure 5b The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows an arrangement with individually drivable backlight light guides 76 having individual light sources 77 for coupling light into the backlight light guide 76 , which can be driven individually.

[0041] Figure 5c The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows an arrangement having a combination of a backlight light guide 76 with individually controllable light sources 77 and an arrangement consisting of a light source 74 and a collimator lens 75 .

[0042] The backlight arrangement has a diffusing layer 77 in order to achieve uniform light outcoupling.

[0043] Thus, the display elements 61 can be individually activated in order to display an image display for a specific vehicle occupant depending on the orientation of the emission characteristic.

[0044] The emission characteristic of the individual display elements 61 can be configured as a function of their position in the display device 6 (on the upper side of the instrument panel) and as a function of the vehicle occupant to whom the display element is assigned.

[0045] The display element 61 is oriented essentially horizontally, with the image display facing upward. The emission characteristics of the display element can be designed to be obliquely vertically upward and, if necessary, laterally, so that the corresponding image display of the display element 61 can be perceived only by the driver or only by the front passenger. The image display is perceived by reflection on the windshield 2 in a reflection area, which is derived from the optical path between the display element 61 in question and the eye area (eye movement area) of the driver or front passenger. The image display can thus be oriented in the direction of the windshield so that the image reflected therein is perceptible only in the eye area (eye movement area) of the driver or front passenger, while the front passenger or the driver cannot perceive the displayed image.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, the emission characteristics of one or more of the display elements 61 can be switchable so that the direction of the output image display is changed so that either the driver or the front passenger can perceive the image display through the reflective area of ​​the windshield 2.

[0047] Figure 6 The diagram shows a planar arrangement of a plurality of display elements 61 of a display device, which extend on the upper side of an instrument panel. The orientation of the image displayed by the individual display elements 61 can be fixedly predetermined or can be designed to be switchable.

[0048] exist Figure 7 , the light paths between the display element 61 and the respective eye regions of the driver and the front passenger (shown as circles) are shown.

[0049] The activation / deactivation and / or switching state of each display element 61 can be predetermined based on the desired image display for one or more of the vehicle occupants (driver and front passenger). To this end, the display elements 61 can be activated or deactivated by means of the control unit 7. If the emission characteristics of the display elements 61 are adjustable, the control unit 7 can also control the display elements so that the image display appears in the desired eye area of ​​the driver or front passenger.

[0050] In particular, a visual display can only be output to the passenger when the passenger seat is occupied. If the passenger also wishes to have the visual display available only to the passenger and not to the driver, this can be predetermined by a corresponding setting. The control unit 7 processes the corresponding setting and controls the display element 61 accordingly to output the visual display.

[0051] Reference Signs List

[0052] 1 Motor Vehicle

[0053] 2 windshield

[0054] 21 Reflection Area

[0055] 22 Lower edge of windshield 2

[0056] 3 Dashboard

[0057] 31 Horizontal surface of the instrument panel

[0058] 4 Internal Space

[0059] 5. Steering wheel

[0060] 6 Display device

[0061] 61 display components

[0062] 7 Control Unit

Claims

1. A display system for a motor vehicle, comprising a display device (6) with one or more display elements (61), said display elements being arranged on the upper side (31) of an instrument panel (3) such that an image displayed on a reflective area (21) is reflected into the eye area of ​​the driver and / or another vehicle occupant, It is characterized by: The one or more display elements (61) are designed as displays with a defined emission characteristic, by which the image display of the respective display element (61) is output in a limited directional range and emission in directional ranges other than the limited directional range is prevented, The display element (61) has a switchable emission characteristic so that the image display can be selectively directed to a corresponding reflection area so that the image display can be perceived in the eye area of ​​one of the multiple vehicle occupants. The display element (61) has a backlight arrangement structure, which includes a plurality of individually controllable light sources and can adjust the emission characteristic by selecting one of the plurality of light sources.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein: The backlight arrangement structure includes a backlight light guide (72) and a plurality of light sources having different incidence characteristics into the backlight light guide.

3. The display system according to claim 1, wherein: The backlight arrangement structure comprises a collimating lens (75) and a plurality of staggered light sources.

4. The display system according to claim 1, wherein: The backlight arrangement comprises individually controllable backlight light guide plates (76), each of which has an individual light source.

5. The display system according to claim 1, wherein: The backlight arrangement comprises a combination of a backlight light guide (76) with individually controllable light sources and an arrangement consisting of light sources and collimating lenses (75).

6. The display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The limited directional range is defined based on the position of the display element (61) and a predefined eye zone of a vehicle occupant.

7. The display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The plurality of display elements (61) are arranged adjacent to one another over at least a partial region of the width of the instrument panel (3).

8. The display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The control unit (7) is designed to detect seat occupancy and to control the emission characteristic of the display element (61) individually as a function of seat occupancy.

9. The display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The control unit (7) is designed to detect a viewing direction with the aid of a camera system and to control the emission characteristic of the display element (61) individually as a function of the viewing direction.

10. The display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The control unit (7) is designed to detect a user input in the form of speech or gestures by means of a voice assistant or a gesture recognition system and to control the emission characteristic of the display element (61) individually as a function of the user input.

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