Display device having transition formed in wedge-shaped section to deflect light that deforms display

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (1) for displaying information of a handle (3) of a motor vehicle having an operating element (2), comprising an optical body (10) having a display surface (14) lying on a first plane (11) and a reflection surface (15) lying on a second plane (12), and a recess (20) intersecting the first plane (11) for receiving the operating element (2), the first plane (11) and the second plane (12) intersect to form a wedge-shaped section (19), and wherein the optical body (10) in the wedge-shaped section (19) defines a transition (30) between the display surface (14) and the reflective surface (15), the transition being configured to direct light (L1, L2, L3) coupled into the groove (20) in the direction of the wedge-shaped section (19), rather than in the direction of the display surface (14).

Description

[0001] manual:

[0002] The invention relates to a display device for displaying information on a handle of a motor vehicle, wherein the handle has an operating element.

[0003] A large number of display devices with built-in operating elements or with operating elements are known from the prior art. Some of them also include display devices with optical bodies that can read display content.

[0004] If an operating element is embedded in the optical body, the edge of the recess for embedding the operating element or the recess or the operating element may be reflected on the display surface formed by the optical body and thus be visible on the display surface, which may be perceived as disturbing by the observer and in most cases also reduces the readability of such a display device.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and to provide a display device in which, on its display surface provided by the optical body, reflections generated by elements embedded in the optical body or recesses in the optical body are minimized.

[0006] This object is achieved by the combination of features described in patent claim 1 .

[0007] Therefore, the present invention proposes a display device for displaying information of a motor vehicle handle, which has an operating element. Alternatively, the operating element can also be regarded as a part of the display device, so it can also be called a display device with an operating element. The proposed display device has an optical body, which has a display surface located in a first plane and a reflective surface located in a second plane. In addition, the display device has a groove that intersects with the first plane or passes into the first plane, in particular a groove corresponding to the operating element, and the groove preferably defines an opening for accommodating the operating element on the first plane. The first plane and the second plane intersect to form a wedge-shaped section. In the wedge-shaped section, the optical body forms a transition between the display surface and the reflective surface. According to the present invention, the transition section is constructed so that the light coupled into the groove along the wedge section direction, in particular, the light that would be reflected to the display surface when there is no transition section at the reflective surface due to the wedge formed by the first plane and the second plane, will not or at least will not be completely guided to the display surface. To this end, according to the angle of the light relative to the vertical line of the geometric center of the first coupling surface defined below, at least a part of the light can deviate from the display surface and / or the first plane at the transition section, deflect to the first plane without hitting the display surface, or decouple from the optical body.

[0008] This preferably applies at an emission angle of -20° to +20° relative to the vertical, and in particular at an emission angle of -10° to +10° relative to the vertical.

[0009] The transition portion can preferably be formed by at least one chamfer and / or at least one edge and / or at least one rounded portion, but these chamfers and / or edges and / or rounded portions are constructed in their proportions as follows: light from the groove that impinges on these chamfers and / or edges and / or rounded portions is not reflected in the direction of the display surface, or at least is not emitted from the optical body at the display surface.

[0010] Preferably, the optical body has a first coupling surface on the side of the groove facing the wedge-shaped section or on the side of the groove facing the intersection line of the first plane and the second plane, where light can be coupled into the optical body. This results in an aesthetically pleasing appearance, but may cause one side of the groove or the operating element arranged therein to be visible on the display surface, which should be avoided or can be avoided by the above-mentioned measures.

[0011] Another variant provides that the transition is formed by two chamfers / edges, wherein a first chamfer / edge adjacent to the reflection surface defines a surface parallel to the first coupling surface, and a second chamfer / edge adjacent to the display surface defines a surface inclined relative to the first coupling surface.

[0012] For example, light incident at an angle of -20° to 20°, in particular -10° to 10°, about a vertical line of the first coupling surface, the vertical line preferably being located at the geometric center of the first coupling surface, can impinge on the transition portion and not on the reflective surface.

[0013] In this case, it is preferably provided that the first chamfer / edge is larger than the second chamfer / edge and / or that the first chamfer / edge directly adjoins the second chamfer / edge.

[0014] The first and second chamfers / edges must be large enough and form sufficiently obtuse angles with respect to one another and to adjacent surfaces to avoid a risk of injury, so that an operator of the operating element cannot be cut by the chamfers / edges or the entire optics body.

[0015] The display surface preferably extends in the first plane from the side of the groove facing the wedge-shaped section to the transition portion, ie, substantially occupies the entire surface of the optical body in the first plane from the groove to the transition portion.

[0016] The optical body preferably further has a second coupling surface in the third plane, on which light for displaying information on the display surface can be coupled, the light being emitted from the coupling surface, being deflected on the reflection surface to the display surface, and thus being visible to a viewer on the display surface.

[0017] The optical body is preferably an optical crystal, i.e. a rigid body, which is constructed so that the light coupled to the second coupling surface for display is deflected exactly once on the reflecting surface to the display surface, so that the information introduced into the optical crystal by the light on the coupling surface is visible to the observer on the display surface.

[0018] The display device further comprises a display element arranged on the second coupling surface, the display element being configured to couple light onto the second coupling surface so as to display information on the display surface, the light being deflected onto the display surface on the reflection surface.

[0019] Since the display device usually has to be fastened to the optical body and / or the optical body has to be fastened to an adjacent support, the display device or the optical body, in particular on its side defining the third plane, can have fastening elements or fastening interfaces which can produce disruptive visible effects on the display surface due to corresponding reflections. Furthermore, the display element delimits the area of ​​the optical body on the third plane, so that these boundaries, such as display edges, can be clearly visible on the display surface, in particular in the switched-off state. Due to the presence of different color gradations or edges on the coupling surface, the optical body or optical crystal can appear less “bright and vivid” to the observer, in particular when the display element is in the switched-off state, since the color gradations or edges can be clearly visible on the display surface.

[0020] In order to avoid this, the optical body in the third plane has an edge surface, which at least partially surrounds the second coupling surface in the form of an edge and covers the outer edge of the display element and / or the fastening section of the display element and / or the outer edge of the display screen of the display element and / or the outer edge of the light-emitting section of the display element and / or the fastening section of the optical body. Preferably, the edge surface extends outwards from the display element to the outer edge / outer contour of the optical body in the third plane.

[0021] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a non-opaque and / or at least specularly reflective coating, as seen from the optical body, is provided in the edge surface of the optical body or on the entire edge surface for covering the edge surface or covering the outer edge of the display element and / or the fastening section of the display element and / or the outer edge of the display screen of the display element and / or the outer edge of the luminous section of the display element and / or the fastening section of the optical body. Furthermore, the entire (second) coupling surface or the entire optical body in the region of the third plane may also be provided with a coating which is specularly reflective on the side facing the optical body and is light-transmissive on the side facing away from the optical body.

[0022] The coating can have at least one layer, i.e. be embodied as a multilayer. Furthermore, the coating can be a vapor-deposited metal layer, for example aluminum or silver, and / or an optical resonator formed in particular from a plurality of alternating layers for phase shifting light incident from the optical body by λ / 2 or a multiple thereof. For example, these alternating layers can be indium tin oxide (ITO) layers.

[0023] As long as it is technically feasible and not contradictory, the features disclosed above can be combined as needed.

[0024] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Among them:

[0025] Figure 1 A steering handle of a motor vehicle is shown with a display device;

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing a display device;

[0027] Figure 3a A conventional display device is shown in perspective view;

[0028] Figure 3b A conventional display device is shown in top view;

[0029] Figure 4a A display device according to the invention is shown in a perspective view;

[0030] Figure 4b A display device according to the invention is shown in a top view;

[0031] Figure 5a to Figure 5e A conventional display device is shown at different emission angles of coupled light;

[0032] Figures 6a to 6e shows a display device according to the invention at different emission angles of coupled light;

[0033] Figure 7 A display device according to the invention is shown with a display element and a coated edge surface.

[0034] The accompanying drawings are schematic examples. The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings represent the same functions and / or structural features.

[0035] Figure 1 Shown is a steering handle 3 of a motor vehicle, with display devices 1 embedded on both sides of its steering rim 4. The display device extends radially inward from the steering rim 4, that is, it has one end fixed on the steering rim 4 and the other end extending radially inward from the steering rim 4.

[0036] In the transition area from the steering wheel rim 4 to the display device 1 , an operating element 2 is provided in each case in the form of an operating wheel or an operating button which engages in the display device 1 or in a recess 20 of the display device 1 , as described below.

[0037] Figure 2The functional principle of such a display device 1 is clearly shown. The optical body 10, specifically the optical crystal 10, has a display surface 14 on a first plane 11, a reflection surface 15 on a second plane 12, and a (second) coupling surface 17 on a third plane 13. On the (second) coupling surface 17, light L4 and information or images represented by the light L4 are coupled into the optical crystal 10 from a display element 40, such as a display screen, and are reflected or deflected on the reflection surface 15 of the optical crystal in the direction of the display surface 14, so that the observer B can recognize the information or image represented by the light L4.

[0038] It should also be pointed out that if Figure 1 As shown, the display element 40 and the side of the optical crystal 10 having the (second) coupling surface 17 can be fixed to the support of the steering wheel rim 4 or the steering handle 3, while the side of the optical crystal 10 where the first plane 11 and the second plane 12 intersect in a wedge shape is free and protrudes from the steering handle 3 or its steering wheel rim 4. However, the optical crystal 10 can of course also have a coating, so that, for example, the light reflection inside the optical crystal 10 can be improved by coating the reflective surface 15.

[0039] However, if Figure 3a and Figure 3b As shown, a recess 20 is provided to accommodate the operating element 2. Usually, the edge formed by the recess 20 will also be visible on the display surface 14 in the form of a reflection 21, which will accordingly affect the readability of the display device 1 and be regarded as interference by the viewer.

[0040] like Figure 4a and Figure 4b As shown, the display device 1 according to the invention has a transition 30 from the reflective surface 15 to the display surface 14 , which can completely or at least largely prevent such disruptive reflections 21 .

[0041] For this purpose, a transition portion 30 having two chamfers 31 , 32 is provided in the region where the first plane 11 and the second plane 12 intersect or in the wedge-shaped section 19 , through which light entering the transition portion 30 or its chamfers 31 , 32 can leave the optical body 10 or be reflected from the display surface 14 .

[0042] For ease of explanation, Figure 5a to Figure 5e The optical paths of the light L1, L2, L3 coupled at the groove 20 are shown, wherein the optical body 10 does not have the transition portion 30, but Figures 6a to 6e The optical path in the optical body 10 with the transition 30 is shown.

[0043] Light L1, L2, L3 or their exemplary optical paths L1, L2, L3 are Figure 5a , Figure 6a The vertical line L is at an angle of -20°. Figure 5b , Figure 6b It makes an angle of -10° with the vertical line L. Figure 5c , Figure 6c The vertical line L is 0° in the middle. Figure 5d , Figure 6d It makes an angle of 10° with the vertical line L and Figure 5e , Figure 6e The optical element is coupled into the optical body 10 at an angle of 20° to the vertical line L.

[0044] In this case, the optical path L1 corresponds to the optical path coupled to the first coupling surface 16 at the first plane 11, the optical path L2 corresponds to the optical path coupled to the vertical line of the geometric center of the first coupling surface 16, and the optical path L3 corresponds to the optical path coupled to the edge of the groove 20 located in the optical crystal 10. Of course, the optical paths L1, L2, L3 or the light L1, L2, L3 are only representatives and descriptions of the light coupled or coupleable into the entire first coupling surface 16.

[0045] For the sake of clarity, not all features are provided with reference numerals in all FIGS. 5 and 6 , wherein features according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 are present in all FIGS. 5 , and features according to the embodiment of FIG. 6 are present in all FIGS. 6 .

[0046] In FIG. 5 , it can be clearly seen through the light L1 , L2 , L3 or the exemplary optical paths L1 , L2 , L3 that the light L1 , L2 , L3 coupled into the first coupling surface 26 will generate reflection 21 on the display surface 14 at all angles from −20° to 20°.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 6 , the transition section 30 can completely or at least largely prevent the reflection 21 .

[0048] When the angle is -20°, Figure 6a As shown in FIG. 1 , the light coupled in at the first coupling surface 26 is no longer completely reflected to the display surface 14, but only the portion with reduced reflection. Figure 6b As shown, the display surface 14 no longer has any reflection. Figure 6c to Figure 6e As shown, at angles of 0°, 10° and 20°, reflections can be completely avoided.

[0049] For this purpose, the transition portion 30 has two chamfers 31 and 32, wherein the first chamfer 31 is directly connected to the reflection surface 15 and extends parallel to the first coupling surface 16. The second chamfer 32 can also be a rounded corner, located between the display surface 14 and the first chamfer 31, which is selected to avoid the risk of cutting on the one hand and reflect light back to the optical body 10, that is, away from the display surface 14 on the other hand.

[0050] Figure 7A display device 1 is shown in which a display element 40 is arranged on an optical crystal 10, and the display element is configured to couple light L4 into the optical crystal 10 at the second coupling surface 17. The light L4 coupled to the third plane 13 is then reflected or guided on the reflection surface 15 located on the second plane 12 to the display surface 14 located on the first plane 11, so that an observer can see the information coupled in by the light L4. However, in a state where the display screen 41 of the display element 40 is turned off, the display edge on the display surface 14 may be visible. Therefore, a coating 42 is provided in the edge region or on the edge surface 18 of the optical crystal 10, and the edge region or edge surface surrounds the second coupling surface 17 in the form of a frame. The coating 42 forms a mirror image, through which the display edge of the display screen 41 is no longer visible on the display surface 14, so that the optical crystal 10 can still remain "bright and vivid" even when the display screen 41 is turned off.

Claims

1. A display device (1) for displaying information of a handle (3) of a motor vehicle having an operating element (2), An optical body (10) having a display surface (14) located on a first plane (11) and a reflection surface (15) located on a second plane (12), and a groove (20) intersecting the first plane (11) for accommodating the operating element (2). in, The first plane (11) and the second plane (12) intersect to form a wedge-shaped section (19), The optical body (10) in the wedge-shaped segment (19) defines a transition portion (30) between the display surface (14) and the reflection surface (15), and the transition portion is configured to direct the light (L1, L2, L3) coupled into the groove (20) toward the direction of the wedge-shaped segment (19) rather than toward the direction of the display surface (14).

2. The display device according to claim 1, in, The optical body (10) has a first coupling surface (16) on the side of the groove (20) facing the wedge-shaped section (19), at which light can be coupled into the optical body.

3. The display device according to claim 2, The transition portion (30) is formed by two chamfers (31, 32), wherein the first chamfer (31) adjacent to the reflection surface (15) defines a surface parallel to the first coupling surface (16), and the second chamfer (32) adjacent to the display surface (14) defines a surface inclined relative to the first coupling surface (16).

4. Display device according to the preceding claim, in, The first chamfer (31) is larger than the second chamfer (32) and / or the first chamfer (31) is directly adjacent to the second chamfer (32).

5. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The display surface (14) extends in the first plane (11) from a side of the recess (20) facing the wedge-shaped section (19) to the transition portion (30).

6. A display device according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The optical body (10) has a second coupling surface (17) in a third plane (13), and light (L4) can be coupled on the second coupling surface so as to display information on the display surface (14), and the light from the second coupling surface (17) is deflected on the reflection surface (15) to the display surface (14).

7. Display device according to the preceding claim, It also has a display element (40) arranged on the second coupling surface (17), and the display element is configured to couple light (L4) on the second coupling surface (17) so as to display information on the display surface (14), and the light is deflected on the reflection surface (15) to the display surface (14).

8. Display device according to the preceding claim, in, The optical body (10) in the third plane (13) has an edge surface (18), which at least partially surrounds the second coupling surface (17) in the form of an edge and covers the outer edge of the display element (40) and / or the fastening section of the display element (40) and / or the outer edge of the display screen (41) of the display element (40) and / or the outer edge of the light-emitting section of the display element (40) and / or the fastening section of the optical body (10).

9. Display device according to the preceding claim, in, The optical body (10) is provided with a non-opaque and / or mirror-reflective coating (42) at its edge surface for covering the edge surface.

10. Display device according to the preceding claim, in, The coating (42) is a vapor-deposited metal layer and / or an optical resonator formed of multiple layers, and is used to shift the phase of light incident from the optical body (10) by λ / 2 or a multiple thereof.

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