Display device for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle having a display device

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (10) for a motor vehicle (24), comprising a housing (12) and a flexible screen (14), which can be moved between a plurality of positions, in which, in a stowed position, the screen is housed in the housing (20) so as to be bent about a longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (12), and in a use position, the flexible screen (14) can be moved about the longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (12). The screen protrudes from the housing (12) and is supported by a support element (18) extending from the housing (12). The housing (12) can be arranged in a cavity of the motor vehicle (24), which cavity has an opening to an occupant region (26) of the motor vehicle (24). The housing (12) is held on a longitudinal axis (20) such that it can rotate about the longitudinal axis (20), and the rotation of the longitudinal axis (20) can be transmitted to the housing (12). The longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (12) can be coupled to the wall of the cavity such that, during coupling, the support element (18) is moved through the opening by a rotation of the housing (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle having the display device. The display device has a housing and a screen, and at least a partial area or a part of the screen is flexible or bendable. Thus, when not needed, the screen can be bent and stored in the housing in a space-saving manner. To adjust the required screen size, the screen can move out of the housing along a movement path to a use position. Background Art

[0002] Such size-variable screens are already known in modern motor vehicles. For example, they can be designed as flexible OLED screens. These screens are usually located in the rear area of the front seats of the vehicle or behind the driver's seat and / or behind the front passenger seat. Alternatively or additionally, in modern motor vehicles, various screens are arranged within the instrument panel display area or within the field of view of the motor vehicle driver. Screens that can be stored in the roof lining of a motor vehicle are also known.

[0003] In this regard, motor vehicles with screens are known from US2021 / 0197731 A1 and DE 10 2018 212 604 A1 respectively, in which the screen can be folded down from the roof lining of the motor vehicle so that vehicle passengers (especially passengers on the rear seats of the vehicle) can view the display content shown on the folded-down screen.

[0004] A screen device is also known from DE 10 2020 101 590 A1, which can extend from the roof area or the roof lining of a motor vehicle into the passenger compartment so that the rear passengers of the motor vehicle can view the screen.

[0005] The disadvantage here is that the adjustment mechanism for folding in and out or moving in and out is mechanically complex. The adjustment mechanism is easily worn and has a high maintenance requirement. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a display or screen in a motor vehicle, which is variable in size and can operate with low wear.

[0007] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous refinements of the present invention are illustrated by the dependent claims, the following description, and the drawings.

[0008] The present invention provides a display device for a motor vehicle, wherein the display device has a housing and at least partially flexible screen, and the screen is designed to move back and forth between a storage position and at least one use position along a movement path. For example, the screen can be pushed back and forth between the storage position and at least one use position. The screen can be a flexible or bendable screen, especially an OLED screen or a so-called electronic paper.

[0009] In the storage position, the screen is mostly or even completely accommodated or stored in the housing in a bent manner around the longitudinal axis of the housing. In other words, in the storage position, the screen is mostly or completely rolled up or wound around the longitudinal axis. In particular, the screen is under tension due to bending or folding in the storage position. This facilitates the straightening of the screen when moving to the use position. And in at least one use position, the screen extends partially or completely out of the housing so that the viewer can see the front side of the screen. The screen can be held in any position, especially in at least one use position.

[0010] In order to make the screen stable in the use position, the screen is at least partially mechanically supported by a support element rigidly extending from the housing. In other words, when the screen is in the use position, the support element forms a back side for stabilizing the screen. The support element keeps the screen stable when the screen is touched or operated by a touch command. Optionally, in the storage position, the screen can also move out of the housing to the height of the support element so that even in the storage position, the part of the screen overlapping with the support element is visible to the viewer. The support element can be designed in the form of a support wall or in the form of a plurality of support rods extending from the housing along the movement path. In particular, the support element can be installed in the area of the housing opening through which the screen moves along the movement path to adjust the corresponding screen position.

[0011] The housing is designed to be arranged in a cavity located on the back side of the interior component of the motor vehicle facing away from the vehicle occupant area. In other words, the housing of the display device according to the present invention has corresponding external dimensions that enable the housing to be arranged in the corresponding cavity. In other words, when the housing is arranged in the cavity, the housing is invisible or at least not completely visible to the vehicle occupants in the vehicle occupant area.

[0012] According to the present invention, the housing is held on the longitudinal axis in a rotatable manner by at least one first mechanical driving member. In other words, the housing is fixed to the longitudinal axis by the driving member. The driving member is designed to transfer the rotation generated by a motor (especially an electric motor) arranged along the longitudinal axis to the housing. In other words, the motor is designed to rotate at least part of the longitudinal axis, and the driving member is designed to transfer the rotation from the longitudinal axis to the housing. In other words, the housing can rotate or revolve around its longitudinal axis.

[0013] According to the present invention, the longitudinal axis of the housing can be mechanically coupled to the wall of the cavity. Here, this coupling can be carried out directly, for example, by a fixed connection. However, this coupling can also be carried out indirectly, which means that one or more components can be interposed between the longitudinal axis and the wall. These components can be fixing elements. The longitudinal axis of the housing can have a coupling element that can achieve a mechanical coupling with the wall of the cavity. Through the coupling element, the longitudinal axis can be coupled to the wall of the cavity so that when the longitudinal axis is coupled to the wall, by rotating the housing about the longitudinal axis, the support element rigidly extending from the housing moves or rotates through the opening in the interior component. In other words, the support element can move back and forth along the movement path through the opening by rotation. In other words, the housing can rotate relative to the cavity or relative to the wall of the cavity. In other words, the support element for the screen can be provided in the vehicle passenger area by rotation. As a result, the screen can, for example, move to a first use position where the screen can be fully mechanically supported by the support element.

[0014] The present invention provides a particularly space-saving and dimensionally adjustable display or screen for the vehicle occupant area of a motor vehicle. The display device according to the present invention also has a particularly compact structure and particularly few wearing parts. Therefore, it not only saves space but also has low wear during operation.

[0015] The present invention also includes embodiments that yield other advantages.

[0016] One embodiment provides that the screen is held on the longitudinal axis in the root region in such a way that it can rotate or swing about the longitudinal axis by means of at least one additional mechanical drive member. In other words, the screen has a root region along which at least one additional mechanical drive member acts on the screen. The additional mechanical drive member is coupled to the longitudinal axis such that the additional mechanical drive member can transfer the rotation of the longitudinal axis generated by the motor to the screen or the root region of the screen. Thereby, the screen can move along the movement path by rotating about the longitudinal axis. In other words, the screen is designed to move along the movement path by rotating about the longitudinal axis. For example, the screen can be pushed out of the housing or pulled into the housing along the movement path by the rotation transmitted by the drive member. If the screen is mechanically pre-tensioned and bent in the stowed position in the housing, the screen can automatically straighten when it comes out of the housing. In other words, the motor is designed not only to rotate the housing about its longitudinal axis but also to move the screen back and forth between the stowed position and different use positions. Thereby, a particularly space-saving construction of the display device can be achieved.

[0017] Advantageous improvements provide that at least one additional driving element is designed to transfer the rotation for moving the screen from the stowed position to at least one use position to the screen in the case where the first driving element has reached the stop position of the housing, wherein, in the stop position of the housing, the housing is rotated about the longitudinal axis such that the support element is completely rotated out of the cavity. In other words, starting from the stowed position, the rotation is first transferred to the housing, which is rotated such that the support element is completely rotated out of the cavity and into the passenger compartment. In this position, the first driving element reaches the stop position of the housing. Once this stop position of the housing has been reached, the rotation of the longitudinal axis is transferred to at least one additional driving element. This additional driving element in turn transfers the rotation to the root region of the screen, so that the screen is pushed out of the housing along the movement path.

[0018] It can be provided that even when the screen is in the stowed position, a part of the screen at least partially covers the support element. In other words, in the stowed position, the screen can protrude from the housing at least up to the height of the support element. Thus, when the stop position of the housing is reached, this protruding part of the screen has already been rotated into the passenger compartment. Thereby, a small display surface can be provided for the passengers inside the vehicle.

[0019] An improvement provides that the first driving element is designed to transfer the rotation to the housing only in the case where at least one additional driving element has reached the stop position of the screen. In the stop position of the screen, the screen is preferably in the stowed position. If the screen is to be moved from the use position to the stowed position, this means that the screen is first pulled back mostly or completely into the housing by rotation. Then at least one additional driving element reaches the stop element that defines the stop position of the screen. Thereby, this at least one additional driving element is mechanically blocked, so that the rotation can be transferred to the first driving element. Transferring the rotation to the first driving element results in the housing being rotated such that the support element also rotates out of the vehicle occupant area and into the cavity. In other words, the first driving element and at least one additional driving element can be mechanically coupled to each other.

[0020] An alternative embodiment provides that the first mechanical driving element and at least one additional mechanical driving element are mechanically decoupled from each other and are designed to transfer the rotation to the housing or the screen independently of each other. The advantage resulting therefrom is that the rotation of the longitudinal axis can be flexibly transferred to the housing and / or the screen regardless of whether one of the above-mentioned stop positions has been reached.

[0021] Another embodiment proposes that the display device is designed to drive a motor according to the current display content to be displayed, so as to adjust the screen size corresponding to the display content. For this purpose, the display device can receive a corresponding command from the control device of the motor vehicle. This command can be generated, for example, based on a voice signal and / or a gesture control signal and / or according to the current driving mode of the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle occupant can directly generate a command using a touch operation on the screen. For example, a relatively small screen area can be used to display simple status indicators and / or air conditioning controls. A relatively large screen area can be used to display entertainment content, especially movies and / or games. By rotating or rotating the housing, the viewing angle towards the screen can also be advantageously adjusted additionally.

[0022] Preferably, the screen is designed to move continuously / steplessly along a movement path to adjust the corresponding screen size. For example, this can be achieved by moving the rear element of another stable screen together with the screen in and out telescopically.

[0023] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a display device. The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as an automobile, especially a passenger car or a truck, or a passenger bus or a motorcycle.

[0024] In the motor vehicle according to the invention, the display device has a housing and at least a partially flexible screen, which is designed to move back and forth between a storage position and at least one use position along a movement path. In the storage position, the screen is accommodated in the housing bent mostly or completely around the longitudinal axis of the housing. In at least one use position, the screen extends partially or completely out of the housing and is at least partially mechanically supported by a support element rigidly extending from the housing.

[0025] The housing is arranged in a cavity of the motor vehicle, which is located on the back side of the interior component of the motor vehicle facing away from the vehicle occupant area, for example, in the roof cavity.

[0026] In the motor vehicle according to the invention, the housing is held on the longitudinal axis in a manner that can be rotated around the longitudinal axis by at least one first mechanical driving element. The driving element is designed to transfer the rotation generated by a motor arranged along the longitudinal axis to the housing. The longitudinal axis of the housing is mechanically coupled to the wall of the cavity, so that the rotation of the housing around the longitudinal axis causes the support element rigidly extending from the housing to move, especially rotate through an opening in the interior component.

[0027] Preferably, the cavity is the roof cavity of the motor vehicle, especially the area behind the driver's seat and / or behind the front passenger's seat of the motor vehicle. In other words, the housing together with the screen can be stored in the roof cavity of the motor vehicle or behind the roof lining, so that the screen can move down into the vehicle occupant area with reference to the normal use position of the motor vehicle.

[0028] A preferred improvement of the motor vehicle provides that the display device is designed to drive the motor according to the current seat settings of the driver's seat and / or the front passenger seat. For example, the screen can be designed to automatically move to the storage position when one or both seats move backward or are set to the rest position.

[0029] The invention also includes an improvement of the motor vehicle according to the invention having the features described in connection with the improvement of the display device according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding improvements of the motor vehicle according to the invention are not described here again.

[0030] The invention also includes a control device for a motor vehicle. The control device can include a data processing device or a processor device, which is configured to generate and / or transmit commands for adjusting a desired screen size to the display device. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (field programmable gate array) and / or at least one DSP (digital signal processor). In addition, the processor device can include program code, which is configured to cause the processor device to generate and / or transmit the instruction when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in the data memory of the processor device. The processor circuit of the processor device can, for example, have at least one circuit board and / or at least one SoC (system on a chip).

[0031] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments. Thus, the invention also includes implementations having combinations of the features of a plurality of non-exclusive described embodiments of the described embodiments. Description of the Drawings

[0032] Embodiments of the invention are described below. The drawings show:

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic view of a display device with a housing and a flexible screen;

[0034] Figure 2 A schematic view of a display device installed in the roof lining of a motor vehicle;

[0035] Figure 3 A schematic view of an exemplary use position of the screen of a display device installed in the roof lining of a motor vehicle;

[0036] Figure 4 A schematic view of a swingable display surface of a display device installed in the roof lining of a motor vehicle;

[0037] Figure 5 A schematic detailed view of the display device in a first rotational state; and

[0038] Figure 6 Shows a further schematic detailed view of the display device in another rotational state. Detailed implementation mode

[0039] The embodiments described below are the preferred implementation modes of the present invention. In these embodiments, the components of each implementation mode respectively represent the individual features of the present invention that should be regarded as independent of each other, and these features further improve the present invention independently of each other. Therefore, the present disclosure should also include other combinations in addition to the feature combinations of the shown implementation modes. In addition, the implementation modes can also be supplemented by other features of the present invention that have been described.

[0040] The same reference numerals in the drawings respectively represent elements with the same functions.

[0041] Figure 1 Shows a schematic diagram of a display device 10, including a housing 12 and a screen 14 that is at least partially flexible or bendable in design. The screen 14 is designed to be able to move out of and into the housing 12. Here, the screen passes through an opening 16 in the housing. Starting from the opening 16, a mechanical support element 18 for the screen 14 extends from the housing 12. At a substantially central position of the housing 12, the housing has a longitudinal axis 20, which can be designed as, for example, a roller or a roll. A motor M is arranged along the longitudinal axis 20 and is designed to rotate the longitudinal axis 20 or cause the longitudinal axis to rotate. The longitudinal axis 20 can be mechanically coupled to the root region of the screen 14 through a mechanical driving member 22, so that the rotation of the longitudinal axis 20 can be transmitted to the screen through the driving member 22.

[0042] Figure 1 Exemplarily shows two situations. In Figure 1 In the left half of the figure, the screen 14 is in the storage position, where the flexible part of the screen 14 (represented by a dotted line here) is accommodated in the housing 12 in a bent manner. The non-flexible or rigid part of the screen 14 (represented by a solid line or non-dotted line here) covers the support element 18 in this position, so that it is at least partially visible even in the shown storage position.

[0043] In Figure 1 The right half of the figure shows the following situation: compared with the left half of the figure, the motor M has rotated the longitudinal axis 20 counterclockwise. As a result, in the right half of the figure, the screen 14 moves from the storage position to the first use position. In other words, the counterclockwise rotation of the longitudinal axis 20 is transmitted to the screen 14 through the driving member 22. Whether in the storage position shown in the left half of the figure or in the first use position shown in the right half of the figure, the screen 14 is at least partially mechanically supported by the support element 18 on the back side of the support element facing away from the viewer, where, in the right half of the figure, this support is mainly carried out within the flexible part of the screen 14.

[0044] Figure 2 Reference Figure 1 The components identified and described in [reference] show a motor vehicle 24 or a part of the motor vehicle 24, in particular the roof area of the motor vehicle 24. In the illustrated example, the display device 10 according to the invention is arranged in a cavity in the roof area of the motor vehicle 24. Here, in Figure 2 In the upper half of [figure], the display device 10 is rotatably arranged such that the support element 18 and the screen 14 which at least partially overlaps with the support element 18 rotate out of the vehicle occupant area 26 of the motor vehicle 24. In other words, in Figure 2 the entire display device 10 in the upper half of [figure] is completely invisible to the occupant 28 on the rear seat of the motor vehicle 24.

[0045] In Figure 2 In the lower half of [figure], the housing 12 rotates clockwise such that the occupant 28 can at least partially see the screen 14. In other words, the support element 18 and the screen 14 rotate through an opening (not shown here for clarity) in the roof lining of the motor vehicle 24.

[0046] Figure 3 Schematic diagram showing the improvement of the display device 10 shown in the motor vehicle 24. Here, compared with Figure 2 [reference], the screen 14 is further pushed out of the housing 12. In other words, the occupant 28 can see a larger screen area. Figure 2 [reference], the screen 14 is further pushed out of the housing 12. In other words, the occupant 28 can see a larger screen area.

[0047] Figure 4 Schematically shows how to rotate the housing 12 to change the viewing angle of the occupant 28 towards the screen 14. For this purpose, the screen 14 can be swung back and forth along the swing direction 30 by rotating the housing 12. The swing direction 30 can be selected, for example, according to the backrest position of the front seat 32 of the motor vehicle 24.

[0048] Figure 5 And Figure 6 Show a schematic detailed view of the display device 10 in the roof lining of the motor vehicle 24. Figure 5 Shows the situation where the housing 12 is rotating clockwise from the storage position to rotate the support element 18 together with the screen 14 into the vehicle occupant area 26. The clockwise rotation direction is indicated by the rotation arrow 34 here.

[0049] In Figure 6 [figure] then shows the subsequent situation, where the housing 12 has rotated completely clockwise such that the screen 14 and the support element 18 have rotated into the interior space 26. In addition, in Figure 6In the instantaneous state shown, the drive member 22 has transferred the rotation of the longitudinal axis 20 to the root region of the screen 14, such that the screen 14 is pushed out beyond the support region 18 into the interior space 26. To this end, the drive member 22 advantageously transfers the rotation of the longitudinal axis 20 generated by the motor M to the screen 14.

[0050] Overall, the example shows how, by means of the present invention, an adjustable-size screen for a motor vehicle can be provided which can be stowed in a space-saving manner in a cavity of the motor vehicle and can operate with low wear. In particular, the size of the screen and / or the pivoting position of the screen can vary depending on different usage states and / or depending on the current position of the front seats of the motor vehicle. The display device described here can be located, for example, behind the roof frame of the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A display device (10) for a motor vehicle (24), wherein, The display device (10) includes a housing (12) and a screen (14) that is at least partially flexible, and the screen is designed to be movable back and forth along a movement path between a storage position and at least one use position. In the storage position, the screen (14) is received in the housing (20) bent mostly or completely around the longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (12). In the at least one use position, the screen (14) projects partially or completely from the housing (12) and is at least partially mechanically supported by a support element (18) that extends rigidly from the housing (12). The housing (12) is designed to be arranged in a cavity that is located on the back side of an interior component of a motor vehicle (24) facing away from the vehicle occupant area (26). It is characterized in that the housing (12) is held on the longitudinal axis (20) in a manner that enables rotation around the longitudinal axis (20) by at least one first mechanical drive member. The drive member is designed to transmit the rotation generated by a motor (M) arranged along the longitudinal axis (20) to the housing (12). The longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (12) can be mechanically coupled to the wall of the cavity, such that when the longitudinal axis (20) is coupled to the wall, the support element (18) that extends rigidly from the housing (12) is moved through an opening in the interior component by the rotation of the housing (12) around the longitudinal axis (20).

2. The display device (10) according to claim 1, wherein, The screen (14) is held on the longitudinal axis (20) in a manner that enables swinging around the longitudinal axis (20) by at least one additional mechanical drive member (22) in a root region. The at least one additional drive member (22) is designed to transmit the rotation generated by the motor (M) to the screen (14). The screen moves along the movement path by the rotation of the screen (14) around the longitudinal axis (20).

3. The display device (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The at least one additional drive member (22) is designed to transmit the rotation for moving the screen (14) from the storage position to at least one use position to the screen (14) when the first drive member reaches a stop position of the housing (12). In the stop position of the housing (12), the housing (12) rotates around the longitudinal axis (20) such that the support element (18) rotates completely out of the cavity.

4. The display device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The first drive member is designed to transmit rotation to the housing (12) when the at least one additional drive member (22) reaches a stop position of the screen (14). In the stop position of the screen (14), the screen (14) is preferably in the storage position.

5. The display device (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The first mechanical drive member and the at least one additional mechanical drive member (22) are mechanically decoupled from each other and are designed to transmit rotation to the housing (12) or the screen (14) independently of each other.

6. The display device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed to drive the motor (M) according to the currently to-be-displayed display content so as to adjust a screen size adapted to the display content.

7. The display device (10) according to claim 6, wherein, The screen (14) is designed to move continuously along the movement path so as to adjust a corresponding screen size.

8. A motor vehicle (24) having a display device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The display device (10) has a housing (12) and a screen (14) that is at least partially flexibly designed and is designed to move back and forth along a movement path between a stowed position and at least one use position, wherein, in the stowed position, the screen (14) is received in the housing (12) bent, largely or completely, about the longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (12), and wherein, in at least one use position, the screen (14) projects partially or completely out of the housing (12) and is mechanically supported, at least partially, by a support element (18) that extends rigidly from the housing (12), and wherein the housing (12) is arranged in a cavity that is located on the back side of an interior component of a motor vehicle (10) facing away from the vehicle occupant area (26). It is characterized in that the housing (12) is held on the longitudinal axis (20) in such a way that it can be rotated about the longitudinal axis (20) by at least one first mechanical drive element, wherein the drive element is designed to transmit the rotation generated by a motor (M) arranged along the longitudinal axis (20) to the housing (12), and wherein the longitudinal axis (20) of the housing (12) is mechanically coupled to the wall of the cavity such that the support element (18) that extends rigidly from the housing (12) is moved through an opening in the interior component by rotation of the housing (12) about the longitudinal axis (20).

9. The motor vehicle (24) according to claim 8, wherein, The cavity is a roof cavity of the motor vehicle (24), in particular the area behind the driver's seat (32) and / or behind the front passenger seat (32) of the motor vehicle (24).

10. The motor vehicle (24) according to claim 9, wherein, The display device (10) is designed to drive the motor (M) in accordance with the current seat settings of the driver's seat (32) and / or the front passenger seat (32) of the motor vehicle (24).

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