Vehicle display device

Abstract

This invention relates to a vehicle display device, comprising a display surface and a light guide device; the display surface has a display side for displaying information toward an observer and a back side opposite to the display side; the light guide device has at least one light source. The light guide device has at least one transparent light guide layer extending in front of the display side and at least partially covering the display side; the at least one light guide layer has at least one decoupling region in at least one local surface area of ​​the display side for decoupling the light from the at least one light source toward the observer; the at least one decoupling region is configured such that the decoupled light is superimposed on the information displayed through the display side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vehicle display device. Background Technology

[0002] Various vehicle display devices are known in the prior art, which include a display surface having a display side for displaying information toward an observer and a back side opposite to the display side.

[0003] In addition, it is known in the prior art that a special surface area is divided on the display surface within the area of ​​a vehicle display device for displaying, for example, warning symbols and other prompts to the observer.

[0004] However, this solution has the following drawbacks: To display warning symbols, the entire display system must be activated, which significantly increases energy consumption. Another drawback is that because a dedicated display area is set up for warning symbols, the actual usable display area is reduced, consequently decreasing the effective display area available for information display. Furthermore, the existing technology suffers from the following limitations: the display of warning symbols depends on the functionality of the entire display system; if the display system malfunctions, it can no longer output any warnings or prompts to the observer. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Based on the aforementioned deficiencies of known display devices in the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved display device that can display information and present light signals to an observer, and that the display device can present light signals independently of the main display surface used for displaying information and within the area of ​​the main display surface.

[0006] The above-mentioned objective of the present invention is achieved by a vehicle display device comprising: a display surface having a display side for displaying information toward an observer and a back side opposite to the display side; and a light guide having at least one light source.

[0007] According to the present invention, the light guide device has at least one transparent light guide layer extending in front of the display side and at least partially covering the display side; wherein, the at least one light guide layer has at least one decoupling region in at least one local surface area of ​​the display side for decoupling the light from the at least one light source toward the observer; and the at least one decoupling region is configured such that the decoupled light is superimposed on the information displayed through the display side.

[0008] This invention, by arranging a light guide device in front of the main display side of the display surface, and utilizing a light guide layer with a decoupling region in a local area of ​​the display side, can output or emit additional light signals towards the observer on the display surface. The light can be superimposed on the image information on the main display side through at least one decoupling region; that is, the information presented on the display side remains visible in all areas, but the additional light signal is superimposed on the observer only within at least one decoupling region.

[0009] Here, the optical signal and at least one decoupling region can also be configured such that the light emitted by the light guide layer completely blocks the information displayed on the display surface through the optical decoupling output of at least one decoupling region, so that the observer can only see the optical signal emitted by the light guide device within the decoupling region. Furthermore, the display device provided by this invention can also output optical signals solely through the light guide layer when the display surface is completely undisplayed. Thus, the light guide device constitutes an additional layer independent of the main display surface for outputting optical information to the observer. The process of outputting optical information to the observer through the light guide device can be performed independently of the information display on the display side, for example, outputting an optical warning signal to the observer. Alternatively, the optical information output by the light guide device can be consciously coordinated with the information displayed on the display side, for example, guiding the user's attention to the content presented on the display side of the display surface, or emphasizing specific information.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the display surface is configured as transmissive at least in a first region, and the information to be displayed on the display surface is projected onto the back surface of the display surface by a rear projection device.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the display surface is configured to be reflective at least in the second region, and the information to be displayed on the display surface is projected onto the display side of the display surface by an orthographic projection device.

[0012] Of course, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the display surface can be constructed as either a fully transmissive type or a fully reflective type.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes a projection device for projecting information to be displayed onto the display surface. The projection device may be selected from an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector, or a DLP projector. Here, LCD is an abbreviation for "Liquid Crystal Display"; LCOS is an abbreviation for "Liquid Crystal On Silicon"; LBS is an abbreviation for "Laser Beam Scanning"; and DLP is an abbreviation for "Digital Light Processing".

[0014] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the display device further comprises a transparent cover substrate layer disposed in front of the light guide device along the observer direction and at least partially covering the light guide device. The cover substrate layer can protect the main display surface from environmental influences and mechanical loads, and can be used, for example, to enhance or support the main display surface.

[0015] Furthermore, the light guide device is laminated with the display surface, and preferably also with the cover substrate layer. By laminating the display surface and the cover substrate layer, it is ensured that most of the surface of the cover substrate layer is in contact with the display side. This ensures that the cover substrate layer will not detach from the display surface and also prevents relative displacement between the layers. In addition, lamination can also form a composite structure between the cover substrate layer and the display surface, improving the overall bending stiffness of the display surface, especially the bending stiffness of the display surface.

[0016] The cover substrate layer can be configured as a cover glass layer.

[0017] The at least one decoupling region can be configured to display symbols. In this invention, symbols include, for example, arrows, exclamation marks, warning signs, lines, squares, circles, etc.

[0018] At least one decoupling region of the light guide device can be formed by introducing an optical microstructure into a local area of ​​at least one light guide layer.

[0019] Furthermore, at least one decoupling region of the light guiding device can be formed by introducing an optical microstructure through a nanoimprint lithography process.

[0020] Preferably, the at least one decoupling region is formed by creating a microstructure (e.g., using nanoimprint lithography) on the side of the light guide device facing the observer and away from the display surface. The advantage of introducing a microstructure on the light guide layer facing the observer to form at least one decoupling region is that light emitted from at least one light source of the light guide device can be emitted directly towards the observer without being reflected by, for example, the display layer before reaching the observer.

[0021] Furthermore, the at least one decoupling region can also be formed by introducing nanoparticles into the light guide layer within the range of the at least one decoupling region. For example, during the manufacturing process of the light guide, when the light guide is in a liquid thermoplastic state, nanoparticles can be introduced into a defined area of ​​the light guide, and then the light guide can be solidified by cooling.

[0022] The at least one light guide layer can be made of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or PC (polycarbonate) film.

[0023] The at least one light source may have a defined light color, preferably a spectral color.

[0024] Furthermore, the at least one light source may include at least one RGB light source, particularly an RGB LED, for actively controlling the color of light coupled into at least one light guide layer. The advantage of using an RGB light source is that a single light source can output different colored light signals to the observer through the decoupling area of ​​the light guide device. For example, the RGB light source can change the light color for the observer according to the warning status. For example, a green light signal can be used to convey to the observer that there is no warning, and, for example, that the vehicle's electronic system has not detected a fault. When a fault condition occurs that does not require immediate action from the observer, a yellow or orange light signal can be used to provide a warning (e.g., the need to add oil). In emergency warning scenarios, red light can be output to issue an emergency warning to the driver in the form of a light signal.

[0025] Preferably, each decoupling region of the light guide layer can be assigned at least one corresponding light source, thereby actively illuminating each decoupling region through its assigned light source. The advantage is that multiple decoupling regions can be set within the light guide layer, and these decoupling regions can independently output optical signals using their respective corresponding light sources.

[0026] Furthermore, the display surface can be constructed as an LCD panel, with a backlight unit on its back for backlighting the LCD panel. Alternatively, according to the present invention, the display surface can also be constructed as an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) panel or an electronic ink (bistable) display. For electronic ink displays, it is particularly preferred that the electronic ink panel is also illuminated by the light guide device.

[0027] Preferably, at least one light source of the light guide device is arranged outside the area of ​​the display surface, and the light source preferably couples the light generated by the light source into the at least one light guide layer through at least one side of the at least one light guide layer.

[0028] The light guide device can be constructed as a continuous light guide layer that covers the entire display surface in area along the observer's direction; and preferably, multiple mutually separated light guide elements are formed by opening grooves or cuts in the light guide layer, and the light guide elements are isolated from each other by the cuts or grooves.

[0029] According to the present invention, microstructures or particles are introduced into at least one light guide layer and arranged in a symbolic form on the surface plane of the light guide layer (20).

[0030] Both the display surface and the light guide device can be made of elastic and deformable materials to achieve a bendable and flexible vehicle display device. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The accompanying drawings illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the vehicle display device of the present invention.

[0032] In the attached image: Figure 1A A first exemplary embodiment of the display device of the present invention is shown, which includes a transmissive display surface; Figure 1B A second exemplary embodiment of the display device of the present invention is shown, which has a reflective display surface; Figure 1C A third exemplary embodiment of the display device of the present invention is shown, wherein the display surface is constituted by an LCD display with a backlight device; Figure 1D A fourth exemplary embodiment of the display device of the present invention is shown, wherein the display surface is configured as an OLED panel with an optional overlay layer; Figure 2A Another exemplary embodiment of the vehicle display device of the present invention is shown in a side view; Figure 2B A frontal view as seen from the observer's perspective is shown. Figure 2A The illustrated embodiment of the display device; Figure 3 Another display device of the present invention is shown from an observer's perspective. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Figure 1A A first exemplary embodiment of a vehicle display device is shown. The display device of the present invention includes a display surface 1 having a display side 11 for displaying information toward an observer 9 and a back side 12 opposite to the display side. The display device also includes a light guide device 2 having at least one light source 21; for clarity, only a single light source 21 is shown in FIG1. ​​The light guide device 2 has at least one transparent light guide layer 20 extending in front of the display side 11 and at least partially covering the display side 11 of the display surface. In the embodiment shown in FIG1, the light guide layer 20 fully covers the display surface 1. However, in other variant embodiments of the present invention, only a partial area of ​​the display side 11 may be covered by the light guide device 2.

[0034] Furthermore, the at least one light guide layer 20 has at least one decoupling region 23 in at least one local surface area of ​​the display side 11 for decoupling the light from at least one light source 21 toward the observer 9. The at least one decoupling region 23 is configured such that the light decoupled from the light guide layer 20 is superimposed on the information displayed through the display side 11.

[0035] exist Figure 1A In the illustrated embodiment, the display surface 1 is constructed as a transmissive structure, and the information to be displayed on the display surface is projected onto the back surface 12 of the display surface 1 via a rear projection device 8. Figure 1AIn the diagram, the image information projected by the rear projection device 8 onto the back side 12 of the display surface 1 is represented by a solid arrow, while the light decoupled and output towards the observer 9 through the decoupling area 23 is represented by a dashed line.

[0036] Figure 1B The second exemplary embodiment of the display device of the present invention shown is related to... Figure 1A The difference between the embodiments shown is that: Figure 1B The display surface 1 is constructed as a reflective surface. Information to be displayed on the display surface 11 is projected onto the display surface 11 by the orthographic projection device 8, such as... Figure 1B As shown by the solid arrow, the projection device 8 can be arranged outside the main display surface 1, and is particularly preferably arranged in an area invisible to the observer 9. The projection device 8 for projecting the information to be displayed onto the display surface 1 can be, for example, an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector, or a DLP projector.

[0037] As an alternative to the projection device 8 described above, the display surface 1 can also be configured as an LCD panel, an OLED panel, or, for example, an electronic ink display. In this case, the information to be output through the display side 11 is not projected onto the display surface, but generated within the display surface.

[0038] Figure 1C A third exemplary embodiment is shown, wherein the display surface 1 is configured as an LCD panel, and a backlight unit 5 is also provided on its back side 12 for backlighting the LCD panel.

[0039] Figure 1D Another exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown, wherein the display surface 1 is constructed as a self-emissive OLED panel.

[0040] like Figure 1D and Figure 2A As shown, the display device of the present invention may further include a transparent cover substrate layer 3, which is disposed in front of the light guide device 2 along the direction of the observer 9 and at least partially covers the light guide device 2.

[0041] Of course, the cover substrate layer can be constructed as a cover glass layer. In addition, the light guide device 2, the display surface 1, and preferably the cover substrate layer 3 can be laminated together.

[0042] like Figure 2B and Figure 3 As shown, the decoupling region 23 of the light guide device 2 can be configured to display the symbol 25, for example, in the form of an arrow or a triangle.

[0043] As shown in Figure 2, each decoupling region 23 of the light guide layer 20 can be assigned at least one light source 21, thereby actively illuminating each decoupling region 23 through the assigned at least one light source 21.

[0044] like Figure 3 As shown in the middle section, multiple light sources 21 can also be set to illuminate a decoupling area 23.

[0045] As shown in all the figures, preferably, at least one light source 21 of the light guide device 2 is positioned outside the area of ​​the main display surface 1, and the light generated by the at least one light source 21 is coupled into the at least one light guide layer 20 through at least one side 27 of the at least one light guide layer 20.

[0046] like Figure 2A and Figure 2B As schematically shown, the light guide device 2 can be constructed as a continuous light guide layer 20, which covers the entire display surface 1 in area along the direction of the observer 9; and by forming grooves or cuts 29 in the light guide layer 20, multiple light guide elements 2 are formed, which are separated from each other by the cuts or grooves 29, so that the coupled light cannot be exchanged between the separated light guide elements 2. In the figure, the light beam emitted by the light source 21 is represented by a dashed arrow.

Claims

1. A vehicle display device, comprising: - Display surface (1), the display surface having a display side (11) for displaying information toward an observer (9) and a back side (12) opposite to the display side; - Light guide device (2), the light guide device having at least one light source (21); - The light guide device (2) has at least one transparent light guide layer (20), which extends in front of the display side (11) and at least partially covers the display side (11). - The at least one light guide layer (20) has at least one decoupling region (23) in at least one local surface area of ​​the display side (11) for decoupling the light from the at least one light source (21) toward the observer (9); and - The at least one decoupling region (23) is configured such that the light output from the decoupling is superimposed on the information displayed through the display side (11).

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein The display surface (1) is constructed as a transmissive type at least in the first region, and the information to be displayed on the display surface (1) is projected onto the back side (12) of the display surface (1) by the back projection device (8).

3. The display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The display surface (1) is configured to be reflective at least in the second region, and the information to be displayed on the display surface (1) is projected onto the display side (11) of the display surface (1) by an orthographic projection device (8).

4. A display device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that, The display device (1) includes a projection device (8) for projecting information to be displayed onto the display surface (1), wherein the projection device (8) is selected from an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector, or a DLP projector.

5. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein, The display device further includes a transparent cover substrate layer (3), which is disposed in front of the light guide device (2) along the direction of the observer (9) and at least partially covers the light guide device (2).

6. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein The light guide device (2) is laminated with the display surface (1) and preferably with the cover substrate layer (3).

7. A display device according to any preceding claim, wherein The cover substrate layer (3) is constructed as a cover glass layer.

8. A display device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that, The at least one decoupling region (23) is configured to display symbols (25).

9. A display device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that, At least one decoupling region (23) of the light guide device (2) is formed by introducing an optical microstructure into a local area of ​​the at least one light guide layer (20).

10. A display device according to any preceding claim, characterised in that, At least one decoupling region (23) of the light guide device (2) is formed by introducing an optical microstructure through a nanoimprint lithography process.

11. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least one decoupling region (23) is formed by forming a microstructure on the side of the light guide layer (20) facing the observer (9) and away from the display surface (1).

12. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least one decoupling region (23) is formed by introducing nanoparticles into the light guide layer (20) within the range of the at least one decoupling region.

13. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least one light guide layer (20) is made of PMMA or PC film.

14. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least one light source (21) has a defined light color, preferably a spectral color.

15. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The at least one light source (21) includes at least one RGB LED for actively controlling the color of light coupled into the at least one light guide layer (20).

16. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Each decoupling region (23) of the light guide layer (20) is assigned at least one affiliated light source (21) so that each decoupling region (23) can be actively illuminated by the at least one assigned light source (21).

17. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The display surface (1) is constructed as an LCD panel, and a backlight unit (5) for backlighting the LCD panel is disposed on the back surface (12).

18. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The display surface (1) is constructed as an OLED panel.

19. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The display surface is constructed as an electronic ink display.

20. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, At least one light source (21) of the light guide device (2) is arranged outside the area of ​​the display surface (1), and the light source (21) preferably couples the light generated by the light source (21) into the light guide layer (20) through at least one side (27) of the light guide layer (20).

21. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The light guide device (2) is constructed as a continuous light guide layer (20), which covers the entire display surface (1) in area along the direction of the observer (9); and by opening grooves or cuts (29) in the light guide layer (20), a plurality of light guide elements (2) are formed, which are separated from each other by the cuts or grooves (29).

22. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The microstructures introduced into the at least one light guide layer (20) are arranged in the form of symbol (25) in the surface plane of the light guide layer (20).

23. The display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The display surface (1) and the light guide device (2) are made of elastic deformable material.

Images