Image display system and vehicle trim element

Abstract

This utility model relates to an image display system and a vehicle decorative element. The image display system (1) includes: a transparent lens cover (9) defining a display area (5) and an edge area (7) that extends at least partially around the display area; a display device (13) positioned relative to at least the display area (5) and including a front surface facing the transparent lens cover and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; a first reflector layer (15) facing the rear surface of the display device (13) and extending relative to the display area (5) and at least partially relative to the edge area (7); and a front light layer (11) disposed between the lens cover (9) and the display device (13) and extending relative to the display area (5) and at least partially covering the edge area (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an image display system and decorative elements for vehicles.

[0002] This utility model relates to the dynamic display of information and / or audiovisual content, specifically the dynamic display in vehicle decorative elements (such as dashboards, center consoles, seats, door panels, etc.). Background Technology

[0003] As can be seen from FR2104687, an extended display system including a display area and an edge area can be integrated into a decorative element, which is provided with a light sheet that extends partially relative to the edge area in order to improve the visual continuity between the display area and the edge area.

[0004] However, the visibility of information displayed by such devices decreases with ambient brightness. To remedy this reduced visibility, it is necessary to increase the brightness of the display system, and thus increase its energy consumption. Furthermore, although there is a light strip around the perimeter of the display area, modern display areas inevitably include a border area that limits the visual continuity between the display area and the edge areas.

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide an image display system that limits energy consumption even under high ambient light conditions, while maximizing the integration of the display area in decorative elements from an aesthetic point of view. Utility Model Content

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an image display system comprising: a transparent lens cover defining a display area and an edge area extending at least partially around the display area; a display device positioned relative to at least the display area, including a front surface facing the lens cover and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; and a first reflector layer facing the rear surface of the display device, the first reflector layer extending relative to the display area and at least partially relative to the edge area; the image display system includes a front light layer disposed between the lens cover and the display device, the front light layer extending relative to the display area and at least partially covering the edge area, wherein the image display system includes a decorative layer with a decorative pattern having transparent and opaque areas, and the front light layer includes a plurality of sub-regions, each sub-region having a controllable light intensity, the light intensity of each sub-region being independently controlled.

[0007] Because of this invention, the display device no longer uses only a backlight, but also uses light arriving from the front of the device. This light can come from the front light layer or from the environment, and operates through reflection. In this way, when the ambient light level is high, the power supply to the front light layer can be reduced, allowing ambient light to be used to ensure the intensity of the display area, and thus ensure its visibility. This reduces the device's energy consumption.

[0008] According to other advantageous aspects of this invention, the image display system includes one or more of the following feature structures, which can be considered individually or in any technically feasible combination:

[0009] - The display device includes a bezel area, and the image display system includes a second reflector layer disposed between the display device and the front light layer, at least covering the bezel area;

[0010] - The image display system includes a decorative layer disposed between the lens cap and the front light layer, and has a decorative pattern formed by transparent and opaque areas;

[0011] - The image display system includes a decorative layer disposed between the front light layer and the display device, and has a decorative pattern formed by transparent and opaque areas;

[0012] - The image display system includes a matrix of at least one light-emitting diodes, which is arranged between the front light layer and the first reflector layer relative to the edge region;

[0013] -The image display system includes an electronic control module configured to electronically control the front light layer and the at least one LED array;

[0014] - The front light layer includes multiple sub-regions, each with a controllable light intensity, and the light intensity of each sub-region is controlled independently;

[0015] -The display device is a transmissive / reflective LCD screen;

[0016] - The display device is a transmissive LCD screen.

[0017] This utility model also relates to a vehicle decorative element, which includes an image display system according to this utility model. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The present invention will become clearer from the following description, given only by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the image display system according to the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The image display system is shown from a top view. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The image display system 1 shown is preferably intended for integration into decorative elements of a vehicle, such as an automobile. "Decorative elements" refers to, for example, dashboards, center consoles, seats, or door panels.

[0022] Display system 1 is used to display information or multimedia content to passengers and / or drivers within a vehicle. For this purpose, it includes an outer surface 3 visible to passengers and the driver, which defines a display area 5 and an edge area 7 extending at least partially around the display area 5. In other words, the outer surface 3 is positioned in front of the display system 1. When the display system 1 is installed in the vehicle, the outer surface 3 faces the interior of the vehicle.

[0023] The image display system 1 includes at least one transparent lens cover 9, a front light layer 11, a display device 13, and a first reflector layer 15.

[0024] In the example shown, the image display system also includes a decorative layer 17, which is optional.

[0025] Various components are arranged parallel to the outer surface 3. For each of these components, a front surface and a rear surface are defined, which are parallel to the outer surface 3 and such that the front surface is closer to the outer surface 3 than the rear surface. "Outer" refers to the space beyond the outer layer 3 that is not part of the image display system 1.

[0026] A transparent lens cover 9 forms the interface between the image display system 1 and the outside world. It includes the outer surface 3 of the display system 1. The transparent lens cover 9 protects the display system 1 from dirt, dust, or mechanical impact, while allowing passengers and the driver to see the content provided by the display system 1 through it. Transparent means that the light transmittance is substantially between 5% and 100%, where a light transmittance of less than 5% corresponds to an opaque portion that does not allow light to pass through. In this way, the lens cover 9 allows light from the image display system 1 to pass through, making the light visible on the outer surface 3. Similarly, the lens cover 9 allows light from the outside to pass through, so that the light can be selectively reflected at least by the display device 13 and the first reflector layer 15. The transparent lens cover 9 is made, for example, of glass or plastic (polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), or PC / PMMA).

[0027] A front light layer 11 is disposed between the lens cap 9 and the display device 13. It extends relative to at least a portion of the display area 5 and the edge area 7. The front light layer 11 is a transparent plastic film comprising an effective display area capable of emitting light and having adjustable intensity. For example, the plastic film has a thickness of 0.5 mm or less. This layer is made of PC or PMMA. Therefore, it serves as a light source for the display device 13, either as the primary source or as a supplement to ambient light. The higher the ambient light, the lower the light intensity of the front light layer 11, in order to utilize ambient light and conserve energy. The front light layer 11 is electronically controlled by a control module (not shown), which may or may not be part of the image display system 1. Specifically, the electronic control module controls the light intensity of the front light layer 11. Advantageously, the front light layer 11 includes several sub-regions whose light intensity can be independently controlled to form a light pattern.

[0028] The display device 13 is disposed between the front light layer 11 and the reflector layer 15, relative to a portion of the display area 5 and the edge area 7. In other words, the front surface of the display 13 faces the front light layer 11 and the lens cap 9, while its rear surface faces the first reflector layer 15. The display device 13 uses incident light energy to display an image according to commands from the aforementioned control module or another control module. The incident light energy comes partly from the front light layer or ambient light and is selectively reflected by the display 13, and partly from a backlight unit belonging to the display 13 and positioned relative to the front light layer and selectively transmitted by the display device 13. The display device 13 is, for example, a transmissive reflective LCD screen or a transmissive LCD screen. It can also be a standard, small, or micro light-emitting diode (LED) display, or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

[0029] The first reflector layer 15 is disposed behind the image display device 1, facing the rear surface of the display device 13. It extends relative to the display area 5 and at least partially relative to the edge area 7. The function of the first reflector layer 15 is to reflect ambient light and light from the front light layer 11 in order to improve the visual continuity of the edge area 7 relative to the display area 5.

[0030] Decorative layer 17 is advantageously positioned between lens cap 9 and front light layer 11. Alternatively, decorative layer 17 is arranged between front light layer 11 and display device 13. It is characterized by decorative patterns in transparent and opaque areas. Due to the microperforations on decorative layer 17, the decorative pattern becomes invisible when decorative layer 17 is backlit by a light source with an intensity greater than ambient light, and becomes visible when the decorative layer is not backlit. Figure 1 and Figure 2In the example shown, the decorative layer 17 extends relative to the display area 5 and the edge area 7, and the portion of the decorative pattern relative to the display area 5 is completely transparent, allowing the display area 5 to be clearly and completely displayed. The presence of the decorative layer 17 enhances the aesthetics of the edge area.

[0031] Advantageously, the illumination of the decorative layer 17 by the front light layer 11 produces an apparent pattern on the decorative layer 17, which is generated by a combination of the decorative pattern and the light pattern of the front light layer 11. Therefore, as described above, modification of the light pattern by the electronic control module results in a dynamic modification of the apparent pattern on the decorative layer 17. Specifically, this dynamic modification allows information to be displayed on the edge region 7, further enhancing the aesthetics of the edge region 7 and its visual continuity with the display region 5. In other words, this increases the usable outer surface of the display system 1.

[0032] To ensure overall cohesion and good light transmittance among the various layers (i.e., lens cap 9, decorative layer 17, front light layer 11, and display device 13), light transmission materials, such as optical adhesives, can be provided between adjacent surfaces of these layers.

[0033] Typically, the display device 13 includes a bezel area 19 that extends around the periphery of the display device 13 and frames the display device 13, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown. The bezel area 19 typically includes four sides, each with a width between 5mm and 5cm. The bezel area 19 is inherent to the technical implementation of the display device 13 and does not allow information display. The bezel area 19 faces the edge area 7, while the rest of the display device 13 faces the display area 5.

[0034] Advantageously, the image display system then includes a second reflector layer 21, which at least covers the bezel area 19, disposed between the display device 13 and the front light layer 11. The second reflector layer 21 reflects ambient light or light from the front light layer 11. The decorative layer 17 also covers the bezel area 19. Thus, the bezel area 19 is not a dead zone, but is integrated into the available outer surface of the display device 1, thereby helping to improve the visual continuity between the edge area 7 and the display area 5.

[0035] The matrix of light-emitting diodes 23 is advantageously arranged around the periphery of the transmissive-reflective display 13. The light-emitting diode array 23 is electronically controlled by the aforementioned electronic control module. In one embodiment of the present invention (not shown), according to the technology described in patent application FR 21 04686, the diode array 23 defines a plurality of subarrays of diodes, which can be activated independently of each other and / or can each emit light signals that are the same as and / or different from the light signals emitted by the other subarrays. The integration of the diode array 23 enables the display of time-varying shapes through the transparent areas of the decorative pattern, thereby further enhancing the usefulness of the edge area 7 for displaying information and its visual continuity with the display area 5.

[0036] The diode array 23 and the first reflector layer 15 are complementary because the diode array 23 enables complex and dynamic displays that are precise in time and space, while the first reflector layer 15 enables displays that are fixed or limited by changes in the apparent pattern of the decorative layer 17, but are continuous and fragmented in time and space. In other words, the period of change of the apparent pattern of the decorative layer 17 is much larger than the period of change of the shape displayed by the diode array 23. Therefore, the dynamic content display in the edge region 7 is primarily due to the diode array 23, while the visual continuity with the display region 5 is primarily due to the reflection of ambient light or light from the light front layer 11 through the decorative layer 17 by the first reflector layer 15 or the second reflector layer 21.

[0037] Any of the feature structures described above for one implementation or variant may also be implemented in the other implementations and variants described above, as long as technically possible.

Claims

1. An image display system, the image display system comprising: - A transparent lens cap (9) that defines a display area (5) and an edge area (7) that extends at least partially around the display area. - Display device (13), the display device being positioned relative to at least the display area (5), including a front surface facing the lens cover and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; and - A first reflector layer (15) facing the rear surface of the display device (13), the first reflector layer being spread out relative to the display area (5) and at least partially relative to the edge area (7). The image display system includes a front light layer (11) disposed between the lens cap (9) and the display device (13), the front light layer being spread relative to the display area (5) and at least partially covering the edge area (7). The image display system is characterized by comprising a decorative layer (17) with a decorative pattern having transparent and opaque areas, and The front light layer (11) includes multiple sub-regions, each with a controllable light intensity, and the light intensity of each sub-region is controlled independently.

2. The image display system according to claim 1, characterized by The display device (13) includes a border area (19), and the image display system includes a second reflector layer (21) disposed between the display device (13) and the front light layer (11), at least covering the border area (19).

3. The image display system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by The decorative layer (17) is arranged between the lens cap (9) and the front light layer (11).

4. The image display system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The decorative layer (17) is arranged between the front light layer (11) and the display device (13).

5. The image display system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The image display system includes at least one light-emitting diode array (23), which is arranged between the front light layer (11) and the first reflector layer (15) relative to the edge region (7).

6. The image display system of claim 5, wherein The image display system includes an electronic control module configured to electronically control the front light layer (11) and the at least one light-emitting diode array (23).

7. The image display system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The display device (13) is a transmissive reflective LCD screen.

8. The image display system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The display device (13) is a transmissive LCD screen.

9. A vehicle trim element, characterized in that The vehicle decorative element includes an image display system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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