External components for 3D display customization

Abstract

Optical adaptation device (100) for a display device (20) with a display surface (25), comprising a support element (120) with a support surface (121) and a viewing surface (125), wherein the support surface (121) is adapted to the shape of the display surface (25) so that the support element (120) can be mounted on the display surface (25) such that the support surface (121) is in planar contact with the display surface (25), wherein the support element (120) comprises, as at least one optical adaptation element (145), a fiberboard (150, 170) with an entry side (151, 171) and an exit side (152, 172), wherein the exit side (152, 172) faces the viewing surface (125) and the viewing surface (125) has a three-dimensional, non-planar shape, characterized in that the support element (120) includes a basic element (140),which is formed from tempered glass or tempered plastic and on or in a recess of which the at least one optical matching element (145) is arranged, wherein a bottom side (141) of the base element (140) forms at least part of the contact surface (121), wherein, if the at least one optical matching element (145) is arranged in one recess of the base element, the entry side (151) of one fiber plate (150) forms part of the contact surface (121).

Description

The invention relates to the adaptation of displays, in particular in motor vehicles, in order to improve user interaction with the vehicle, in particular in order to improve gaze guidance of the user.In motor vehicles, displays are used, in particular in the dashboard, which display information about the vehicle and its driving state to the driver. These include, for example, a vehicle speed, an engine speed, information about an oil temperature, warning lights for the driving direction indicators and lamps, etc., to name just a few.Historically, these individual indicators were, for example, speed and engine speed indicators and typically colored, often backlighted, indicators. If a plurality of display elements are combined, such a unit in vehicles is also referred to as a combination instrument. In modern vehicles, the instrument clusters are replaced by programmable display devices with a flat flat flat display surface. An orientation of the user is limited in such a display.DE 10 2011 016 422 A1 describes the use of a light guide plate in combination with a mechanical display instrument, the functionality of which is increased via a light guide plate in cooperation with light sources which couple light into the light guide plate. For example, a display instrument which displays an engine speed has been described for visualizing the respective maximum permissible engine speed as a function of the engine temperature. As a result, for example, depending on the motor temperature, a red region is variably generated on the display instrument surface, on which red region the needle of the speed display device moves.US 2009 / 0 085 831 A1 describes a display apparatus having a planar display surface of a display device, wherein a plurality of pixels are formed in a matrix-like arrangement on the display surface. In front of the display surface, an optical element is arranged, the side of which facing away from the display surface has surfaces inclined differently with respect to one another. In one embodiment, the optical element comprises a fibre plate formed from juxtaposed optical fibres.US 2014 / 0 362 348 A1 describes a display device having a textured, i.e. non-planar, structured surface. In this case, by means of a fibre plate which is placed on a flat display surface of a display device, the image of the display device becomes an inner side of a transparent display surface of the display device, wherein the display surface forms the non-planar, structured surface.US 2003 / 0 012 532 A1 describes a display device which comprises a fibre plate which is placed on a flat display surface with one side and the opposite upper side of which is curved in one embodiment.US 2006 / 0 039 244 A1 describes a wristwatch with a watch glass which is formed from a fiber plate.An image display device with a fiber optic plate is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,308,329 B1. The fiber optic plate may comprise a plurality of parallel optical fibers, the terminal ends of the optical fibers together forming a light input surface and an at least partially concave light output surface. An apparatus may include: a fiber optic plate; and a mechanism for attaching the fiber optic plate to a display device. A method of manufacturing a fiber optic plate may include: calculating one or more viewing angles between one or more elements of an image display and a focal point; and forming an output surface of the fiber optic plate according to the one or more viewing angles.DE 10 2010 021 032 A1 shows a display device for a motor vehicle. This has a digital display element having an image surface for digitally displaying information relating to the motor vehicle. On the image surface of the display element, a plurality of light guides are attached.DE 10 2010 050 182 A1 describes the individualization of a display device. There it is proposed to combine window frames with the display surface. Also described is the use of transparent domed attachments having a magnifying glass function.However, such designs frequently exhibit parallax effects, which make it difficult to read the displayed parameters exactly, for example in the case of a pointer instrument.The object of the invention is thus to provide a better orientation of the driver on a display surface of a field-programmable display device.The invention is solved by an optical matching device for a display device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are evident from the dependent claims.The invention is based on the concept of creating a three-dimensional structuring of a viewing surface facing the user, in which a light bearing element is arranged in front of the display surface. The support element comprises, as at least one optical matching element, a fiber plate having an inlet side and an outlet side, wherein the outlet side faces the viewing surface, wherein the viewing surface of the matching device has a three-dimensional, non-planar shape.According to the invention, it is provided that the support element comprises a base element on or in which the at least one optical matching element is arranged, wherein an underside of the base element at least partially forms the support surface. The base element preferably spans the entire display surface of the display device, the representation of which is to be adapted three-dimensionally.According to the invention, the base element consists of hardened glass or plastic.A fiberboard is a sheet having an entrance side and an exit side. The fibre plate comprises optical fibres arranged side by side. These are each designed such that light which is radiated into the fiber plate at a specific location on the inlet side thereof is guided fiber-optically through the fiber plate from one of the fibers whose inlet surface which comprises the specific location. The exit takes place in a region which is defined by the exit surface of the corresponding fiber. The fibers are usually tightly packed in the fiber plate on the inlet side. The entry side can be understood as being divided into grid cells of a generally regular grid. Each grid cell has the entry surface associated with it one of the fibers in the fiber plate. Typical grid cell dimensions are on the order of a few microns, typically on the order of 2.5 microns to 10 microns. The inlet side can thus be considered to be divided into fiber inlet surfaces in two dimensions. The fibers can run straight perpendicular to the entry side of the fiber plate without these changing their diameter. In this case, the incoming light is "transported" from the entry side to the exit side in a manner of speaking one. The fiber density can be selected to be so high that a human observer cannot resolve the individual fibers or the fiber entry surfaces and / or exit surfaces without technical aids. This means that, if, for example, monochromatic light of two different wavelengths is coupled in and transmitted in spatially alternating fashion via the fibers, a human observer perceives a mixed-color surface and not a two-color dotted surface due to the so-called color addition.If my "one-to-one" light-conducting fiber plate lies, for example, on a display surface, the image displayed on the display surface appears on the exit side of the fiber plate. If a glass plate is placed on the display surface, the display surface can be recognized, but the plane of the display device is assumed as the "original plane" of the representation. In contrast, when the fibre board is placed on the display, the display is conducted to the exit side, so that the plane of the exit side is also perceived as the "original plane" of the display.Thus, in addition to the mechanically three-dimensionally shaped viewing surface, a three-dimensional representation is also produced, i.e. a non-planar and non-planar representation, the "original surfaces" of which are perceived not exclusively in one plane of the display surface but in different planes. This brings about a viewing guidance of the user, which facilitates the perception of the information by the user.Different information displayed on the display surface may be of interest to different users. It is therefore advantageous to be able to individually adapt the representation of the information, i.e. in particular its three-dimensional shape. Therefore, this matching is effected with an optical support element.This is preferably detachably or interchangeably coupled to the display device. Thus, adjustments can be made subsequently even after a vehicle has been delivered.In such a case, in which the optical support element and in particular its base element completely spans the display surface, the optical support element and in particular its base element can act as a protective element for the display surface.Preferably, the support surface is planar. This means that the bearing surface of the bearing element is planar and planar. Such an embodiment can be easily mounted on the display surface. As a rule, no mechanical holding and / or locking components are necessary. Only due to adhesion between the display surface of the display device and the planar support surface is the support element and thus the optical matching device adhering to the display device.Alternatively or additionally, mechanical coupling, locking and / or holding components can be provided on or next to the display device and / or on the optical matching device. These make it possible to create a reliable and robust connection between the support element and the display device.Advantageously, more than two levels of perception may be desirable. Thus, one embodiment provides that the support element, in addition to the one fiber plate, has at least one further fiber plate as at least one further optical matching element, wherein a maximum material thickness of the at least one fiber plate perpendicular to the inlet side is different from a maximum material thickness of the at least one further fiber plate. The at least one further fibre plate can thus create a further representation plane.It is likewise possible to overlap two fiber sheets in sections between the support surface and the viewing surface.An outlet side of the at least one further fibre board is thus preferably at a different distance from the support surface than at least a part of the outlet side of the one fibre board from the support surface. In this case, the bearing surface faces the inlet sides of the one fibre board and of the at least one further fibre board.One embodiment provides that the one fibre board (alone) or the one fibre board and the at least one further fibre board (jointly) form the at least one zone and at least one further zone on the outlet side, which have different material thicknesses measured perpendicularly to the inlet side. Zones are thus created with different distances from the support surface of the adaptation device.This can also be achieved with embodiments in which a material thickness of the at least one fiber plate varies perpendicular to the inlet side over the surface of the inlet side. Such an embodiment can be effected in a simple manner, for example by milling or other machining working methods or etching etc., of a fibre board, in which the different material thicknesses are created for the different representation planes. Alternatively, the fiber sheets varying with respect to the material thickness can also be produced in the same structure during the production process.Alternatively or additionally, different display planes and a multi-plane three-dimensional viewing surface may be created by stacking the one fiber plate and the at least one further fiber plate and optionally still other fiber plates on top of each other to create different total material thicknesses of the resulting composite optical matching element.A better emphasis of individual regions of the information displayed on the display surface can be achieved with an embodiment in which a zone on the outlet side of the one fibre plate has a larger area than a related segment on the inlet side, from which light coupled in at the inlet side is conducted through the fibre plate into the at least one zone. In addition to a "change" of the representation plane, an enlargement is also effected.Alternatively or additionally, a zone (reduction zone) can also be formed, the area of which is smaller than an associated segment on the inlet side, from which light coupled in on the inlet side is guided through the fibre board into this one zone (reduction zone).Thus, one or more enlargement zones and one or more reduction zones can be provided, which can be assigned to partly identical or different planes of the representation and thus in three-dimensional space.In this case, the viewing surface can correspond to the surface of the display surface in such a way that a projection surface of the viewing surface perpendicular to the display surface of the surface coincides with the surface of the display surface.However, embodiments are also possible in which a viewing area of the optical matching device is larger or smaller than the display area of the display device. A small display area can thus be "transferred" into a two-dimensionally many larger viewing area than with the optical matching device. For example, a projection area of the viewing area in the plane of the display area parallel to the surface normal of the display area is larger than the display area itself.In addition to adapting the display plane, it may also be desirable to structure the display surface laterally. For this purpose, opaque or translucent structuring elements, such as strips or edges, etc., of different shape, for example as angles, rings, circle segments, rectangles, triangles, etc., can be integrated into the support element. Preferably, these are placed on the base element or the one fibre plate and / or the at least one further fibre plate.One embodiment provides that the bearing surface is formed over the full surface by an underside of a base element. Such an embodiment allows structuring elements to be added, for example glued on, for example later.In order to achieve optimum coupling into the one fiber plate and / or into the at least one further fiber plate, it can be provided that the inlet side of the one fiber plate and / or the at least one further fiber plate form at least a part of the support surface.In addition to fiber plates, other optical elements, in particular refractive optical elements, in particular lenses, lens arrays, prisms, etc., can also be integrated into the matching device or the support element. These are preferably arranged on the base element and / or fastened to structuring elements.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The following are shown here: FIG. 1 a shows a schematic plan view of a combination instrument which is formed with a display device with a flat planar display surface; FIG. 1 bshows a schematic sectional view of the instrument cluster according to FIG. 1 a. FIG. 2 ashows a schematic top view of the instrument cluster according to FIGS. 1 aand 1 b, in which an optical matching device is arranged in front of the display surface of the display device; FIG. 2 bshows a schematic sectional view of the instrument cluster according to FIG. 2 a, in which an optical matching device is arranged in front of the display surface of the display device; FIG. 3 ashows a schematic top view of a combination instrument in which an optical matching device is arranged in front of the display surface of the display device, which "guides" a segment of the display surface into a zone enlarged in terms of area; FIG. 3 bshows a schematic sectional view of the instrument cluster according to FIG. 3 a; FIG. 3 cshows a schematic plan view of the instrument cluster according to FIGS. 3 aand 3 b, without the optical matching device being arranged in front of the display surface of the instrument cluster; and FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a further optical matching device.FIG. 1 ashows a schematic view of a combination instrument 10. A visual cover 15 is provided to minimize direct irradiation of sunlight onto a display surface 25 of a display device 20, such direct irradiation of sunlight can result in reflection on the display surface 25 and thus prevent a user from perceiving the information 29 displayed on the display surface.The display device 20 is inserted into a base plate 11 of the instrument cluster 10. In the embodiment shown, the display device 20 displays on the display surface 25 as information 29 a pointer instrument 30, a further pointer instrument 40 and a different pointer instrument 50 formed concentrically thereto and an information area 60 in which alphanumeric information 61 is displayed.In the pointer instrument 30, a parameter value is displayed in front of a scale 32 by means of a pointer 31. Analogously, a further parameter value is represented in the further pointer instrument 40 by means of a pointer 41 in front of a scale 42. In the other pointer instrument 50, too, another parameter value can be represented by means of a pointer 51 in front of a scale 52.FIG. 1 bshows a schematic sectional view of the instrument cluster 10 according to FIG. 1 a. Identical technical features are identified by the same reference numerals in all figures. For reasons of simplification, the viewing cover 15 is not shown in this and the further sectional representations of instrument clusters 10.It can be seen clearly that the planar surface 26 of the display surface 25 of the display device 20..The display surface 25 is inserted in the embodiment shown in the base plate 11 in such a way that it terminates flush with the base plate 11.When viewing the instrument cluster 10 according to FIGS. 1 aand 1 b, all information 29, that one pointer instrument 30, the further pointer instrument 40, the other pointer instrument 50 and the alphanumeric information 61 of the information area 60 are perceived as being located in a plane 201, in the plane of the display surface 25.In order to guide a user when acquiring the displayed information 29 and, for example, to emphasize the one parameter value displayed in the one pointer instrument 30, FIG. 2 ashows a schematic plan view and FIG. 2 bshows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a combination instrument 10 which is coupled to an optical matching device 100. The adaptation device 100 comprises a support element 120. This is arranged with a support surface 121 in front of the display surface 25 of the display device 20. Preferably, the support surface 121 is in contact with the display surface 25 In individual embodiments, a contactor, for example, a fluid (not shown) or an anti-Newton coating, may be provided on the support surface 121 or the surface 25 of the display device 20 to prevent Newton rings from forming on a contact surface of the support member 120 and the display device 20.The support element 120 comprises a base element 140, the underside 141 of which forms the support surface 121 of the support element 120 in the embodiment shown. The base member 140 is formed of a cured glass or a cured resin.In the embodiment shown, a fiber plate 150 is arranged on the base element 140 as an optical matching element 145. An inlet side 151 of the fibre board 150 here faces the bearing surface 121 of the bearing element 120. An outlet side 152 is accordingly remote from the support surface 121 of the support element 120. The fiber plate 150 comprises a plurality of optical fibers, which are not perceptible when the fiber plate is viewed and are not individually illustrated here. For the purpose of illustration, an optical fiber 160 is shown here schematically and clearly enlarged merely by way of example.The individual optical fibers in the fiber plate 150 are designed such that light entering at the inlet side 151 of the fiber plate 150 is conducted to the outlet side 152 of the fiber plate 150. This is explained by way of example on the basis of the one optical fiber 160 illustrated. Light 90 emerging from the display surface locally at a position 27 of the display surface 25 is coupled into the entry surface 161 of the optical fiber 160. The light 90 is guided in the optical fiber 160 via total reflection at the fiber edge 163 to the exit surface 162 of the optical fiber 160. From the exit side 152 of the fibre board 150, the light 90 then likewise exits at a localized exit position 157, which corresponds to the position 27 on the display surface.In the illustrated embodiment, it is assumed that the fiber plate 150 does not distort or enlarge the image of the display surface 25, but instead directs the image one-to-one through the fiber plate. Thus, the part of the information 29 displayed on the display surface 25 that is covered by the entry side 151 of the fiber plate 150 does not appear to be displayed in the plane 201 of the display surface, but rather gives the impression that the information is displayed in the plane 202 of the exit side 152 of the fiber plate 150. This means that one pointer instrument 30 is perceived as emphasized, since this is shown in a higher level 202. The gaze of the user is therefore directed at this element.A viewing surface 125 of the support element 120 and thus also of the optical matching device 100 thus has a three-dimensional shape. The viewing surface 125 is defined by a contour of the support element 120 which faces a viewer. This is thus the surface facing away from the support surface 121.In order to be able to fasten the bearing element 120 to the bearing surface 121 on the display surface 25 of the display device 20 via adhesion forces, the bearing surface 121 is planar and planar. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 2 b, the support surface 121 is formed by the underside 141 of the base element 140.The fiber plate 150 forms an optical matching element 145. In order to make it easier for the user to acquire the information, further structuring elements 147 can also be provided in addition to the optical matching element 145. These are designed, for example, in the form of chrome-plated or chrome-colored enclosures of the various pointer instruments 30, 40, 50 and the information area 60. These are fastened directly on or to the base element 140 and / or the fibre plate 150.FIG. 3 ashows a schematic plan view of a instrument cluster 10, in which an optical matching device 100 is arranged in front of the display surface 25 of the instrument cluster 10.In this embodiment, the optical matching device 100 comprises a fiber plate 150 whose outlet side 152 is structured into two different planes 203, 204. In the region of the plane 203 situated in the middle, the fiber plate 150 has a greater material thickness than in the region of the plane 204 running around the outside. The information represented under the fibre board 150 is thus represented in different planes 203, 204 or is conducted from the fibre board into these different planes 203, 204. In the embodiment shown, the further pointer instrument 40 is thus "lifted out" of the plane 201 of the display surface 25 into the plane 203. Raised even further is the other pointer instrument 50 which is represented in the plane 204.For even improved viewing guidance, ring-shaped structuring elements 147 are again formed, which are opaque. In other embodiments, these may also be transparent or translucent and optionally colored transparent or translucent.In the embodiment shown, the one pointer instrument 30 is lifted out of the plane 201 of the display surface 25 via a further fibre plate 170 into a plane 205. In addition, a segment 28 of the information shown, here the one pointer instrument 30, of the display surface 25 is guided by means of the further fibre plate 170 into a zone 178, the area of which is greater than that of the segment 28. The representation of the pointer instrument 30 is thus highlighted and at the same time enlarged from the plane 201 of the display surface 25 for the perception by the user in a plane 205.This can be easily seen in comparison with FIG. 3C, in which the instrument cluster with the display device 20 and the information displayed on the display surface 25 is shown without the optical matching device arranged in front.In FIG. 3B, the individual planes 201, 203, 204, 205 can be easily recognized. It can also be seen that, in this embodiment, the fibre plate 150 is inserted into a recess 144 of the base element 140. The fibre board thus forms part of the support surface 121 of the support element 120.In contrast, in this embodiment, the further fiber plate 170 is arranged on the upper side 142 of the base element 140. In another embodiment, this further fiber plate 170, which constitutes a further optical matching element 145, could also be inserted into a cutout of the base plate 140.It can also be clearly seen that the fibre board 150 has different zones 158, 159 which correspond to the different planes 203, 204.The enlargement results from the fact that the individual fibers are expanded with respect to their cross section. This is again exemplarily illustrated by way of example with reference to an optical fiber 160, wherein the cross-sectional area increases from the entry surface 161 to the exit surface 162 in this case.The viewing surface 125 in this embodiment has a complicated three-dimensional shape which is embossed by the various representation planes 201, 203, 204, 205 and the various structuring elements 147.Furthermore, holding and clamping devices are indicated on the base element 140, which can be used alternatively and / or additionally to an adhesive fastening of the support element 120 on the display surface 25 of the display device 20. Different mechanical fastening possibilities can be used. Preferably, these are designed such that the optical matching device 100 can be detached from the instrument cluster 10 and replaced by another optical matching device 100.FIG. 4 shows a further optical matching device 100. In this embodiment, a fiber plate 150 is fastened to the base element, which fiber plate guides a part of the representation from the plane 201 of a display surface 25 on which the support element 120 with the support surface 121 is placed into a raised plane 202. A further fibre plate 170 is fastened to the fibre plate 150, but this only overlaps a part of the fibre plate 150. As a result, a part of the representation which is guided into the plane 202 with the fibre plate 150 is guided into a plane 203 which is situated even higher, i.e. further away from the plane 201 of the display surface. Thus, different zones 158, 159 of the representation are produced, to which different planes 202, 203 correspond, which are raised relative to that of the plane 201 of the display surface 25 towards the viewer. In this embodiment too, the viewing surface 125 is three-dimensionally complex. In addition, the base element also comprises a structuring element 147 which is applied to the base element. The two optical matching elements, the fiber plate 150 and the further fiber plate 170, thus form a composite optical matching element which has different material thicknesses and creates different planes 202, 203 for the representation. Furthermore, the matching element comprises a lens 180 as an additional optical matching element, for example in the form of a cylindrical lens, which is arranged on the base element 140. This ensures, for example, a perception of the information represented below depending on a viewing direction.It is understood that only exemplary embodiments are described herein. The features described in the individual embodiments can be used in any combination in order to implement the invention. It is advantageous in all embodiments that a gaze of a user is guided by raising a part of the displayed information into a higher level for the perception of specific information. This is further supported by the structuring elements. The possibility of detachably coupling the optical matching device to the instrument cluster or the display device creates the possibility of individually matching and configuring the representation with regard to its three-dimensional perception.List of reference characters10 Instrument cluster 11 Base plate 15 Visual cover 20 Display device 25 Display surface 26 Planar surface 27 Position 28 Segment 29 Displayed information 30 Pointer instrument 31 Pointer 32 Scale 40 Further pointer instrument 41 Further pointer 42 Further scale 50 Further pointer instrument 51 Further pointer 52 Other scale 60 Information area 61 Alphanumeric information 90 Light 100 Optical matching device 120 Support element 121 Support surface 125 Viewing surface 140 Base element 141 Underside 142 Upper side 144 Cutout 145 Optical matching element 147 Structuring element 150 Fiber plate 151 Entry side 152 Exit side 156 Zone 157 Exit position 158 Zone 159 Zone 160 Optical fiber 161 Entry surface 162 Exit surface 163 Fiber edge 170 At least one further fiber plate 171 Entry side 172 Exit side 178 Zone 180 Lens

Claims

Optical matching device (100) for a display device (20) having a display surface (25), comprising a support element (120) having a support surface (121) and a viewing surface (125), wherein the support surface (121) is matched to the shape of the display surface (25), such that the support element (120) can be mounted on the display surface (25) such that the support surface (121) is in planar contact with the display surface (25), wherein the support element (120) comprises, as at least one optical matching element (145), a fibre plate (150, 170) having an inlet side (151, 171) and an outlet side (152, 172), wherein the outlet side (152, 172) faces the viewing surface (125) and the viewing surface (125) has a three-dimensional, non-planar shape, characterized in that, the support element (120) comprising a base element (140) which is formed from a hardened glass or hardened plastic and on or in a recess of which the at least one optical matching element (145) is arranged, wherein a bottom side (141) of the base element (140) at least partially forms the support surface (121), wherein, when the at least one optical matching element (145) is arranged in the one recess of the base element, the inlet side (151) of the one fiber plate (150) forms a part of the support surface (121).Optical matching device (100) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bearing surface (121) is planar.Optical matching device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the support element (120) has, in addition to the one fibre plate (150), at least one further fibre plate (170) as at least one further optical matching element (145), wherein a maximum material thickness of the one fibre plate (150) perpendicular to the inlet side (151) is different from a maximum material thickness of the at least one further fibre plate (170).Optical matching device (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a material thickness of the one fibre plate (150) perpendicular to the inlet side (151) varies over the surface of the inlet side (151).Optical matching device (100) according to Claim 4, characterized in that either the one fibre plate (150) or alternatively the one fibre plate (150) and the at least one further fibre plate (170) form at least one zone (178) and at least one further zone (158, 159) on the outlet side (152, 172), which have different material thicknesses measured perpendicularly to the inlet side (151, 171).Optical matching device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one zone (158, 178) on the outlet side (152, 172) has a larger area than an associated segment (28) on the inlet side (151, 171), from which light (90) coupled in on the inlet side (151, 171) is conducted through the fibre plate (150, 170) into the at least one zone (158, 178).Optical matching device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing surface (121) is formed over the full surface by the underside (141) of the base element (140), and the at least one optical matching element (145) is arranged on the base element.

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