Display on the hood of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle (2) having a direction of travel (8) for forward straight-ahead travel includes a seat (10) with a head area (16) for an occupant (14), a hood (4) arranged in the direction of travel (8) in front of the seat (10), which has a display element (20) visible from the head area (16) and which can be switched under electrical energy requirements to change displayed information (24), wherein unchanged displayed information (24) can be retained without energy, wherein the motor vehicle (2) is configured to display such information (24) for the occupant (14) on the display element (20).In a method for displaying information (24) on the motor vehicle (2), the display element (20) is switched using electrical energy to change the displayed information (24), and information (24) that remains unchanged is kept energy-free. Information (24) for the occupant (14) is displayed on the display element (20).

Description

The invention relates to the display of information on a bonnet of a motor vehicle.From JP P2009-67251 A, it is known to provide an information display apparatus capable of outputting information displays at a position where good visibility is ensured for a driver without impairing the aerodynamic characteristics of a vehicle. This information display apparatus is mounted on the hood of the vehicle and displays route guidance information. The information display device uses the hood surface of the vehicle as a screen to display information on the screen by a projection device. This information display apparatus can display the route guidance information including a relatively large amount of information.It is an object of the present invention to improve the display of information on a bonnet of a motor vehicle.The object is achieved by a motor vehicle according to claim 1. preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention and other categories of invention are evident from the further claims, the following description and the attached figures.The motor vehicle is in particular a passenger car, in particular a sport utility vehicle or SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle). The motor vehicle has a direction of travel for a forward straight-ahead travel, i.e. during such a travel the vehicle moves in this direction. The vehicle has a seat for an occupant. When the motor vehicle or a user is used as intended, the user is therefore located at the location of the seat. The seat has a head region. In intended use, a head of the occupant is located in the head region."Intended" means that the motor vehicle is structurally matched to a specific or a specific type of occupant and is configured for use therewith; for example, is designed for the geometry / size requirements determined thereby, etc. In other words, a passenger concerned is particularly presumed to be known in size, etc.The motor vehicle contains a bonnet arranged in front of the seat in the direction of travel. The engine hood is at least partially visible to an occupant whose head is located in the head region. The engine hood has a display element which can be seen in particular completely from the head region. That is, the occupant whose head is located in the head region can see the display element with his eyes. The display element extends parallel to the engine hood, i.e. follows its shape. The display element is switchable under electric power consumption to change displayed information. Information displayed unchanged can be held on the display element without energy. In other words, only power is required to change the displayed information, as long as the information is displayed unchanged, no power is necessary.The motor vehicle is configured to display such information for the occupant on the display element as information. The information is thus information addressed to the potential occupant. Information is in particular: information on the current status of the motor vehicle (speed, state of charge,... ), traffic instructions on the current traffic situation (current speed limit, weather, traffic jam, distance to a vehicle driving ahead,... ), navigation information (route instructions, time information, street names,... ), messages (e-mail, SMS,... ). The information contains in particular text, symbols, graphics or also visual media content such as images or videos.The information is in any case not information directed or addressed to the outside of the vehicle, for example to passersby, such as, for example, advertisements, a current vehicle color, an exterior design of the vehicle or the like.Because energy is only necessary for setting up or changing the display, but not for keeping the displayed information unchanged, i.e. the display, the display element is particularly energy-saving. Thus, the entire motor vehicle is also designed to be energy-saving.In a preferred embodiment, the display element is an electrophoresis-based display element. Electrophoresis is a suitable technique to require energy only in changing the information / display, but not in keeping the information / display unchanged. The display element is in particular embodied in the manner of an e-ink technology.In a preferred embodiment, the display element is applied to the engine hood as a film or film coating. Thus, the application of the display element is particularly simple. Display elements based in particular on electrophoresis are known in foil form from practice, so that the motor vehicle according to the invention can be realized particularly easily.In a preferred embodiment, the motor vehicle contains a sensor. This is directed to the header region in a sensing manner, i.e. it records its sensor information from there. The sensor is configured to determine a current vision of eyes of the occupant in the head region relative to the display element. The position of vision is thus or provides information about a relative relationship between the head of the occupant or his eyes and the display element. The position of vision is in particular the current position of the eyes of the occupant and / or the current viewing direction of the occupant or of his eyes relative to the display surface.The motor vehicle in this embodiment further includes a control unit. This is configured to pre-distort the information or its display / presentation on the display element. The predistortion occurs in this case as a function of the current vision and with respect to a distortion-free perception from the head region, i.e. by the occupant or his eyes. In other words, it is taken into account from which relative position the occupant currently views the display element. The display element appears distorted to him because it will not extend transversely to its viewing direction (viewing the engine hood extending flat away from him). Corresponding distortions resulting from viewing contents on the display element are compensated by the predistortion. Therefore, the information considered appears to the occupant on the display element, i.e. the display thereof, without distortion.In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the sensor is a camera or contains a camera. Cameras of this type are already integrated in particular in modern vehicles and can thus be used synergetically in accordance with the invention. Such cameras are used, for example, for fatigue detection of occupants. A determination of the current vision from a camera image recorded by the camera is possible in a particularly simple manner.The object of the invention is also achieved by a method according to claim 6. In the method, the display element is switched under electric power consumption to change the displayed information, and information displayed unchanged is kept free of power. On the display element, information such as that for the occupant is displayed.The method and at least a part of its possible embodiments and the respective advantages have already been explained accordingly in connection with the motor vehicle according to the invention.The invention is based on the following findings, observations or considerations and still has the following preferred embodiments. These embodiments are also sometimes referred to simply as "the invention". The embodiments can also contain parts or combinations of the above-mentioned embodiments or correspond to these and / or optionally also include embodiments not mentioned up to now.The invention is based on the observation from practice that head-up displays are used in vehicles in practice: the head-up display (HUD) projects a virtual image into the field of vision of the driver. Important information such as, for example, the speed control or navigation instructions are generally mirrored on the front windshield and are therefore permanently visible in the driving environment.Furthermore, imaging material can be converted into signals by cameras. For example, in vehicles, cameras are mounted behind the steering wheel in order to observe the attention of the driver, so that a sound signal can then be output to the driver if necessary in the event of inattentiveness (e.g. eyes are not directed at the road).In addition, for vehicles, an e-ink concept for vehicle bodies has been presented in which a vehicle can dynamically change its color and could also assume different color tones.The invention is based on the finding that the visibility of the displays of the HUD on the front screen is influenced, inter alia, by the seat position, objects on the cover of the HUD, sun glasses with specific polarization filters, wet roadway or unfavorable lighting conditions. One possibility would be to use the built-in cameras to adjust the image of the HUD according to the posture or eye position.The invention is based on the basic idea of displaying useful information for the driver on the engine hood by means of e.g. the e-ink technology similar to previous HUDs on the front window.For example, drivers are seated comparatively high in large SUVs and the engine hood projects into the field of view. This provides the ability to display messages and information on this surface. The viewing angle or the position of the driver's eyes is to be recognized here in particular by camera sensors in order to put the latter in relation to the overall vehicle geometry. This is relevant since there is distortion in the display of information which must be taken into account in order to be able to display writings or icons. If a vehicle now has the possibility of information presentation by e-ink on the engine hood and can additionally calculate the distortion angle by fusing vehicle geometry relative to the determined position of the eyes, the information is displayed correspondingly adapted on the engine hood.Advantages result according to the invention: the E-ink technology itself is distinguished by a high energy efficiency. Unlike displays or projectors, the electrophoretic technology does not require any energy in order to keep the respectively selected color state constant. Current flows only in the short phase of the color change. According to the seat position or position of the eyes, the information is displayed in a matched manner on the engine hood.According to the invention, an e-ink engine hood display of information is obtained in particular.Further features, effects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention and from the attached figures. In each case, a schematic schematic diagram shows: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a motor vehicle.FIG. 1 shows a section of a motor vehicle 2, here an SUV, namely its front region with a bonnet 4 and a windshield 6 adjoining it.The motor vehicle 2 contains a seat 10 in the form of a spatial area which is indicated by a dashed frame. The seat 10 is defined by a vehicle seat 12. The seat 10 is the area in the vehicle in which an occupant is to take place. In the example, an occupant 14 sits on the vehicle seat 12, which is a driver's seat here. The occupant 14 is the vehicle operator.The seat 10 contains a head region 16 for the occupant 14, the head region 16 likewise being indicated by dashed lines. Since the occupant 14 is an intended occupant, when the occupant has been seated on the vehicle seat 12 as intended, i.e. in the seat 10, the head 18 of the occupant is located in the head region 16 with the eyes 22.The engine hood 4 is arranged in front of the seat 10 in the direction of travel 8. The engine hood 4 has an indicator element 20. Information 24 (only shown symbolically here) can be displayed or displayed on the display element. With regard to the displayed information 24, the display element 20 can be electrically switched over: To change the displayed information, that is to say to change the display, the display element 20 requires electrical energy. As long as the information 24 remains unchanged or remains displayed unchanged, this is possible without energy, and the displayed information is therefore able to be held on the display element 20 without energy.A major part of the engine hood 4 and the entire display element 20 can be seen from the head region 16, and therefore from the occupant 14 or from the head 18 or from the eyes 22 thereof.The motor vehicle 2 is configured to display such a message for the occupant 14 on the display element 20 as information 24. In the present case, texts and symbols are displayed to occupant 14 as information 24 which contain a navigation display and road signs currently applicable on the route being traveled.The display element 20 is an electrophoresis-based display element. The display element 20 is also applied to the engine hood 4 as a film or as a film coating.The motor vehicle contains a sensor 26 which is aligned sensingly with the head region 16. The sensor 26 is configured to determine a current vision 28 of the eyes 22 of the occupant 14 relative to the display element 20. The vision 28 is indicated here as a double arrow and denotes the position of the eyes 22 relative to the display element 20.The motor vehicle 2 also contains a control unit 30, which is configured to pre-distort the information 24 as a function of the current vision 28. The predistortion occurs in such a way that the occupant 14 perceives this information 24 without distortion with his eyes 22 when viewing the display element 20 and the information 24 represented thereon. A traffic sign symbol shown on the display element 20 strongly ovally pre-distorted in the direction of travel 8 is therefore perceived by the occupant 14 as circular.In the present case, the sensor 26 is a camera.List of reference characters2 Motor vehicle 4 engine hood 6 windshield 8 direction of travel 10 seat 12 vehicle seat 14 occupant 16 head region 18 head 20 display element 22 eye 24 information 26 sensor 28 vision 30 control unitReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedJP P2009-67251 A

[0002]

Claims

Motor vehicle (2), - which has a direction of travel (8) for forward straight-ahead travel, - with a seat (10) with a head region (16) for an occupant (14), - with a bonnet (4) arranged in front of the seat (10) in the direction of travel (8), - wherein the bonnet (4) has a display element (20) which can be seen from the head region (16) and can be switched over under electrical energy requirements in order to change displayed information (24), wherein information (24) displayed unchanged can be kept energy-free, - wherein the motor vehicle (2) is configured to display such a display element for the occupant (14) on the display element (20) as information (24).Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the display element (20) is an electrophoresis-based display element (20).Motor vehicle (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display element (20) is applied to the engine bonnet (4) as a film,Motor vehicle (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor vehicle (2) contains: - a sensor (26) which is directed in a sensing manner at the head region (16) and is designed to determine a current vision position (28) of the eyes (22) of the occupant (14) located in the head region (16) relative to the display element (20), - a control unit (30) which is designed to pre-distort the information (24) from the head region (16) as a function of the current vision position (28) with respect to a distortion-free perception.Motor vehicle (2) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the sensor (26) contains or is a camera.Method for displaying information (24) on a motor vehicle (2) according to one of the preceding claims, in which: - the display element (20) is switched under electrical energy demand in order to change the displayed information (24) and information (24) displayed unchanged is kept energy-free, - such information for the occupant (14) is displayed on the display element (20) as information (24).Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that - a sensor (26) which is directed in a sensing manner at the head region (16) determines a current vision position (28) of eyes (22) of the occupant (14) which are located in the head region (16) relative to the display element (20), - a control unit (30) pre-distorts the information (24) as a function of the current vision position (28) with respect to a distortion-free perception by the occupant (14).

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