Adaptive adjustment of a transparent display surface of a display device for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (1) for a vehicle, comprising a fully transparent display surface (5) on which an electro-optical transparency-changing unit (7) is arranged, which is coupled to a transparency control unit (9). In a display device whose transparency can be easily adjusted according to a specification of a vehicle occupant without changing the information content of the display unit, the electro-optical transparency-changing unit (7) for switching the fully transparent display surface (5) of a display unit (3) is integrated over the entire surface on the side of the display unit (3) facing away from the vehicle interior and is connected to a transparency control unit (9), by means of which the transparency of at least one locally limited region (11) of the display surface (5) can be changed independently of the image content displayed on the display surface (5).The locally limited area (11) of the display surface (5) whose transparency is to be changed can be manually selected on the display surface (5). The transparency control unit (9) is connected to a video source (23), which is coupled to the display surface (5) for more clearly demarcating the selected locally limited area (11) from the remaining display surface (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a display device for a vehicle, comprising a fully transparent display surface on which an electro-optical transparency changing unit is arranged, which is coupled to a transparency control unit.

[0002] DE 10 2010 055 144 A1 discloses an operating device with a freely programmable display surface and covering means, wherein the display surface serves to display information. The covering means are arranged flat in front of the display surface in the viewing direction. The display surface and the covering means that at least partially cover the display surface are controlled by a control device. The covering means are formed as a coating on the display surface, wherein the transparency of the covering means is variable. By means of a control signal, the transparency can be changed in at least one section of the covering means assigned to the area of the changed information display on the display surface.

[0003] US 2014 / 0247198 A1 discloses a dual-screen display. To control the light emitted onto two screens of a display unit, several elements are used whose transparency can be controlled. An electro-optical element is arranged on each of the two light-emitting surfaces of a subpixel, with each subpixel emitting a different color, such as red, green, yellow, or blue. The transparency of the electro-optical elements, which is set by a control unit, is specified by the vehicle occupant.

[0004] Furthermore, WO 2020 / 043 791 A1 shows a “head-up display” system, and DE 10 2014 201 098 A1 shows a method and a device for changing the transmission properties of a translucent surface.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle which allows the adjustment of a transparency according to a specification of a vehicle occupant without changing the information content of the display unit.

[0006] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims. Further features, possible applications, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the explanation of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the figures.

[0007] The problem is solved by the subject matter of patent claim 1.

[0008] In the display device for a vehicle explained at the outset, comprising a fully transparent display surface on which an electro-optical transparency changing unit is arranged, which is coupled to a transparency control unit, the electro-optical transparency changing unit for switching the fully transparent display surface of a display unit is integrated over the entire surface on the side of the display unit facing away from the vehicle interior and is connected to the transparency control unit, by means of which the transparency of at least one locally limited area of the display surface can be changed independently of the image content displayed on the display surface. This has the advantage that the pictorial representation of the information displayed on the display surface is improved merely by electrically changing the transparency of the transparency changing unit by means of an electrical signal emitted by the transparency control unit.This can improve the readability of the information, as such transparency adjustment increases the contrast of the display. This allows predefined readability criteria for a display unit in a vehicle to be easily adjusted. Furthermore, the visibility of material located behind the display device in the local area of the display surface is enabled by switching the transparency change unit transparent in this area. Instead of the glass surface of the display device, high-quality materials located behind the display device can be made visible. This can improve the overall appearance of the display device.

[0009] In one embodiment, the display surface has a pixel-based structure, and the electro-optical transparency-changing unit is designed as a foil or film layer that rests directly on the pixel-based display surface. Alternatively, or in addition to the foil or film layer, it is possible for the electro-optical transparency-changing unit to be at least partially integrated into the display surface. This integration can be carried out directly on a pixel-based basis in the pixel plane of the display surface, i.e., individual pixels of the display surface can contain at least part of the electro-optical transparency-changing unit. The pixel-based structure of the display surface, which can be implemented using µLED or OLED technology, allows the presentation of a wide variety of information content.The display surface can thus be divided into a passive area, formed by transparent subpixels without signal transmission, and an active area, formed by non-transparent subpixels that enable video playback of the information to be displayed in color and / or monochrome. Designing the transparency-changing unit as a foil or film layer made of, for example, liquid crystals or electrophoretic, electrochromic materials, or switching elements at least partially integrated into the pixel plane, enables a space-saving and compact design of the transparency-changing unit while still ensuring continuous video playback or information display on the display surface.

[0010] In a further embodiment, a control element is designed to change the transparency of the display surface of the display unit between transparency and non-transparency. The power supply to the transparency change unit is switched on, causing the display surface to appear non-transparent. After the power supply is switched off by the control element, the transparency change unit behind the transparent display surface also appears transparent, allowing interior elements arranged behind the display device to be viewed. The control element can be designed as a rotating element or sliding element for stepwise or continuous adjustment between transparency and non-transparency.

[0011] In a further embodiment, the transparency control unit is connected to at least one vehicle occupant communication unit for activating or deactivating a definition mode for an area whose transparency is to be changed locally. Using the vehicle occupant communication unit, the vehicle occupant is given the option of entering a command to start or end a transparency change mode stored as software in the transparency control unit. During the definition mode, the size and position of the local area are adjusted. However, the vehicle occupant communication unit can also assume the function of the control element.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the vehicle occupant communication unit is designed as a touchscreen display surface of the display unit and / or as a voice input unit and / or as a gesture recognition unit. This allows the vehicle occupant to easily input a command to the transparency control unit through a simple haptic and / or acoustic and / or visual action.

[0013] According to the invention, the locally limited area of the display surface whose transparency is to be changed can be manually selected on the display surface. This allows the definition of the local area of the display surface through interaction between the vehicle occupant and the display surface, thus eliminating the need for additional components.

[0014] The transparency control unit is connected to a video source, which is coupled to the display surface to more clearly demarcate the selected localized area from the remaining display area. This sharpens the localized area of the display surface, which is specified by the manual input. This sharpening is necessary because manual input by the vehicle occupant may be imprecise while the vehicle is moving.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the at least one locally limited area within the display area is individually designed as a geometric shape or as a free form.

[0016] Within the display area, several locally limited areas in the form of rectangles, circles, triangles and free forms can also be created, whereby the variety of locally limited areas can be changed as desired, since the degree of transparency of the various locally limited areas within the display area can be different.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the locally limited area for forming a freeform is pixel-based. This allows for precise control of the pixels to visualize the selected freeform with sufficient accuracy.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the transparency control unit comprises a timing controller for temporally synchronizing the display area and the transparency change unit, as well as a microcontroller comprising control software. This allows various applications for changing the transparency to be configured. In a first application, the transparent display area is switched to a non-transparent display area. In a second application, the non-transparent display area is switched to a transparent display area. The degree of transparency of the display area is adjusted between transparent and non-transparent in a third application.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the transparency control unit is integrated into the system architecture of the display unit. This saves installation space and allows the display unit to be designed particularly flat.

[0020] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which describes at least one exemplary embodiment in detail. Described features may form the subject matter of the invention alone or in any meaningful combination, possibly even independently of the claims, and may, in particular, also be the subject matter of one or more separate applications.

[0021] Showing: Fig. 1 A schematic diagram of the display device according to the invention, Fig. 2 An embodiment of the display device according to the invention, Fig. 3 An enlarged section of the display device according to Fig. 2, Fig. 4 A representation of the basic functioning of the display device according to the invention, Fig. 5 An embodiment of a display surface with a locally limited area, Fig. 6 A schematic diagram of various applications of the display device according to the invention on a central display of a vehicle, Fig. 7 examples of setting the various applications according to Fig. 6, Fig. 8 An embodiment of the display device according to the invention with several locally limited areas.

[0022] In Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the display device according to the invention. This display device 1 consists of a display unit 3 with a display surface 5 facing the viewer. On the back of the display surface 5, an electro-optical transparency changing unit 7 is firmly connected to the latter. This electro-optical transparency changing unit 7 is designed either as a foil or as a film layer and consists of liquid crystals or electrochromic or electrophoretic materials. The transparency changing unit 7 is coupled to a transparency control unit 9, which supplies the transparency changing unit 7 with an electrical voltage, wherein the electrical voltage controls the transparency changing unit 7. One could also say that the control is implemented by switching on a voltage or a current, i.e. by transmitting a logical command from the transparency control unit 9, which is interpreted and implemented in the transparency changing unit 7.The display surface 5 is always completely transparent. If no voltage is applied to the transparency change unit 7, it is also completely transparent (. Fig. 1a). If a voltage is supplied to the transparency changing unit 7 by the transparency control unit 9, the display surface 5 becomes completely non-transparent, as shown in Fig. 1b. A third possibility is shown in Fig. 1c, in which the transparency change unit 7, which is supplied with a voltage, creates a non-transparent locally limited area 11 or vice versa ( Fig. 1d).

[0023] An embodiment of the display device 1 according to the invention is shown in Fig. 2. This shows Fig. 2a the transparent display area 5, on which a local area 11 is switched to a non-transparent area 11. In contrast, in Fig. 2b, in the completely non-transparent display surface 5, the switching takes place in a transparent local area 11. The switching is effected by the transparency control unit 9, which comprises a microcontroller 13 with software for changing the transparency of the display surface 5 and a timing controller 15 for temporally adjusting the display surface 5 and the transparency change unit 7. The transparency control unit 9 is connected to a touch controller 17, which electrically interacts with the display surface 5, which is designed as a touchscreen. Furthermore, a voice input unit 19 and a gesture recognition unit 21 are coupled to the transparency control unit 9.Commands from a vehicle occupant for an operating operation of the transparency change unit 7 are fed to the transparency control unit 9 via the display surface 5 designed as a touchscreen, the voice input unit 19, and the gesture recognition unit 21. These commands are converted by the transparency control unit 9 into a transparency switching signal, a transparency degree switching signal, and / or a signal for creating the locally delimited area 11. Furthermore, the transparency control unit 9 outputs a signal to a video source 23, which supplies the display surface 5 with information that is displayed on the display surface 5 independently of the transparency commands.

[0024] The display area 5 consists of a plurality of pixels 25, each of which consists of three subpixels 25a, 25b and 25c ( Fig. 3). Each subpixel 25a, 25b, 25c has a predetermined color, with subpixel 25a being red, subpixel 25b being blue, and subpixel 25c being green. Transparent portions 25d of pixel 25 are arranged below subpixels 25a, 25b, 25c. Behind pixels 25 is arranged the transparency change unit 7, which is controlled according to the commands of transparency control unit 9 and thus has transparent portions 27a and non-transparent portions 27b.

[0025] A representation of the basic functioning of the display device 1 according to the invention is shown as a flow chart in Fig. 4. After activation of the transparency change software in the microcontroller 13 by a manual touch of the display surface 5 designed as a touchscreen or a signal from the gesture recognition unit 21 or the voice input unit 19, the transparency control unit 9 evaluates the operating process in block 100 and generates transparency control signals. In block 110, it is checked whether the transparency change signals should cause a change in the transparency of the transparency change unit 7. If this is the case, block 120 determines which areas of the transparency change unit 7 are to be adjusted in terms of their transparency, and the adjustment is calculated accordingly. Subsequently, in block 130, the adjustment of the transparency change unit 7 is initiated, and its degree of transparency is changed. The adjustment process is completed in block 140.If it is determined in block 120 that no transparency change is required, the system proceeds directly to block 140 and completes the adjustment process.

[0026] Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a display area 5 with a locally limited area 11. The display area 5 consists of a plurality of pixels 25 ( Fig. 5a). The display area 5 surrounding the local area 11 appears to the viewer as non-transparent due to the corresponding control of the transparency change unit 7 ( Fig. 5b), since the transparent pixels 25 of the display area 5 surrounding the subpixels 23a, 23b, 23c assume the transparency of the sections of the transparency change unit 7 located behind them. The locally limited area 11 itself is transparent due to the lack of control of the transparency change unit 7 in this section ( Fig. 5c), since the transparency changing unit 7 is also transparent in this section.

[0027] A schematic diagram of various applications of the display device according to the invention will be described below in Fig. 6 are shown on a central display 29 of a vehicle. The central display 29 is arranged on a dashboard 31 centrally between the driver 33 and the front passenger 35 and can be viewed by both. If incident sunlight limits the view of the central display 29 or a specific section of the central display 29 is to be highlighted, for example, to watch a film, the front passenger 35 can manually define the locally limited area 11 on the display surface 5 of the central display 29, which is designed as a touchscreen. The definition mode is started by a double tap or other user interaction. According to Fig. 6a, the display surface 5 of the central display 29 is transparent, while the manually defined, locally limited area 11 is not transparent to increase the contrast. Alternatively, as in Fig. 6b, the transparency between the display surface 5 and the locally delimited area 11 can also be switched, so that the display surface 5 appears non-transparent, while the locally delimited area 11 appears transparent. Alternatively, the degree of transparency of the locally delimited area 11 can be continuously changed by actuating a sliding element 39, so that the locally delimited area 11 appears semi-transparent. This applies when the transparent display surface 5 is set ( Fig. 6c) just as with the non-transparent display area 5 ( Fig. 6d).

[0028] In Fig. 7 are examples of setting the various applications according to Fig. 6. The process steps are comparable for all four options shown. In Fig. 7a, the display surface 5 is completely transparent for the driver 33 and front passenger 35. By touching the display surface 5 with the hand 37 (step 200), the definition mode for the locally limited area 11 is activated in the microcontroller 19. In block 210, a locally limited area 11 is then drawn and graphically marked with a finger, which should not appear transparent. This locally limited area can be adjusted in size and position by touch. This can be done regardless of whether information content is shown on the central display 29 or not. Subsequently, in block 220, the transparency function is activated by double-tapping within the defined locally limited area 11. In this case, the locally limited area 11 appears as a non-transparent display surface. If necessary, the transparency can be adjusted in block 230 by further manual touching of the display surface 5. Fig. 7b, the display surface 5 of the central display 29 is shown completely opaque to the driver 33 and front passenger 35. After activating the definition mode in block 200, a locally delimited area 11 is defined in block 210 by manually touching the display surface. A further touch within the defined locally delimited area 11 starts the transparency function in block 220, whereby in this case the locally delimited area 11 appears transparent. In block 230, the transparent locally delimited area 11 can be adjusted in its shape and extent by further touching the display surface 5, if necessary.

[0029] In Fig. 7c and Fig. Figure 7d shows how the degree of transparency of a locally delimited area 11 formed in a non-transparent display surface 5 can be changed. In both cases, block 230 is expanded such that the degree of transparency can be changed via the sliding element 37 or via another touch operation or the gesture recognition unit 21 or the voice input unit 19.

[0030] As in Fig.8, several locally delimited areas can also be defined on the display surface 5. For the sake of clarity, only two locally delimited areas 11a, 11b are shown. For each of these locally delimited areas 11a, 11b, the previously described applications can be implemented within the display surface 5. The locally delimited areas 11a, 11b can each have an individual shape. The locally delimited area 11a can be defined in a freeform manner, which is why the transparency changing unit 7 must be pixel-based. The locally delimited area 11b can be designed as a geometric shape, such as a circle or a rectangle. If necessary, the degree of transparency of both locally delimited areas 11a, 11b can be changed via the sliding element 39 or via another touch control or the gesture recognition unit 21 or the voice input unit 19.

Claims

[1] Display device (1) for a vehicle, comprising a fully transparent display surface (5), on which an electro-optical transparency changing unit (7) is arranged, which is coupled to a transparency control unit (9), wherein the electro-optical transparency changing unit (7) for switching the fully transparent display surface (5) of a display unit (3) is integrated in a planar manner on the side of the display unit (3) facing away from the vehicle interior and is connected to the transparency control unit (9), by means of which the transparency of at least one locally delimited area (11) of the display surface (5) can be changed independently of the image content displayed on the display surface (5), and wherein the locally delimited area (11) of the display surface (5) whose transparency is to be changed can be manually selected on the display surface (5), characterized bythat the transparency control unit (9) is connected to a video source (23) which is coupled to the display surface (5) for more clearly demarcating the selected locally limited area (11) from the remaining display surface (5). [2] Display device according to claim 1, characterized by that the display surface (5) is constructed on a pixel-based basis, and the electro-optical transparency-changing unit (7) is designed as a foil or as a film layer which lies directly on the pixel-based display surface (5), or the electro-optical transparency-changing unit (7) is at least partially integrated into the pixel-based display surface (1). [3] Display device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that an operating element (5, 17, 19) is designed to change the transparency of the display surface (5) of the display unit (3) between transparency and non-transparency. [4] Display device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized bythat the transparency control unit (9) is connected to at least one vehicle occupant communication unit (5, 17, 19) for activating or deactivating a transparency change mode. [5] Display device according to claim 4, characterized by that the vehicle occupant communication unit is designed as a display surface (5) of the display unit (3) designed as a touchscreen and / or as a voice input unit (19) and / or as a gesture recognition unit (17). [6] Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one locally limited area (11) within the display area (5) is individually designed as a geometric shape or as a free form. [7] Display device according to claim 6, characterized by that the locally limited area (11) is designed pixel-based to form a free form. [8] Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the transparency control unit (9) has a time control (15) for the temporal synchronization of the display area (5) and the transparency changing unit (7) and a microcontroller (13) comprising control software.

Images