Device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching to a vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

Device (10) for displaying information in digital form and for attaching it to a vehicle (30), comprising at least one holding device (14) for holding the device (10) on a body (34) of a vehicle (30) and at least one display device (12) for optically displaying the information, characterized in that the device (10) further comprises a transmitting device (16) for sending the information to at least one external receiving device (36), characterized in that the transmitting device (16) is further configured to send the information to at least one projection device (40) of the first vehicle (30) for projecting the information.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching it to a vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle.

[0002] Badges, particularly plaques, may be sold to participants or visitors of racing events, or to purchasers of special edition vehicles. These badges may feature emblems representing the respective racing event or special edition. They are typically affixed to the radiator fins, which are usually located at the front of the vehicle but can also be at the rear.

[0003] From DE 10 2014 219 190 B4, it is known to design the badges as a digital display device for mounting on the exterior of the vehicle. The display device can be designed as an E-Ink display and have a self-sufficient power supply via a battery or a solar panel. At least one emblem in digital form can be displayed on the display device. However, the visibility of the emblems is limited. In order to see a display device, other people and drivers must get very close to a vehicle.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching it to a vehicle, which has increased visibility.

[0005] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0006] According to a first aspect, a device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching it to a vehicle is defined, comprising at least one holding device for holding the device on a vehicle body and at least one display device for optically displaying the information, wherein, according to the invention, the device further comprises a transmitting device for sending information to at least one external receiving device.

[0007] The device for displaying digital information, which can be attached to a vehicle, allows information displayed by the display unit to be transmitted to external receiving devices via the transmitting device. External receiving devices are defined as receivers that are not part of the device itself. In this way, a driver of another vehicle equipped with an external receiving device can be provided with information about other vehicles equipped with the device described above, for example, via a screen. The digital information could, for instance, display achievements, participation in competitions, or information about a special edition from a vehicle manufacturer.For example, a driver of another vehicle equipped with an external receiving device can display information about vehicles ahead if the vehicle ahead has a device according to the invention. The driver of a following vehicle no longer needs to drive close to the vehicle ahead to see the display. This can further increase road safety, particularly when a driving maneuver, condition, and / or hazard needs to be announced and / or communicated.

[0008] The information, presented in digital form, can be, for example, digital image data and / or digital text data. It is also conceivable that the information could be in the form of audio data. Furthermore, the information could be in the form of video data, which could provide a moving image with and / or sound. It is also conceivable that meta-information, such as links or QR codes that refer to further information, could be displayed and / or transmitted.

[0009] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the device may have the form of a radiator badge and be integrated into a radiator grille of a car body and / or be attachable to a radiator grille.

[0010] This allows the device to blend seamlessly into an existing collection of analog radiator badges on a radiator grille. Furthermore, the device can be designed with smaller dimensions, thus saving material and energy for the display mechanism. Overall, this makes the device cost-effective to manufacture and operate.

[0011] In some other embodiments, it is conceivable that the device could also be attached to other parts of the body. For example, the device could also be located behind the windshield and / or integrated into a body panel of a vehicle.

[0012] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the device may have a housing in which at least one power supply unit and at least one display unit may be arranged.

[0013] The power supply unit can thus be integrated into the housing that also contains the display unit. The power supply unit could, for example, be a battery that powers the display unit. This saves space and provides a self-sufficient power supply for the device.

[0014] The power supply unit can, for example, be supplied with energy or charged without contact, especially via inductive charging.

[0015] In some further embodiments, it is conceivable that the device has a power supply connection that can be designed for connection to a vehicle's power supply. The vehicle can, for example, have a 12 V or 48 V electrical system to which the device's power supply connection can be connected.

[0016] According to some examples, it is conceivable that the information in an electronic storage device could be structured as a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) on a blockchain.

[0017] By electronically storing information as an NFT in a blockchain, digital information can be effectively secured. Furthermore, the exchange of information via the NFT can be mapped.

[0018] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the transmitting device could be further designed to send the information to portable end devices.

[0019] Portable devices can be, for example, smartphones, to which the information can be transmitted via the transmitter. For instance, when the vehicle with the device drives past people with such portable devices, the information can be made available on those devices.

[0020] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the display device can be circular and have a diameter of 3-20 cm, preferably 6-16 cm, more preferably 9-13 cm, most preferably 10 cm.

[0021] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the display device can be oval or angular, in particular rectangular.

[0022] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the display device could be designed as an E-Ink display.

[0023] Using an E-Ink display as the display device saves energy, thus enabling the device to operate with further increased cost efficiency. However, this does not preclude the use of other display technologies, such as liquid crystal displays.

[0024] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the transmitting device may be further configured to send the information to at least one projection device of the vehicle for projecting the information.

[0025] The projection device can, for example, project the provided information onto a surface around the vehicle equipped with the device according to the invention. Alternatively or additionally, the projection device can also display information from devices mounted on another vehicle into the driver's field of vision of the vehicle on which the device is mounted. This further increases the functionality of the device. Furthermore, the visibility of the provided information can be improved.

[0026] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the device may further include at least one receiving means for receiving wirelessly transmitted change signals to change the information.

[0027] Change signals allow for the simple modification of digital information. For example, a change signal can be transmitted from a smartphone to modify specific digital information displayed, or potentially displayed, by the display device. Alternatively or additionally, a manufacturer can, for instance, provide information via a wireless signal connection using a change signal. This allows for the transmission of marketing and / or technical information, for example. In some embodiments, the at least one receiving device can establish a direct connection to, for example, an online service. Wireless communication can be achieved, for instance, via Bluetooth.

[0028] In some other embodiments, a wired communication means, for example a USB interface, may be provided as an alternative or additional measure.

[0029] The USB interface can then be connected, for example, via a cable to another USB interface of a vehicle or other device.

[0030] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that an electronic storage device may be further designed to store country-specific settings for controlling the display device, which may be designed in accordance with country-specific legal guidelines.

[0031] Country-specific settings can be configured, for example, so that the display unit has a flashing mode in one country and not in another. Alternatively or additionally, the electronic storage device can be configured to store the digital information. The electronic storage device can then be read by a control unit, which can then provide the read data to the display unit so that the display unit can show the stored digital information.

[0032] According to a second aspect, a vehicle is described comprising at least one body and at least one device according to one of the preceding claims, which is attached to the body with the holding device, in particular to a radiator grille of the body or at least one other vehicle part.

[0033] The advantages, effects, and further developments of the vehicle result from the advantages, effects, and further developments of the device described above. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the preceding description in this regard.

[0034] According to some embodiments, it is conceivable that the vehicle may further have at least one projection device and / or a screen and / or at least one receiving device for receiving digital information from a transmitting device of a device of another vehicle, wherein the receiving device may be configured to provide the digital information to the projection device and / or the screen.

[0035] This allows a vehicle equipped with a device to transmit information to a following or preceding vehicle, with the information from the first vehicle being displayed to the other vehicles. For example, information can be received from a vehicle immediately in front. This received information can then be displayed to the driver of the first vehicle. Furthermore, the information from the first vehicle can be sent to a following vehicle so that this information can be displayed to the driver of the following vehicle. Display can be achieved, for example, using a projection device or a screen.

[0036] The invention is described below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1a, b a schematic representation of the device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching it to a vehicle; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of the components of the device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching to a vehicle and of further devices for displaying information in digital form and for attaching to a vehicle; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of vehicles, wherein one of the vehicles has a device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching it to a vehicle; Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a vehicle with at least one projection device; and Fig. 5a-c a schematic representation of various forms of the device for displaying information in digital form and for attaching it to a vehicle.

[0037] The device in its entirety will hereinafter be referred to by reference numeral 10, as in the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b is shown.

[0038] The device 10 has according to Fig. 1a at least one display device 12, which may, for example, be circular. The diameter of the circular shape may be between 3 cm and 20 cm, preferably 6 cm to 16 cm, more preferably 9 cm to 13 cm, and most preferably 10 cm.

[0039] The at least one display device 12 can be attached to a housing 18 of the device 10, wherein the display device 12 is arranged in the housing 18 in a way that is visible from the outside. This means that the image and / or video displayed by the display device 12 can be viewed from the outside by an observer. Alternatively or additionally, a loudspeaker can be installed to provide audio output.

[0040] The display device 12 is designed to visually represent information that is available in digital form. For example, a digital image can be visually displayed by the display device 12. The display device 12, or the entire device 10, can thus function as a digital badge with which, for example, different badges can be visually represented. It can be provided that one badge at a time can be displayed by the display device 12.

[0041] Furthermore, the device 10 shows according to Fig. 1b at least one holding device 14 with which the device 10 can be attached to a body 34 of a first vehicle 30, as exemplified in Fig. Figure 3 shows the attachment. The attachment can be understood as the fastening of the device 10 to the first vehicle 30.

[0042] The holding device 14 can, for example, be designed as a clamp or as a bracket, with which the housing 18 of the device 10 can be attached, for example, to a radiator grille as part of a Fig. The device 10 can be attached to the body 34 of the first vehicle 30 as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the holding device 14 could be designed as a magnet or as a snap-fit ​​mechanism. Alternatively, instead of a holding device 14, an adhesive bond could be provided to hold the device 10 to the first vehicle 30.

[0043] In principle, any mechanism is suitable that can prevent the device from detaching from the first vehicle 30, for example due to vibrations or other influences.

[0044] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the device 10 further comprises at least one transmitting device 16. The transmitting device 16 is configured to transmit the information that can be displayed by the display device 12 to at least one external receiving device 36, as shown in Figure 2. Fig. 3, for example, can be arranged on a second vehicle 32. The information received by the external receiving device 36 can then be displayed, for example, on a screen 38 to a driver of the second vehicle 32.

[0045] The transmitting device 16 can be configured to provide wireless signals 26. Likewise, the external receiving device 36 can be configured to receive wireless signals 26.

[0046] Furthermore, the device 10 can include an electronic storage device 22 in which the digital information can be stored electronically. The digital information can be stored as an NFT in a blockchain. For example, a local copy of the NFT can be stored on the electronic storage device 22.

[0047] The blockchain can be represented in a way that is accessible and verifiable from the outside. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a Fig. The data can be displayed using projection 42 shown in Figure 4 or by means of the display device 12. It is also conceivable that the blockchain data could be provided via the transmitting device 16. Other methods are conceivable for making the blockchain externally accessible and verifiable.

[0048] The electronic storage device 22 can, for example, be designed as a permanent or volatile data storage device, such as flash memory or main memory. However, this does not exclude other types of data storage.

[0049] Furthermore, the electronic storage device 22 can be configured to have country-specific settings for controlling the display device 12. These country-specific settings can be designed in accordance with the country-specific legal guidelines. For example, for Germany, the display device 12 can be controlled in such a way that it displays only a continuous image and does not have a flashing mode.

[0050] This can be made possible, for example, by country-specific settings in other countries.

[0051] Furthermore, the device 10 can include a power supply unit 20. The power supply unit 20 can also be arranged in the housing 18. This makes the device 10 independent of a power supply from a vehicle 30, to which the device 10 can be attached using the mounting device 14.

[0052] The power supply device 20 can, for example, be a battery or a rechargeable battery. The power supply device 20 can further include a photovoltaic element with which a battery can be charged. Furthermore, the power supply device 20 can be connected via lines 21 to the display device 12, the storage device 22, and the transmitting device 16 to provide a power supply.

[0053] The display unit 12, the transmitter unit 16, and the storage unit 22 can be interconnected via signal connections 23 to transmit information provided in digital form. The signal connections 23 can be wireless or wired.

[0054] The device 10 can further comprise a receiving means 24 with which the device 10 can receive change signals that can be configured to change the data stored in the electronic storage device 22. Furthermore, the change signals can serve to modify an optical display shown by the display device 12.

[0055] The change signals can be transmitted, for example, from a portable terminal device 28 to the receiving device 24. This can be done wirelessly or via cable.

[0056] Alternatively or additionally, signals can also be transmitted to receiving devices 24 via a central server. In this way, for example, a large number of different devices 10 can be simultaneously supplied with digital information. Thus, a manufacturer of a vehicle 30 or a device 10 can, for example, transmit marketing information simultaneously to a large number of devices 10 in order to then display it via the display devices 12 of the respective device 10.

[0057] Furthermore, a control unit of the vehicle 30, to which the device 10 is attached, can provide digital information to the receiving device 24. For example, when a certain mileage of the first vehicle 30 is exceeded, the control unit of the vehicle 30 can transmit an image file to the receiving device 24, which can display the mileage achieved by the first vehicle 30 as an emblem.

[0058] Fig. Figure 3 shows two vehicles 30 and 32. The first vehicle 30, which is traveling ahead, has a body 34 that may include a radiator grille. The device 10 with the holding device 14 can be attached to the body 34 or to the radiator grille.

[0059] The second vehicle 32, traveling behind the first vehicle 30, can have an external receiving device 36 which can be connected to a screen 38 via a signal link. The screen 38 can be viewed by the driver of the second vehicle 32. The device 10 of the first vehicle 30 can transmit information to the external receiving device 36 of the second vehicle 32 via the transmitting device 16. The information received by the external receiving device 36 can be displayed on the screen 38. The screen 38 can also be configured as a projector.

[0060] Fig. Figure 4 shows a vehicle 30 having at least one projection device 40. The projection device 40 can be located inside the driver's cab or on the outside of the vehicle 30, on which the device 10 is located. The transmitting device 16 can transmit digital information to the at least one projection device 40, which can then be projected by the respective at least one projection direction 40. For example, projections 42 can be projected onto the ground around the outside of the vehicle 30 if the at least one projection device 40 is located on the outside of the vehicle 30. Alternatively or additionally, the digital information can also be projected inside the vehicle 30 via a projection device 40 located in the driver's cab of the vehicle 30.

[0061] In the Fig. Figures 5a to 5c show various shapes that the device or its housing 18 can have. For example, the device 10 can have a round shape according to Fig. 5a exhibit an oval shape according to Fig. 5b or a rectangular or angular shape according to Fig. 5c. In particular, the angular shape can have any number of corners.

[0062] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the housing 18 or the device 10 can have an irregular shape. Several of these shapes can also be combined to provide an overall shape for the device 10. For example, the shape of the device could be designed as a figure eight lying on its side or as two adjacent and connected circles. This would allow, for instance, two different digital plaques to be displayed side by side simultaneously, with one circle representing one plaque and the other representing a different plaque. Alternatively, a plaque could be displayed in one circle and further information, for example in text or video form, in the other. These explanations are, of course, applicable to various shapes.

[0063] In some further embodiments, not only can each device display its own information on its own, but alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that spatially connected devices can display content together. This could, for example, be a shape displayed across multiple devices.

[0064] The example described above does not in any way limit the invention. Rather, the invention can be modified in numerous ways. All features of the invention described above can be essential to the invention, either alone or in combination. Reference symbol list 10 Device 12 Display device 14 Holding device 16 Transmitting device 18 cases 20 Energy supply facility 21 Management 22 Storage device 23 Signal connection 24 receiving devices 26 portable device 28 Signal connection 30 vehicles 32 vehicles 34 Bodywork 36 Receiving equipment 38-inch screen 40 Projection equipment 42 Projection QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2014 219 190 B4

[0003]

Claims

Device (10) for displaying information in digital form and for attaching to a vehicle (30), comprising at least one holding device (14) for holding the device (10) on a body (34) of a vehicle (30) and at least one display device (12) for optically displaying the information, characterized in that the device (10) further comprises a transmitting device (16) for transmitting information to at least one external receiving device (36). Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (10) has the form of a radiator badge and is integrated into a radiator grille of a body (34) and / or can be attached to a radiator grille and / or to another body part of a vehicle. Device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (10) has a housing (18) in which at least one power supply device (20) and at least one display device (12) are arranged. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the information in an electronic storage device (16) is configured as a non-fungible token on a blockchain. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitting device (16) is further configured to transmit the information to portable terminal devices (26). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display device (12) is circular and has a diameter of 3-20 cm, preferably 6-16 cm, more preferably 9-13 cm, most preferably 10 cm. Device (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the display device (12) is oval or angular, in particular rectangular. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display device (12) is designed as an E-Ink display. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmitting device (16) is further configured to transmit the information to at least one projection device (40) of the first vehicle (30) for projecting the information. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) further comprises at least one receiving means (22) for receiving wirelessly transmitted change signals for changing the information. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electronic storage device (16) is further configured to store country-specific settings for controlling the display device (12), which are designed in accordance with the country-specific legal guidelines. Vehicle (30) comprising at least one body (34) and at least one device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, which is attached to the body (34) with the holding device (14), in particular to a radiator grille of the body (34). Vehicle (30) according to claim 12, characterized in that the vehicle (30) further comprises at least one projection device (40) and / or a screen (38) and / or at least one receiving device (36) for receiving digital information from a transmitting device (16) of a device (10) of another vehicle (30), wherein the receiving device (36) is configured to provide the digital information to the projection device (40) and / or the screen (38).

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