VEHICLE DISPLAY

Abstract

A vehicle is provided having a body defining a passenger compartment and having first and second support pillars on opposite sides at a front of the passenger compartment. The vehicle has a windshield connected to the body and located between the first and second support pillars, the windshield having a windshield curvature. The vehicle has an instrument panel extending between the first and second support pillars. The vehicle has an electronic display extending substantially between the first and second support pillars and proximate a lower portion of the windshield. The electronic display has a display curvature substantially similar to the windshield curvature.

Description

AREA OF REVELATION

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a display assembly on a vehicle, and more particularly to an electronic display installed near the windshield of a motor vehicle. GENERAL STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Motor vehicles typically include electronic display devices for displaying information. For example, displays may be mounted near the vehicle windshield, such as a head-up display, or a display screen may be mounted on the instrument panel or dashboard. It would be desirable to provide other display arrangements for use on a motor vehicle. SUMMARY OF REVELATION

[0003] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes: a body defining a passenger compartment and having first and second support pillars on opposite sides at a front of the passenger compartment; a windshield connected to the body and located between the first and second support pillars, the windshield having a configuration with a windshield curvature; a panel extending generally between the first and second support pillars below the windshield; and an electronic display extending substantially between the first and second support pillars and proximate a lower portion of the windshield, the electronic display having a display curvature substantially similar to the windshield curvature.

[0004] Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features: - the panel includes an instrument panel; - the mechanical support structure comprises a male member on one surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel, which is configured to be received within a groove receptacle on the other surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel; - the electronic display is located behind the lower section of the windscreen in relation to the vehicle; - the mechanical support structure is configured to connect to an inner surface of the windshield; - the windshield has the windshield curvature along the height of the windshield which substantially coincides with the display curvature along a height of the electronic display; - the windshield curvature of the windshield along one width substantially matches the display curvature of the electronic display along the width; - the electronic display can be configured as a split-screen display; - the electronic display is configurable to have transparent and non-transparent sections; - a mechanical support structure configured to connect the electronic display to the instrument panel; and - the first and second support pillars extend vertically on opposite lateral sides of the body and are connected to a roof of the vehicle.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes: a body defining a passenger compartment and having first and second support pillars; a windshield connected to the body and located between the first and second support pillars, the windshield having a windshield curvature; an instrument panel extending generally between the first and second support pillars below the windshield; an electronic display extending substantially between the first and second support pillars and proximate a lower portion of the windshield, the display having a display curvature substantially consistent with the windshield curvature; and a support structure configured to connect the electronic display to the instrument panel.

[0006] Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure may include any one or a combination of the following features: - the mechanical support structure comprises a male member on one surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel, which is configured to be received within a groove receptacle on the other surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel; - the insertion element is formed on a lower surface of the electronic display and the groove receptacle is formed on an upper surface of the instrument panel; - the windshield has the windshield curvature along the height of the windshield which substantially coincides with the display curvature along a height of the display; - the windshield curvature of the windshield along one width substantially matches the display curvature of the electronic display along the width; - the electronic display can be configured as a split-screen display; - the electronic display is configurable to have transparent and non-transparent sections; - the electronic display is located behind the lower section of the windscreen in relation to the vehicle; and - the first and second support pillars extend vertically on opposite lateral sides of the body and are connected to a roof of the vehicle.

[0007] These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be better understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The following applies in the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of the front portion of an interior cabin of a motor vehicle having an electronic display mounted near the vehicle windshield, according to one embodiment; Fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle windshield and the electronic display mounted on top of an instrument panel with a support structure, according to one example; Fig. 3A is a schematic view of the layers of the electronic display according to a first example; Fig. 3B is a schematic view of the layers of the electronic display according to a second example; Fig. 3C is a schematic view of the layers of the electronic display according to a third example; Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the windshield and the electronic display located on the cabin interior of the windshield; Fig. 5 is a side view of the windshield and a support structure for mounting the electronic display on the windshield according to another example; Fig. 6 is a side view of the windshield and the electronic display having a support structure according to another example; Fig. 7 is a front view of the windshield and electronic display configured in a first operating mode; Fig. Figure 8 is a front view of the windshield and the electronic display configured in a split-screen function according to a second operating mode; and Fig. 9 is a front view of the windshield and electronic display configured with transparent and non-transparent sections according to a third mode of operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar parts. In the drawings, the illustrated structural elements are not to scale, and certain components are enlarged relative to other components for emphasis and clarity.

[0010] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures do not necessarily depict a detailed embodiment; some schematic representations may be exaggerated or reduced to show a functional overview. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0011] For the purposes of this description, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “rear”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and derivatives thereof refer to the concepts in their orientation in Fig. 1. It is understood that the concepts are capable of various alternative forms unless expressly stated otherwise. It is also understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following description are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Therefore, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics are not to be considered limiting with respect to the embodiments disclosed herein, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

[0012] The presently illustrated embodiments consist primarily of combinations of method steps and device components related to a vehicle having an electronic display. Accordingly, the device components and method steps have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols where appropriate, showing only those specific details relevant to an understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present description. Furthermore, like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the description and the drawings.

[0013] In the present context, the term "and / or," when used in a list of two or more elements, means that any of the listed elements may be employed individually, or any combination of two or more of the listed elements may be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and / or C, the composition may contain only A; only B; only C; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.

[0014] Herein, reference terms such as first and second, upper and lower, and the like are used merely to distinguish one entity or act from another entity or act, without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or acts. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, procedure, article, or facility that includes a list of elements not only includes those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent in such a process, procedure, article, or facility. An element that "comprises a...’ does not exclude, without further limitation, the presence of additional identical elements in the process, procedure, article or facility incorporating that element.

[0015] As used herein, the term "about" means that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities and properties are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and / or greater or lesser if desired, and may reflect tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement errors, and the like, and other factors known to those skilled in the art. When the term "about" is used to describe a value or range endpoint, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or endpoint referenced. Regardless of whether a numerical value or range endpoint includes "about" in the description, the numerical value or range endpoint is intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about" and one unmodified by "about."It is further understood that the endpoints of each of the domains are significant both relative to the other endpoint and independently of the other endpoint.

[0016] The terms "substantially," "substantially," and variations thereof, as used herein, are intended to indicate that a described characteristic is equal to or approximately equal to a value or description. For example, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to mean that a surface is flat or approximately flat. Furthermore, "substantially" is intended to mean that two values ​​are equal to or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" may refer to values ​​within about 10% of each other, such as within about 5% of each other, or within about 2% of each other.

[0017] As used herein, the terms "the," "the," "a," or "a" or "an" mean "at least one" and are not intended to be limited to "only one" unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to "a component" includes embodiments having two or more such components, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0018] With reference to Fig. 1, a motor vehicle 10, such as a wheeled motor vehicle, is generally illustrated as having a vehicle body 12 defining a cabin interior, also referred to as a passenger compartment 14. The passenger compartment 14 generally includes passenger seats, including a front row of seats having a driver's seat 26A and a passenger seat 26B. The motor vehicle 10 may have one or more rear rows of seats. A steering wheel 24 is located in front of the driver's seat 26A. A trim panel in the form of an instrument panel, also referred to as an instrument panel 22, extends in front of the first row of seats and in front of the steering wheel 24.

[0019] The body 12 includes a windshield 20 extending generally across the front end of the passenger compartment 14. The windshield 20 extends generally above and forward of the instrument panel 22. The body 12 also includes a roof 16 along the upper side and left and right support pillars 18A and 18B shown located on the front lateral left and right sides of the vehicle body 12. The support pillars 18A and 18B may extend from an underlying frame and be connected at the upper end to the roof 16. The windshield 20 thereby extends between the left and right support pillars 18A and 18B on the left and right sides and the instrument panel 22 and the roof 16 on the lower and upper sides.

[0020] The motor vehicle 10 includes an electronic display 30, which is shown extending substantially between the first and second support pillars 18A and 18B and near a lower portion of the windshield 20 within the passenger compartment 14. The electronic display 30 is located behind the windshield 20 with respect to the vehicle and is therefore located within the passenger compartment 14. The electronic display 30 is positioned near the lower portion of the windshield 20, which is generally supported on top of the instrument panel 22 and extends substantially the full length between the first and second support pillars 18A and 18B. Accordingly, the electronic display 30 is visible to a driver and passenger looking forward in the motor vehicle 10 and viewing the electronic display 30 near the lower portion of the windshield 20.

[0021] The electronic display 30 may be connected to the support columns 18A and 18B at opposite lateral ends via fasteners and may further be connected to the instrument panel 22 and / or the windshield 20. The electronic display 30 may be mounted on top of the instrument panel 22 and held in position with a mechanical support structure 150, as shown in Fig. 2 in one example. In another example, the display may extend across a gap above the instrument panel 22. The mechanical support structure 150 may include an angled support wall 156 that engages the inner surface at the lower portion of the windshield 20 and the upper surface of the instrument panel 22. The angled support wall 156 is located on the vehicle-forward side of the electronic display 30. The angled support wall 156 may be curved to substantially conform to the curvature of the lower portion of the windshield 20 and may be coupled to the instrument panel 22 and / or the windshield 20 with fasteners and / or adhesive. In one embodiment, the width of the display 30 may be less than the distance between the first and second support pillars 18A and 18B.

[0022] The windshield 20 has a sloped contour with a windshield curvature along the width extending between the first and second support pillars 18A and 18B and along the height extending from the instrument panel 22 to the roof 16. The electronic display 30 similarly has a sloped contour with a display curvature along the width and height of the electronic display 30. The display curvature substantially matches the windshield curvature. This matching curvature is shown in Fig. 4, the windshield 20 curves from the lower end on top of the instrument panel 22 to the upper end on the roof 16 and also curves along the width extending between the first and second support pillars 18A and 18B. Likewise, the electronic display 30 has a display curve extending from the lower end on the instrument panel 22 to the proximate contact with the windshield 20 at the upper end, and a display curve substantially consistent with the windshield curvature extending widthwise from the first support pillar 18A to the second support pillar 18B. Thus, the windshield curvature of the windshield 20 is substantially aligned with the display curvature of the electronic display 30.

[0023] The electronic display 30 may be configured as a rigid display formed in the shape of the curved configuration. The electronic display 30 may be formed as a flexible display that may be bent to assume the shape of the curved configuration when mounted on the vehicle 10. The electronic display 30 may include any of a number of electronic displays for displaying content, such as the examples of displays described in Fig. 3A-3C are illustrated.

[0024] The electronic display 30 can be operated according to a Fig. 3A, the display may be configured as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display 30A. The OLED display 30A may be a flexible display comprising a TFT array 110 with an OLED layer 112 formed on top. An encapsulation layer 114 may be formed on top of the OLED layer 112. Finally, a polarizer 116 may be fabricated on top of the encapsulation layer 114.

[0025] The electronic display 30 may be configured as a micro light emitting diode display (micro LED display) 30B, as in the example in Fig. 3B. The micro-LED display 30B similarly includes a TFT array 210. An array of red-green-blue (RGB) LEDs 212 is arranged or layered on top of the TFT array 210. A polarizer layer 216 is formed on top of the LED layer 212.

[0026] The electronic display 30 may, according to another example, be configured as a liquid crystal display (LCD) 30C, as shown in Fig. 3C. The liquid crystal display 30C employs a backlight layer 320 and a polarizer layer 318 disposed on top of and below a TFT array 310. A liquid crystal layer 312 is disposed on top of the TFT array 310. A color filter 314 is layered on top of the liquid crystal layer 312. Finally, a polarizer 316 is shown layered on top of the color filter 314. The liquid crystal display 30C may employ a heat sink configuration to dissipate heat and may generally be a more rigid type of display compared to the other examples.

[0027] With reference to Fig. 4, the electronic display 30 is generally illustrated as having a configuration with a display curvature along the height or slope and the width of the motor vehicle 10. Specifically, the electronic display 30 has a sloped curvature extending along the height that curves to conform to the slope of the windshield 20 extending between the lateral sides and along the height of the windshield 20.

[0028] With reference to Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a mechanical support structure 250 for mounting the electronic display 30 in the motor vehicle 10. In this example, the electronic display 30 is positioned atop the upper surface of the instrument panel 22, in close proximity to and supported behind the windshield 20 along the lower portion thereof, relative to the vehicle. The electronic display 30 is connected to the inside of the windshield 20 by the mechanical support structure 250, which includes upper and lower support arms 40A and 40B. The upper support arm 40A is connected to a first connector 42A on the inside surface of the windshield 20. Likewise, the lower support arm 40B is connected to a second connector 42B on the inside surface of the windshield 20. Each of the first and second connectors 42A and 42B may be connected to the inside of the windshield 20, for example, via an adhesive.It is understood that more than two support arms may be used. Accordingly, the electronic display 30 may be supported by the windshield 20 and the instrument panel 22 at the bottom thereof.

[0029] With reference to Fig. 6, the electronic display 30 is shown connected to the upper surface of the instrument panel 20 using a mechanical support structure 350 having a vertical male member 50 at the front, such as a cover glass or plastic lens having a rib or series of ridges, which includes an extended portion 56 extending downwardly from the underside of the electronic display 30. The extended portion 56 of the male member 50 fits into a grooved receptacle 52, such as a slot or channel, formed in the upper surface of the instrument panel 22 and extending widthwise between the first and second support columns 18A and 18B. Thus, the lower portion of the ridge serves as the male member 50 extending within the grooved receptacle 52. The male member 50 may be attached or bonded to the grooved receptacle 52. It will be understood that in the Fig. 6, the male member 50 may be formed in one of the electronic display 30 and the instrument panel 20 and the groove receptacle 52 may be formed in the other of the electronic display 30 and the instrument panel 20, so that the male member 50 and the groove receptacle 52 could be swapped to be located on either component according to another example.

[0030] With reference to Fig. 7-9 illustrate various examples of the electronic display 30, which can be configured in different operating modes. In Fig. 7, the electronic display 30 is shown configured to operate in a column-to-column display mode of operation as a single display screen. In this mode, content including information such as text, video, icons, and other characters can be displayed across the entire length of the electronic display 30.

[0031] The electronic display 30 may also be configured to operate in a split-screen display mode, as shown in Fig. 8. In this mode, the electronic display 30 may include a first display screen region, as shown on the left half of the electronic display 30, and a second display screen region, as shown on the right half of the electronic display. Accordingly, different data may be displayed on each of the two regions of the screen layout.

[0032] With reference to Fig.9, the electronic display 30 may be configured to operate such that it is divided into a transparent display region and a non-transparent display region. The transparent display region is shown on the left side of the electronic display 30, and the non-transparent display region is shown on the right side of the electronic display 30. Thus, a viewer located within the motor vehicle 10 may be presented with a transparent viewing area to see through the electronic display 30 and view the lower portion of the windshield 22 in the transparent portion, but not in the non-transparent portion. The electronic display 30 may be configured to operate with more than one transparent display and more than one non-transparent region.

[0033] Accordingly, the motor vehicle 10 advantageously employs an electronic display 30 extending substantially between the first and second support pillars 18A and 18B within the motor vehicle 10 near a lower portion of the windshield 20 to provide an easily viewed display. The electronic display 30 may be curved along a height and width substantially consistent with the curvature of the windshield 20. Additionally, the electronic display 30 may advantageously be mounted on top of the instrument panel 22 and connected to the instrument panel 22 via a mechanical support structure.

[0034] It is to be understood that variations and modifications may be made to the foregoing structure without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and it is further understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims expressly state otherwise by their language.

[0035] According to the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising: a body defining a passenger compartment and having first and second support pillars on opposite sides at a front of the passenger compartment; a windshield connected to the body and located between the first and second support pillars, the windshield having a configuration with a windshield curvature; a panel extending generally between the first and second support pillars below the windshield; and an electronic display extending substantially between the first and second support pillars and proximate a lower portion of the windshield, the electronic display having a display curvature substantially similar to the windshield curvature.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the panel comprises an instrument panel.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the mechanical support structure comprises a male member on one surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel, which is configured to be received within a groove receptacle on the other surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the electronic display is located behind the lower section of the windshield relative to the vehicle.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the mechanical support structure is configured to connect to an inner surface of the windshield.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the windshield has the windshield curvature along the height of the windshield that substantially coincides with the display curvature along a height of the electronic display.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the windshield curvature of the windshield along a width substantially matches the display curvature of the electronic display along the width.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the electronic display is configurable as a split-screen display.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the electronic display has transparent and non-transparent sections.

[0044] According to one embodiment, the invention is further characterized by a mechanical support structure configured to connect the electronic display to the instrument panel.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the first and second support pillars extend vertically on opposite lateral sides of the body and are connected to a roof of the vehicle.

[0046] According to the present invention, a vehicle is provided comprising: a body defining a passenger compartment and having first and second support pillars; a windshield connected to the body and located between the first and second support pillars, the windshield having a windshield curvature; an instrument panel extending generally between the first and second support pillars below the windshield; an electronic display extending substantially between the first and second support pillars and proximate a lower portion of the windshield, the display having a display curvature substantially consistent with the windshield curvature; and a support structure configured to connect the electronic display to the instrument panel.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the support structure comprises a male member on one surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel, which is configured to be received within a groove receptacle on the other surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the windshield has the windshield curvature along the height of the windshield that substantially coincides with the display curvature along a height of the display.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the windshield curvature of the windshield along a width substantially matches the display curvature of the electronic display along the width.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the curvature of the windshield is substantially aligned with the curvature of the display.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the electronic display is configurable as a split-screen display.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the electronic display is configurable to have transparent and non-transparent sections.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the electronic display is located behind the lower section of the windshield relative to the vehicle.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the first and second support pillars extend vertically on opposite lateral sides of the body and are connected to a roof of the vehicle.

Claims

[1] Vehicle comprising: a body defining a passenger compartment and having first and second support pillars on opposite sides at a front of the passenger compartment; a windshield connected to the body and located between the first and second support pillars, the windshield having a configuration with a windshield curvature; a panel extending generally between the first and second support pillars below the windshield; and an electronic display extending substantially between the first and second support pillars and proximate a lower portion of the windshield, the electronic display having a display curvature substantially similar to the windshield curvature. [2] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the panel comprises an instrument panel. [3] The vehicle of claim 2, wherein a mechanical support structure comprises a male member on one surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel configured to be received within a grooved receptacle on the other surface of the electronic display and the instrument panel. [4] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is located behind the lower portion of the windshield relative to the vehicle. [5] The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the mechanical support structure is configured to connect to an inner surface of the windshield. [6] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the windshield has the windshield curvature along the height of the windshield that substantially matches the display curvature along a height of the electronic display. [7] The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the windshield curvature of the windshield along a width substantially matches the display curvature of the electronic display along the width. [8] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic display is configurable as a split-screen display. [9] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic display has transparent and non-transparent portions. [10] The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a mechanical support structure configured to connect the electronic display to the instrument panel. [11] A vehicle according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the first and second support pillars extend vertically on opposite lateral sides of the body and are connected to a roof of the vehicle.

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