DISPLAY DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A DISPLAY CONTENT ON AN EXTENDABLE SCREEN AND MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A DISPLAY DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a display device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least a first and a second screen configured to display respective display contents. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for displaying display content on an extendable screen and to a motor vehicle having a display device.

[0002] Motor vehicles with display devices comprising multiple screens are well known. For example, central displays and passenger displays are often installed in motor vehicles, allowing display content to be moved from one display to the other. The disadvantage of previously known display devices is that after moving the display content to, for example, the central display, the original display content of the central display is covered or reduced in size. The central display refers to a screen in the vehicle's center console.

[0003] From DE 10 2014 016 326 A1 a method for operating a generic infotainment system of a motor vehicle is known, in which at least one data set stored on at least one mobile terminal is wirelessly transmitted to the infotainment system and received by the infotainment system as soon as a swipe gesture performed on the mobile terminal has been detected, wherein the at least one data set is first stored in a buffer of the infotainment system and only then transmitted to another infotainment system and subsequently processed by means of the infotainment system when a predetermined confirmation action has been detected on the vehicle side.

[0004] From WO 2013 / 104377 A1 a method for displaying at least one display content on at least one display unit in a motor vehicle is known, wherein the at least one display content is displayed on the at least one display unit specifically for this user, taking into account a position of a user in the motor vehicle.

[0005] From DE 10 2018 208 250 B3 a display device for a motor vehicle is known, comprising a first display element, a second display element and a folding element which is arranged between the first display element and the second display element and which connects the two display elements to one another, wherein the folding element is arranged between two side edges of the two display elements, so that the two display elements can be adjusted at an angle to one another.

[0006] From FR 2 971 878 A1 an information display system of a motor vehicle is known, comprising a first display screen which can be reconfigured and is retractable in the dashboard of the vehicle, with at least one second display screen which can be reconfigured, and wherein a part of the display of the first screen can be redirected to the second screen when the first retractable screen is in a partially open or fully closed position.

[0007] EP 3 659 847 A1 discloses a display device comprising a display screen unit having a display appearance with a plurality of predetermined partial areas, a vision protection element capable of setting a respective degree of transparency for each of the partial areas, a backlight module comprising at least one lighting element directed toward the display screen unit, and a control module configured to operate the display screen unit in a display mode in which the vision protection element sets a degree of transparency for each of the partial areas. The control module may be configured to provide backlighting by controlling a backlight module, preferably dependent on a movement of the display screen unit from a protected position to an extended position.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to improve the sharing or shifting of display contents between the screens in a display device.

[0009] This object is achieved by the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figures.

[0010] The invention is based on the idea that after moving a display content from a passenger display to a center display, an extendable screen moves out of the center display so that the original content of the center display can be displayed unchanged and the moved display content is shown on the newly created display area of ​​the extendable screen.

[0011] The invention provides a display device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least a first and a second screen, which are designed to display respective display contents. The first screen can, for example, be a central display of the motor vehicle and the second screen can be a passenger display or a display of an instrument cluster of the motor vehicle. For example, the screens can be designed as LEDs, LCDs and / or OLEDs. Alternatively, the first screen can be the passenger display and the second screen the central display. Display contents can, for example, be applications that can be shown in display windows, wherein the display contents can include, for example, entertainment content, in particular images, films and music information, navigation maps and safety-relevant content.

[0012] According to the invention, an extendable screen is arranged in a housing of the display device, which screen can be displaced by an adjusting device between an extended position in which the extendable screen is extended out of the housing and a retracted position in which the extendable screen is substantially sunk into the housing, wherein the display device further comprises a control unit which is designed, upon detection of a user action for moving a display content from the second screen to the first screen, to control the adjusting device for moving the extendable screen into the extended position and to display the display content on the extendable screen.

[0013] In other words, in addition to the first and second screens, an extendable screen can be provided which, in a retracted position, is substantially recessed into a housing of the display device, in particular into a housing of the first screen. "Substantially" means that at least half of the extendable screen is recessed into the housing. Thus, the screen can still protrude from the housing and be operable, but only the part of the screen that is extended is usable. Preferably, the extendable screen is completely recessed into the housing. If a display content is moved from the second screen to the first screen by means of a user action, this can be detected by a control unit which activates an adjusting device for extending the extendable screen into an extended position.The control unit can be a processor, in particular a microprocessor, of the display device, which monitors inputs on the display device, in particular on the first and / or second screen, and, upon detection of the displacement of the display content, can transmit a control signal to the adjustment device for extending the extendable screen into the extended position.

[0014] The adjustment device can, for example, comprise one or more electric motors that extend the extendable screen from the housing into the extended position. The user action for shifting the display content can, for example, comprise a touch action on one of the screens and / or a control element, a gesture, an eye tracking algorithm, and / or an input into a mobile device. After the extendable screen has been extended into the extended position, the shifted display content can finally be displayed on the extendable screen, wherein preferably a display content on the first screen remains unchanged.Preferably, the first screen and the extendable screen in the extended position form an enlarged screen on which a plurality of display contents, in particular a display content already displayed on the first screen and the display content shifted from the second screen, can be displayed.

[0015] The invention provides the advantage that the original content of the first screen is not reduced in size or overlaid by the shifted display content. Furthermore, a driver of the motor vehicle can see more clearly what a passenger has shifted to the first screen. This prevents the driver from being distracted from driving tasks, and any driving-relevant display content on the first screen remains clearly visible. Overall, this improves the ability to shift display content between screens.

[0016] The invention also includes embodiments which provide additional advantages.

[0017] One embodiment provides that the control unit is designed to determine a size of the displaced display content upon detection of the user action and to control the adjustment device to adjust the extendable screen to an extension height dependent on the determined size of the display content. In other words, an extension height to which the extendable screen is extended in the extended position can be variable. How far the extendable screen is extended out of the housing upon detection of the user action to displace the display content can depend on the size of the display content. The size refers to the dimensions of the display content that the display content has on the second screen. The size of the display content can be determined by the control device, in particular based on the digital dimensions of the display content on the second screen.Preferably, the size or dimensions of the display content are not changed when moved to the first screen or the extendable screen, and the adjustment device moves the extendable screen to the appropriate extension height according to the size of the display content. In particular, the extension height can correspond exactly to the height and / or width of the display content. Thus, for display content that takes up the entire second screen, such as a navigation map, the extendable screen can be extended completely, and for display content that only takes up part of the second screen, such as a display of a music track that only takes up a few lines of the second screen, the extendable screen can only be extended by this part or these lines.This design has the advantage that the extendable screen is not always extended to the full extension height, which could distract a driver of the vehicle, but always to the height currently required.

[0018] One embodiment provides that the extendable screen and the first screen are formed as one piece with a continuous display surface, wherein the continuous display surface is formed from a display area of ​​the first screen, which is visible both in the retracted position and in the extended position, and a display area of ​​the extendable screen, which is visible in the extended position and is recessed in the housing in the retracted position. In other words, the extendable screen and the first screen can be formed as a continuous screen, wherein in the retracted position only the part of the extendable screen is recessed in the housing and the part of the first screen is visible. In the extended position, an enlarged area can then be provided by extending the part of the extendable screen, which utilizes the screen areas of the first and the extendable screen.The term "continuous screen" or "one-piece design" means that the first screen and the extendable screen can have the same pixel matrix, and that the screens define display areas or parts of the continuous screen that can be retracted into the housing or not. Preferably, the continuous screen can be designed as a flexible screen that is at least partially bendable or foldable, whereby the part of the extendable screen requires less space to be accommodated in the housing. For example, the screens can be provided as OLED screens. This embodiment offers the advantage that a space-saving arrangement of the extendable screen can be achieved.

[0019] A further embodiment provides that the control unit is configured to display a display content displayed on the first screen unchanged at an original display position after the extendable screen has been extended. The shifted display content is displayed on the extended part of the extendable screen, so that an original display content on the first screen is not changed and remains in the same position where it was originally displayed. This results in the advantage that vehicle occupants, in particular a driver, are less distracted by a shift in display content, since the original display content remains in the same position, thus providing better operation.

[0020] A further embodiment provides that the screens are designed as touch-sensitive screens and / or wherein an operating element is provided which is designed to control the display device, in particular wirelessly. In other words, the screens can be controlled by touch, in particular both the first, the second and the extendable screen. Preferably, the user action for moving the display content can be touching and dragging the display content to the edge of the second screen which is closest to the first screen or adjacent to it. Alternatively or additionally, an operating element can be provided which can be designed, for example, as a remote control or as a mobile terminal, wherein the operating element enables the display content to be moved and the display device to be adjusted between the extended position and the retracted position.This has the advantage that particularly intuitive control of the display device can be provided.

[0021] A further embodiment provides that the display device has a camera device that is designed to perform gesture recognition, wherein the user action for moving the display content is a predetermined gesture recognized by the camera device and / or wherein the display device has a microphone device that is designed to perform voice operation of the display device, wherein the user action for moving the display content is a predetermined voice command recognized by the microphone device. Thus, the display content can be moved onto the extendable screen by means of the camera device without touching one of the screens. The predetermined gesture by means of which the display content can be moved can be, for example, a swipe towards the first screen.Preferably, the camera device can cover the entire vehicle interior, so that even passengers sitting in the rear seat of the motor vehicle can control the display device. Alternatively or additionally, a microphone device can be provided that can receive and interpret voice commands for voice operation of the display device, wherein the control of the display device, in particular the shifting of the display content, can be carried out using one or more predetermined voice commands. This can provide a further preferred embodiment for controlling the display device.

[0022] A further embodiment provides that the display device has a third screen which is designed to display display content, wherein the control unit is further designed, upon recognition of the user action to move the display content from the third screen to the first screen, to control the adjusting device for moving the extendable screen into the extended position and to display the display content of the third screen on the extendable screen. In other words, a third screen can also be provided via which display content can be moved to the extendable screen. The third screen can, for example, be a display of an instrument cluster or a rear seat display. Preferably, the display device can also have further screens which are designed to move display content to the extendable screen.Particularly preferably, at least the first and second screens are configured to be adjacent to one another. This means that they can have the same pixel matrix, with all three screens preferably being configured to be adjacent, so that a contiguous display area can be achieved for all three screens.

[0023] A further embodiment provides that the control unit is configured, upon detection of a further user action to push the display content back from the extendable screen, which is in the extended position, to the second or third screen, to actuate the adjustment device to move the extendable screen into the retracted position and to display the display content on the second or third screen. This means that the display content can be displayed on the extendable screen, which is in the extended position, and this can be moved to one of the screens by a user action to push the display content back. In this case, the display content can be removed from the extendable screen, and the extendable screen can be moved into the retracted position.The display content can then, for example, be moved back to the second screen or displayed on the third screen. Alternatively, the display content can be moved to the first display screen, i.e., the center display, by a user action to display it there. This embodiment offers the advantage that a display content can be moved between multiple screens, enabling flexible display of display content.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the extended position is designed in multiple stages, wherein the control unit is designed to control the adjustment device to extend a further stage for each additional display content to be shown on the extendable screen. Display content originating from the second screen can thus preferably be displayed on one stage and display content originating from the third screen on a further stage. The multi-stage design means that the extendable screen can be extended further by a predetermined distance for each stage. In this way, a display area can be enlarged further with each additional stage. Preferably, at least two stages can be provided into which the extendable screen can extend. A particularly preferred design of the display device can be achieved by this embodiment.

[0025] Preferably, the display content on the extendable screen is provided in the extended position upon the presence of a payment criterion. In other words, the function of the extendable screen can be a "function on demand" that can be activated for a fee. This function can preferably be booked additionally, whereby, for example, the control unit can check whether the payment criterion is met. For example, data can be retrieved from the internet, which can be used to create an authorization based on the payment criterion. Preferably, some functions of the display device can be offered free of charge, while others can only be offered for a fee.For example, enlarging the display area by extending the extendable screen can be offered free of charge, whereby the subsequent automatic arrangement of the moved display content on the newly created display area of ​​the extendable screen is then only carried out if the payment criterion is met.

[0026] A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for displaying display content on an extendable screen with a display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device has at least a first and a second screen, and wherein an extendable screen is arranged in a housing of the display device in a retracted position, wherein a control unit checks whether display content is shifted from the second screen to the first screen, and if so, an adjusting device is controlled which shifts the extendable screen from the retracted position to an extended position in which the extendable screen is moved out of the housing, wherein the display content is shown on the extendable screen. This results in the same advantages and variation options as with the display device.

[0027] According to the invention, a motor vehicle with a display device according to one of the preceding embodiments is also provided. The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0028] The invention also includes the control device for the motor vehicle. The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device.

[0029] The invention also includes further developments of the method according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the display device according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

[0030] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each have a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0031] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle with a display device according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. 2 shows the motor vehicle with the display device and an extendable screen in an extended position.

[0032] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0033] In the figures, the same reference symbols denote elements with the same function.

[0034] In Fig. 1 A schematically illustrated motor vehicle 10 with a display device 12 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The display device 12 comprises a first screen 14, which may, for example, be a center display in a center console of the motor vehicle 10, and a second screen 16, which may, for example, be a passenger display. Additionally, the display device 12 may also have a third screen 18, which may, for example, be a display of an instrument cluster.

[0035] The screens 14, 16, 18 are preferably arranged adjacent to one another on a dashboard of the motor vehicle 10. In the illustrated situation, for example, a navigation display can be shown on the center display 14 and a music application can be shown on the passenger display as display content, which is to be moved from the passenger display 16 to the center display 14 for display.

[0036] To move the display content, the screens 14, 16, 18 can preferably be designed as touch-sensitive screens, wherein the display content can be moved by touching and dragging the display content to the edge of the passenger display 16 closest to the center display 14. Alternatively or additionally, the display device 12 can have a camera device 20 configured to recognize gestures and move the display content to the center display 14 using a predetermined gesture. Alternatively or additionally, an operating element (not shown) can be provided, such as a rotary knob, touchpad, or cursor keys, by means of which the display device 12 can be controlled. Furthermore, a microphone device (not shown) configured to control the display device 12 via voice control can be provided.For example, a predefined voice command can be provided, such as: "move music to the center display".

[0037] The shifting of the display content from the passenger display 16 to the center display 14 is detected by a control unit 22 of the display device 12. The control unit 22 can, for example, be a processor, in particular a microprocessor, of the display device 12. The control unit 22 can, for example, detect a touch action on the touch-sensitive passenger display 16 and thus the displayed shift to the center display 14.

[0038] In order to prevent the navigation display in the central display 14 from being overlaid by the music application or the displayed navigation display from being reduced in size, it is provided that the control unit 22 controls an adjusting device 24 which is designed to move an extendable screen (not shown in this figure), which is located in a retracted position in a housing of the display device 12, preferably in a housing of the central display 14, out of the housing into an extended position, so that a display surface of the extendable screen 26 becomes visible.

[0039] The adjustment device 24 can, for example, have actuators, in particular electric motors, and guide elements, by means of which the extendable screen can be displaced into the extended position, wherein the display device 12 with the extendable screen 26 in the extended position according to an exemplary embodiment in Fig. 2 is shown.

[0040] In Fig. 2 the user action to shift the display content from the passenger display 16 to the central display 14 has already been recognized by the control unit 22, and the adjustment device 24 has been controlled by the control unit 22 to bring the extendable screen 26 into the extended position. In this case, the extendable screen 26 can be extended out of the housing, in particular extended upwards, so that an additional display surface is created. Preferably, the first screen 14 and the extendable screen 26 are formed as a single piece, so that a continuous display surface is created, wherein in the extended position the entire continuous display surface is preferably visible. In the retracted position, as previously described, only the display surface of the extendable screen 26 can be recessed into the housing, wherein the display surface of the first screen 14 remains visible.

[0041] The shifted display content, i.e., the music application, can then be displayed on the additionally created display area of ​​the extendable screen 26, which is preferably a flexible screen. Thus, the navigation display of the center display is not overlaid or reduced in size, and a driver can, for example, more quickly identify which content the passenger has shifted to the center display 14 or the extendable screen 26.

[0042] In the same way, the driver can, for example, also display content from the display of the instrument cluster 18 on the central display 14, in particular the extendable screen 26. Particularly preferably, the extendable screen 26 can be moved into multi-stage extension positions, in particular two extension positions, so that, for example, if a display content from the passenger display 16 has already been displayed on the extendable screen 26 and the driver wishes to display another display content from the display of the instrument cluster 18 on the extendable screen 26, the extendable screen 26 can be moved out a further stage, creating an enlarged display area and then showing the display content of the display of the instrument cluster 18 on the additionally created display area.

[0043] To remove the display content from the extendable screen 26, for example, a further user action to push the display content back can be detected by the control unit 22. Depending on the direction of the pushback, the display content can be pushed onto the passenger display 16 or the display of the instrument cluster 18. If this is detected by the control unit 22, it can control the adjustment device 24, which moves the extendable screen 26 back into the retracted position or retracts it by one step.

[0044] Preferably, the previously described provision of the extendable screen 26 by moving it from the retracted position to the extended position or back can only be provided upon the presence of a payment criterion. This means that the extendable screen 26 can be a "display on demand" that is only provided if this function has been previously activated by payment.

[0045] Overall, the examples show how the invention can provide an extendable screen 26 by sliding a display content from the passenger display 16 or the display of the instrument cluster 18 onto the center display 14.

Claims

1. A display device (12) for a motor vehicle (10), comprising at least a first and a second screen (14, 16), configured to present respective display content; wherein an extendable screen (26) is arranged in a housing of the display device (12) and is shiftable by an adjustment device (24) between an extended position, in which the extendable screen (26) is extended out of the housing, and a retracted position, in which the extendable screen (26) is substantially recessed in the housing, characterized in that the display device (12) further comprises a control unit (22) configured to activate the adjustment device (24) to shift the extendable screen (26) into the extended position, and to display a display content on the extendable screen (26), when a user action to move the display content from the second screen (16) onto the first screen (14) is detected.

2. The display device (12) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (22) is configured, when the user action is detected, to determine a size of the display content moved and to activate the adjustment device (24) to adjust the extendable screen (26) into an extension height dependent on the determined size of the display content.

3. The display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the extendable screen (26) and the first screen (14) are formed integrally with a contiguous display surface, wherein the contiguous display surface is formed from a display area of the first screen (14) which is visible both in the retracted position and in the extended position and a display area of the extendable screen (26) which is visible in the extended position and is recessed in the retracted position in the housing.

4. The display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (22) is configured to present a display content, which is displayed on the first screen (14), unchanged at an original display position after extension of the extendable screen (26).

5. The display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the screens (14, 16, 18) are configured as touch-sensitive screens and / or wherein an operator control element is provided, which is configured to control the display device (12), in particular to wirelessly control the display device.

6. The display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (12) has a camera device (20), which is configured to carry out gesture detection, wherein the user action for moving the display content is a predetermined gesture detected by the camera device (20) and / or wherein the display device has a microphone device, which is configured to carry out voice control of the display device (12), wherein the user action for moving the display content is a predetermined voice command detected by the microphone device.

7. The display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (12) has a third screen (18), which is configured for presenting display content, wherein the control unit (22) is further configured to activate the adjustment device (24) to shift the extendable screen (26) into the extended position, and to display the display content of the third screen (18) on the extendable screen (26), when the user action to move the display content from the third screen (18) onto the first screen (14) is detected.

8. The display device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (22) is configured to activate the adjustment device (24) to shift the extendable screen (26) into the retracted position, and to display the display content on the second or third screen (16, 18), when a further user action to move the display content back from the extendable screen (26), which is in the extended position, onto the second or third screen (16, 18) is detected.

9. The display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the extended position is formed in multiple steps, wherein the control unit (22) is configured to activate the adjustment device (24) for extension of a further step for a respective further display content to be displayed on the extendable screen (26).

10. The display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein displaying of the display content on the extendable screen (26) in the extended position is provided when a payment criterion is present.

11. A method of displaying a display content on an extendable screen (26) comprising a display device (12) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (12) has at least a first and a second screen (14, 16), and wherein an extendable screen (26) is arranged in a retracted position in a housing of the display device (12), wherein a check is made, by a control unit (22), whether a display content is moved from the second screen (16) onto the first screen (14) and, if this is the case, an adjustment device (24) is activated, which shifts the extendable screen (26) from the retracted position into an extended position, in which the extendable screen (26) is extended out of the housing, wherein the display content is displayed on the extendable screen (26).

12. A motor vehicle (10) comprising a display device (12) according to any of claims 1 to 10.