Display device and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device (1), comprising a display area (2), a multiplicity of pixel elements arranged within the display area (2), a multiplicity of luminous elements arranged within the display area (2), the luminous elements being arranged behind the pixel elements for the purpose of backlighting same from a viewing direction toward the display area (2) or the luminous elements being formed by the pixel elements themselves, and a control unit (3) for controlling the pixel elements and luminous elements, the display area (2) being subdividable into at least two separate display regions (2.1, 2.2). The display device according to the invention is characterized in that the control unit (3) is configured to individually alter the brightness of the display regions (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4).

Description

[0001] Display device and vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a display device of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1 and to a vehicle with such a display device.

[0003] Display devices such as displays have become an indispensable part of everyday life. Display devices are used to present information and are integrated into a wide variety of devices, such as smartwatches, smartphones, computer monitors, televisions, scoreboards, and the like. Even curved displays are now known. Display devices are also used in vehicles, for example, as displays for the instrument cluster or in the form of touch-sensitive displays for creating a human-machine interface. For example, a head unit with a touch display can be used to operate the vehicle's infotainment system.

[0004] The resolution of modern display devices is comparatively high, allowing different image content to be displayed side by side even in a small space. For example, US 2023 / 0030288 A1 discloses a control device and a control program product. The document describes a display device integrated into a vehicle that is divided into several display areas. The display areas are arranged vertically one above the other, for example. A first display area presents media content such as a film or vehicle navigation, and a second display area displays the live video stream recorded with a vehicle exterior camera. The vehicle exterior camera can thus function as a virtual side mirror.

[0005] It is common practice to adjust the brightness of display devices. This allows adaptation to the prevailing external lighting conditions. When viewing the display device in a bright environment, such as outdoors in shining sunlight, the brightness is increased so that the image content can be clearly perceived even in the bright environment. To prevent the viewer from being dazzled in a dark environment, the brightness is reduced. The brightness of the display device can be adjusted automatically using a light sensor or manually using, for example, a slider displayed on the display device.

[0006] Setting an appropriate screen brightness is particularly relevant for safety in automotive applications. Especially in adverse lighting conditions such as heavy cloud cover, fog, or at night, it is important to ensure that the driver is not restricted or even hindered in safely driving the vehicle by the light emitted by the vehicle's display devices.

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of providing an improved display device which enables safe vehicle control.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a display device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments as well as a vehicle with such a display device emerge from the dependent claims.

[0009] A generic display device comprising a display surface, a plurality of pixel elements arranged within the display surface, a plurality of lighting elements arranged within the display surface, wherein the lighting elements are arranged behind the pixel elements from a viewing direction of the display surface for backlighting the pixel elements or the lighting elements are formed by the pixel elements themselves, and a control unit for controlling the pixel elements and lighting elements, wherein the display surface can be divided into at least two separate display areas, is further developed according to the invention in that the control unit is designed to individually change the brightness of the display areas by individually controlling each lighting element.

[0010] The display area represents a continuous surface in which image content can be displayed. The pixel elements and light-emitting elements are arranged within the display area. The pixel elements can be self-luminous, for example in the case of an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) or MicroLED design. However, the pixel elements can also be backlit using a so-called backlight. In this case, the display device can be designed as an LCD display, for example. Each pixel element can be switched between a light-transmitting and a light-blocking state to create a monochromatic display. Each pixel element can contain any number of subpixels and one or more color filters. For example, each pixel element can contain a red, green, and blue subpixel. Color displays can be realized in this way.

[0011] The different display areas can be the same size or different sizes. If the display area is divided into two display areas, for example, both display areas can take up 50% of the display area. However, it would also be possible for a first display area to take up 70% and a second display area to take up 30% of the display area. Each display area is contiguous. Different display areas do not overlap on the display area. In each display area, it is possible to show different image content, especially with a different context. Each display area is at least larger than a single pixel in order to allow for a great deal of design freedom when displaying abstract information.

[0012] According to the invention, the control unit is capable of controlling each light element individually, making it possible to individually adjust the brightness in each display area. All common components can be used as light elements, such as OLEDs, LEDs, microLEDs, electroluminescent films, cold cathode tubes, and the like.

[0013] The control unit is able to change the brightness of the display areas independently or independently of one another. With an independent change in brightness, the brightness can be freely set for each display area. With a dependent change in brightness, the brightness of a second display area is selected depending on the brightness set in a first display area. If the brightness in the first display area is changed, the brightness in the second display area is then automatically changed. For example, a proportional or anti-proportional change can occur, so that both display areas are brightened or darkened, or one of the two display areas is brightened and the other is darkened. In contrast to display devices known from the prior art, it is therefore possible not only to change the brightness of the entire display area at once, but also for each display area individually.This increases the flexibility for adjusting brightness, allowing for setting a situation-specific, optimal brightness, especially with relatively large displays. This allows for clear viewing of the displayed image content at any time, regardless of the ambient light situation, while ensuring that other observers are not distracted by the appropriate brightness setting.

[0014] The display device can, for example, be viewed by two users simultaneously, with each user being assigned a display area. An individual screen brightness can then be set for each user. The respective screen brightness is adapted to the user's activities. For example, the first user can perform an activity which requires them to occasionally look at the display device in order to obtain relevant information. If they are not looking at the display device, they are cognitively devoting themselves to another task. A comparatively dark brightness can be set here. For example, the second user can mainly perceive the image content shown on the display device, for example watching a film. A comparatively high brightness can then be set for the second user.It would also be possible to set a high brightness for the first user and a low brightness for the second user if the first user is performing a safety-relevant task and should not be distracted by the film.

[0015] The division of the display area can be rigid or variable, which will be discussed later.

[0016] An advantageous development of the display device provides that the control unit is configured to distribute the display areas having different brightnesses on the display surface independently of the image content to be displayed on the display surface. The display surface is therefore divided according to a predetermined pattern. For example, the display surface can be divided vertically or horizontally into two rectangular display areas. The shape, size, and brightness of the display areas then remain constant, at least for a period of time, regardless of the image content displayed. This represents a distinction in particular from so-called "local dimming," in which the backlight of a display is reduced in the areas in which dark screen content such as shadows or blackness is shown.In the display device according to the invention, however, the display surface is divided into several display areas according to a fixed specification, whereby this division remains the same even across several “frames”, i.e. images displayed on the display device.

[0017] The control unit is preferably configured to change the number and / or distribution of the display areas having different brightnesses. The division of the display area into the various display areas can be static, as already mentioned. For example, several lighting elements can be combined to form groups, with the brightness change occurring in the same way for all lighting elements in a group. The division of the display area cannot then be changed. However, it is preferably possible to make the division of the display area variable. For this purpose, the control unit is able to control each lighting element individually. This makes it possible to re-divide the display area into different display areas while the display device is in use. The number of display areas can be changed, so for example, three or four display areas can be shown instead of two.Accordingly, an individual brightness setting is made for each display area. Additionally or alternatively, the shape of the display areas can be changed. For example, two square display areas can be displayed horizontally next to each other. After a change, a rectangular display area extending across the entire surface of the display area can be displayed, from which, for example, a circular or star-shaped area is cut out, forming the second display area. This further increases the design flexibility for displaying information and adjusting the brightness using the display device according to the invention.

[0018] The display area is divided into the respective display areas for a longer period of time, not for each frame to be displayed. Thus, the division of the display area into the respective display areas remains the same for at least a few seconds, preferably several minutes or even hours.

[0019] A further advantageous embodiment of the display device according to the invention further provides that the control unit is configured to receive commands for controlling the pixel elements and / or lighting elements from an external content source, wherein the commands contain the image content to be displayed and define the division of the display area into display areas. The content source can be connected to the display device via a cable or wireless connection. All common connection technologies are suitable for this purpose. The content source receives both the image content to be displayed and the division of the display area into display areas, as well as the respective brightness values ​​for the respective display areas.This simplifies the structure of the display device according to the invention, since only one content source is required to inform the display device which image content is to be displayed and how the display area is to be divided into the display areas.

[0020] The control unit is preferably configured to receive the image content to be displayed and the definition of the subdivision of the display area via the same data line. This further simplifies the structural design of the display device according to the invention. Only one data line is required to transmit the corresponding information. The image content to be displayed and the definition of the subdivision of the display area are then divided into two different data packets. The different data packets can be transmitted sequentially via the data line or simultaneously as a superimposed signal. In a preferred embodiment, the display device according to the invention is integrated into a vehicle. The data line can then be formed by a data bus of the vehicle, for example the CAN bus.

[0021] A further advantageous embodiment of the display device according to the invention further provides that the control unit is configured to provide a transition zone at least between two adjacent display areas, wherein the brightness in the transition zone assumes a gradual progression, wherein the start value and the end value correspond to the respective brightnesses of the adjacent display areas. This further improves the perceptibility of the image content shown on the display device and further reduces the degree of distraction for different users. The provision of the transition zone prevents a sudden difference in brightness at the contact line between two adjacent display areas. The transition zone thus represents a type of buffer zone or transition zone for the brightness.When a user views a display area assigned to them, a corresponding adjacent display area will be located in the user's peripheral vision. Since there is no sharp brightness edge here, but rather a more gradual brightness gradient, the corresponding user barely notices the adjacent display area, if at all. Thus, the user is also less distracted by the wider display area and the different brightness in this display area.

[0022] The extent of the transition area between two adjacent display areas can be arbitrarily large. For example, the transition area can have a fixed size, such as a certain number of pixels or a certain path length, such as 5 mm. However, the transition area can also be designed to be variable depending on the size of a respective display area, so that for larger display areas the transition area is also correspondingly larger. If a first display area has a comparatively low brightness and a neighboring second display area has a comparatively high brightness, the start value for the gradual brightness progression in the transition area at the connecting edge to the first display area corresponds to the low brightness in the first display area, and the end value at the connecting edge to the second display area corresponds to the high brightness of the second display area.

[0023] Transition zones can also be provided at the outer edge of a display area. A fixed brightness value can then be set as the final brightness value, particularly complete darkness, i.e., deactivated lighting elements.

[0024] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the display device according to the invention, the control unit is configured to set the brightness of all display areas to a common reference value in response to an error. This represents an emergency measure to maintain the reliable operation of the display device. An error can occur for various reasons and in various situations. The display device can, for example, be designed such that the control unit cyclically queries or receives corresponding brightness values, or outputs them itself. If no brightness value is received or output for a specific display area in such a query, the control unit does not "know" which brightness value it should set the brightness of the display area to. In this case, the brightness of all display areas is then set to the common reference value.An error may also occur, for example, if the control unit cannot correctly read a corresponding brightness value in a data signal due to a transmission error or if the brightness value is even missing entirely.

[0025] A fixed brightness value can be defined as the common reference value, which is stored in a data memory in the control unit. However, the common reference value can also be adaptive and fluctuate depending on variable parameters.

[0026] It is therefore preferable for the common reference value to correspond to the brightness of a reference display area. In other words, in the event of an error, the control unit then changes the brightness of all display areas to the brightness value currently set in the reference display area.

[0027] For example, it may be possible for the display device to be divided into different display areas, with one display area being particularly relevant, for example, because particularly relevant image content is being displayed or because a particularly relevant user performing a particularly relevant activity uses this display area. This display area then represents the reference display area. For example, the reference display area is assigned to a person driving a vehicle.

[0028] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the display device according to the invention, if the display surface is divided into more than two display areas, the control unit is configured, after receiving a command to set the brightness of all display areas to a uniform setpoint, to successively gradually adjust the brightness of the display areas to the setpoint depending on the difference from the setpoint. The setpoint can be any value or correspond to the common reference value already mentioned above. The setpoint can also correspond to a current brightness setting of a display area.

[0029] There are generally different ways in which the brightness of the different display areas can be changed. For example, a sudden change in brightness could occur. This could mean that all display areas suddenly jump to the brightness of the set value. However, this is particularly distracting or annoying. A gradual change in brightness, i.e. a continuous or stepped change in brightness, is preferable. In this case, all display areas could change their brightness at the same time. The brightness could be changed either by each display area being adjusted with the same brightness change so that the respective display areas reach the set value at different times. However, the brightness could also be changed so that the display areas are adjusted at different speeds so that they all reach the set value at the same time.By taking into account the difference in brightness of a respective display area from the target value, a particularly smooth change in brightness can be achieved for the users of the display device.

[0030] The command to set the brightness of all display areas to the uniform target value can be issued either by the control unit itself or from external sources to the display device, for example from the content source.

[0031] For example, the brightness of a first display area is changed first, then a second display area and then a third display area. The choice of which display area's brightness is changed first depends on the difference to the setpoint. This means that the display area with the brightness furthest from the setpoint is changed first, followed by the display area with the next largest difference to the setpoint, and so on. "One after the other" here refers to the starting point in time at which the brightness change begins. The brightness change in one display area does not necessarily have to have reached the setpoint before the brightness of the next display area is changed. This means that the brightness of several display areas can be changed at the same time, although the brightness change begins at different times.

[0032] Thus, the control unit is preferably configured to first change the brightness of the display area whose value differs the most from the setpoint, and when the brightness difference of the display area with the next greatest deviation is reached, to change the brightness of the display areas together until all display areas have reached the setpoint, wherein the control unit only begins to change the brightness of a display area with a smaller difference from the setpoint when the display areas whose brightness is already being changed reach the respective brightness of the display area with the smaller difference. This provides a less distracting method for changing the brightness of the display areas. In addition, all display areas reach the setpoint brightness simultaneously.

[0033] In particular, the brightness change for each display area occurs with the same gradient, i.e. the same changed brightness level per unit of time.

[0034] A vehicle according to the invention comprises a display device as described above. The vehicle can be any vehicle such as a car, truck, van, bus, or the like. It can also be a rail vehicle, watercraft, or aircraft. The content source is particularly preferably part of the vehicle. For example, the content source can be embodied by an internal vehicle computing unit. This computing unit can be, for example, the control unit of a vehicle subsystem or a central on-board computer or the like. The vehicle can have one or more display devices according to the invention. The display device can be arranged at any location in the vehicle.

[0035] Preferably, the display device is integrated into the dashboard and extends continuously across the dashboard from the driver's side to the passenger side in the direction of the vehicle's transverse axis, wherein the display surface is divided into at least three display areas, and wherein a first display area is provided in front of the driver's seat in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis, a second display area is provided in front of the passenger seat, and a third display area is provided between the first and second display areas in the direction of the vehicle's transverse axis. The first display area can thus serve as an instrument cluster. The second display area can be used by the passenger to consume media content such as films, videos, music, and the like. The third display area can serve to provide the functionality of the head unit.The third display area can be used to show information relevant to the journey, such as vehicle navigation and controls for operating the infotainment system. This type of display is also known as a "pillar-to-pillar display." It is a display that extends across the entire width of the vehicle. In this context, a display area is also referred to as a "content zone." "Integrated" here means that the display can be either embedded in the dashboard or connected to the dashboard and protrude from it.

[0036] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the vehicle, it has a presence determination means and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to detect, by reading sensor data from the presence determination means, whether and on which vehicle seat a vehicle occupant is present and, depending on this, to change a display of adjustment means for adjusting the brightness of the display areas within the display surface and / or to automatically change the brightness of at least one display area. Various sensors can function as presence determination means, such as interior cameras, a radar sensor detecting the vehicle interior, pressure-sensitive seat occupancy sensors, and the like. The automatic adjustment of the display of the adjustment means enables the vehicle occupants to change the brightness of the display areas even faster and more reliably.If there is no passenger in a particular vehicle seat, the brightness cannot be adjusted in the display area assigned to the free vehicle seat. The corresponding adjustment means is then displayed on a display area that is assigned to a vehicle seat in which a passenger is present. If the display area is divided into three display areas, as mentioned above, three slide controls for changing the brightness of a respective display area can be displayed in the third display area in the middle of the display device. This means that the person driving the vehicle, for example, can quickly and easily reach and operate the respective slide controls. If, on the other hand, there is also a passenger in the vehicle, the slide control for adjusting the brightness of the second display area could instead be displayed exclusively in the second display area.The person driving the vehicle can then assign the sliders shown in the third display area to the respective display areas more quickly and easily.

[0037] Preferably, the control unit is configured to automatically reduce the brightness of a display area assigned to the passenger seat when the passenger seat is empty, or to deactivate the lighting in this display area entirely. This automatically reduces the brightness of the display area irrelevant to the driver. This means that the driver is less distracted by the display area assigned to the passenger and does not have to pay attention to manually adjusting the brightness of this display area. This further improves road safety, as the driver can devote more cognitive focus to the driving situation.

[0038] Further advantageous embodiments of the display device according to the invention and of the vehicle also emerge from the exemplary embodiments which are described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0039] Showing:

[0040] Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a display device according to the invention in three different display states;

[0041] Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the display device according to the invention in a further display state;

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a schematic signal path of data read in by the display device according to the invention;

[0043] Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view of the display device according to the invention with a transition zone between two adjacent display areas; and Fig. 5 is a schematic brightness diagram showing the brightness of three display areas at three different times during a brightness adjustment according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0044] Figure 1 shows a plan view of a display device 1 according to the invention. The display device 1 is characterized in that a display surface 2 can be divided into at least two separate display areas 2.1 and 2.2, wherein the brightness of each of the display areas 2.1, 2.2 can be individually adjusted. For this purpose, the display device 1 comprises a control unit 3, shown in Figure 3, for controlling pixel elements and lighting elements. The display device 1 is particularly preferably integrated into a vehicle, for example, embedded or at least connected in or to the dashboard 9 of the vehicle. The display device 1 can extend across the entire width of the vehicle, so that an individual display area can be assigned to at least the driver and the front passenger.

[0045] Figure 1 shows the display device 1 at three different times or in three different display states. In Figure 1a), the display surface 2 forms only a single display area 2.1. This means that the same brightness is set for two or more separate display areas. In Figure 1b), the display surface 2 is divided into a first display area 2.1 and a second display area 2.2. The screen brightness therefore differs between the display areas.

[0046] 2.1 and 2.2. In Figure 1c), however, the display area 2 is divided into three display areas 2.1,

[0047] 2.2 and 2.3. The division of the display area 2 can be adjusted as desired by the control unit 3 at any time. The size, shape, and positioning of the display areas can be varied. The display device 1 according to the invention thus allows for a particularly flexible design of the image content to be displayed, in contrast to the use of multiple individual displays.

[0048] Figure 1 c) shows a particularly advantageous embodiment in which the first display area 2.1 is arranged in front of a person driving the vehicle, for example to form an instrument cluster. The second display area 2.2 is arranged in front of the front passenger. The front passenger can thus use the second display area 2.2, for example, to watch films, surf the Internet, view photos, make a video call, or the like. Between the two display areas 2.1 and 2.2 is the third display area 2.3, which can be used to display, for example, information relating to the vehicle's infotainment system, vehicle navigation, or the like. Each of these display areas 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 can have an individual brightness.

[0049] For example, display areas 2.1 and 2.3 can be set to a comparatively low brightness to avoid excessive distraction from the driver's attention. Since the second display area 2.2 is relatively far away from the driver, a higher brightness can be set here, making it easier for the passenger to view.

[0050] Furthermore, several slide controls 10 are shown in Figure 1c). In the third display area 2.3, two slide controls are shown, with which the driver and front passenger can change the brightness of the first and third display areas 2.1, 2.3. Adjusting the brightness of the second display area 2.2 is irrelevant for the driver. The corresponding slide control 10 is therefore only displayed in the second display area 2.2 and can therefore be easily operated by the front passenger. If no front passenger is present, this slide control 10 can also be moved to the third display area 2.3 so that the driver can now change the brightness of the third display area 2.3. Figure 2 shows another possible division of the display area 2. The embodiments shown here are merely examples. The display areas 2.1 to 2.4 can differ in size, shape and position in the display area 2.All possible shapes are possible, such as circular, elliptical, square, or rectangular shapes, even with rounded edges, or any polygonal shapes such as triangular, hexagonal, star, and the like. Each display area 2.1 to 2.4 is separated from the other display areas 2.1 to 2.4. Therefore, there are no overlapping display areas. However, a display area 2.2, 2.3, or 2.4 can be completely enclosed by another display area 2.1.

[0051] Commands for controlling the pixel elements and light elements can not only be initiated by the control unit 3, but the control unit 3 can also receive corresponding signals from external sources. This is shown in Figure 3. The control unit 3 is connected to a content source 4 via a data line 5. The data line 5 can have one or, as shown in Figure 3, two signal paths 8.1 and 8.2. The signal paths 8.1 and 8.2 can be logically combined or, as shown, logically separate. A video stream containing the image content to be displayed is transmitted via the first signal path 8.1. Control signals or commands are transmitted via the second signal path 8.2, which tell the control unit 3 how the display area 2 should be divided and which brightness levels should be assigned to a respective display area 2.1 to 2.4.The underlying data structure can be designed such that a first data packet describes the division of the display area 2. For example, a corresponding data packet is divided depending on the display areas 2.1 to 2.4. For each display area, an origin coordinate, described, for example, by a Cartesian XY coordinate system, is specified on the display area 2. Furthermore, the width and height of the respective display area are specified. Additionally, the data packet can contain widths for the transition areas 6 shown in Figure 4. The brightness values ​​for each display area are then transmitted in a separate data packet.

[0052] The control unit 3 can also send information, such as feedback, to the content source 4. The content source 4 can then adapt its behavior.

[0053] Figure 4 shows a display area 2 divided into two display areas 2.1 and 2.2. A transition area 6 is provided between the two display areas 2.1 and 2.2. Transition areas 6 can also be provided at the respective ends of the display areas 2.1 and 2.2. In Figure 4, transition areas 6 are shown only at the left and right ends, but not at the top and bottom edges, although this would also be possible in general.

[0054] Furthermore, in Figure 4, the brightness curve 11 is shown in the display areas 2.1 and 2.2 as well as the transition areas 6, with the height of the curve corresponding to the respective brightness value. As can be seen, the brightness in the display area

[0055] 2.1 is constant and comparatively low. In the second display area 2.2, the brightness is also constant, but higher. In the transition areas 6, the brightness takes on a gradient and thus changes continuously over the distance. The starting and ending values ​​correspond to the distance between the display areas 2.1 and

[0056] 2.2 located transition area 6 the respective brightness values ​​of the

[0057] Display areas 2.1 and 2.2. In the edge area, the brightness drops to zero, dark. However, it would also be possible to display a residual brightness in the edge area, i.e., not completely switch off the light elements.

[0058] In Figure 4, the dividing line between display areas 2.1 and 2.2 is symbolized by a dashed line. Transition area 6 is thus the same size for each of display areas 2.1 and 2.2. However, it would also be possible for the portion of transition area 6 assigned to a specific display area, for example, the portion of transition area 6 assigned to the first display area 2.1, to be larger or smaller than the portion assigned to the other display area 2.2.

[0059] Figure 5 shows a brightness diagram showing the brightness setting selected for three display areas AB during a brightness adjustment, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0060] A function can be provided to set the brightness H of the different display areas AB, here a first, second and third display area 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, to a common target value 7. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the target value 7 corresponds to the brightness H2 of the second display area 2.2. In this case, the target value 7 could form a reference value for the brightness of a reference display area. In general, however, a target value 7 of any desired level could be selected. It would also be possible to change the brightness H of more than three, for example four, five or even more display areas AB. It would generally be conceivable to change the brightness H abruptly or gradually for all display areas AB simultaneously. However, this is disruptive and distracting.For a particularly uniform, non-distracting and thus particularly safe way of changing the brightness H, the brightness change takes place depending on the differences A1 and A3 of the respective brightnesses H1, H3 to the target value 7. Thus, at time t1, the brightness H3 of the display area 2.3, which has the greatest difference A3 to the target value 7, is changed first.

[0061] If the brightness H3 of the third display area 2.3 reaches the size of the difference A1 at time t2, the brightness H1 of the first display area 2.1 now begins to change at the same time.

[0062] The two brightness levels H1 and H3 are then continuously adjusted until the target value 7 is reached simultaneously. This occurs at time t3.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Display device (1), comprising a display surface (2), a plurality of pixel elements arranged within the display surface (2), a plurality of lighting elements arranged within the display surface (2), wherein the lighting elements are arranged behind the pixel elements from a viewing direction of the display surface (2) to backlight them or the lighting elements are formed by the pixel elements themselves, and a control unit (3) for controlling the pixel elements and lighting elements, wherein the display surface (2) is divisible into at least two separate display areas (2.1, 2.2), characterized in that the control unit (3) is designed to individually change the brightness of the display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) by individually controlling each lighting element.

2. Display device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (3) is designed to distribute the display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) having the different brightness on the display surface (2) independently of an image content to be displayed on the display surface (2).

3. Display device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (3) is designed to change the number and / or the distribution of the display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) having the different brightness.

4. Display device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit (3) is configured to receive commands for controlling the pixel elements and / or lighting elements from an external content source (4), wherein the commands contain the image content to be displayed and define the division of the display area (2) into the display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4).

5. Display device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the control unit (3) is configured to receive the image content to be displayed and the definition of the subdivision of the display area (2) via the same data line (5).

6. Display device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control unit (3) is designed to provide a transition area (6) at least between two adjacent display areas (2.1, 2.2), wherein in the transition area (6) the brightness assumes a gradual progression, wherein the start value and the end value correspond to the respective brightnesses of the adjacent display areas (2.1, 2.2).

7. Display device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control unit (3) is configured to set the brightness of all display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) to a common reference value in response to an error.

8. Display device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the common reference value corresponds to the brightness of a reference display area.

9. Display device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control unit (3) is configured, when the display surface (2) is divided into more than two display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4), to, after receiving a command for adjusting the brightness of all display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) to a uniform setpoint (7), to successively adjust the brightness of the display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4) gradually to the setpoint (7) depending on the difference to the setpoint (7).

10. Display device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the control unit (3) is configured to first change the brightness (H3) of the display area (2.3) whose value has the greatest difference (A3) from the target value (7), and when the brightness difference (A1) of the display area (2.1) with the next greatest deviation is reached, to change the brightness (H1, H3) of the display areas (2.1, 2.3) together until all display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) have adopted the target value (7), wherein the control unit (3) only begins to change the brightness (H1) of a display area (2.1) with a smaller difference (A1) from the target value (7) when the display areas (2.3) whose brightness (H3) is already being changed reach the respective brightness (H1) of the display area (2.1) with the smaller difference (A1).

11. Vehicle, characterized by a display device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that the display device (1) is integrated into the dashboard (9) and extends continuously across the dashboard (9) from the driver's side to the passenger's side in the direction of the vehicle's transverse axis, wherein the display surface (2) is divided into at least three display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3), and wherein in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis a first display area (2.1) is provided in front of the driver's seat, a second display area (2.2) is provided in front of the passenger seat and in the direction of the vehicle's transverse axis a third display area (2.3) is provided between the first (2.1) and second display area (2.2).

13. Vehicle according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by Presence determination means and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to detect, by reading out sensor data from the presence determination means, whether and on which vehicle seat a vehicle occupant is present and, depending thereon, to change a display of adjustment means for adjusting the brightness of the display areas (2.1, 2.2, 2.3) within the display area (2) and / or to automatically change the brightness of at least one display area (2.1, 2.2, 2.3).

14. Vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the control unit is designed to automatically reduce the brightness of a display area (2.2) assigned to the front passenger seat when the front passenger seat is free or to completely deactivate the lighting in this display area (2.2).

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