Vehicle control panel and associated vehicle

Abstract

Vehicle Control Panel and Associated Vehicle The present invention relates to a vehicle control panel (16) (10) adapted to be integrated into the dashboard (14) of the vehicle (10) for displaying vehicle control information (10), the control panel (16) comprising: a transparent panel (20) adapted to be positioned facing the windshield (12) of the vehicle (10) opposite the upper body of a driver (18) in the driving position, a transparent component applied to a surface of the transparent panel (20), the transparent component having optical properties, and a vehicle control information (10) emission unit (24), the emission unit (24) being adapted to emit a light beam towards the transparent component such that the transparent component forms a useful image in an observation window of the driver (18) in the driving position. Figure for the abstract: 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle control panel and associated vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle control panel. The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising such a control panel.

[0002] Vehicles, particularly automobiles, are equipped with control panels, also called instrument clusters or dashboards, to present the driver with information useful for driving and operating the vehicle. To this end, the control panel includes the vehicle's instruments, some of which are required by law.

[0003] For a motor vehicle, the control panel is traditionally integrated into the vehicle's dashboard under the windshield, at the level of the steering wheel. Typically, such a control panel is positioned at least -15° from the line of sight of an average driver looking at the road. The driver is then required to take their eyes off the road to view the control panel, which reduces alertness and increases eye strain due to the constant effort of visual accommodation required.

[0004] To enable the viewing of useful information in a safer manner, it is known to use head-up displays which transmit to the driver some information from the control panel.

[0005] However, such displays occupy additional space in the vehicle, redundant with the control panel, and some are very bulky. Furthermore, these displays only allow the useful image to be viewed within a limited viewing window (or "eyebox").

[0006] An alternative is to replace mechanical instrument panels with digital ones. For this purpose, control panels in the form of screens are known. The trend is to position such control panels increasingly higher in the driver's field of vision so as to decrease the viewing angle (or "look-down angle") of the instrument panels.

[0007] However, such control panels then obscure part of the vehicle's windshield, and in particular part of the driver's field of vision, which is not optimal in terms of driving comfort and safety.

[0008] There is therefore a need for a vehicle control panel that allows the display of information useful for driving, in a viewing window that is comfortable for the driver and without affecting driving safety.

[0009] To this end, the present description relates to a vehicle control panel designed to be integrated into the vehicle's dashboard to display vehicle control information, including all of the vehicle's dashboard instruments, the control panel comprising: a. a transparent panel suitable for being positioned opposite the windshield of the vehicle, facing the upper body of a driver in the driving position, b. a transparent component applied to at least one surface of the transparent panel, the transparent component having at least one optical property, and c. a vehicle control information emission unit, the emission unit being capable of emitting at least one beam of light in the direction of the transparent component so that the transparent component forms at least one useful image in a driver observation window in the driving position.

[0010] According to other advantageous aspects, the control panel comprises one or more of the following features, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0011] - the control panel is configured to switch on automatically to be switched on automatically when the ignition is switched on in the vehicle and to be switched off automatically when the ignition is switched off in the vehicle;

[0012] - the control panel is devoid of optics in the path of the light beam between the emission unit and the transparent component;

[0013] - at least one optical property of the transparent component is a semi- reflective, the emission unit comprising at least one screen on which an image is displayed, at least one useful image being a virtual image of the image displayed on the screen;

[0014] - at least one optical property of the transparent component is a property of broadcasting, the transmission unit comprising at least one projector capable of projecting at least one useful image onto the transparent component;

[0015] - the transparent component comprises at least one film conferring at least one optical property;

[0016] - the transparent panel comprises at least two parts contained in planes different, the transparent component being applied to the surfaces of at least two parts, the emitting unit being capable of emitting a beam of light in the direction of each of the at least two parts of the transparent panel so as to form at least two useful images in different planes;

[0017] - the emission unit comprises at least two emission subunits, each subunit being capable of emitting a beam of light towards the transparent component to form a useful image, the two subunits being positioned relative to each other so that the useful images obtained for the two subunits are in different planes.

[0018] This description also relates to a vehicle comprising a control panel as described above, the control panel being integrated into the dashboard of the vehicle, the transparent panel being positioned opposite the windshield of the vehicle facing the upper body of a driver in a driving position.

[0019] According to other advantageous aspects, the vehicle includes the following feature: the dashboard is devoid of mechanical dashboard instruments integrated into the dashboard and of digital dashboard instruments integrated into the dashboard that are different from the control panel.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings which are:

[0021] - [Fig.1] [Fig.1], a schematic representation of an example of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a dashboard incorporating a control panel according to the invention, the control panel comprising a transparent panel,

[0022] - [Fig.2] [Fig.2], a schematic representation of an example of the panel of control of the [Fig.l],

[0023] - [Fig.3] [Fig.3], a schematic representation of another example of the panel of control of the [Fig.l],

[0024] - [Fig.4] [Fig.4], a schematic representation of another example of the panel of control of the [Fig.l],

[0025] - [Fig.5] [Fig.5], a schematic top-view representation of an example of a transparent panel of a control panel, and

[0026] - [Fig.6] [Fig.6], a schematic top-view representation of another example of a transparent panel of a control panel.

[0027] A vehicle 10 is illustrated by [Fig.1].

[0028] In this example, the vehicle 10 includes, in a passenger compartment 11, a windscreen 12, a dashboard 14 and a control panel 16. The dashboard 14 is defined as a shelf extending across the entire width of the vehicle 10, below the windscreen 12 and above the feet of the driver 18 and, where applicable, the front passenger.

[0029] The vehicle 10 is, for example, a land, air or sea vehicle. The land vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle ([Fig. 1]) or a railway vehicle.

[0030] The control panel 16 is integrated into the dashboard 14 of the vehicle 10. The term "integrated" means that the control panel 16 is suitably incorporated into the dashboard 14. Such incorporation was, for example, carried out during the design of said dashboard 14 (during the industrialization phase of the vehicle 10). The control panel 16 is therefore different from a device installed as a retrofit and which would simply have been placed in the vehicle 10 without specific incorporation into the dashboard 14.

[0031] The control panel 16 is suitable for displaying vehicle control information 10, including all vehicle instrument panels 19 10.

[0032] The instrument panel 19 is an indicator or warning light which informs the driver 18 of a vehicle 10 about driving parameters (speed, acceleration, temperature, etc.) and the operation of the vehicle 10, in particular the engine of the vehicle 10. For a motor vehicle, the instrument panel includes, for example, at least a tachometer, a speedometer, a fuel gauge and a coolant temperature indicator.

[0033] Optionally, the control panel 16 is also suitable for displaying information useful for driving such as navigation (map, positions, directions) or traffic conditions (traffic jams, roadworks).

[0034] Advantageously, the control panel 16 is the only element integrated into the dashboard 14 displaying the instrument panel 19. The vehicle 10 is, therefore, devoid of integrated mechanical instrument panels or other integrated digital means of displaying the instrument panel.

[0035] Advantageously, the control panel 16 is configured to be switched on automatically when the ignition is switched on in the vehicle 10 (i.e. when the vehicle engine is started) and to be switched off automatically when the ignition is switched off in the vehicle 10 (engine stopped).

[0036] The control panel 16 includes a transparent panel 20, a transparent component 22 and a vehicle control information emission unit 24 10.

[0037] The transparent panel 20 is designed to be positioned opposite the windshield 12 of the vehicle 10, facing the upper body (torso, head) of a driver 18 in the driving position. The transparent panel 20 protrudes from the dashboard 14 of the vehicle 10. The transparent panel 20 is thus within the driver's field of vision in the driving position, and more specifically within an eyebox of the driver 18 in the driving position.

[0038] Preferably, the transparent panel 20 is positioned so as to be in the line of sight of a standard driver 18 (corresponding for example to the 50th percentile of the adult population).

[0039] The transparent panel 20 is a support delimited by an entrance diopter 30 and an exit diopter 32. The entrance diopter 30 has an external face 30E and an internal face 301 opposite the external face 30E. The exit diopter 32 has an external face 32E and an internal face 321 opposite the external face 32E. The external face 30E, 32E of each diopter 30, 32 is oriented outwards from said diopter 30, 32, that is to say, towards the external environment (the air). The internal face 301, 321 of each diopter 30, 32 is oriented inwards from said diopter 30, 32.

[0040] The transparent panel 20 comprises at least one layer of a transparent material between the entrance diopter 30 and the exit diopter 32. The transparent material is, for example, glass or plastic. In one embodiment, the transparent support 20 comprises several layers of transparent materials, possibly different, between the entrance diopter 30 and the exit diopter 32. The materials of said layers are, for example, glass, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or polyvinyl butyral (PVB).

[0041] The transparent component 22 is applied to at least one surface of the transparent panel 20.

[0042] For example, the transparent component 22 is applied to the outer face 30E of the entrance diopter 30 and adheres to this face (optionally by means of a fastening). The transparent component 22 is thus fixed to the outer face 30E of the entrance diopter 30.

[0043] In other embodiments, the transparent component 22 is applied to the outer face 32E of the exit diopter 32 and adheres to this face (optionally by means of a fastening). The transparent component 22 is thus integral with the outer face 32E of the exit diopter 32.

[0044] Advantageously, the one or at least one surface of the transparent panel 20 to which the transparent component 22 is applied is a flat surface, which reduces aberrations and provides a larger viewing window than a concave surface. Alternatively, the one or at least one surface of the transparent panel 20 to which the transparent component 22 is applied is a concave surface.

[0045] The transparent component 22 exhibits at least one optical property, in addition to the property of transparency. The optical property is, for example, a semi-reflective property or a diffusion property.

[0046] In one example, the transparent component 22 comprises at least one film (for example, laminated or held in place by electrostatic effect) conferring at least one optical property. In another embodiment, the transparent component 22 comprises several superimposed films, each conferring a different optical property.

[0047] Alternatively, the transparent component 22 is a coating or a treatment (for example obtained by physical deposition or chemical deposition).

[0048] The emitting unit 24 is adapted to emit at least one light beam towards the transparent component 22 such that the transparent component 22 forms at least one useful image in a viewing window for the driver 18 in the driving position. The light beam is, for example, in the visible wavelength range (380 nanometers to 700 nanometers). The useful image thus allows the driver 18 to view vehicle control information 10.

[0049] Advantageously, the control panel 16 is devoid of optics on the path of the light beam between the emission unit 24 and the transparent component 22, which makes it possible to gain in compactness and not to restrict the observation window.

[0050] An example of the operation of the control panel 16 integrated into the vehicle 10 will now be described.

[0051] Advantageously, the control panel 16 is switched on automatically when the ignition is switched on in the vehicle 10 and is switched off automatically when the ignition is switched off in the vehicle 10.

[0052] During driving, the emission unit 24 sends information in the form of a light beam towards the transparent component 22 which then forms a useful image including information useful for driving the vehicle 10.

[0053] Thus, the control panel 16 allows the display of information useful for driving (control information, navigation, traffic conditions) without affecting driving safety since the windshield 12 is not obscured. Such a control panel 16 is compact and easily integrated into the dashboard 14 of the vehicle 10. Furthermore, such a control panel 16 allows the useful image to be viewed in a larger, and therefore more comfortable, viewing window (eyebox) than with a head-up display.

[0054] The following describes various embodiments of the control panel 16 that complement the generic embodiment described above. Such embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0055] According to a first embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], at least one optical property of the transparent component 22 is a semi-reflective property and the emission unit 24 comprises at least one screen 40 on which an image is displayed.

[0056] At least one useful image is then a virtual image IM1 of the image displayed on the screen 40. Such a virtual image IM1 is obtained by reflecting the beam from the screen 40 onto the transparent component 22 (due to the semi-reflective property of the transparent component 22). The virtual image IM1 thus forms behind the transparent panel 20, superimposed on the external environment of the vehicle 10.

[0057] Preferably, the screen 40 has a brightness that can be adjusted according to the ambient light (daytime, nighttime, sunlight). Preferably, the minimum brightness of the screen 40 is chosen so that the useful image formed by the transparent component 22 must be visible to the driver even during the day in sunny weather. For example, the minimum brightness of the screen 40 is chosen based on the reflectivity of the transparent component 22.

[0058] Alternatively, the brightness of the screen 40 is fixed and the reflectivity of the transparent component 22 is variable (adjustable reflectivity, for example, electrically). The reflectivity of the transparent component 22 is then adjusted according to the ambient light (daylight, night, sunlight). Preferably, the reflectivity of the transparent component 22 is adjusted so that the useful image formed by the transparent component 22 is visible to the driver even during the day in sunny weather.

[0059] The screen 40 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD for "liquid crystal display").

[0060] In an example of an implementation of the first embodiment, the transparent component 22 is applied to the outer face 30E of the input diopter 30 and the screen 40 is positioned between the driver's steering wheel and the transparent panel 20.

[0061] According to a second embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3], at least one optical property of the transparent component 22 is a diffusion property, and the emission unit 24 comprises at least one projector 42 suitable for projecting at least one useful image onto the transparent component 22 (due to the diffusion property of the transparent component 22). The useful image is then a real image IM2. The real image IM2 is thus formed by superimposing it onto the external environment of the vehicle 10.

[0062] In a first example of implementation of the second embodiment, the transparent component 22 is applied to the outer face 30E of the input diopter 30 and the projector 42 is positioned between the driver's steering wheel and the transparent panel 20.

[0063] In a second example of implementation of the second embodiment, the transparent component 22 is applied to the external face 32E of the output diopter 32 and the projector 42 is positioned between the transparent panel 20 and the windshield 12.

[0064] According to a third embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 4], the control panel 16 results from a combination of the first and second embodiments. Thus, at least two useful images of different types are obtained, namely a virtual image formed behind the transparent panel 20 and a real image formed on the transparent component 22 of the transparent panel 20. Such an embodiment thus makes it possible to visualize information in multiple planes via images of different types.

[0065] According to a fourth embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, which is compatible with the preceding embodiments, the transparent panel 20 comprises at least two parts contained in different planes and allowing the formation of images The transparent component 22 is applied to the surfaces of at least two parts. The emission unit 24 is adapted to emit a light beam towards each of the at least two parts of the transparent panel 20 so as to form at least two useful images in different planes. This embodiment thus makes it possible to visualize information in multiple planes due to the specific shape of the transparent panel 20.

[0066] Thus, in the example illustrated by [Fig. 5], the transparent panel 20 comprises four parts (central part Pc, the two lateral parts PM, PL2, and the part forming the two ends PE) contained in different planes, each allowing the formation of useful images visible by a conductor 18. In the example illustrated by [Fig. 6], the transparent panel 20 comprises five parts (central part Pc, the two left lateral parts PG1, Pg2 and the two right lateral parts PD1, PD2) contained in different planes and parallel to each other, each of the parts allowing the formation of useful images visible by a conductor 18.

[0067] According to a fifth embodiment, the emission unit 24 comprises at least two emission subunits. Each subunit is adapted to emit a beam of light towards the transparent component 22 to form a useful image. According to this embodiment, the two subunits are positioned relative to each other such that the useful images obtained for the two subunits are in different planes.

[0068] The two subunits are, for example, positioned at different distances (height) from the transparent component 22. Alternatively, at least one optic is inserted in the path of the light beam between one of the subunits and the transparent component 22 so as to allow the acquisition of images in different planes.

[0069] Such an embodiment thus makes it possible to visualize information in multi-planes due to a specific positioning of the emission subunits in relation to the transparent component 22.

[0070] In addition to or as an alternative to the preceding embodiments, the transparent panel 20 or the transparent component 22 also includes at least one coating providing additional optical and / or mechanical properties. The coating is, for example, a color treatment (allowing, for example, increased contrast), or an anti-scratch or anti-fog coating.

[0071] As previously stated, a person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

[0072] Those skilled in the art will also understand that the present description is based on the specific case of motor vehicles, but that the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. The control panel is therefore adaptable to all types of vehicles, including aircraft and naval vehicles.

Claims

Demands

1. A vehicle (10) comprising a control panel (16), the control panel (16) being integrated into the dashboard (14) of the vehicle (10) to display vehicle control information (10), including all the vehicle's instrument panels (19), the dashboard (14) being devoid of mechanical instrument panels integrated into the dashboard (14) and digital instrument panels integrated into the dashboard (14) that differ from the control panel (16), the transparent panel (20) being positioned opposite the windshield (12) of the vehicle (10) facing the upper body of a driver (18) in the driving position, the control panel (16) comprising: a. a transparent panel (20) suitable for being positioned opposite the windscreen (12) of the vehicle (10) facing the upper body of a driver (18) in the driving position, b. a transparent component (22) applied to at least one surface of the transparent panel (20), the transparent component (22) having at least one optical property, and c. a vehicle control information emission unit (24) for the vehicle (10), the emission unit (24) being capable of emitting at least one light beam in the direction of the transparent component (22) such that the transparent component (22) forms at least one useful image in a driver observation window (18) in the driving position, in which the transparent panel (20) comprises at least two parts (Pc, PLi, PL2, Pe; Pc, Pg i, Pg 2, Pd 1, Pd 2) contained in different planes, the transparent component (22) being applied to the surfaces of the at least two parts (Pc, PLi, Pl2, Pe; Pc, Pg 1, Pg 2, Pd 1, Pd 2), the emission unit (24) being adapted to emit a light beam in the direction of each of the at least two parts (Pc, PLi, Pl2, Pe; Pc, Pg 1, Pg 2, Pd 1, Pd 2) of the transparent panel (20) so as to form at least two useful images in different planes.

2. Vehicle (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control panel (16) is configured to be switched on automatically when the ignition is switched on in the vehicle (10) and to be switched off automatically when the ignition is switched off in the vehicle (10).

3. Vehicle (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control panel (16) is devoid of optics on the path of the light beam between the emitting unit (24) and the transparent component (22).

4. Vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one optical property of the transparent component (22) is a semi-reflective property, the emitting unit (24) comprising at least one screen (40) on which an image is displayed, at least one useful image being a virtual image (IM1) of the image displayed on the screen (40).

5. Vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one optical property of the transparent component (22) is a diffusion property, the emission unit (24) comprising at least one projector (42) adapted to project at least one useful image (IM2) onto the transparent component (22).

6. Vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transparent component (22) comprises at least one film conferring at least one optical property.

7. Vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the emission unit (24) comprises at least two emission subunits, each subunit being adapted to emit a light beam in the direction of the transparent component (22) to form a useful image, the two subunits being positioned relative to each other so that the useful images obtained for the two subunits are in different planes.

Images