Display device for superimposing virtual images, for vehicles.

Abstract

A display device (DD) for a vehicle (V) comprising a first display screen (EA1), a semi-reflective blade (LO) inclined at a first acute angle to said foreground (P1) and comprising a rear face (FR) covered with a non-reflective layer (CN) except for a specified area (ZD), and a front face (FV) opposite said rear face (FR), oriented towards said passengers (PA) and adapted to reflect said real images displayed towards said passengers (PA), said display device (DD) further comprising at least one second screen (EA2) smaller than the first screen (EA1), disposed against the non-reflective layer (CN) covering the rear face (FR) of the blade (LO) and opposite the specified area (ZD). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Display device superimposing virtual images, for vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to display devices intended for use in vehicles, possibly automobiles. Many vehicles include at least one display device for showing various types of information, particularly regarding their operation or the operation of on-board equipment (such as heating and air conditioning or emissions control) or a navigation, multimedia, or telephone application. Such display devices frequently consist of central displays integrated into the dashboard or instrument clusters, also known as instrument panels, designed for the driver. The invention relates more particularly to digital display devices.These can, for example, include a first, all-digital, flat display panel made using liquid crystal technology and a thin-film transistor matrix, also known as a TFT LCD screen, an Anglo-Saxon acronym for "thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display", generally rectangular in shape with a width of 10" or 12.3" and an 8:3 format. It is understood that this first panel displays real images in a single plane, without any relief or multi-plane effect.

[0002] To this first panel, which displays real images in the initial areas of a plane, a remotely angled transparent screen and a second, offset and masked panel (possibly of the same type as the first) can be added. This second panel is responsible for displaying other real images, which are deflected by the transparent screen towards secondary areas of the first panel, located adjacent to the initial areas. In other words, passengers observe on the front face of the first panel real information located in the initial areas and virtual information located in secondary areas adjacent to the initial areas. Consequently, this two-panel arrangement only allows for the juxtaposition of real and virtual images on the same plane and not a three-dimensional or multi-plane effect. Furthermore, this arrangement is cumbersome and expensive because it requires two display panels of equivalent size.In a variation of the previous arrangement, a semi-reflective panel can be used instead of the transparent panel. In this case, the first panel displays real images, and the real images displayed by the second panel are reflected by the semi-reflective panel towards the passengers, giving them the impression that they are coming from a plane located between the first panel and the semi-reflective panel. This results in a display of information on two slightly different planes. The panels are spaced apart and may even have an overlapping effect to create an impression of depth and dimension, allowing for the prioritization or highlighting of certain information. This layout is just as bulky and expensive as the previous one, as it also requires two display panels of equivalent size.

[0003] A display device comprising a display screen (panel) for displaying real images in a foreground invisible to passengers seated in a vehicle is also known from document FR3074925A1. This device further comprises an opaque, semi-reflective blade inclined relative to the foreground. The rear face of the blade contains information elements, and its front face, which is oriented towards the passengers, reflects the real images and displays them towards the passengers, giving them the impression that they originate from a virtual background located opposite and at a distance from the rear face. Lighting means allow the information elements to be selectively illuminated so that they appear selectively lit on the opaque blade.

[0004] This document therefore discloses a device comprising only one screen (a single panel).

[0005] However, the information carried by the information elements is, on the one hand, limited and, on the other hand, it is not reconfigurable.

[0006] The invention therefore aims in particular to provide an intermediate solution not using two slabs of equivalent size and allowing to offer a wide range of reconfigurable information.

[0007] To this end, it proposes a display device for a vehicle comprising a first display screen suitable for displaying real images in a foreground invisible to passengers installed in said vehicle, a semi-reflective blade inclined at a first acute angle with respect to said foreground and comprising a rear face covered with a non-reflective layer except for a determined area, and a front face opposite said rear face, oriented towards said passengers and suitable for reflecting said real images displayed towards said passengers, giving them the impression that they come from a second virtual plane located opposite and at a distance from said rear face and inclined at a second acute angle with respect to the latter, said display device further comprising at least one second screen smaller than the first screen,held against the non-reflective layer covering the back face of the blade and opposite the designated area.

[0008] According to one feature, said first and second acute angles are between 30 and 60°, and are typically 45° each.

[0009] According to another feature, the non-reflective layer is selected from a black screen print, a black mask made of a glued or overmolded film, a black paint, and said front face of the blade is semi-reflective.

[0010] According to another feature, the device includes a common electronic board powering and controlling the first and second screens.

[0011] According to one feature, the common electronic board is arranged on the first display screen and extends into a flexible circuit portion connecting the second display screen to the common electronic board.

[0012] According to another feature, the device includes support means to which are attached the first display screen, the blade, the common electronic board and the flexible circuit part; said support means themselves being suitable for being attached to at least one piece of equipment of said vehicle and / or at least one structural element of the vehicle.

[0013] According to another feature, the second display screen is glued to the rear face of the blade.

[0014] According to another feature, the second screen is based on organic light-emitting diodes.

[0015] According to another feature, the device constitutes a combined display for a vehicle dashboard.

[0016] Finally, the invention has as another object a vehicle characterized in that it includes at least one display device as described above.

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from an examination of the detailed description below, and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0018] [fig. 1] schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view, an example of an embodiment of a display device according to the invention, installed in a dashboard of a vehicle.

[0019] In what follows, the vehicle is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be an automobile. For example, a car. However, the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It relates to any type of vehicle that can be equipped with at least one display device for displaying various types of information. Furthermore, in what follows, the display device is considered, by way of non-limiting example, to be a dashboard display (or instrument cluster) dedicated to the driver of the vehicle and therefore installed in the dashboard. But the invention is not limited to this type of display device. Thus, it could also be a central display installed in a central position in the vehicle's dashboard, for example. A schematic, non-limiting example of a display device according to the invention is shown in [Fig. 1].Here, the DA display device is installed in a PB dashboard of a V vehicle, and more specifically under a CA visor of the PB dashboard located in front of the steering wheel, not shown.

[0020] As illustrated, but not limited to, in [Fig. 1], the DA display device, according to The invention comprises at least a first horizontally positioned display screen EA1 and a glossy black (opaque) blade LO acting as a reflective mirror, arranged opposite the first display screen EA1, being inclined relative to the first display screen EA1, at an angle between 30 and 60° typically 45°.

[0021] The LO blade has a "smoky" appearance, which is obtained by a double treatment consisting of depositing, for example, a black silkscreen print on the back face of the blade and a reflective coating on the front face so as to obtain a reflection rate of between 30 and 50%. The LO blade therefore behaves like a "semi-reflective" blade.

[0022] The term "smoked" is generally used to define a black-tinted glass whose particularity is that it does not allow, or very little, light to pass through the glass.

[0023] With the treatments applied to the LO blade as described above, the same effect is obtained as on a glass.

[0024] The first display screen EA1 is designed to display real "main" images in a foreground PI that is invisible to passengers PA seated in the vehicle V (here in the driver's seat of its passenger compartment H). The first display screen EA1 is installed (but not limited to) under the partition that separates the dashboard cowl CA from the instrument panel PB. Its display face is therefore oriented towards the floor of the vehicle V. For example, the first display screen EA1 includes a TFT LCD display, AFL. The blade LO is inclined at an acute angle to the foreground PL. For example, this first acute angle can be chosen to be 45°. The blade LO comprises a rear face FR and a front face FV opposite each other.

[0025] The front face FV is oriented towards the passengers PA and is designed to reflect the (main) real images displayed by the first display screen EA1 towards the passengers PA, giving them the impression that they are coming from a virtual second plane P2 located opposite and at a distance from the rear face FR and inclined at a second acute angle relative to the latter (FR). For example, this second acute angle can be chosen to be equal to 45°, therefore the same as the first acute angle.

[0026] It should be noted that the second acute angle is substantially equal to the first acute angle when the angle of incidence of the real images on the front face FV of the blade LO is equal to the angle of reflection of these same real images on this same front face FV (in the direction of the passengers' eyes PA). In the non-limiting example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the second acute angle is equal to the first acute angle, and therefore to 45°. In this case, the minimum distance d1 between the first plane PI and the front face FV is equal to the minimum distance d1' between the virtual second plane P2 and the rear face FR, and the maximum distance d2 between the first plane PI and the front face FV is equal to the maximum distance d2' between the virtual second plane P2 and the rear face FR. By Consequently, in the illustrated example, the virtual image, "present" on the second virtual plane P2, has a size equivalent to the real (main) image displayed on the first display screen EA1.

[0027] The rear face FR of the blade LO is covered with a non-reflective (opaque) "black" layer CN except for a determined area ZD.

[0028] A second display screen EA2, smaller in size than the first screen EA1, is positioned against the rear face FR of the blade LO, opposite the area ZD; the second screen EA2 being capable of creating a "small" secondary image whose size is related to the size of the second display screen EA2, typically having a diameter of about 40mm (1.6") in the case of a circular EA2 screen.

[0029] This second screen EA2 defines in a way a small "window" within the "main" image created by the first screen EA1.

[0030] The following is given, by way of example, an order of magnitude of the respective dimensions of the first and second screens EA1 and EA2.

[0031] Thus, considering that the first screen EA1 is a rectangular panel in 8:3 format with a width of 10” or 12.3”, the second screen EA2, circular in shape, has a diameter of 1.6”.

[0032] This “secondary” image carries information that can be reconfigured on demand, within the “main” image.

[0033] The non-reflective layer CN can be made from a silkscreen deposited on the rear face FR of the LO blade or from a black mask made of a glued or overmolded film, having a local recess or even by a paint scratched locally by a LASER defining the desired shape to contain the secondary image.

[0034] Thus, for example, the scratched or unscrambled area ZD obtained by either of the techniques mentioned above may have a circular shape similar to a smartphone watch face (approximately 40 mm in diameter, 1.6”) or a rectangular shape with a size approaching that of the display area of ​​a smartwatch. Other shapes can be considered, such as a hexagonal shape.

[0035] Since the LO blade is “smoked” with a mirror effect, the windowing corresponding to the area scraped, or spared, ZD is barely perceptible to the passenger PA.

[0036] To minimize this perceptibility, the choice of technology for the second EA2 screen will favor an AF2 display based on organic light-emitting diodes or OLED (Anglo-Saxon acronym for Organic Light-Emitting Diode) in order to obtain optimal contrast and black quality which will also allow the technical elements present at the rear of the LO blade to be concealed in the handset.

[0037] When the LO blade is arranged at 45°, it is thus possible to distort the image displayed by the second screen EA2 relative to that of the first screen EA1. The content displayed on the second screen EA2 then appears, as seen by PA passengers, stretched vertically in the direction of the secondary image without any significant distortion of the content. Typically, the distortion increases the size of the image by a factor of 1.4.

[0038] The depth, or relief, effect offered by the DA display device according to the invention, based on the superimposition of real images, is all the more striking for PA passengers when the offset with the virtual image is significant. This offset depends on the positioning of the second screen EA2 along blade LO, which is inclined at 45°. It can be positioned, for example, at the bottom of blade LO or in the middle of blade LO, as shown in [Fig. 1].

[0039] By way of example, the content displayed by the second screen EA2 (the secondary image) may be:

[0040] - The speed of vehicle V superimposed in front of the main image; - The symbolic representation of the vehicle V in a driving mode in in which the AD AS (Anglo-Saxon acronym for "Advanced driver-assistance Systems") system of vehicle V is activated, with display of the road boundary lines between which vehicle V is represented with a "floating" effect above the road; - Alert information in case of need to take back control of the vehicle in autonomous driving mode; - A drop-down menu displaying the different display modes of the handset; - Simple shapes such as temperature gauges, fuel gauges, etc.

[0041] The display device DA includes support means MS to which the first and second display screens, EA1 and EA2 respectively, and the LO blade are attached. The support means MS also support a common electronic board CE for controlling and powering the first and second screens EA1 and EA2. This common electronic board CE is electrically connected to at least one computer (not shown) of the vehicle V, which manages the electronics of the vehicle's passenger compartment H.

[0042] In the embodiment illustrated in [fig. 1], the common electronic board CE consists of at least one printed circuit board or PCB “Printed Circuit Board” which is arranged above the first display screen EA1.

[0043] The second screen EA2 is connected to the common electronic board CE by a flexible printed circuit strip CF supporting the power and control electrical conductors of the second screen EA2. This flexible circuit CF is connected by at least one of its first ends to the common electronic board CE and to the second screen EA2 by at least one of its second ends.

[0044] The MS support means comprise mechanical parts arranged together to integrate the first screen EA1, and define a support arm for the blade LO; an arm which also delimits and supports the second screen EA2.

[0045] These parts are themselves suitable for being attached to at least one piece of equipment of vehicle V and / or at least one structural element of vehicle V.

[0046] This is the case in the example illustrated, but not limited to, in the single figure. This equipment of vehicle V can, for example, be the dashboard PB or a dashboard crossmember, or even a structural element of vehicle V.

[0047] In one variant, the second screen EA2 could be attached to the rear face FR of the blade LO, for example by gluing.

Claims

Demands

1. A display device (AD) for a vehicle (V) comprising a first display screen (EA1) adapted to display real images in a foreground (PI) invisible to passengers (PA) installed in said vehicle (V), a semi-reflective blade (LO) inclined at a first acute angle with respect to said foreground (PI) and comprising a rear face (FR) covered with a non-reflective layer (CN) except for a specified area (ZD), and a front face (FV) opposite said rear face (FR), oriented towards said passengers (PA) and adapted to reflect said real images displayed towards said passengers (PA) giving them the impression that they come from a virtual second plane (P2) located opposite and at a distance from said rear face (FR) and inclined at a second acute angle with respect to the latter (FR), said display device (AD) further comprising at least one second screen (EA2) smaller in size than the first screen (EA1),held against the non-reflective layer (CN) covering the rear face (FR) of the blade (LO) and opposite the determined zone (ZD).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second acute angles are between 30 and 60°, and are typically 45° each.

3. Display device (DA) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the non-reflective layer (CN) is selected from a black screen print, a black mask composed of a glued or overmolded film, a black paint, and in that said front face (FV) of the blade (LO) is semi-reflective.

4. Display device (DA) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a common electronic board (CE) powering and controlling the first and second screens (EA1, EA2).

5. Display device (DA) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the common electronic board (CE) is disposed on the first display screen (EA1) and extends into a flexible circuit portion (CF) connecting the second display screen (EA2) to the common electronic board (CE).

6. Display device (DA) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that it comprises support means (MS) to which are attached the first display screen (EA1), the blade (LO), the common electronic board (CE) and the flexible circuit portion (CF); said support means (MS) being themselves suitable for being attached to at least one piece of equipment of said vehicle (V) and / or at least one structural element of the vehicle (V).

7. Display device (DA) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second display screen (EA2) is glued to the rear face (FR) of the blade (LO).

8. Display device (DA) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second screen (EA2) is based on organic light-emitting diodes.

9. Display device (DA) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it constitutes a display assembly for a dashboard (PB) of said vehicle (V).

10. Vehicle (V), characterized in that it comprises at least one display device (DA) according to one of the preceding claims.

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