Automotive vehicle display system

Abstract

A display system intended for mounting in the dashboard of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a source screen, an optical device in the form of a translucent plate adapted to form a remote image of the source screen, the source screen and said optical device being inclined relative to each other, and said remote image being formed on the side opposite the source screen to the optical device. Abstract figure: Figure 2

Description

Description Title of the invention: Motor vehicle display system

[0001] — The present invention relates to a display system intended to be mounted in a motor vehicle dashboard.

[0002] In a motor vehicle there are several different display systems.

[0003] — The best known is the speedometer, generally installed behind the steering wheel of direction.

[0004] The use of a digital display has become very common, especially at the rear from the steering wheel, in order to display speed and distance information traveled, or even the consumption of the motor vehicle.

[0005] It is quite common, for the sake of simplicity, to name this display digital "digital counter" or more simply "counter" even if it does not not limited to displaying only speed or distance information.

[0006] — Traditionally, the display system includes software, a digital screen or analog displays, such as needle dials, and thick glass protection.

[0007] = One of the drawbacks of this solution is the size of the dashboard. In In fact, the protective glass is very thick and the installation takes up a large space in the dashboard.

[0008] — To free up this space, several manufacturers have designed Head-Up D systems iSplay, in English "Head-Up Displays" which allow the creation of an image Virtual display of the speedometer aligned with the windshield of the motor vehicle. This solution allows freeing up the space used by the digital display on the dashboard.

[0009] = However, the screen used must be powerful enough for the virtual image to be visible and the technical infrastructure put in place is relatively complex, which significantly increases production costs.

[0010] = Furthermore, a virtual image at the level of the windshield of the motor vehicle can obstruct the driver's vision while driving, since they can then focus on the screen and not on the road.

[0011] — Thus, the solutions proposed in the prior art present disadvantages in in terms of production cost, size and readability.

[0012] Also, there is a need for a display system that frees up space technique to enhance the perception of storage space while reducing the production costs compared to more advanced solutions.

[0013] — A display system is proposed for mounting in a dashboard of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: - a source screen, - an optical device in the form of a translucent plate adapted to form a remote image from the source screen, the source screen and said optical device being inclined relative to each other, and said offset image being formed on the side opposite the source screen relative to the optical device. One advantage is to offer a simple and efficient display system in a motor vehicle, freeing up technical space compared to a traditional display system. Advantageously, and without limitation, the source screen is inclined relative to the optical device at an angle between 35° and 55°, in particular at an angle approximately equal to 45°. This angle between the source screen and the optical device makes it possible, in particular, to minimize the gap between the source screen and the optical device while ensuring high-performance display of the remote image. Advantageously, and without limitation, the offset image is inclined relative to the optical device at an angle between 35° and 55°, in particular at an angle substantially equal to 45°. This angle between the remote image and the optical device allows, particularly when the source screen is mounted almost horizontally, for the remote image to be displayed facing the driver at an angle very similar to the display angle of a prior art digital display installed in the dashboard. This also provides the driver with a display to which they are already accustomed. Advantageously, and without limitation, the source screen is removable. One advantage is that the source screen can be replaced, for example in after-sales service or by the user according to their needs. The invention also relates to a dashboard extending along a main longitudinal axis and comprising three parts: - a driving component related to a steering wheel, - a central part, and, - a passenger section opposite the driving section in relation to the central section, said dashboard also including the display system as described previously. Advantageously, and without limitation, the source screen is inclined relative to the horizontal of the dashboard at an angle between 5° and 25°, in particular at an angle substantially equal to 25°, One advantage of the invention is to optimize space in the dashboard while respecting the chosen angle between the source screen and the optical device. Advantageously, and without limitation, the display system is installed in the driving section of the dashboard. One advantage is being able to display important information to drivers such as the speedometer or the vehicle's fuel consumption. According to an alternative implementation, the display system is installed in the central part of the dashboard. One advantage is being able to display information such as the sound to be played or the GPS so that it is visible to all users of the vehicle. According to another implementation alternative, the display system is installed in the passenger side of the dashboard. One advantage is the ability to display information primarily visible to the front passenger of the vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a dashboard as described above. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of example but not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which [Fig.1] is a schematic top view of the front of the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle. [Fig.2] is a schematic view of an axial section of the main embodiment of the invention. [Fig.3] is a view of an axial section of the embodiment of [Fig.2] integrated into a motor vehicle. For the purposes of this description, we will refer to a standard XYZ orthonormal coordinate system commonly used in automotive design, in which the X-axis represents the front-to-rear longitudinal direction of the vehicle, oriented towards the rear; the Y-axis represents the transverse direction and is oriented to the right of the vehicle; and the Z-axis represents the vertical direction and is oriented upwards. The XY plane is horizontal when the vehicle is resting on a horizontal surface. A motor vehicle includes a passenger compartment comprising a front part intended to accommodate the driver of the vehicle and possibly a passenger. This passenger compartment includes a dashboard, installed in the passenger compartment in front of the driver and passenger seats. With reference to [Fig.1], the dashboard 5 extends along a main lateral axis (Y), between the right and left sides of the motor vehicle. This dashboard comprises three distinct parts 6-8: - a driving part 6 mounted opposite the steering wheel 9 and in front of a driver's seat 10. - a central section 7, generally overlooking or incorporating the central console; and, - a passenger part 8 opposite the driving part 6 in relation to the central part 7, generally overhanging or incorporating a glove box, and being in front of the passenger seat 11. With reference to [Fig.3], a display system 1 is mounted in the dashboard 5 at the driving part 6 behind the steering wheel 9. However, the invention is not limited to a display system 1 mounted in the driver's compartment 6, as it can also be mounted in the central compartment 7 or the passenger compartment 8, thus allowing the screens to be used by all occupants of the motor vehicle. The invention can, as described, be adapted so that the system can be mounted in another part of the dashboard. Furthermore, a plurality of display systems according to the invention could be installed in different locations on the dashboard, for example, for the driver and for the passenger. In an alternative embodiment not shown, the display system could also be designed to slide, for example, between a central section of the dashboard and a passenger section located opposite the driver. Indeed, many motor vehicles include display systems, particularly in the central part of the dashboard, such as for installing a GPS or an interface for controlling the music to be played in the passenger compartment. The display system 1 includes a source screen 2 and an optical device 3 adapted to form a remote image 4 of the source screen 2 with reference to figures 2 and 3. A cavity is provided in the dashboard and has at least one opening opposite the steering wheel, substantially in a location equivalent to the usual location of the prior art digital display including the speedometer. The source screen is mounted in said cavity, near an upper edge of the dashboard. In this embodiment, the source screen 2 is inclined relative to the horizontal of the dashboard 5 at an angle 14 approximately equal to 25°. However, the invention is not limited to this precise value but is preferably located between 5° and 25° relative to the horizontal of the dashboard, that is, relative to an XY plane. The source screen 2 is thus generally positioned flat in the upper part of the cavity. This arrangement of the source screen 2 is advantageous because it allows it to be easily located in an upper area of ​​the dashboard that corresponds to the area of ​​the visor above the instrument cluster indicators and extending towards the driver and / or passenger. The arrangement of source screen 2 is such that the displayed image is projected below source screen 2, downwards. According to one particular embodiment of the invention, an upper access panel can be provided in the dashboard to allow access to this source screen for maintenance and intervention, and, if it is removable, to allow it to be removed or installed. In another embodiment of the invention, the screen can be inserted through a slot providing access to the cavity. The optical device is also integrated into this cavity at an oblique angle to the source screen. The cavity will preferably be designed to create a dark space, free from stray light, between the light source screen and the optical device. Thus, apart from the opening opposite the steering wheel, the cavity will preferably be constructed without any other permanent opening allowing the entry of a light source. The source screen 2 and the optical device 3 are thus inclined relative to each other and the offset image 4 is formed on the opposite side to the source screen 2 relative to the optical device 3. In particular, the source screen 2 is preferably inclined relative to the optical device at an angle 12 substantially equal to 45°. However, the invention is not limited to this value; the angle may preferably be between 35° and 55°. The remote image 4 is thus formed by refraction of the light rays emitted by the source screen 2 on the optical device 3. The remote image is inclined relative to the optical device at an angle 13 approximately equal to 45°. However, the invention is not limited to this value, as the inclination may preferably be between 35° and 55°. The source screen 2 and the remote image 4 are located symmetrically with respect to the optical device 3. Such an inclination thus makes it possible to form the remote image 4 in the desired location so that the user can see it when seated in the vehicle, in a manner substantially similar to the digital display known from the prior art. Thus, when the user looks towards the space where the offset image 4 is formed, he will have the impression that the source screen 2 is displayed in that place while the space is empty and it is only the offset image, by a holographic process. The user will therefore have the perception of a larger storage space and a streamlined design. The source screen 2 can be an LCD screen, an LED screen, OLED, or any type of screen known from the prior art, however, having sufficient brightness for the information to be displayed to be reproduced as a remote image. Since the user is not looking directly at the screen but at an image produced from it, the screen does not necessarily need to have a particularly high resolution. Furthermore, since the space between the source screen 2 and the optical device 3 is empty, no stray light interferes with the display of the remote image, so the source screen 2 does not need to be powerful and diffuse a lot of light for the remote image 4 to be visible and readable by the user. One advantage is the ability to use any type of source screen 2, which reduces the production costs of the display system 1 by using a lower resolution source screen 2. In one particular embodiment, the screen is removable and can therefore be moved by the user, in particular via a hatch described previously. In this embodiment, the optical device 3 is a translucent plate which can, for example, be made of glass or polymer material. Such a plate exhibits particular optical properties which are due to the materials used and its manufacturing process. An example of a plate is the one described in document EP2919045 A1 from ASUKANET CO LTD. But the invention is not limited to this specific plate; any optical device that can create a remote image from a source screen can be used.

Claims

Demands

1. Display system (1) intended to be mounted in a dashboard (5) of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a source screen (2), an optical device (3) in the form of a translucent plate adapted for form a remote image (4) of the source screen (2), the source screen (2) and said optical device (3) being inclined to one another by relationship to the other, and, said offset image (4) being formed on the side opposite the source screen (2) relative to the optical device (3).

2. Display system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the source screen (2) is inclined relative to the optical device (3) of a angle (12) between 35° and 55°, preferably of a sen- possibly equal to 45°.

3. Display system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that that the offset image (4) is inclined relative to the optical device (3) of an angle (13) between 35° and 55°, preferably of a angle approximately equal to 45°,

4. Display system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the source screen (2) is removable.

5. Dashboard (5) extending along a principal longitudinal axis comprising three parts: a steering component (6) opposite a steering wheel (9), a central part (7), and, a passenger part (8) opposite the driving part (6) with respect to the central part (7), said dashboard (5) being characterized in that it includes the display system (1) according to claim 1.

6. Dashboard (5) according to claim 5, characterized in that the source screen (2) is tilted relative to the horizontal of the table of edge (5) of an angle (14) between 5° and 25°, preferably of a angle approximately equal to 25°,

7. Dashboard (5) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the display system {1) according to claim 1 is installed in the driving part (6) of the dashboard (5).

8. Dashboard (5) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, ca- characterized in that the display system (1) according to claim 1 is installed in the central part (7) of the dashboard (5).

9. Dashboard (5) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, ca- characterized in that the display system (1) according to claim 1 is installed in the passenger section (8) of the dashboard (5).

10. Motor vehicle comprising a dashboard (5) according to claim- indication 5.