Mobile screen device for motor vehicles, and motor vehicles comprising at least one such screen

Abstract

A mobile display device for a motor vehicle, comprising a flexible display screen guided between a maximum display position and a reduced display position, said screen forming a fold between a display portion extending in a display plane and a retractable portion extending in a retractable plane substantially perpendicular to said display plane, and actuation means controlling the sliding of said display screen along said display and retractable planes, between said maximum display position and said reduced display position, a transition from said maximum display position to said reduced display position being achieved by increasing the portion of the screen located in said retractable plane, and vice versa. Abbreviated figure: Figure 10

Description

Title of the invention: Movable screen device for motor vehicles, and motor vehicles comprising at least one such screen. 1. Scope of the invention

[0001] The field of the invention is that of motor vehicle equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to the implementation of display screens in an optimized and ergonomic manner in such vehicles. 2. Prior art

[0002] The use of screens in motor vehicles has been known for many years. In particular, there are display screens mounted on the dashboard, especially in a central position, to display GPS maps and various other types of information, such as vehicle settings (sound system, air conditioning, etc.). Often, these screens resemble tablets, attached to the dashboard, with an aesthetically less than perfect appearance and a relatively small size.

[0003] Dashboards in the form of a screen are also known, the content of which can be adapted to the driver's needs.

[0004] However, these screens are limited in size and are not completely adaptable to users' needs.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a new approach to the implementation of screens in vehicles, particularly on dashboards, to offer more comfort and settings for users, while also allowing the development of original ergonomics and presentation in terms of design. 3. Summary of the invention

[0006] To this end, the invention proposes a mobile screen device for motor vehicles, comprising a flexible display screen guided between a maximum display position and a reduced display position, said screen forming a fold between a display portion extending in a display plane and a retractable portion extending in a retractable plane substantially perpendicular to said display plane, and actuation means controlling a sliding of said display screen along said display and retractable planes, between said maximum display position and said reduced display position, a passage from said maximum display position to said reduced display position being obtained by an increase in the portion of the screen located in said retractable plane, and vice versa.

[0007] Thus, according to the invention, a flexible screen is used that can be moved, particularly in height, so as to adapt the height, and in particular the usable height. (the part on which information is displayed, intended for the driver and / or passenger). In the retracted position, the usable area is reduced. In the maximum display position, this usable area is at its maximum.

[0008] The screen mounting, extending in two planes, allows for simple and efficient implementation, suitable for a motor vehicle.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment, said sliding of said screen simultaneously causes a translational displacement of said fold along said retraction plane, a first end of said screen, in said retraction plane, being fixed.

[0010] Thus, the fold is mobile, meaning that it moves within the translation plane, and consequently across the width of the screen. Indeed, the end of the screen remaining in the retraction plane can remain fixed. It forms a fixed anchor point in the dashboard, ensuring proper operation and reliability of the assembly, and in particular of the electrical connections, which are therefore fixed.

[0011] In other words, from the driver's point of view, the screen has a double movement: when it is retracted, its height decreases as it moves away (i.e., moves towards the front of the vehicle), and vice versa.

[0012] According to a particular aspect, said fold defines an angle slightly less than 90°, for example 85°.

[0013] The inventors have indeed determined that, in order to obtain efficient and reliable operation over time, it is advantageous for this angle to be slightly less than 90°, and not 90° or significantly more open.

[0014] According to another particular aspect, it appears interesting that said fold has a radius of at least 25 mm.

[0015] A radius of 25 mm, in particular, allows for proper operation.

[0016] According to a particular aspect, an upper part of said screen, remaining in said display plane in said reduced display position, comprises a rigid frame surrounding the upper part and the lateral edges of said upper part.

[0017] In order to ensure effective guidance, said screen carries, according to a particular embodiment, at least at the level of said fold, on each of its sides, a guide chain.

[0018] Several approaches can of course be considered to control the movement of this screen. According to one embodiment, said actuation means comprise an inclined support, fixed to a part of said screen, forming for example an angle of the order of 135° with said display plane, and guided in translation along a guide rail.

[0019] According to a first approach, said mobile screen device forms part of a dashboard of said vehicle.

[0020] According to a second approach, said mobile screen device is deployed from the roof of said vehicle. This can notably allow rear seat passengers to have their own screen if needed.

[0021] According to a particular aspect, said screen extends over most of the interior width of said vehicle. In particular, when it is a dashboard, it can provide a large display area, which may be configurable, for both the driver and the passenger.

[0022] According to another particular aspect, the device of the invention cooperates with data processing means, adapting the format and / or content of the data displayed on said screen, according to the maximum display position or the reduced display position of the latter.

[0023] The invention also relates to motor vehicles implementing at least one movable screen device as described above. 4. List of Figures

[0024] The proposed technique, as well as its various advantages, will be more easily understood in light of the following description of an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment thereof, and the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0025] [Fig-1]: [Fig.1] illustrates an example of an implementation of the invention, in the form of a vehicle's dashboard;

[0026] [Fig.2A], [Fig.2B]: Figures 2A and 2B schematically illustrate the display on the screen of [Fig.1], in maximum display position and in reduced display position;

[0027] [Fig.3A], [Fig.3B], [Fig.3C], [Fig.3D]: Figures 3A to 3D illustrate the screen of the [Fig. 1] three-quarters view, respectively in:

[0028] - [Fig.3A]: a maximum display position;

[0029] - [Fig.3B]: an intermediate display position;

[0030] - [Fig.3C]: a reduced display position;

[0031] - [Fig.3D]: a superposition of all 8 possible display positions;

[0032] [Fig.4A], [Fig.4B]: Figures 4A and 4B show the screen of [Fig.1] seen from the front, respectively in maximum display position and in reduced display position;

[0033] [Fig.5A], [Fig.5B]: Figures 5A and 5B show the screen of [Fig.1] seen from the side, respectively in maximum display position and in reduced display position;

[0034] [Fig.6A], [Fig.6B]: Figures 6A and 6B show the screen of [Fig.1] seen from behind, respectively in maximum display position and in reduced display position;

[0035] [Fig.7] : [Fig.7] illustrates part of the elements of the device, in exploded view;

[0036] [Fig.8]: [Fig.8] illustrates part of the means of driving the device, in exploded;

[0037] [Fig.9A], [Fig.9B]: Figures 9A and 9B show the training means of the [Fig.8], side view, respectively in maximum display position and in position reduced display;

[0038] [Fig. 10]: [Fig. 10] illustrates certain characteristic dimensions of the screen of the [Fig.l];

[0039] [Fig. 11]: [Fig. 11] illustrates a variant implementation of the invention, the screen being installed in the roof so as to be visible to rear passengers;

[0040] [Fig.12A], [Fig.12B]: Figures 12A and 12B show the screen of [Fig.11], seen from three-quarters, respectively in maximum display position and in reduced display position. 5. Detailed description of the invention

[0041] Subsequently, the same elements were designated by the same references on the different figures.

[0042] 5.1 application to a dashboard

[0043] As mentioned previously, the invention can in particular be implemented to form a dashboard for a vehicle. As illustrated in the example in [Fig. 1], the dashboard can be formed from a screen 11, extending over most of the width of the dashboard.

[0044] In this example of implementation, the display on this screen is organized into several display areas 111, which are advantageously programmable and configurable, for example using controls on the steering wheel (12), the central pillars (13) or a central portion (14).

[0045] According to the invention, the display area can vary. Consequently, data processing means manage the display: as illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the display areas 111 vary in height, and the format and / or content of the data are adapted accordingly.

[0046] The screen 11 is, according to the invention, a flexible screen, extending along two planes, a display plane PA and a retractable plane PE, as illustrated in Figures 3A to 3D. The screen therefore has a fold 31, which moves along the width of the screen when the latter is moved.

[0047] These figures illustrate:

[0048] - [Fig.3A]: a maximum display position;

[0049] - [Fig.3B]: an intermediate display position;

[0050] - [Fig.3C]: a reduced display position;

[0051] - [Fig.3D]: a superposition of all possible display positions.

[0052] In the illustrated embodiment, 8 positions are proposed. This number can of course vary depending on the implementation.

[0053] This therefore allows the display area 41 to be varied, as also appears, seen from the front, between the maximum display position ([Fig.4A]) and reduced ([Fig.4B]).

[0054] According to the illustrated embodiment, and as shown in particular in the side views of Figures 5A and 5B, the end 51 of the screen remaining in the retractable plane is fixed relative to the vehicle. This end 51 provides all the electrical connections between the screen and the processing means delivering the data to be displayed, as well as the power supply. These connections are thus fixed, and not mobile, which ensures good efficiency and reliability of the connections.

[0055] It is understood that, as a result, the fold of the screen is mobile, or variable, and moves along the retraction plane. This is particularly visible in [Fig. 10].

[0056] As illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B, which are rear views, the screen 11 is carried by a support 61, connected to a rear upper portion of the screen, which allows the movement to be transmitted, as specified later.

[0057] The main constituent elements of the device of the invention are illustrated in [Fig. 7]. This includes the flexible screen 72 itself, covered with a flexible protective glass 71. A frame 73 is attached to the upper part of the screen 72 and its protective glass 71. A seal 74 is placed on each side of the screen 72, at the fold, which also carries, on each side, a chain 75, ensuring guidance at the fold.

[0058] The upper part of the screen is finally housed in a casing 76, which is attached to the support 61 so that it can be moved. In this embodiment, and as illustrated in [Fig. 8] and Figures 9A and 9B, the internal structure 81 of the dashboard notably carries a motor 82 driving a cable 83 connected to a carriage 91 that slides between a high position ([Fig. 9A]) corresponding to the maximum display position and a low position ([Fig. 9B]) corresponding to the reduced display position. This carriage 91 is guided at an angle A1 of approximately 45° (for example, 43°, [Fig. 10]) with the retracting plane, so that its movement causes the fold 31 to move forward in the vehicle simultaneously with the transition from the maximum display position to the reduced display position, and vice versa.

[0059] This double displacement of the fold 31 appears clearly on the [Fig. 10], which shows superimposed, seen from the side, the maximum display position PAM and the reduced display position PAR.

[0060] As previously stated, the connection end 51 of the screen 11, located in the retractable plane PE, is fixed. Thus, when moving from the PAM position to the PAR position, the display height decreases (arrow Fl), as the screen slides along the fold 31. At the same time, this fold 31 moves towards the front of the vehicle (arrow F2), and the portion of the screen located in the retractable plane PE increases, over a distance DI of 68 mm in the illustrated example. This movement is controlled by the sliding of the carriage 91 (arrow F3), here over a distance D2 of 100 mm.

[0061] This allows the display portion to be moved from H1 = 160 mm to a height H2 = 8 mm.

[0062] To ensure efficient and reliable movement of the screen, at the level of the fold 31, the inventors identified that it was desirable that the angle A2 formed between the retracting plane PE and the display plane PA be slightly less than 90°, and is here in particular 85°.

[0063] Moreover, the fold preferentially has a radius of at least 25 mm (here exactly 25 mm).

[0064] 5.2 application to a canopy screen

[0065] Such a retractable screen can also be implemented as a roof screen, intended in particular for rear seat passengers, as illustrated in [Fig.11].

[0066] In this case, the screen 101 is also movable between a maximum display position PAM and a reduced display position PAR. The retractable plane PE extends substantially in the plane of the roof, and the display plane PA forms a slight angle with the vertical, so as to ensure comfortable viewing, regardless of the position of the seats (arrow F5: rearward position of the seat; arrow F6: forward position of the seat).

[0067] This allows rear-seat passengers to have a screen 101 deployed for maximum display ([Fig. 12A]) or a screen 101 reduced for a smaller display ([Fig. 12B]). This screen can offer a duplication of the instrument panel screen and / or dedicated displays, selected by the passengers.

Claims

Demands

1. A mobile display screen device for a motor vehicle, comprising a flexible display screen (11) guided between a maximum display position (MDP) and a reduced display position (RDP), said screen forming a fold (31) between a display portion extending in a display plane (DP) and a retractable portion extending in a retractable plane (RP) substantially perpendicular to said display plane (DP), characterized in that it comprises actuating means (61) controlling a translational displacement of said fold (31) along said retractable plane (RP), over the width of the screen, a first end of said screen, in said retractable plane (RP), being fixed, so as to allow sliding of said display screen along said display and retractable planes, between said maximum display position and said reduced display position,a transition from said maximum display position to said reduced display position being achieved by increasing the portion of the screen located in said retractable plane and moving said display portion towards the front of the vehicle, and vice versa.

2. A movable screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that said fold defines an angle slightly less than 90°, for example 85°.

3. A movable screen device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said fold has a radius of at least 25 mm

4. 111111. Movable screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an upper part of said screen, remaining in said display plane in said reduced display position, comprises a rigid frame surrounding the upper part and the lateral edges of said upper part.

5. Movable screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said screen carries, at least at said fold, on each of its sides, a guide chain.

6. A movable screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said actuation means comprise an inclined support, attached to a part of said screen, forming an angle of approximately 135° with said display plane, and guided in translation along a guide rail.

7. Movable screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said screen forms at least part of a dashboard of said vehicle.

8. Mobile screen device according to claim 1, characterized in that said screen deploys from the roof of said vehicle.

9. A movable screen device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said screen extends over the essential part of the interior width of said vehicle.

10. A movable screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it cooperates with data processing means, adapting the format and / or content of the data displayed on said screen, according to the maximum display position or the reduced display position thereof.

11. Motor vehicle implementing at least one movable screen device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. Motor vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that said movable screen forms at least a part of the dashboard.

Images