Combined two-plane adjustment

Abstract

Motor vehicle (10) comprising a dashboard (13), a steering column block (14) and a combined display system (20) intended for displaying driving information to a driver of the motor vehicle (10), the combined display system (20) comprising a first display device (22) located on the dashboard (13), the combined display system (20) further comprising a second display device (24) located on the steering column block (14) and comprising a display panel (240), the combined display system (20) admitting an off state in which: - the first display device (22) and the second display device (24) are off, - the first display device (22) is visible through the display panel (240) of the second display device (24) to a driver (11) located in the driver's seat (12) of the vehicle. Figure from the summary: Fig.1

Description

Title of the invention: Combined two-plane adjustment

[0001] The invention relates to a driving information display system comprising an instrument panel type display device in a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the image on such a driving information display system.

[0002] Dashboards are used to display driving information for the driver: speed, odometer, fuel level, etc. Such dashboards can be analog (such as a needle dial) and / or digital (such as an LED screen).

[0003] Conventionally, the instrument panel comprises a screen (possibly several) arranged on the front of the dashboard, in particular behind the steering wheel, in the field of vision of the driver of the vehicle.

[0004] In some more recent vehicles, the instrument panel screen is no longer located on the dashboard, but directly on the steering column. Current screen technologies (TFT and OLED) allow very good quality images to be displayed. However, when it is switched off, the instrument panel screen has the disadvantage of appearing as a completely opaque black surface. This is not very attractive when the vehicle is not in operation.

[0005] One of the objectives of the invention is to propose an alternative to the driving information display systems of the prior art. This alternative must resolve the lack of aesthetics of the design in which the instrument panel is arranged on the steering column.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the invention proposes a motor vehicle comprising a dashboard, a steering column unit and a combined display system intended for displaying driving information for a driver of the motor vehicle, the combined display system comprising a display device, the display device being installed on the dashboard.

[0007] In the motor vehicle, the display device is a first display device, the combined display system also comprising a second display device, the second display device being installed on the steering column block and comprising a display wall, the combined display system admitting an off state in which: - the first display device and the second display device are turned off, and, - the first display device is visible through the display wall of the second display device for a driver installed in the driver's seat of the motor vehicle.

[0008] Advantageously, the motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a combined display system in which one display device is visible through another. This solution makes it possible to offer improved aesthetics in the absence of an opaque screen masking an element of the dashboard in an off state of the combined display system.

[0009] According to an advantageous embodiment, in the motor vehicle, the combined display system has an illuminated state in which: - the first display device and the second display device are turned on, and, - the second display device has in its display wall at least one content display area, called the front content display area, and at least one transparent area, the first display device being at least partially visible through the transparent area for the driver installed in the driver's seat of the motor vehicle.

[0010] The overlay of content on two levels thus offers a very good user experience.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, in the motor vehicle, the first display device and the second display device overlap at least partially in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, in the motor vehicle, the second display device is adjustable relative to the dashboard in rotation about an axis extending in a lateral direction, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. This second display device can also be adjustable in a longitudinal direction along the axis of the steering column.

[0013] The invention also relates to a method for adjusting the vertical position of a display area on the first display device of the combined display system of the motor vehicle, the adjustment method comprising: - a step of detecting at least one predefined adjustment parameter associated with a display on the first display device; - a step of determining the position h in height of an activated zone on the first display device; - a step of displaying on the first display device content in the activated area.

[0014] In the context of the two-level overlay of the display of content for the driver, there is a risk that content displayed on the first display device (i.e., the rear display device) is masked by a part of a content displayed on the second display device (i.e., the front display device). Understanding the information contained in the displayed content may then be hampered. Such an adjustment method thus makes it possible to resolve the parallax linked to the spacing of the display devices. This optimizes the comfort of use for the driver.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, in the adjustment method, the at least one adjustment parameter is chosen from a position at the height of the driver's eyes, an angular position of the steering column block around the transverse axis; a vertical position of the second display device relative to the first display device; an angular position of a backrest and / or a seat of the driver's seat.

[0016] The invention will be further detailed by the description of non-limiting embodiments, and on the basis of the appended figures illustrating variants of the invention, in which:

[0017] Figure [Fig.l] schematically illustrates in side view a driving position of a motor vehicle, provided with a combined display system, comprising two display devices, as well as the location of the contents that a driver can see depending on the position he occupies in the vehicle;

[0018] Figure [Fig.2] schematically illustrates in side view an example of distribution of the contents visible to the driver on the display devices of the combined display system in the highest position of the steering column block;

[0019] Figure [Fig.3] schematically illustrates in side view an example of distribution of the contents visible to the driver on the display devices of the combined display system in the lowest position of the steering column block.

[0020] Figure [Fig.4] schematically illustrates in front view an example of distribution of contents on the screens of the combined display system, by the driver, in an example of configuration of the display system;

[0021] Figure [Fig.5] schematically illustrates in front view an activated area on which content is displayed, on an activatable area of ​​a display device of the combined display system, as visible to the driver;

[0022] Figure [Fig.6] is a flowchart illustrating a method of adjusting the position of content visible to a driver on a display device of the combined display system.

[0023] A vehicle 10, here a motor vehicle, is illustrated schematically in [Fig. 1]. The vehicle 10 comprises a combined display system 20, certain technical characteristics of which are described with reference to [Fig. 2] to 5.

[0024] In the attached figures, the arrows referenced AV, AR, H, B, G, D refer respectively to directions towards the front, the rear, the top, the bottom, the left and the right from the point of view of a driver 11 seated in a driver's seat 12 in a confi normal driving configuration. The forward direction, i.e. the AV arrow, then designates the direction in which the vehicle 10 is traveling in a straight line, forward.

[0025] The motor vehicle 10 comprises a dashboard 13 and a steering column unit 14 ([Fig.l]).

[0026] The steering column unit 14 comprises a steering column body 15 and a steering wheel 16. The steering column unit 14 is mounted in the vehicle 10 in the rearward direction, i.e. towards the driver 11 when the latter is seated on said driver's seat. The steering column body 15 houses a steering shaft (not shown). The steering wheel 16 is mounted on the steering column body 15 at the end facing the driver's seat 12, i.e. towards the driver 11.

[0027] The combined display system 20 comprises display devices, namely at least a first display device 22 and a second display device 24, hereinafter referred to as first and second display devices 22 and 24 respectively for the sake of simplicity.

[0028] The first display device 22 is installed on the dashboard 13. Generally, the first display device 22 is turned towards the driver 11 and / or the driver's seat 12. The first display device 22 is for example arranged on the front of the dashboard 13. The first display device 22 faces the driver 11 and / or the driver's seat 12. Thus, the driver 11 is able to consult the content while driving.

[0029] The second display device 24 is installed, i.e. fixed, on the steering column block 14, preferably on the steering column body 15.

[0030] Generally, the first display device 22 and the second display device 24 are arranged one behind the other in a front-rear direction (i.e. in the direction of the arrows AV-AR). The second display device 24 is arranged between the first display device 22 and the driver's seat 12.

[0031] The combined display system 20 admits at least two states: - an off state, in which the first display device 22 and the second display device 24 are off, i.e. not supplied with energy; - an on state, in which the first display device 22 and the second display device 24 are on, i.e. supplied with energy and suitable for displaying content.

[0032] In the switched-off state of the combined display system 20, the display wall 240 is preferably transparent. The first display device 22 is then at least partially visible through the display wall 240.

[0033] The first display device 22 and the second display device 24 are configured to provide in combination with each other, in the switched-on state of the combined display system 20, a two-level content display. From the point of view of the conductor 11, the two levels are formed on the one hand by the second display device 24 in the foreground (i.e. on the display wall 240), and on the other hand by the first display device 22 in the background.

[0034] For this purpose, in the switched-on state of the combined display system 20 (see [Fig.l]): - the second display device 24 is configured to display at least one front content display area, such as 24a or 24b in [Fig.l], or 24a, 24b1 and 24b2 in [Fig.4], and at least one transparent area 25; - the first display device 22 is configured to display at least one rear content display area, such as 30 or 31.

[0035] The rear content display area 30 or 31 is visible to the driver 11 through the transparent area 25. In other words, the transparent area 25 allows the driver 11 to see the rear content display area 30 or 31.

[0036] In the example illustrated in [Fig.l], the second display device 24 is configured to have two content display areas 24a and 24b, here respectively an upper content display area 24a and a lower content display area 24b. In this example, the transparent area 25 is then arranged between the upper and lower content display areas 24a and 24b.

[0037] In [Fig.l], the eyes of the driver 11 are illustrated by way of example in two positions A and B. Depending on his position, A or B, the driver 11 perceives a respective rear content display area 30 or 31. Thus, the position of the rear content display area 30 or 31 depends on the position of the driver 11. The content visible to the driver 11 is then a combination of the content display areas 24a and 24b and the rear content display area 30 or 31 corresponding to the respective position A or B of the eyes of the driver 11.

[0038] The second display device 24 and / or the steering column block 14 are, moreover, adjustable in rotation about a transverse axis R. The transverse axis R is transverse to a front-rear direction of the vehicle ([Fig.l] to 3). In another embodiment, the second display device 24 is also adjustable in a longitudinal direction along the axis of the steering column.

[0039] In [Fig.2], the second display device 24 or, equivalently, the steering column block 14 is thus illustrated in the highest position that it admits after adjustment in rotation about the transverse axis R. The content display zone 32 illustrated is thus arranged at the top of the first display device 22.

[0040] Similarly, in [Fig. 3], the steering column block 14 (or, equivalently, the second display device 24) is illustrated in the lowest position that it admits after adjustment in rotation about the transverse axis R. The illustrated content display area 33 is thus arranged at the bottom of the first display device 22.

[0041] [Fig.4] shows a variant of distribution of contents visible on the devices display devices 22 and 24 of the combined display system 20, in particular from the point of view of the driver 11 installed in the driver's seat 12. In order to facilitate understanding of [Fig. 4], the contours of the elements relating to the first display device 22 are illustrated in bold lines, and the contours of the elements relating to the second display device 24, comprising the display wall 240, are in dotted lines.

[0042] The second display device 24 and its display wall 240 are thus visible in the foreground (i.e. closest to the driver 11), while the first display device 22 is visible in the background.

[0043] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 4], in the switched-on state of the combined display system 20, the display wall 240 comprises the transparent area 25 (already described with reference to [Fig. 1]) and three content display areas 24a, 24b 1 and 24b2. By analogy with [Fig. 1], the content display area 24a is an upper content display area. Similarly, the content display areas 24b 1 and 24b2, arranged here side by side, are lower content display areas. The transparent area 25 is interposed between the content display area 24a, on the one hand, and the content display areas 24b 1 and 24b2, on the other hand.

[0044] In this example, the first display device 22 has the content display area 30. As can be seen from [Fig. 4], the content display area 30 is visible, for the driver 11, by transparency through the transparent area 25 of the second display device 24.

[0045] [Fig.5] shows the possibilities of displaying content on the first device display 22. In particular, the first display device 22 comprises an activatable zone 40. The activatable zone 40 is an area provided with electronic elements (for example diodes, such as OLEDs, without limitation) capable of being activated to form an activated zone 50. The activated zone 50 can thus be one of the rear content display zones 30 or 31 mentioned above with reference to [Fig.l].

[0046] In the height direction of the first display device 22, the activatable zone 40 extends over a first length 41, while the activated zone 50 extends over a second length 51, less than the first length 4L. Thus, the position of the activated zone 50 can be moved, digitally, as desired in height over the extent of the first length 4L.

[0047] Thus, the activatable zone 40 may have at least one inactive zone. In [Fig.5], the activatable zone 40 has an upper inactive zone 53 and an upper inactive zone 54.

[0048] In the example illustrated in [Fig.5], the activatable zone 40 and the activated zone 50 have, without limitation, a first width 42 and a second width 52 that are identical. The activated zone 50 then extends over the entire width of the activatable zone 40.

[0049] In a variant not illustrated, the activated zone 50 may have a second width 52 less than the first width 42 of the activatable zone 40. In other words, the activated zone may then not extend over the entire width of the activatable zone. The activatable zone 40 may then have left and right inactive zones not illustrated.

[0050] A method 100 for adjusting the position of the activated zone 50 in the aforementioned vehicle 10 is now described with reference to [Fig.6].

[0051] The adjustment method 100 may comprise the following steps: - a step E1 10 of detecting at least one predefined adjustment parameter 111-114 associated with a display on the first display device; - a step El20 of determining the position h in height of the activated zone 50 on the first display device 22; - a display step El30 on the first display device 22 of the content in the activated zone 50.

[0052] The adjustment parameters 111 to 114 may be, without limitation: a height position 111 of the eyes of the driver 11, such as the positions A and B illustrated in [Fig.l]; an angular position 112 of the steering column block 14 around the transverse axis R; a vertical position 113 of the second display device 24 relative to the first display device 22; an angular position of a backrest and / or a seat 114 of the driver's seat.

[0053] As a variant or in combination of the embodiments described above, the position of the activated zone 50 in the vehicle 10 can be done manually with an adjustment button provided on the driver's position.

Claims

Claims

1. A motor vehicle (10) comprising a dashboard (13), a steering column unit (14) and a combined display system (20) for displaying driving information to a driver of the motor vehicle (10), the combined display system (20) comprising a display device (22), the display device (22) being located on the dashboard (13), characterized in that the display device (22) is a first display device (22), the combined display system (20) also comprising a second display device (24), the second display device (24) being located on the steering column unit (14) and comprising a display wall (240), the combined display system (20) having an off state in which: - the first display device (22) and the second display device (24) are off,- the first display device (22) is visible through the display wall (240) of the second display device (24) for a driver (11) installed in the driver's seat (12) of the motor vehicle (10).,

2. Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the combined display system (20) has an on state in which: - the first display device (22) and the second display device (24) are on, and, - the second display device (24) has in its display wall (240) at least one content display area (24a, 24b), called the front content display area, and at least one transparent area (25), the first display device (22) being at least partially visible through the transparent area (25) for the driver (11) installed in the driver's seat (12) of the motor vehicle (11).

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first display device (22) and the second display device (24) overlap at least partially in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle (10).

4. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second display device (24) is adjustable relative to the dashboard (13) in rotation about an axis extending in a lateral direction, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle (10).

5. Method for adjusting (100) the vertical position of a display area (30, 31; 50) on the first display device (22) of the combined display system (20) of the motor vehicle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the adjustment method (100) comprising: - a step of detecting (El 10) at least one predefined adjustment parameter (111, 112, 113, 114) associated with a display on the first display device; - a step of determining (E120) the height position h of an activated area (50) on the first display device (22); - a step of displaying (E130) on the first display device (22) a content in the activated area (50).

6. Adjustment method (100) according to claim 5 in which the vehicle is according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one adjustment parameter (111, 112, 113, 114) is chosen from a height position (A, B; 111) of the eyes of the driver (11), an angular position (112) of the steering column block (14) around the transverse axis (R); a vertical position (113) of the second display device (24) relative to the first display device (22); an angular position of a backrest and / or a seat (114) of the driver's seat.

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