Motor vehicle

Abstract

To reduce or even eliminate a center display while ensuring that an occupant of a motor vehicle can use attached information.SOLUTION: A motor vehicle (1) is described, the motor vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment; a dashboard (25) arranged within the passenger compartment and defining boundaries of the passenger compartment at the front with reference to a normal forward moving direction of the motor vehicle (1) itself; a windshield (5) defining boundaries of the passenger compartment and contiguous with the dashboard (25); and a head-up display configured to project at least a first image (29) containing an item of information accessory to driving of the motor vehicle (1) on a first region (19) of the windshield (5). The head-up display comprises a projection unit (32) housed in a second region (26) of the dashboard (25), and the first region (19) is defined by the windshield (5).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102022000012155, filed June 8, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] The present invention relates to automobiles. [Background technology]

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art Motor vehicles are known that include a body defining a passenger compartment and a power unit.

[0004] The passenger compartment further comprises at least a pair of front seats and is bounded at the front by a dashboard and a windshield located forward of the front seats relative to the normal direction of forward movement of the vehicle.

[0005] In a known manner, one of the front seats defines the driver's seat.

[0006] The dashboard is arranged in a known manner in front of the driver's seat and includes an instrument panel intended to provide the driver with information necessary for driving.

[0007] More specifically, the instrument panel comprises, for example, a speedometer indicating the instantaneous speed of the vehicle, and a tachometer indicating the number of revolutions of the drive shaft of the power unit.

[0008] The instrument panel, in some embodiments, also includes a fuel level indicator, a power unit coolant temperature indicator, a clock, and an odometer.

[0009] Furthermore, the dashboard comprises a central part that houses a centre display distinct from the instrument panel and is adapted to display to the occupants ancillary information that is not necessary for driving, such as information provided by satellite navigation, information about the connection and use of a mobile phone, or information about the playback of audiovisual content in the vehicle cabin.

[0010] Motor vehicles are equipped in a known manner with auxiliary head-up displays.

[0011] Known types of head-up displays are adapted to display auxiliary virtual images that represent quantitative characteristics of the state of the vehicle itself.

[0012] More precisely, in geometrical optics, optical systems, such as the human eye, are known that are capable of forming real or virtual images that represent objects.

[0013] More specifically, the object emits or scatters a beam of light in all directions.

[0014] An optical system is formed by a number of reflectors and reflective surfaces that are able to deflect the rays of a light beam coming from a point on an object onto a point on a real or virtual image.

[0015] In doing so, the optical system determines the association between each point of the object and a corresponding point in the real or virtual image.

[0016] In particular, each point on an object emits a diverging beam of light from itself.

[0017] An optical system changes a diverging beam of light from a point on an object into another beam that may be converging or diverging.

[0018] An optical system produces a real image of an object when the rays emanating from the optical system associated with each point on the object actually intersect at the corresponding point in the image.

[0019] Otherwise, when the extensions of the rays emanating from the optical system associated with each point on the object intersect at a point on the image, the optical system produces a virtual image of the object.

[0020] Furthermore, known types of head-up displays include: - a processing unit, a projection unit controlled by the processing unit and adapted to generate a light beam; and - A number of mirrors arranged to reflect a light beam onto the windshield Equipped with.

[0021] The windshield deflects the light beam.

[0022] In a known type of solution, the mirror and the windshield form an optical system arranged to form a virtual image outside the windshield at a non-zero distance from the windshield itself.

[0023] There is a need in the art to reduce or even eliminate the center display while ensuring that the aforementioned ancillary information is available to vehicle occupants.

[0024] Furthermore, there is a need in the art to have such ancillary information available at all locations within the vehicle cabin without parallax effects.

[0025] There is also a recognized need in the art to make such ancillary information available only when actually needed.

[0026] There is also a recognized need in the art to allow the vehicle occupant to select the aforementioned information that is displayed.

[0027] There is also a recognized need in the art for maximum flexibility in designing the geometry of the central dashboard portion.

[0028] It is further recognized in the art that there is a need to provide vehicle occupants with access to auxiliary information tailored to the vehicle's intended use, particularly for luxury vehicles intended for both traditional urban / suburban use and track racing use.

[0029] Finally, there is also a need in the art to make this ancillary information available to vehicle occupants even when the vehicle occupants are wearing polarized eyewear. Summary of the Invention

[0030] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle that is able to meet at least one of the above-mentioned needs.

[0031] The above object is achieved by the present invention as it relates to a motor vehicle according to what is defined by claim 1. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] In order that the invention may be better understood, a description of two preferred embodiments will now be given, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a motor vehicle realized in accordance with the provisions of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a view of the front passenger compartment of the motor vehicle of FIG. 1 in a first operating position with parts removed for clarity; [Figure 3] 3 shows the front portion of FIG. 2 in a second operating position with parts removed for clarity; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] With reference to FIG. 1, 1 indicates a motor vehicle comprising a body 2 defining a passenger compartment 3, and a power unit 4 (shown only diagrammatically in FIG. 1).

[0035] Car 1 is a luxury automobile intended for both traditional urban / suburban use and track racing use.

[0036] It should be noted that in the remainder of this specification, terms such as "upward", "downward", "forward", "rearward" and the like are used with reference to the condition being the normal forward direction of the vehicle 1.

[0037] Car 1 further includes: - a windshield 5, which delimits the passenger compartment 3 at the front; - a seat back (not shown), which delimits the passenger compartment 3 at the rear, - a roof 7, which defines the upper boundary of the passenger compartment 3, and a pair of doors 8 hinged to the body 2, defining the lateral boundaries of the compartment 3 and movable between a closed position preventing access to the compartment 3 and an open position allowing access to the compartment 3; Equipped with.

[0038] You can also define the following: - a longitudinal axis X integral with the vehicle 1, which, in use, is arranged horizontally and parallel to the normal direction of travel of the vehicle 1, - a lateral axis Y, which, in use, is horizontally disposed, transverse to and perpendicular to the axis X and integral with the vehicle 1, and - an axis Z, integral with the vehicle 1, which, in use, is arranged perpendicular to and orthogonal to the axes X and Y;

[0039] More specifically, the windshield 5 further comprises: a chassis 10 comprising a frame 11 delimiting an opening 12, and - a front glazing 16 engaged with the opening 12, supported by the frame 11 and positioned forward, relative to the normal forward direction parallel to the direction X; Equipped with.

[0040] More specifically, the frame 11 is rectangular in shape, - a pair of upper and lower cross members 13a, 13b facing each other; a pair of side pillars 14, 15 facing each other and extending across the respective ends of the cross members 13a, 13b; Equipped with.

[0041] The cross members 13a, 13b have a generally extending portion parallel to the axis Y.

[0042] The cross member 13a is disposed rearward of the cross member 13b.

[0043] Car 1 further includes: a pair of front seats 21, 22 accommodated in the passenger compartment 3; - a dashboard 25 located below the windshield 5 and in front of the seats 21, 22 Equipped with.

[0044] In particular, the seat 21 defines the driver's seat, and the motor vehicle 1 is provided with a steering wheel 24 that projects from a dashboard 25 towards the seat 21 .

[0045] The dashboard 25 includes an edge region adjacent the glazing 16, known in the art as a "valence panel."

[0046] Region 26 is curved as shown.

[0047] The vehicle 1 further comprises a head-up display 30 configured to display a plurality of virtual images 29 , 51 , 52 on the area 19 .

[0048] The virtual image is an image having points corresponding to the extensions of the light rays generated by the head-up display 30.

[0049] Advantageously, the head-up display 30 comprises a projection unit 32 housed in the area 26 of the dashboard 25, the area 19 being defined by the windscreen 5 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0050] In other words, the head-up display 30 forms the images 29, 51, 52 on the area 19 of the windshield 5 itself, and therefore the images 29, 51, 52 are located at zero distance from the windshield 5 itself.

[0051] In particular, the images 29, 51, 52 are formed in the area 19 itself, rather than simply being reflected from the area 19, i.e., the images are precisely focused on the area 19 of the windscreen 5.

[0052] The projection unit 32 is optically aimed at the area 19 and is adapted to project a light beam onto the windscreen 5 .

[0053] Area 19 is transparent.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the head-up display 30 further includes: a processing unit 31 programmed to control the projection unit 32, and - an operating means 33 (shown only diagrammatically), e.g. a knob or audio receiver, operatively connected to the processing unit 31 and selectively operable to activate / deactivate the projection unit 32; Equipped with.

[0055] More specifically, the processing unit 31 is programmed to cause the projection unit 32 to form images 29, 51, 52 having selectable characteristics based on the preferences of the occupants of the vehicle 1 and based on the use of the vehicle 1 on the road or track.

[0056] The head-up display 30 further includes a polarizing film 60 attached onto the projection unit 32 .

[0057] This film 60 allows, among other things, images 29, 51, 52 to be visible even when wearing polarized glasses.

[0058] The dashboard 25 extends between the pillars 14,15.

[0059] Preferably, the region 26 is located in a central region of the dashboard 25, equidistant from the pillars 14,15.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, the dashboard 25 defines a compartment 70 for housing the projection unit 32 .

[0061] The dashboard 25 is operated by the operating means 33. a first position (FIG. 2) in which it is pulled out from the seat 61 of the dashboard 25 itself and completely covers the compartment 70, so as to be interposed between the projection unit 32 and the area 19 of the windshield 5; and a second position (FIG. 3) in which it is housed within the seat 61 of the dashboard 25 itself, leaving the compartment 70 uncovered so that the projection unit 32 remains facing the area 19 of the windshield 5; a cover element 65 selectively movable between

[0062] The processing unit 31 is programmed to move the cover element 65 between the aforementioned first and second positions according to the actuation of the operating means 33 .

[0063] In particular, the cover element 65 is slidable between the first and second positions described above.

[0064] Compartment 70 is located below region 26 .

[0065] Furthermore, glazing 16 is a pair of lateral regions 41a, 41b adjacent to the pillars 14, 15, respectively, and a central region 42 interposed between the regions 41a, 41b and defining the region 26; Equipped with.

[0066] In particular, area 41 a is located in front of seat 21 and area 41 b is located in front of seat 22 .

[0067] Images 29, 51, and 52 relate to supplementary information that is not necessary for driving, different from the information described above.

[0068] For example, the image 29 relates to information provided by satellite navigation, information about connectivity and mobile phone use, or information about audiovisual content reproduction inside the vehicle cabin.

[0069] The processing unit 31 is programmed to place the cover element 65 in the second position and to control the projection of the image 29 upon activation request by a passenger of the motor vehicle 1 .

[0070] The processing unit 31 is programmed to place the cover element 65 in the first position and stop the projection unit 32 when a stop request is made by an occupant of the vehicle 1, both during urban / suburban use of the vehicle 1 and during use of the vehicle 1 on a road.

[0071] The processing unit 31 is also programmed to cause the projection unit 32 to form a plurality of virtual images 51 on the area 19 representing the environment surrounding the vehicle 1 during use of the vehicle 1 on a road.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, the vehicle 1 is equipped with a pair of cameras 50 (shown only diagrammatically in Figures 2 and 3) adapted to acquire images representative of the situation surrounding the vehicle 1 to the sides and behind itself.

[0073] In such a preferred embodiment, the processing unit 31 is programmed to receive signals from the camera 50 representative of the situation surrounding the vehicle 1 and to cause the projection unit 32 to form an image 51 on the area 19 of the windshield 5.

[0074] Preferably, the processing unit 31 is programmed to cause the projection unit 32 to project a further image 52 onto the area 19 of the windscreen 5 when the motor vehicle 1 is in use on a road.

[0075] Without limitation, the image 52 may relate to information exchanged with the pit box, and / or information exchanged with a race official, and / or information exchanged with a driver's assistant located remotely from the car 1.

[0076] The images 52 may further be associated with information about the route, such as time history, route statistics, etc.

[0077] The operation of the vehicle 1 will first be described with reference to urban / suburban use and with the cover element 65 in a first position (FIG. 2). The cover element 65 is pulled further out from the seat 61 and covers the compartment 70 so as to be interposed between the projection unit 32 and the area 19 of the windshield 5.

[0078] The occupant activates the head-up display 30 using the operating means 33.

[0079] The head-up display 30 forms an image 29 , 51 in the area 19 of the windshield 5 .

[0080] The operating means 33 can also be used to select the nature and characteristics of the information represented by the images 29, 51 based on the preferences of the occupants of the motor vehicle 1.

[0081] As a result, the cover element 65 slides until it reaches a second position (Figure 3) in which it is housed within the seat 61 of the dashboard 25 itself, leaving the section 70 uncovered so as to leave the projection unit 32 of the head-up display 30 facing the area 19 of the windshield 5.

[0082] The images 29 relate to ancillary information not necessary for driving, such as, for example, information provided by satellite navigation, information about connectivity and mobile phone use, or information about the reproduction of audiovisual content in the vehicle cabin.

[0083] The vehicle occupants, particularly the driver, have visual access to these images 29 without having to look away from the windshield 5 .

[0084] In a preferred embodiment, the head-up display 30 is operable to project onto the area 19 an image 51 representing the surroundings to the sides and rear of the vehicle 1 itself, corresponding to an image acquired by the camera 50 .

[0085] For use of the vehicle 1 on the road, the head-up display 30 generates a further image 52 on the area 19 of the windscreen 5 according to actuation of the operating means 33 .

[0086] Without limitation, the image 52 may relate to information exchanged with the pit box, and / or information exchanged with a race official, and / or information exchanged with a driver's assistant located remotely from the car 1.

[0087] The images 52 may further be associated with information about the route, such as time history, route statistics, etc.

[0088] The occupant disables the head-up display 30 by using the operating means 33.

[0089] Following such deactivation, the cover element 65 returns from the second position (FIG. 3) to the first position (FIG. 2).

[0090] From a consideration of the present invention, the advantages that can be obtained thereby are clear.

[0091] More specifically, the projection unit 32 is housed within an area 26 of the dashboard 25 , with the area 19 being defined by the windshield 5 .

[0092] In this way, on the one hand, it is possible to reduce or even completely eliminate the center display from the dashboard 25, and on the other hand, the images 29, 51, 52 projected onto the area 19 of the windshield 5 provide ancillary information that is not necessary for driving.

[0093] This allows the designer greater freedom in designing the shape and dimensions of the dashboard 25 without compromising driving comfort.

[0094] Furthermore, the aforementioned information regarding the state of the vehicle 1 is only made available to the occupants following activation of the operating means 33, i.e. only when it is actually required for safe driving.

[0095] The fact that the images 29, 51 are formed on the area 19 of the windshield 5 allows the driver to obtain the respective information without having to look away from the windshield 5 itself, limiting the risk of distraction that could cause an accident.

[0096] Furthermore, the images 29, 51, and 52 are virtual images formed on the windshield 5. Therefore, the images 29, 51, and 52 can be properly perceived from any location in the automobile 1 without the parallax effect.

[0097] The nature and characteristics of the information represented by the images 29, 51, 52 can be selected by appropriately programming the processing unit 31, and such information can therefore be personalized based on the preferences of the occupants of the vehicle 1 and based on the use of the vehicle 1 on the road or track.

[0098] Film 60 allows images 29, 51, 52 to be properly displayed to occupants of automobile 1 even when the occupants are wearing polarized glasses.

[0099] Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the motor vehicle 1 made in accordance with the invention without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims.

[0100] In particular, the projection unit 32 may comprise a light emitting diode display or a liquid crystal display arranged at its focal point.

[0101] The dashboard 25 may include an instrument panel located in front of the seat 21 and forward of the steering wheel 24 .

[0102] The instrument panel is envisaged to make available to the driver information necessary for driving, such as a tachometer indicating the instantaneous speed of the vehicle and the number of revolutions of the drive shaft of the power unit.

[0103] The dashboard 25 may not include a cover element 65 .

Claims

1. Automobile (1), - Car compartment (3), - A dashboard (25) is positioned within the vehicle compartment (3) and, with reference to the normal forward direction of the automobile (1), defines the boundary of the vehicle compartment (3) in front of it. - The boundary of the passenger compartment (3) is defined, and the windshield (5) adjacent to the dashboard (25) is defined. - A head-up display (30) configured to form at least one first virtual image (29, 51, 52) on a first area (19) that includes ancillary information items for driving the automobile (1), The automobile (1) is characterized in that the head-up display (30) comprises a projection unit (32) housed in a second area (26) of the dashboard (25), and the first area (19) is defined by the windshield (5).

2. The automobile according to claim 1, characterized in that the head-up display (30) further comprises a polarizing film (60) attached to the projection unit (32).

3. The automobile according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second region (26) defines a section (70) of the dashboard (25).

4. The passenger compartment (3) comprises a plurality of pillars (14, 15) spaced apart from each other, and the windshield (5) extends between the pillars. The aforementioned windshield (5) - A central region (42) that defines the first region (19) and can face the projection unit (32), - Further comprising first and second end regions (41a, 41b) located on opposite sides of each other and bounded by the respective segments of the corresponding pillars (14, 15), The automobile according to claim 3, characterized in that one of the seats (21, 22) (21) defines a driver's seat located on the side of the first end region (41a).

5. The aforementioned dashboard (25) - The first position covering the aforementioned section (70), The automobile according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a cover element (65) that is selectively movable between a second position in which the compartment (70) is left open so that the projection unit (32) is positioned to face the second region (26).

6. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the head-up display (30) further comprises a processing unit (31) programmed to control the projection unit (32).

7. The vehicle (1) is equipped with a detection means (50) configured to acquire signals representing the surrounding circumstances, The automobile according to claim 6, characterized in that the processing unit (31) is operably connected to the detection means (50).

8. The automobile according to claim 7, characterized in that, for use in urban or suburban areas, the processing unit (31) is programmed to cause the projection unit (32) to form a second virtual image (51) associated with the signal on the first region (19).

9. The automobile according to claim 6, characterized in that, in the case of racing use on a track, the projection unit (32) is programmed to form a third virtual image (52) with further information items related to the progress of the race, and / or the processing unit (31) is programmed to simulate a driver's assistant during use.

10. The automobile according to claim 9, characterized in that the head-up display (30) is further configured to form the third virtual image (52) on the first region (19).

Images