Display device

Abstract

The vehicle display device 18 includes a display 26 having a viewing surface 40 that is backlit with scattered light to make information visible. However, in areas where one or more manual controls 22 are located on the viewing surface 40, the display 26 is backlit with a bundle of light emerging from the viewing area 24 and scattered at the front surface 42 of each control element 22. This allows information to be visible in the viewing area 50 of the viewing surface 40 behind the control elements 22 without being obscured by the front surface 42 of the control elements 22.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle display device, and in particular to a vehicle display device in which manually operable operating elements are arranged on the display surface, for example as rotary adjusters or rotary / push adjusters. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicle displays with the added functionality of allowing commands to be entered by touching the display surface, i.e., touch screens, are an accepted vehicle operating concept. However, it has become increasingly clear that in some applications, command entry by means of a rotary knob or a rotary / push adjuster is more comfortable.

[0003] For this reason, rotary adjusters or rotary / push adjusters have already been arranged on touch screens (see, for example, WO 2018 / 137944 or WO 2018 / 114138).

[0004] From DE 10 2018 118 839 A1 a rotary / push adjuster is known which is configured as a ring on a backlit display, in which the information shown on the display is visible.

[0005] DE 10 2015 015 308 A1 describes an operating element with an integrated display, which is backlit by directional light. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2018 / 137944 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2018 / 114138 [Patent Document 3] German Patent Application Publication No. 102018118839 [Patent Document 4] German Patent Application Publication No. 102015015308

[0007] If it is desired to provide a display for an operating element arranged on the display surface of such a display device, this display is usually integrated into the operating element as an independent display unit. However, since the surface on which the operating element is arranged is itself configured as a display surface, there is also the possibility of using the display surface itself as a display surface for the operating element in the area where the operating element is arranged. This means that the operating element has a "transparent" area through which the information on the display surface can be seen.

[0008] However, it should be noted that the visible display surface of the operating elements protrudes from the display surface by the height of the operating elements, which reduces the luminance at which backlit alphanumeric or graphic information is visible in front of the operating elements in the region of the display surface where the operating elements are located, and limits the viewing angle to a narrow range. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle display device in which an operating element having a display area located away from the display is positioned on the display surface, and alphanumeric or graphic information displayed on the display surface of the display can be displayed with sufficient brightness within the display area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes a display having a display surface for displaying information (graphical and / or alphanumeric or other characters); a manually actuatable operating element disposed on the display; a backlight unit for backlighting the display; A vehicle display device comprising: the operating element has a front surface disposed away from the display surface of the display, the front surface having at least one display area for displaying information in a display area on the display surface of the display that aligns with the display area on a front wall of the operating element; the backlight unit includes a light guide plate and a backlight source that supplies backlight to the light guide plate, the light guide plate having a light exit surface facing the display and a back surface opposite thereto, the light guide plate has a transmissive area for collimated light arranged between the rear surface and the light exit surface, the transmissive area being aligned with the display area on the front surface of the operating element; the backlight unit further comprises at least one light source for collimated light, the collimated light passes through the light-transmitting region of the light guide plate, emerges at the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate, passes through the display region on the display surface of the display, which is aligned with the display region of the operating element, and then backlights information displayed in this region, making it visible in the display region of the operating element; A display device in which a diffuser is arranged between the display area of ​​the operating element and the display area of ​​the display surface of the display that matches it, for scattering the collimated light for the display area of ​​the operating element.

[0011] The display device according to the invention comprises a display having a display surface for displaying information, e.g., graphic and / or alphanumeric or textual information. On the display, manually actuatable operating elements are arranged, e.g., as rotary knobs, rotary / push adjusters or one or more operating buttons. The operating elements themselves have a front surface arranged at a distance from the display surface and are provided with at least one display area in which information is displayed that is visible in a display area of ​​the display surface that is aligned with (i.e., on a common optical axis with) the display area of ​​the front surface of the operating elements.

[0012] The display is illuminated from the back by a backlight unit, which has a light guide plate or light guide film having a light exit surface facing the display and a rear surface on the opposite side. The backlight unit also has a backlight source that supplies backlight to the light guide plate or light guide film, and, if necessary, a reflective layer on the rear surface of the light guide opposite the light exit surface. The light guide plate (hereinafter, when referred to as a light guide or light guide plate, it also means that the light guide is configured in a film form) has a light-transmitting area for collimated light between its rear surface and the light exit surface. According to the present invention, this light-transmitting area is aligned with the display area on the front side of the operating element, i.e., is on a common optical axis with this display area. The backlight unit further includes at least one light source that emits collimated light different from the backlight light source, and this collimated light passes through the light-transmitting region of the light guide plate and emerges on the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate, and after passing through a display region on the display surface of the display that matches the display region of the operation elements, backlights the information displayed in this region, making it visible in the display region of the operation elements, and even if the backlight light emerges from the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate in the region of the light-transmitting region for the collimated light, it has a higher luminous intensity than the backlight light emerging from the light-exiting surface of the light guide plate. In order to make this visible information visible over an even wider viewing angle range as possible, a diffuser is provided in the operation elements between the display region of the operation elements and the corresponding display region of the display surface of the display, for scattering the collimated light for the display region of the operation elements.

[0013] According to the present invention, not only is the light guide of the backlight unit used to provide a wide and uniform backlighting of the display viewing surface, but the light guide is also "transilluminated" in at least one light-transmitting region by collimated light, so that this collimated light is bundled and focused much more strongly than in the rest of the viewing surface to backlight a viewing area of ​​the display viewing surface that is aligned with the viewing area in front of the operating elements and on a common axis with the light-transmitting region of the light guide. In order to emit this collimated light from the viewing area in front of the operating elements over a relatively wide viewing angle range, a diffusing element is provided in the operating elements, preferably near their front surface, to scatter the backlight light collimated for this viewing area.

[0014] This backlighting concept ensures that not only is the display surface of the display brightly and homogeneously backlit outside the at least one operating element arranged on the display, but also that the display area of ​​the at least one operating element arranged above the display surface is sufficiently strongly backlit and visible over a wide viewing angle range.

[0015] As mentioned above, the operating element can be configured as at least one button, at least one rotary adjuster and / or at least one rotary / push adjuster. In general, the operating element can have a configuration for tactile feedback (passive or active). If the operating element comprises an adjustable element, this adjustment can be achieved by latching.

[0016] The at least one light source for collimated light preferably comprises at least one light emitter, in particular at least one LED, and a reflector and / or a lens.

[0017] The light-transmitting areas of the light guide plate for collimated light may preferably be configured as light guides, as through-holes in the light guide plate or as an integral part of the light guide plate.

[0018] In a useful embodiment of the present invention, the at least one collimated light source may be disposed opposite the back surface of the light guide plate and the light-transmitting region of the light guide plate for collimated light, so that the collimated light is incident on the light-transmitting region of the light guide plate as a so-called "direct backlight."

[0019] Alternatively, the collimated light source may include at least one light emitter, particularly at least one LED, and a light guide, and the light guide may have a light exit end facing the light-transmitting region of the light guide plate for collimated light or within the light-transmitting region of the light guide plate for collimated light, and a light entrance end facing the back surface of the light guide plate. In other words, the collimated light source irradiates a light guide whose light exit end is located within a through-hole of the light guide plate or facing the light-transmitting region of the light guide plate.

[0020] The display concept according to the present invention can be realized in a plurality of display devices, such as a display device having a plurality of operating elements and a plurality of display areas on a display surface that match the respective display areas, and in the light guide plate of the backlight unit, each of these display areas is assigned a light-transmitting area for collimated light, and the backlight unit has at least one light source for collimated light for each light-transmitting area or at least one light source for collimated light common to all light-transmitting areas, from which light sources a plurality of light guides extend to the light-transmitting areas of the light guide plate.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the at least one light source for collimated light may comprise a laser diode, in particular an RGB laser diode array.

[0022] Advantageously, the light source for backlighting is arranged facing the rear surface of the light guide plate and / or a side edge region of the light guide plate.

[0023] Typically, the backlight source is configured as an LED.

[0024] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail using embodiments with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle dashboard having a display device according to the present invention which is also used as an operating device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in the lower right region of the display device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of supplying backlight light to an area on the display surface of a display where no additional manual operation elements are provided. [Figure 4] Figures 4a to 4c show three examples of light source configurations for emitting substantially collimated or bundled light for backlighting a display area on the display surface of a display device, in which a manual operating element configured as a rotary adjuster is located. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of providing collimated RGB light to an area of ​​the light guide that is aligned with a manual control element, where the light guide has a light transmissive area for the collimated light. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] 1 shows a perspective view of an instrument panel 10 in the interior 12 of a vehicle 14, which in this embodiment comprises an operating device 16, which comprises a display device 18 with manually operable operating elements 22, which in this embodiment are configured as two rotary adjusters 20. The two operating elements 22 have a display area 24 in which information (alphanumeric, graphic or other text) displayed in an area of ​​the display device 18 below the operating elements 22 is visible.

[0027] Components of a display device 18 that are primarily relevant to the present invention are shown in Figure 2. Thus, the display device 18 includes a display 26, typically an LCD display having a touch panel 28 as a touch sensor system (not essential) and a cover plate 30. For backlighting of the display 26, a backlight unit 32 is used, which includes a light guide plate 34 having a light exit surface 36 facing the display 26, and a backlight source 38. In this embodiment, the backlight source 38 is provided facing a rear surface 39 of the light guide plate 34.

[0028] On the cover plate 30 there is provided a so-called display surface 40 of the display device 18, on which the operating element 22 is arranged. This operating element is configured as a (hollow) ring 41 and at its front end opposite to the display surface 40, i.e. at its front surface 42, has a display area 24 configured as a cover plate 46, in which a diffuser 48 is provided.

[0029] As can be seen from FIG. 2 , the operating elements 22 are located in a display area 50 of the display surface 40 of the display device 18, which corresponds to an area 52 of the light guide plate 34, which has a light-transmitting area 54 for collimated light. In FIG. 2 , arrows indicate collimated, or generally speaking, light 56 ​​bundled with the backlight source 38. The collimated light source 58 is, for example, a light source as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , which will be described later. In contrast, the backlight light from the backlight source 38 is “fanned out” (indicated by arrows 57). Typically, a diffusion layer is further provided between the light exit surface 36 of the light guide plate 34 and the display 26 to homogenize the backlight light. The diffusion layer has a recess in the area corresponding to the light-transmitting area 54, so that the collimated light is scattered by the diffuser 48 of the operating elements 22 only after passing through the display 26.

[0030] A feature of the concept shown here is that, because it is back-illuminated by collimated or bundled light from a collimation light source 58, information in the display area 50 of the display surface 40 of the display device 18 is displayed in the display area 24 of the front surface 42 of the operating element 22 by bundled light 56, and the light is scattered by the diffuser 48 so that the information visible on the front surface 42 of the operating element 22 can be seen over a wide viewing angle range.

[0031] 3 shows another form of backlighting of the display surface 40 of the display device 18. In this embodiment, the backlighting is performed by a backlight source 38 that illuminates a light guide plate 34 (not shown in FIG. 3) from the side. Note that in this case, a shadow effect of the backlight illuminated from the side may occur due to the light-transmitting region 54 of the light guide plate 34 (see, for example, FIG. 2). However, since the light guide plate 34 is usually provided with a reflective film on the back, the backlight can ultimately reach the so-called "shadow region" of the operating element 22 due to internal reflection and reflection from the reflective film.

[0032] Figures 4a to 4c show three embodiments of the configuration of a collimation light source 58. The collimation light source may comprise a reflector 60, as shown in Figure 4b. Alternatively, a TIR lens 62, i.e., a total internal reflection lens, can be used, as shown in Figure 4a. In both cases, the light from, for example, an LED light source 64, is emitted in a directional manner.

[0033] As an alternative to the solution according to Figures 4a and 4b, an aspherical lens 66 can be used as shown in Figure 4c. Another variant of the configuration of the collimated light source 58 is the use of a Fresnel lens.

[0034] Furthermore, laser light sources (e.g., laser LEDs) can also be used to backlight the display 26 in the area 50 of the display surface 40 where the operating elements 22 are located. By using RGB lasers, spatial holograms can be rendered to make 3D representations visible.

[0035] Furthermore, the collimated light in the display area 50 of the display surface 40 of the display device 18 can also be realized by subpixel microlenses arranged in this area. In this embodiment, it is not essential that the collimated light appears in an area on the light exit surface 36 of the light guide plate 34 that is on the same optical axis as the display area 50 of the display surface 40 of the display device 18.

[0036] Another method of providing collimated light to the light-transmitting regions 54 of the light guide plate 34 may refer to a light guide having an end positioned opposite one or more light-transmitting regions 54 of the light guide plate 34 or inserted into a through-hole in the light guide plate 34, with the light input end of the light guide receiving collimated light from a collimation light source 58 positioned remotely, particularly other than behind the light guide plate 34.

[0037] 5 shows an embodiment of a light source 58' for collimated light. In the description of FIG. 5, where parts of the display device 18 are shown, they are given the same reference numerals as in FIG.

[0038] The light source 58' is configured as a collimated laser light source and includes three (e.g., semiconductor) laser light sources R, G, and B for color laser light. The light beams of the three laser light sources are directed parallel via dichroic mirrors DS1 and DS2 and pass through optical element KSR for collimation and speckle reduction.

[0039] The display device according to the present invention is characterized in that in the areas of the display surface where no operating elements are provided, the backlight appears scattered and relatively undirectional, as in a conventional backlit display device, whereas in the areas of the display surface occupied by the manual operating elements, the backlight appears significantly more directional, particularly in a bundled form, and is only scattered in front of the operating elements via a diffuser arranged away from the display surface. This concept can be applied to display devices with one or more operating elements, which can be of different heights. The light guide plate can be formed integrally, and the light-transmitting areas can be made of the same or different light guide material as the rest of the light guide plate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 2. Embodiments 10 Instrument panel 12 Inside 14 vehicles 16 Operating device 18 Display device 20 turn adjuster 22 Operational Elements 24 Display area in front of the operating elements 26 Display 28 Touch Panel 30 cover plate 32 Backlight unit 34 Light guide plate 36 Light exit surface 38 Backlight source 39 Back of light guide plate 40 Display surface 41 Ring of operating elements 42 Front of operating elements 46 Cover Plate 48 Diffuser 50 Display area on the display surface 52 areas 54 Light transmission area 56 Beam of Light 58 Collimated Light Source 58' Collimated Light Source 60 Reflector 62 TIR lens 64 LED light source 66 Aspherical Lenses DS1 Mirror DS2 Mirror KSR Collimation and Speckle Reduction Optical Elements B laser G Laser R laser

Claims

1. a display (26) having a display surface (40) for displaying information; a manually operable operating element (22) arranged on said display (26); a backlight unit (32) for backlighting the display (26); A vehicle display device comprising: the operating element (22) has a front surface (42) disposed away from the display surface (40) of the display (26); the front surface (42) having at least one display area (24); the display area (24) is for displaying information in a display area (50) on the display surface (40) of the display (26) that is aligned with the display area (24) on the front wall of the operating element (22); The backlight unit (32) has a light guide plate (34) and a backlight light source (38) that supplies backlight light to the light guide plate (34), The light guide plate (34) has a light exit surface (36) facing the display (26) and a rear surface (39) on the opposite side thereof, the light guide plate (34) has a transmission area (54) for collimated light arranged between the rear surface (39) and the light exit surface (36); the light-transmitting area (54) is aligned with the display area (24) of the front surface (42) of the operating element (22); The backlight unit (32) further comprises at least one light source for collimated light; the collimated light passes through the light-transmitting region (54) of the light guide plate (34), emerges at the light exit surface (36) of the light guide plate (34), and passes through the display region (50) of the display surface (40) of the display (26) that is aligned with the display region (24) of the operating element (22), thereby backlighting information displayed in this region and making it visible in the display region (24) of the operating element (22); A display device in which a diffuser (48) is arranged between the display area (24) of the operating element (22) and the display area (50) of the display surface (40) of the display (26) that is aligned with the display area (24) of the operating element (22) to scatter the collimated light for the display area (24) of the operating element (22).

2. 2. The display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating element (22) is configured as at least one button, at least one rotary adjuster (20) and / or at least one rotary / push adjuster.

3. 3. The display device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light source for the at least one collimated light comprises at least one light emitter, in particular at least one LED, and a reflector (60) and / or a lens (62).

4. 4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light-transmitting region (54) for collimated light of the light guide plate (34) is configured as a light guide or as a through-hole in the light guide plate (34).

5. 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source for collimated light is arranged opposite the back surface (39) of the light guide plate (34) and the light-transmitting region (54) for collimated light of the light guide plate (34).

6. the light source for the collimated light comprises at least one light emitter, in particular at least one LED, and a light guide, 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide has a light exit end that is arranged opposite the light transmission region (54) for collimated light of the light guide plate (34) or within the light transmission region (54) for collimated light of the light guide plate (34), and a light entrance end that is arranged outside the back surface (39) of the light guide plate (34).

7. a plurality of display areas (50) on the display surface (40) of the display (26) that are aligned with a plurality of operating elements (22) and the respective display areas (24) of the operating elements; In the light guide plate (34) of the backlight unit (32), one light transmission region (54) for collimated light is assigned to each of the display regions (50), and the backlight unit (32) has at least one light source for collimated light for each light transmission region (54) or at least one light source for collimated light common to all of the light transmission regions (54), 7. The display device of claim 6, wherein a plurality of light guides extend from the light source to the light-transmitting regions (54) of the light guide plate (34).

8. 8. Display device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one light source (58) for collimated light comprises a laser diode, in particular an RGB laser diode array.

9. 9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is arranged facing the rear surface of the light guide plate (34) and / or a side edge region of the light guide plate (34).

10. 10. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the backlight source (38) comprises an LED.

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