Display device

Abstract

A display device with a first e-paper element (2) having at least two types of colour pigments, wherein said first e-paper element is provided with a TFT active matrix (5) and is designed as a high-resolution bistable matrix display and forms a display element (6), wherein a second e-paper element (4; 4') having at least one type of colour pigment is provided on a front side (20) of the first e-paper element (2) forming a viewing side, which second e-paper element (4, 4') is provided with transparent electrodes and forms a low resolution masking display (7, 7'), is characterized in that the masking display (7, 7') has a first, outer segment (41, 41') of the second e-paper element (4, 4'), forming a frame (42, 42'), and in that the masking display (7, 7') has a second, inner segment (43, 43') surrounded by the frame (42, 42'), said second segment being cut out of the second e-paper element (4) or formed by an inner, transparency-switchable region (48) of the second e-paper element (4'), wherein the second, inner segment (43, 43') forms a view through region (25, 25') onto the first e-paper element (2).

Description

[0001] Display device

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a display device with a first e-paper element comprising at least one colour pigment according to the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1 . It also relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which is provided on an inner and / or outer surface, at least in certain areas, with such a display device.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] When designing vehicles, it is sometimes desirable to integrate display devices that are capable of displaying graphics or text for traffic participants or car passengers into vehicle bodies or other vehicle components. E-paper display elements, which enable a bistable display and therefore only require electrical energy when the display changes, are particularly suitable for this purpose.

[0006] An e-paper display element contains a display layer with microcapsules arranged between two electrode layers, which contain, for example, positively charged white pigment particles and negatively charged black pigment particles in a transparent viscous medium. By briefly applying an electrical voltage to the two electrode layers in the area of a microcapsule, either the white pigments or the black pigments of this microcapsule are moved upwards to the viewing side. Coloured pigments can also be provided instead of the white and black pigments. The display is maintained after the electrical voltage is switched off and is therefore bistable.

[0007] High-resolution e-paper display elements are equipped with a TFT matrix - usually on their reverse side - so that very small areas of the display layer can be controlled, allowing text and detailed graphics to be displayed. The design of these high-resolution e-paper display elements is limited. In most cases, these high-resolution e-paper display elements are rectangular and can be trimmed at a maximum of two edges. Therefore, visually appealing integration of such high-resolution e-paper display elements into body surfaces or other free-form surfaces of a vehicle is only possible to a limited extent. At the very least, however, such integration is difficult, as delimited rectangular surfaces are rarely available on a vehicle. A design-appealing integration of display devices in a vehicle body or in another vehicle component, for example in the vehicle interior, therefore requires the contour of the display device to be adapted to almost any contoured surface.

[0008] Low-resolution e-paper display elements, which consist of relatively few individually contacted segments, are flexible in terms of shape, but they cannot display detailed information.

[0009] DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0010] US 2019 / 0283686 A1 discloses a flexible display device for a motor vehicle, which has a mounting device provided on the motor vehicle to which or in which a flexible display can be detachably attached. For example, flexible glass and / or a material comprising graphene and / or flexible electronic paper and / or organic thin film transistor material (OTFT) and / or MEMS surfaces can be used as the deformable material, or OLED technologies can be used." A vehicle is known from US 2020 / 0258478 A1 , which is provided with a multilayered display device visible from the inside and outside with a blocking intermediate layer provided between an inner display layer and an outer display layer.

[0011] WO 2021 / 154418 A1 discloses an electronic advertising panel that can be attached to the outside of a motor vehicle with a display device that can be attached to a vehicle door, for example, and a camera in order to be able to record viewers of the display device.

[0012] DE 10 2020 133 843 A1 shows and describes a display illumination unit that has a lower e-paper display which forms an information area for displaying content, which can display different colours and different patterns and which can also be used as a display area for communication and / or information purposes. An illumination layer in the form of a light-diffusing layer or a lightconducting device is provided above the lower e-paper display. As a top layer, a further, upper e-paper display can be provided as a cover layer facing the viewer, which contains only one colour and which, for example, can be switched between the states of being transparent and nontransparent.

[0013] DE 10 2007 039 041 A1 shows and describes a sandwich of a lower reflective display layer and an upper transparent display layer facing a viewer, wherein one of these display layers can be formed as an e-paper layer and the other display layer as an OLED display. A control device ensures that the displays on both superimposed display layers are congruent, for example in order to be able to mask a display of the lower display layer with a display of the upper display layer. DE 10 2017 214 952 B3 relates to a display device with a display surface in front of which a mask is provided pointing towards a viewer, which mask can be switched between a transparent state and an opaque state. This shall make it possible to adapt the colour of a display, which is black when switched off, to match its surroundings by means of the masking.

[0014] What all these display devices have in common is the disadvantage that they look like foreign objects in or on the vehicle and are not integrated into the vehicle design.

[0015] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The object of the present invention is to provide an energy-saving display device with a high-resolution display element for installation on a vehicle, which device can be adapted to the shape of the vehicle or to surface areas of the vehicle, in particular in the shape of its outer contour, and can thus be integrated into the surface design.

[0017] This problem is solved with the features of patent claim 1 .

[0018] A display device which is equipped with a first e-paper element having at least two types of colour pigments, wherein said first e-paper element is provided with a TFT active matrix and is designed as a high-resolution bistable matrix display and forms a display element, wherein a second e- paper element having at least one type of colour pigment is provided on the front side of the first e-paper element forming a viewing side, which second e-paper element is provided with transparent electrodes and forms a low- resolution masking display. For example, the transparent electrodes are designed as passive electrodes, is characterised in that the masking display has a first, outer segment of the second e-paper element, forming a frame, and in that the masking display has a second, inner segment surrounded by the frame, said second, inner segment being cut out of the second e-paper element or formed by an inner, transparency-switchable region of the second e-paper element, wherein the second, inner segment forms a view-through region onto the first e-paper element. The term colour pigment used here includes couloured pigments as well as white and black pigments.

[0019] ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0020] This arrangement according to the invention of a first, lower e-paper element provided with a TFT active matrix, which forms a high-resolution bistable matrix display for displaying text and / or images, and a low-resolution masking display arranged above it with an outer segment that forms a frame partially covering the lower e-paper element and an inner segment that forms a view-through region enabling a view onto the first e-paper element makes it possible to hide the angular, in particular rectangular, display contour specified by the TFT matrix by means of the essentially arbitrarily selectable flat shape of the masking display and to adapt it to the designated surface area of the vehicle to or on which the display element is to be attached. The view-through region, i.e. the inner segment of the second e-paper element, provides a view onto only a part of the first, lower e-paper element and has an outer contour that differs from the outer contour of the first, lower e-paper element. The first e-paper element can therefore be mounted almost inconspicuously inside the vehicle, for example on the dashboard, or on the outside of the vehicle body. Equipping the first e-paper element with two types of colour pigments, for example a white and a black type of colour pigment, enables, for example, the high-contrast display of characters, in particular using the TFT matrix. More than two types of colour pigment can also be provided in the first e-paper element, for example to enable coloured representations. The colouring of the low-resolution second e-paper element and the high-resolution first e-paper element can be matched to each other. Due to the fact that the associated electrodes do not require a strict matrix structure, the masking display can be designed with essentially any outer circumferential contour and can therefore be optimally adapted to a vehicle surface in the interior or on the outside of the vehicle body. For example, a complex-shaped vehicle door or vehicle side wall, which is provided with a display device according to the invention, can be covered over a large area with the second e-paper element designed as a low-resolution masking display, which then takes on the outer contour of the vehicle side wall or vehicle door. The area size of the upper, second e-paper element is larger than the area size of the lower, first e-paper element, so that the outer peripheral edge of the masking display extends beyond the outer peripheral edge of the lower, first e-paper element. This masking display can then be provided with an inner contour, which can also be designed in essentially any way, surrounding a transparent area that provides a view on the first e-paper element underneath, i.e. the high-resolution matrix display.

[0021] Two essential components are thus provided in the display device according to the invention, namely a first e-paper element designed as a display screen with electrodes arranged and controllable in the form of a TFT active matrix and a second e-paper element arranged on the viewing side above the first e-paper element, the electrodes of which cover essentially freely definable surface areas. These two e-paper elements are preferably designed as films. To form the display device, they are preferably bonded to each other over their entire surface using the principle of "optical bonding", for example glued together.

[0022] Further preferred and advantageous features of the display device according to the invention are the subject of subclaims 2 to 14.

[0023] Preferably, the second e-paper element has only one type of colour pigments. This makes it possible to make the second e-paper element either transparent or opaque by means of the colour pigments, at least in certain areas. It is therefore possible for this second e-paper element facing the viewer to allow a view of the underlying first e-paper element with the display it forms in its at least partially transparent state or - in the opaque state - to prevent a view of it. This second e-paper element can extend over the entire surface of the first e-paper element, as it can be switched to a transparent state and thus provide a view of the first e-paper element. A display device constructed in this way can, for example, be applied to almost any contoured and shaped surface of a vehicle and give this surface a colour or colour pattern by means of the second e-paper element. If this second e-paper element is made transparent in some areas, the display of the first e-paper element underneath becomes visible. Such a transparent area can have almost any contour, as the second e-paper element does not need to have a matrix structure, but its electrodes can be of any shape.

[0024] If, however, the second e-paper element is provided with two or more types of colour pigment, it can only reveal a view of the first e-paper element underneath where it is physically open, for example where it is cut out. This cut-out area can also have almost any contour, as the second e-paper element does not need to have a matrix structure here either, but its electrodes can be of any shape.

[0025] In both variants, the first e-paper element and the second e-paper element are preferably designed as flexible display films. This design allows the display device to be optimally adapted to the spatial shape of the vehicle surface on which the display device is to be mounted.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the display device, which can be combined with other embodiments, it is provided that a transparent cover layer, which is preferably flexible, is provided on the front side of the second e-paper element forming the viewing side. Such a transparent cover layer on the upper side of the display device forms a protective layer which protects the surface of the e-paper display elements located underneath.

[0027] Preferably, the TFT active matrix is provided on the rear side of the first e- paper element facing away from the viewing side, so that the layer with the TFT matrix does not influence the viewer's view of the first e-paper element.

[0028] Preferably, in one embodiment of the invention, a first adhesive layer is provided between the first e-paper element and the second e-paper element, which adhesive layer bonds the two e-paper elements together at least in certain areas.

[0029] It is advantageous if the second e-paper element covers the first e-paper element substantially over its entire surface and in that both e-paper elements are bonded together substantially over their entire surface by means of the first adhesive layer.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a second adhesive layer is provided between the second e-paper element and the cover layer, which bonds the cover layer to the second e-paper element substantially over the entire surface.

[0031] It is particularly advantageous if the second e-paper element covers the first e-paper element only in certain areas and if both e-paper elements are bonded together in the overlapping area by means of the first adhesive layer.

[0032] Preferably, a second adhesive layer is provided between the second e-paper element and the cover layer, which adhesive layer bonds the cover layer to the second e-paper element, and wherein transparent filling material is provided between the regions of the first e-paper element not covered by the second e-paper element, which transparent filling material bonds the cover layer to the first e-paper element. This potting compound layer of the transparent filling material fills the cavity formed by the cut-out area of the second e-paper element.

[0033] It is advantageous if the frame partially covers the outer surface region of the high-resolution e-paper element located beneath it and leaves the surface thereof free within the frame.

[0034] It is also advantageous if the masking display has an inner contour that can be configured substantially as desired, i.e. designed in almost any way.

[0035] It is particularly advantageous if the masking display is designed in such a way that the inner segment has an almost arbitrary contour.

[0036] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the second, inner segment forms a freeform surface.

[0037] The invention is further directed to a vehicle, in particular to a motor vehicle, which is provided on an inner and / or outer surface, at least in certain areas, with one of the display devices according to the invention.

[0038] Preferred embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing.

[0039] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Fig. 1 A shows a schematic top view of a first variant of a display device according to the invention, Fig. 1 B shows a schematic sectional view of the first variant along line l-l in Fig. 1A,

[0041] Fig. 2A shows a schematic top view of a second variant of a display device according to the invention,

[0042] Fig. 2B shows aschematic sectional view of the second variant along line ll-ll in Fig. 2A and

[0043] Fig. 3 shows a schematic graphical representation of a control device for controlling the e-paper elements in a display device according to the invention.

[0044] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0045] Currently available e-paper displays, i.e. display elements that work on the principle of electronic paper or electronic ink, consist of millions of small microcapsules that are around 40 pm in size and contain one or more types of colour pigment. E-paper displays with only one type of colour pigment are able to create a transparent area, i.e. when a charge is applied to a particle of colour pigment, for example black, it moves to the side and lets the light through. They can therefore be switched between transparent and nontransparent.

[0046] In e-paper displays with two types of colour pigments, the colour pigment particles are dissolved in a clear liquid. When a positive or negative electric field is applied, the corresponding colour pigment particles migrate to the corresponding electrical charge side. For example, in a black / white e-paper display, the black colour pigment particles migrate to the top of the microcapsule, where they are visible to viewer B, and the white colour pigment particles migrate to the bottom of the microcapsule and are not visible to viewer B. If the polarity is electrically reversed, this changes and the white colour pigment particles become visible.

[0047] E-paper displays with multiple types of colour pigments work in a similar way to the two-colour pigment system, where a charge is applied to the colour pigments and to the top and bottom of the electrode to facilitate movement. In this respect, this technology enables the display of a colour scale that could include all eight primary colours while maintaining the low power consumption of an e-paper display.

[0048] Finally, e-paper displays can be manufactured with or without a TFT active matrix on their back. An e-paper display with a TFT active matrix is able to produce an image with a high pixel density, for example a high-resolution graphic. Without a TFT active matrix, the e-paper display can only switch between the colours it contains.

[0049] Fig. 1 A shows a schematic top view of a first variant of a display device 1 according to the invention and Fig. 1 B shows a sectional view of this first variant. The display device 1 has a first, lower e-paper element 2 and a second, upper e-paper element 4, which is provided on the front side 20 of the first e-paper element 2 forming a viewing side. The eye A of a viewer B symbolises the standard viewing direction V directed towards the display device 1 .

[0050] The first, lower e-paper element 2 is provided on its rear side 22 facing away from the front side 20 with a TFT active matrix 5 which can be electrically controlled by a display control unit 3, whereby the first, lower e-paper element 2 is designed as a high-resolution bistable matrix display and forms a graphic display element 6 which is rectangular in its basic shape, as shown by the dashed outline in Fig. 1 . On this display element 6, characters and graphic representations can be displayed in black and white or in colour on a display area 60 of this display element 6 in a resolution corresponding to the structure of the TFT active matrix 5. For this purpose, the first, lower e-paper element 2 has at least two types of colour pigments, for example black and white colour pigments or, for coloured graphic representations, colour pigments in several different colours.

[0051] Such display elements 6, also known as high-resolution e-paper displays, on which text and detailed graphics can be displayed, are limited in terms of shape. In most cases, these e-paper displays are rectangular or can be trimmed at a maximum of two edges, so that their display area 60 is also subject to these geometric restrictions.

[0052] For the use of such display elements 6 on the outer skin of a vehicle or on a vehicle interior surface, it may be necessary or desirable for technical or design reasons to provide only a part 61 of the display area 60 with a freely selectable outer circumferential contour 62 visibly. In order to make this possible despite the geometric restrictions of the high-resolution e-paper element 2 provided with the controllable TFT active matrix 5, the second e- paper element 4 is provided on the front side 20 of the first e-paper element 2 facing the viewer B, which is designed as a low-resolution e-paper display (without TFT active matrix), i.e. as an e-paper display that consists of a few individually contacted segments and is therefore flexible in terms of shape. This second, upper e-paper element 4 is therefore provided with transparent electrodes (not shown) and forms a low-resolution masking display 7, which is not able to display detailed information but can be designed with segments of almost any contour. The transparent, e.g. passive, electrodes assigned to these segments are also electrically connected to the display control unit 3 and are controlled by it. In the variant shown in Figures 1 A and 1 B, the upper e-paper element 4 is cut out on the inner side along an inner contour line 40 and thus forms a frame 42 which partially covers the high-resolution e-paper element 2 lying underneath on the outside and leaves it free inside the frame 42, i.e. masks it. The frame 42 is thus defined by an outer segment 41 of the second e- paper element 4. The cut-out inner area of the second e-paper element 4 defines a second, inner segment 43, which forms a viewing area 45 onto the underlying first e-paper element 2.

[0053] The sectional view in Fig. 1 B shows the structure of the display element 1 as a sandwich 8, which is composed of several layers bonded together according to the principle of "optical bonding". The upper e-paper element 4, which forms the frame 42, is glued to the edges of the lower e-paper element 2 by means of a first adhesive layer 81. A second adhesive layer 82 is applied to the upper surface of the frame 42, i.e. to the front side 44 of the upper e-paper element 4 facing the viewer B, and bonds the frame 42 to a transparent cover layer 9, which consists, for example, of glass or a transparent plastic such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and mechanically protects the underlying layers as a protective layer. This transparent cover layer forms a carrier material for the e-paper elements 2 and 4. In the cavity 84 surrounded by the lower e-paper element 2, by the frame 42 and by the transparent cover layer 9, a transparent filling material 86 is provided in the form of a filling layer or potting compound layer, for example an adhesive resin, which is injected into the cavity 84. Two different types of bonding are therefore used, namely a dry bonding ("OCA" - Optically Clear Adhesive) with the adhesive layers 81 and 82 and a wet bonding ("OCR" - Optically Clear Resin) with the filling material 86.

[0054] The carrier material, i.e. the transparent cover layer 9, is designed in such a way that the viewing surface lies approximately on the same viewing plane as the upper e-paper element 4. For this purpose, the cover layer 9 is painted black on its rear side 90 facing away from the viewer B in the areas outside the upper e-paper element 4. This results in the visual perception of a continuous surface of the vehicle painting and the e-paper element.

[0055] In the variant shown in Figs. 1 A and 1 B, the lower e-paper element 2 is capable of displaying high-resolution graphics in colour or black and white. The upper e-paper element 4 has two or more types of colour pigments and can therefore change its colour to other predefined colours, but cannot display high-resolution graphics. This upper e-paper element 4 can be cut into any shape and is able to seamlessly adapt to the geometric design specifications of a vehicle. Unlike a bezel, which is often used as a surround for displays, the upper e-paper element 4 can be animated to a certain extent, even with coordinated colours. The colours of the low- and high- resolution e-paper elements can thus be matched to each other and with the structure described there is hardly any perceptible depth offset, so that the entire sandwich structure appears to be made of one piece.

[0056] The second variant of the display element T shown in Figs. 2A and 2B basically corresponds to the first variant of the display element 1 in terms of its structure, so that only the differences are described below. In all other respects, the description of the first variant applies to the second variant. Identical reference signs therefore designate the same elements and the elements that differ from the first variant are labelled with different reference signs.

[0057] The structure of the display element T as a sandwich 8' shown in Figs. 2A and 2B differs from the first display element 1 only in the design of the upper e-paper element 4' in the manner described below. The upper e-paper element 4' is not cut out, but is bonded over its entire surface to the lower e- paper element 2 by means of the first adhesive layer 8T and over its entire surface to the transparent cover layer 9 by means of the second adhesive layer 82' on its front side 40', as can be seen in Fig. 2B.

[0058] The upper e-paper element 4' has only one type of colour pigment and can therefore be switched between only one colour, i.e. non-transparency, and transparency in its areas determined by the respective assigned electrodes, i.e. the individual segments, by means of the control device 3. The dotted line in Fig. 2A indicates an outline 46 of such an inner region 48 of the upper e- paper element 4' that can be switched between transparency and opacity. Here, the frame 42' is formed by a first segment 4T of the second e-paper element 4' and the inner region 48 surrounded by the frame 42' is formed by a second segment 43' of the second e-paper element 4'. If this inner region 48 is switched to transparent, the viewer B can see the visible part 61 of the display area 60 of the display element 6 formed by the high-resolution lower e-paper element 2. The second, inner segment 43' thus forms a view-through area 45' onto the first e-paper element 2 lying underneath. If the switchable region 48 is not transparent, the lower e-paper element 2 remains hidden from the view of viewer B. Here, too, the second, upper e-paper element 4' forms a masking display 7'.

[0059] The display devices 1 , T according to the invention, comprising a sandwich 8 of a graphically high-resolution e-paper element 2 with the TFT active matrix 5 as the graphic display and the low-resolution e-paper element 4 or 4' arranged above it as the masking display 7', also have the classic advantages that result from the use of e-paper displays, such as their preferred design in the form of flexible display foils and thus their bendability and bistability. The display devices 1 , T can thus be designed freely at the discretion of a designer and are still able to display text and graphics in high resolution with almost unlimited outline design. The resulting free form of the high-resolution e-paper element 2 means that transitions between the two e- paper elements 2 and 4 or 4' can be concealed even better. Finally, in order to create the impression of a monolithic display, the control of the two e-paper elements 2 and 4 or 4' must also be synchronised. This takes place via image synchronisation carried out by the display control unit 3, as shown schematically in Fig. 3. A target image that changes during runtime and is to be displayed on the display device 1 , T is specified in a first step a). In a synchroniser 30, this target image is transformed in a second step b) into control signals for the TFT active matrix 5 of the first, high- resolution e-paper element 2 and into control signals for the individual areas (segments n, n+1 , n+2, ...) of the second, low-resolution e-paper element 4, 4' and the corresponding electrical signals are transmitted from the display control unit 3 to the e-paper elements 2, 4, 4' in a third step c). The synchronisation is carried out in such a way that each individual colour pigment is correctly controlled and that the control for the high-resolution e- paper element 2 and the control of all segments of the low-resolution e-paper element 4 or 4' are synchronised.

[0060] The invention is not limited to the above embodiments, which merely serve as a general explanation of the core idea of the invention. Rather, it is within the scope of protection that the device according to the invention could also adopt different forms than those of the embodiments described above. In particular, the device may have features which are a combination of the respective individual features of the claims.

[0061] Reference signs in the claims, the description and the drawings are merely intended to facilitate understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection. List of reference symbols

[0062] 1 display device

[0063] 2 first, lower e-paper element

[0064] 3 display control unit

[0065] 4 second, upper e-paper element (first variant)

[0066] 4' second, upper e-paper element (second variant)

[0067] 5 TFT active matrix

[0068] 6 graphic display element

[0069] 7 masking display

[0070] 7' masking display

[0071] 8 sandwich

[0072] 8' sandwich

[0073] 9 transparent cover layer

[0074] 20 front side

[0075] 22 rear side

[0076] 30 synchroniser

[0077] 40 inner contour line

[0078] 41 first, outer segment

[0079] 4T first, outer segment

[0080] 42 frame

[0081] 42' frame

[0082] 43 second, inner segment

[0083] 43 second, inner segment

[0084] 44 front side

[0085] 44' front side

[0086] 45 view-through region

[0087] 45' view-through region

[0088] 46 outline

[0089] 48 region switchable between transparency and opacity

[0090] 60 display area 61 part of 60

[0091] 62 outer circumference contour

[0092] 81 first adhesive layer

[0093] 81' first adhesive layer

[0094] 82 second adhesive layer

[0095] 82' second adhesive layer

[0096] 84 cavity

[0097] 86 transparent filling material

[0098] 90 rear side of 9

[0099] A Eye

[0100] B viewer

[0101] V standard viewing direction

Claims

Display device with a first e-paper element (2) having at least two types of colour pigments, wherein said first e-paper element is provided with a TFT active matrix (5) and is designed as a high- resolution bistable matrix display and forms a display element (6), wherein a second e-paper element (4') having at least one type of colour pigment is provided on a front side (20) of the first e-paper element (2) forming a viewing side, which second e-paper element (4') is provided with transparent electrodes and forms a low-resolution masking display (7'), characterised in that the masking display (7') has a first, outer segment (41') of the second e-paper element (4'), forming a frame (42’), and in that the masking display (7') has a second, inner segment (43') surrounded by the frame (42'), said second segment being formed by an inner, transparency-switchable region (48) of the second e-paper element (4'), wherein the second, inner segment (43’) forms a view- through region (45') onto the first e-paper element (2).

2. Display device with a first e-paper element (2) having at least two types of colour pigments, wherein said first e-paper element is provided with a TFT active matrix (5) and is designed as a high- resolution bistable matrix display and forms a display element (6), wherein a second e-paper element (4) having at least one type of colour pigment is provided on a front side (20) of the first e-paper element (2) forming a viewing side, which second e-paper element (4)24 is provided with transparent electrodes and forms a low-resolution masking display (7), characterised in that the masking display (7) has a first, outer segment (41) of the second e-paper element (4), forming a frame (42), and in that the masking display (7) has a second, inner segment (43) surrounded by the frame (42), said second segment being cut out of the second e-paper element (4), wherein the second, inner segment (43) forms a view-through region (45) onto the first e-paper element (2), in that a transparent cover layer (9) is provided on the front side (44) of the second e-paper element (4) forming the viewing side, in that the second e-paper element (4) covers the first e-paper element (2) only in certain areas, in that both e-paper elements (2, 4) are bonded to one another in the overlapping area by means of the first adhesive layer (81). in that a second adhesive layer (82) is provided between the second e-paper element (4) and the cover layer (9), which adhesive layer bonds the cover layer (9) to the second e-paper element (4), and in that a transparent filling material (86) is provided between the regions of the first e-paper element (2) not covered by the second e- paper element (4), which transparent filling material bonds the cover layer (9) to the first e-paper element (2).

3. Display device according to claim 1 , characterised in that the second e-paper element (4') comprises only one type of colour pigments.

4. Display device according to claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterised in that25 the first e-paper element (2) and the second e-paper element (4, 4') are designed as flexible display films.

5. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a transparent cover layer (9) is provided on the front side (44; 44') of the second e-paper element (4; 4') forming the viewing side.

6. Display device according to claim 5, characterized in that said transparent cover layer (9) is flexible.

7. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the TFT active matrix (5) is provided on the rear side of the first e- paper element (2) facing away from the viewing side.

8. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a first adhesive layer (81; 8T) is provided between the first e-paper element (2) and the second e-paper element (4„ 4'), which bonds the two e-paper elements (2, 4; 4') together at least in certain areas.

9. Display device according to claim 1 and claim 8, characterised in that the second e-paper element (4') covers the first e-paper element (2) substantially over its entire surface and in that both e-paper elements (2, 4') are bonded together substantially over their entire surface by means of the first adhesive layer (8T).

10. Display device according to claim 6 and claim 9, characterised in that a second adhesive layer (82') is provided between the second e-paper element (4') and the cover layer (9), which bonds the cover layer (9) to the second e-paper element (4') substantially over the entire surface.

11. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frame (42, 42‘) partially covers the outer surface region of the high- resolution e-paper element (2) located beneath it and leaves the surface thereof free within the frame (42, 42').

12. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the masking display (7, 7’) is designed in such a way that the inner segment (43, 43') has an arbitrary outer circumference contour (40, 62; 46, 62) so that the second, inner segment (43, 43') forms a freeform surface.

13. Vehicle, in particular motor vehicle, which is provided on an inner and / or outer surface, at least in certain regions, with a display device according to one of the preceding claims.

Images