Display device for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device for a vehicle, comprising: a display surface, which has a display side for reproducing information in the direction of a viewer and a rear side facing away from the display side; and a light-guiding apparatus having at least one light source; wherein: the light-guiding apparatus has at least one transparent light-guiding layer, which extends in front of the display side and covers the display side to at least some extent; the at least one light-guiding layer has at least one coupling-out region in at least one partial surface region of the display side for coupling out the light of the at least one light source in the direction of the viewer; and the at least one coupling-out region is designed for superimposing the information reproduced via the display side with the coupled-out light.

Description

[0001] DISPLAY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

[0002] The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle.

[0003] Display devices for vehicles are already known from the prior art, which have a display surface with a display side for displaying information towards a viewer and a rear side facing away from this display side.

[0004] It is also known from the prior art to display dedicated areas of the display surface in the area of ​​the display device for vehicles for the representation of, for example, warning symbols and other information symbols for a viewer.

[0005] A disadvantage, however, is that the entire display device must be operated in order to display the warning symbols, for example, via the display device, which requires increased energy consumption. Another disadvantage is that the actual display area reduces the available display area for information due to the provision of dedicated display areas for the display of warning symbols. Furthermore, according to the prior art, there is the disadvantage that the display of the warning symbols is dependent on the functionality of the entire display device. If this fails, no warning or information symbols can be displayed to the viewer.

[0006] Based on the aforementioned disadvantages of the known display devices from the prior art, the present invention has the object of creating an improved display device for reproducing information and displaying light signals for a viewer, wherein the display device according to the invention can display light signals independently of the actual display surface for reproducing information and in the area of ​​the actual display surface.

[0007] The object of the present invention is achieved with a display device for a vehicle with a display surface which has a display side for displaying information in the direction of a viewer and a rear side facing away from this display side and with a light guide device with at least one light source.

[0008] According to the invention, the light-guiding device has at least one transparent light-guiding layer which extends in front of the display side and at least partially covers the display side, wherein the at least one light-guiding layer has at least one coupling-out region in at least one partial area of ​​the display side for coupling out the light of the at least one light source in the direction of the viewer, and wherein the at least one coupling-out region is designed for the information reproduced via the display side to be superimposed by the coupled-out light.

[0009] According to the invention, the light-guiding layer, which has an output region in a partial area of ​​the display side, enables the light-guiding device to emit or transmit additional light signals in the direction of the viewer of the display side by arranging the light-guiding device in front of the actual display side of the display surface. The light can be superimposed on the image information of the actual display side via the at least one output region, so that the reproduced information on the display side is still visible in all areas, but is superimposed with an additional light signal for the viewer in the area of ​​the at least one output region.

[0010] The light signal and the at least one output region can also be designed such that, due to the light output via the at least one output region, the information reproduced via the display surface is completely overlaid by the light emitted by the light-guiding layer, and thus only the light signal emitted via the light-guiding device is visible to the viewer in the region of the output region. Furthermore, the display device provided according to the invention also enables a viewer to output light signals solely via the light-guiding layer when no information at all is displayed via the display surface. The light-guiding device thus forms an additional layer, independent of the actual display surface, for outputting light information to the viewer.The output of the light information to the viewer via the light guide device can be independent of the information displayed on the display side, for example, with optical warning signals being issued to the viewer. Alternatively, the output of the light information via the light guide device can be deliberately coordinated with the information displayed on the display side, for example, to alert the user to the information presented on the display side of the display surface or to highlight certain information.

[0011] According to the invention, it can be provided that the display surface is transmissive at least in a first partial area and wherein the information to be displayed on the display surface is projected onto the back of the display surface by a rear projection device.

[0012] It can also be provided that the display surface is reflective at least in a second partial area and wherein the information to be displayed on the display surface is projected onto the display side of the display surface by a front-side projection device.

[0013] Of course, in preferred embodiments according to the invention, the display surface can be designed either to be fully transmissive or fully reflective.

[0014] According to the invention, the display device can be provided with a projection device for projecting the information to be displayed onto the display surface. The projection device can be selected from the group of an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector, or a DLP projector. The abbreviation LCD stands for "Liquid Crystal Display" and thus represents a liquid crystal display. LCOS stands for "Liquid Crystal On Silicone," LBS stands for "Laser Beam Scanning," and DLP stands for "Digital Light Processing."

[0015] According to the invention, it can further be provided that the display device additionally has a transparent cover substrate layer, which is arranged in front of the light-guiding device in the direction of the viewer and at least partially covers the light-guiding device. The cover substrate layer can protect the actual display surface from environmental influences and mechanical stresses and can serve, for example, to reinforce or support the actual display surface.

[0016] It can be provided that the light-guiding device and the display surface, and preferably the cover substrate layer, are laminated together. The lamination of the display surface and the cover substrate layer ensures that a large portion of the surface of the cover substrate layer is in contact with the display side. This ensures that the cover substrate layer cannot detach from the display surface and also prevents the layers from shifting relative to one another. Furthermore, the lamination creates a bond between the cover substrate layer and the display surface, which enhances the actual display surface and, in particular, increases the flexural rigidity of the display surface.

[0017] The cover substrate layer can be formed as a cover glass layer.

[0018] The at least one output region can be configured to display symbols. According to the invention, symbols include, for example, arrows, an exclamation mark, a caution symbol, a line, a square, a circle, etc.

[0019] The at least one light coupling-out region of the light-guiding device can be formed by introducing an optical microstructure in partial regions of the at least one light-guiding layer.

[0020] It can be provided that the at least one light output region of the light guide device is formed by the introduction of an optical microstructure by means of nanoimprinting lithography.

[0021] Preferably, the at least one coupling-out region is formed by forming a microstructure, such as by means of nanoimprinting lithography, on the side of the light-guiding device facing the viewer and away from the display surface. Forming the at least one light-guiding region by introducing a microstructure on the guide layer facing the viewer has the advantage that the light from the at least one light source of the light-guiding device is emitted directly toward the viewer and does not have to be reflected back toward the viewer, for example, by the display layer.

[0022] Furthermore, it can be provided that the at least one coupling-out region is formed by introducing nanoparticles into the light-guiding layer. The nanoparticles can be introduced into defined areas of the light guide, for example, during the production of the light guide, if the light guide is in the form of a liquid thermoplastic, and the light guide can be cured by cooling.

[0023] It can be provided that the at least one light-guiding layer is formed from a PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) or a PC (polycarbonate) film.

[0024] The at least one light source can have a defined light color, preferably a spectral color.

[0025] It can further be provided that the at least one light source has at least one RGB light source, such as in particular an RGB LED, for actively controlling the light color coupled into the at least one light-guiding layer. The provision of an RGB light source has the advantage that different colored light signals can be output to the viewer via the output region of the light-guiding device. For example, the light color can be changed by means of the RGB light source depending on a warning status for the viewer. For example, a green light signal can be used to convey to the viewer that there are no warnings and, for example, the vehicle electronics of a vehicle are not detecting any errors.If a fault condition occurs that does not require immediate action from the observer, this can be indicated by a yellow or orange light signal (e.g., refill engine oil, etc.). For urgent warnings, the light color can be red to provide the driver with an urgent warning via the light signal.

[0026] Preferably, it can be provided that at least one associated light source is assigned to each output region of the light-guiding layer in order to actively illuminate each output region via the respectively assigned at least one light source. This has the advantage that several output regions can be provided in the light-guiding layer, which are independently operable to output light signals by means of the respectively assigned light source.

[0027] Furthermore, it can be provided that the display surface is designed as an LCD panel, with a backlighting unit arranged on the rear side for backlighting the LCD panel. Alternatively, the display surface can be designed according to the invention as an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) panel or as an e-ink (bistable) display. In the case of the e-ink display, it can particularly preferably be provided that the e-ink panel is also illuminated by the light-guiding device.

[0028] Preferably, the at least one light source of the light-guiding device is arranged outside the region of the display surface, and wherein the light source preferably feeds light generated by the light source into the at least one light-guiding layer via at least one side surface of the at least one light-guiding layer.

[0029] The light-guiding device can be designed as a continuous light-guiding layer that covers the entire display surface in the direction of the viewer. Preferably, several separate light guides are formed by introducing recesses or cuts into the light-guiding layer, the light guides being separated from one another by the cuts or cuts. According to the invention, it can be provided that the microstructures or microparticles introduced into the at least one light-guiding layer are arranged or formed in the form of a symbol in the surface plane of the light-guiding layer.

[0030] The display surface and the light-guiding device can be formed from an elastically deformable material to realize a bendable or flexible display device for a vehicle.

[0031] The following figures show exemplary embodiments of display devices for a vehicle according to the invention.

[0032] They show:

[0033] Fig. 1A shows a first exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the invention comprising a transmissive display surface;

[0034] Fig. 1B shows a second exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the invention with a reflective display surface;

[0035] Fig. 1C shows a third exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the invention, wherein the display surface is formed by an LCD display with backlighting device;

[0036] Fig. ID shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a display device according to the invention, wherein the display surface is designed as an OLED panel with an optional cover layer;

[0037] Fig. 2A shows a further embodiment of a display device for a vehicle according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 2B shows the embodiment of the display device according to Fig. 2A in a front view from the direction of the observer;

[0038] Fig. 3 shows another display device according to the invention in the view of an observer.

[0039] Fig. 1A shows a first exemplary embodiment of a display device for a vehicle. The display device according to the invention has a display surface 1 with a display side 11 for displaying information in the direction of a viewer 9 and a rear side 12 facing away from the latter. The display device further comprises a light-guiding device 2 with at least one light source 21, wherein in Figure 1 only a single light source 21 is shown for the sake of clarity. The light-guiding device 2 has at least one transparent light-guiding layer 20, which extends in front of the display side 11 and at least partially covers the display side 11 of the display surface. In Figures 1, the light-guiding layer 20 covers the entire surface of the display surface 1. However, according to the invention, deviating embodiments can also be provided wherein only a partial area of ​​the display side

[0040] 11 is covered by the light guide device 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the at least one light-guiding layer 20 has at least one coupling-out region 23 in at least one partial area of ​​the display side 11 for coupling out the light of the at least one light source 21 in the direction of the viewer 9. The at least one coupling-out region 23 is designed to superimpose the information reproduced via the display side 11 with the light coupled out of the light-guiding layer 20.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 1A, the display surface 1 is designed to be transmissive over its entire surface, with the information to be displayed on the display surface being projected onto the back by a rear projection device 8

[0043] 12 of the display surface 1. In Fig. 1A, the image information emitted by the rear projection device 8 onto the rear side 12 of the display surface 1 is shown as arrows with continuous lines, wherein the light coupled out via the illustrated coupling-out region 23 in the direction of the viewer 9 is shown as dashed lines.

[0044] The illustrated exemplary second embodiment of the display device according to the invention according to Fig. 1B differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 1A in that, according to Fig. 1B, the display surface 1 is designed to be fully reflective, wherein the information of the display surface 1 to be displayed via the display side 11 is projected onto the display side 11 of the display surface by a front-side projection device 8, as shown in Fig. 1B by means of arrows with continuous lines. The projection device 8 can, as shown, be arranged outside the actual display surface 1 and particularly preferably in an area invisible to the viewer 9. The projection devices 8 for projecting the information to be displayed on the display surface 1 can be, for example, an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector or a DLP projector.

[0045] As an alternative to the aforementioned projection devices 8, the display surface 1 can be designed as an LCD panel, OLED panel, or, for example, as an e-ink display. The information to be output via the display side 11 is not projected onto the display surface, but rather generated within the display surface.

[0046] Fig. 1C shows a third exemplary embodiment, wherein the display surface 1 is designed as an LCD panel and further comprises a backlight unit 5 on its rear side 12 for backlighting the LCD panel. Fig. 1D shows a further exemplary embodiment according to the invention, wherein the display surface 1 is designed as a self-luminous OLED panel.

[0047] As shown in Figures ID and 2A, the display devices according to the invention can further comprise a transparent cover substrate layer 3, which is arranged in front of the light-guiding device 2 in the direction of the viewer 9 and at least partially covers the light-guiding device 2.

[0048] The cover substrate layer can, of course, be formed as a cover glass layer. Furthermore, it can be provided that the light-guiding device 2 and the display surface 1, and preferably the cover substrate layer 3, are laminated together.

[0049] As shown in Figures 2B and 3, the coupling-out regions 23 of the light-guiding device 2 can be designed to display symbols 25, for example in the form of arrows or triangles.

[0050] As shown in Figures 2, it can be provided that at least one associated light source 21 is assigned to each outcoupling region 23 of the light-guiding layer 20 in order to actively illuminate each outcoupling region 23 via the respectively assigned at least one light source 21.

[0051] As shown in the middle of Fig. 3, it can also be provided that several light sources 21 are provided to illuminate a coupling-out area 23.

[0052] As shown in all figures, it can preferably be provided that the at least one light source 21 of the light-guiding device 2 is arranged outside the region of the actual display surface 1 and wherein the at least one light source 21 preferably couples light generated by the light source 21 into the at least one light-guiding layer via at least one side surface 27 of the at least one light-guiding layer 20.

[0053] As schematically illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, the light-guiding device 2 can be designed as a continuous light-guiding layer 20, which covers the entire display surface 1 in the direction of the viewer 9, and wherein a plurality of light guides 2 are formed by introducing recesses or cuts 29 into the light-guiding layer 20, wherein the light guides 2 are delimited from one another by the cuts or cutouts 29 such that the coupled-in light cannot be exchanged between the various mutually delimited light guides 2. In the figures, the light beams emitted by the light sources 21 are represented as dashed arrows.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Display device for a vehicle, with - a display surface (1) having a display side (11) for displaying information towards a viewer (9) and a rear side (12) facing away from the latter; - a light-guiding device (2) with at least one light source (21); - wherein the light-guiding device (2) has at least one transparent light-guiding layer (20) which extends in front of the display side (11) and at least partially covers the display side (11), - wherein the at least one light-guiding layer (20) has at least one coupling-out region (23) in at least one partial area of the display side (11) for coupling out the light of the at least one light source (21) in the direction of the viewer (9), and - wherein the at least one coupling-out region (23) is designed to superimpose the information reproduced via the display side (11) by the coupled-out light.

2. Display device according to claim 1, wherein the display surface (1) is transmissive at least in a first partial area and wherein the information to be displayed on the display surface (1) is projected onto the rear side (12) of the display surface (1) by a rear projection device (8).

3. Display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display surface (1) is reflective at least in a second partial area and wherein the information to be displayed on the display surface (1) is projected onto the display side (11) of the display surface (1) by a front-side projection device (8).

4. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device (1) has a projection device (8) for projecting the information to be displayed on the display surface (1), wherein the Projection device (8) is selected from the group of an LCD projector, an LCOS projector, an LBS projector or a DLP projector.

5. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display device further comprises a transparent cover substrate layer (3) which is arranged in front of the light guide device (2) in the direction of the viewer (9) and at least partially covers the light guide device (2).

6. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light-guiding device (2) and the display surface (1) and preferably the cover substrate layer (3) are laminated together.

7. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover substrate layer (3) is formed as a cover glass layer.

8. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one coupling-out region (23) is designed to display symbols (25).

9. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light coupling-out region (23) of the light-guiding device (2) is formed by the introduction of an optical microstructure in partial regions of the at least one light-guiding layer (20).

10. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light output region (23) of the light guide device (2) is formed by the introduction of an optical microstructure by means of nanoimprinting lithography.

11. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one coupling-out region (23) is formed by forming a microstructure on the side of the light-conducting layer (20) facing the viewer (9) and away from the display surface (11).

12. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one coupling-out region (23) is formed by introducing nanoparticles into the light-guiding layer (20) in the at least one coupling-out region.

13. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light-guiding layer (20) is formed from a PMMA or a PC film.

14. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source (21) has a defined light color, preferably a spectral color.

15. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source (21) has at least one RGB LED for actively controlling the light color coupled into the at least one light-guiding layer (20).

16. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each coupling-out region (23) of the light-guiding layer (20) is assigned at least one associated light source (21) in order to actively illuminate each coupling-out region (23) via the respectively assigned at least one light source (21).

17. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display surface (1) is designed as an LCD panel and a backlighting unit (5) for backlighting the LCD panel is arranged on the rear side (12).

18. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display surface (1) is designed as an OLED panel.

19. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display surface is designed as an e-ink display.

20. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source (21) of the light-guiding device (2) is arranged outside the region of the display surface (1) and wherein the at least one light source (21) feeds light generated by the light source (21) into the at least one light-guiding layer (20) preferably via at least one side surface (27) of the at least one light-guiding layer (20).

21. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light-guiding device (2) is designed as a continuous light-guiding layer (20) which covers the entire display surface (1) in the direction of the viewer (9) and wherein a plurality of light guides (2) are formed by introducing recesses or cuts (29) into the light-guiding layer (20), wherein the light guides (2) are delimited from one another by the cuts or cutouts (29).

22. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the microstructures introduced into the at least one light-guiding layer (20) are arranged in the surface plane of the light-guiding layer (20) in the form of a symbol (25).

23. Display device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the display surface (1) and the light-guiding device (2) are formed from an elastically deformable material.

Images