Cross-Car Beam Display Integration for Vehicle Interiors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Integrating large vehicle displays into vehicle interiors without compromising structural integrity or increasing the number of separate parts, while also ensuring safe crash behavior.

Innovation Solution

A display device where a matrix of color controllable light emitting units is attached to the cross-car beam, which serves as both a structural support and a back-cover, allowing for a wide, integrated display without additional housing, and accommodating electronic circuitry.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a large display is integrated into the vehicle interior using a separate back cover and mounting structure, then the display size and visibility are improved, but the structural integrity and crash safety of the vehicle are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay sizeVSAvoidstructural integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the display back cover with the cross-car beam, creating a unified structural component that serves both as a display mounting surface and as a structural support element for the vehicle body, thereby maintaining structural integrity while enabling large display integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cross-car beam is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides structural support for the vehicle body, serves as a mounting structure for the display, and acts as the back cover for the display device, eliminating the need for separate structural and display components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a separate mounting structure and back cover are used for the display, then the display can be securely mounted, but the number of separate parts and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidnumber of separate parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure, back cover, and structural support elements are merged into a single integrated cross-car beam assembly, reducing the number of separate parts while maintaining secure mounting capability through the unified structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cross-car beam serves as both the structural support and the display mounting structure, providing multiple functions (structural reinforcement, display attachment, back cover) through a single component, thereby reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3819155B1Display device for a vehicle interior including a cross car beam
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP3819155B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3819155B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B
  • EP3819155B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A display device as disclosed herein comprises a matrix of color controllable light emitting units covered by an at least partly transparent cover. Further, the display device comprises a back-cover for mechanically supporting the matrix of color controllable light emitting units and to cover the side of the matrix of color controllable light emitting units opposite the side of the transparent cover. The matrix of color controllable light emitting units is interleaved between the at least partly transparent cover and the back-cover. With regards to the above advantages, the inventors propose that the back-cover is a cross-car beam of the vehicle.