Vehicle Display Surround Structure for Cover Glass Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle display devices with touch panels face a high risk of breakage due to head collisions, especially when the impact occurs on the edge portion of the cover glass, as existing configurations assume impacts are orthogonal to the surface, neglecting diagonal upper impacts that concentrate force on a small area, leading to Hertz fracture rather than bending fracture.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle display device configuration with a surrounding member that has a tubular shape surrounding the display unit and a cover member with a plate shape, where the upper viewing side end of the surrounding member projects by 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm from the cover member's surface, redirecting impact forces away from the edge of the cover member, thus reducing the likelihood of breakage without increasing the bezel width.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover member is made of tempered glass with a touch panel for improving display operability, then the visibility and operability are improved, but the risk of breakage due to head collisions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surrounding member acts as an intermediary protective structure between the cover member and the external environment. It provides a protective barrier that absorbs and distributes impact forces, preventing direct transmission to the cover member while maintaining touch panel functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The surrounding member is positioned to protrude before the cover member surface, creating a buffer zone that cushions incoming impacts. This prior cushioning structure absorbs impact energy before it reaches the vulnerable cover member, reducing breakage risk while preserving touch operability.
2Reliability
If the surrounding member is designed to protect the cover member from impact, then the reliability is improved, but the bezel width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surrounding member is designed with non-uniform projection: it protrudes more at the upper viewing side end (0.1-2.0 mm) where head collisions most frequently occur, while maintaining minimal projection at other areas. This localized protection provides impact resistance where needed without uniformly increasing bezel width.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective function is achieved by utilizing the depth dimension (projection from cover member surface) rather than only the width dimension. The surrounding member protrudes 0.1-2.0 mm in the depth direction at critical areas, providing protection without expanding the lateral bezel width.
3Reliability
If the upper viewing side end of the surrounding member projects by 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm from the cover member surface, then the risk of cover member breakage is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surrounding member integrates multiple functions: it provides impact protection, defines the display boundary, and serves as a mounting structure for the cover member. By combining these functions into a single component with a protruding design, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving enhanced protection against Hertz fracture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively reduces the risk of cover member breakage during head collisions by displacing the impact force downward, preventing direct action on the edge portion and maintaining a slim bezel design for improved aesthetics and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
redirecting impact forces away from the edge of the cover member, thus reducing the likelihood of breakage without increasing the bezel width
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle display device includes a display unit, a surrounding member, and a cover member. The surrounding member is disposed to surround a periphery of the display unit and has an opening at an end on a viewing side. The cover member is disposed on a display surface of the display unit on the viewing side and covers the opening of the surrounding member. The surrounding member does not cover a surface of the cover member on the viewing side in a direction normal to the surface of the cover member. The surrounding member includes an upper surrounding portion located above the display unit. An upper viewing side end of the upper surrounding portion projects from the surface of the cover member in the direction normal to the surface of the cover member by a length of 0.1 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less relative to the surface of the cover member.