Display device especially for a motor vehicle

• US 20020041273A1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Oelrich, Christof, Dirksen, Susanne, Holz, Roland
• Granted Patent: US 6,756,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0087 around two axes
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/00 Maps; Plans; Charts; Diagrams, e.g. route diagram star maps G09B27/04; devices for holding or supporting maps A47B97/02; for computing purposes G06G1/14, G09B1/16; display boards G09F

Abstract

A display device, especially for a motor vehicle, includes a display unit a display controller and at least one control unit, with which the image format of the display unit can be controlled. The display unit is configured such that it can be moved to enable different display fields to be viewed.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a display housing including a transparent opening;

a display unit mounted within said display housing and including a display area larger than said opening; and

a display controller for providing display signals to said display unit, said display signals generating display images of selected display data in assigned display fields of said display area;

wherein said display unit is moveable with respect to said display housing for viewing data displayed in said display fields of said display area through said transparent opening.

2. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said display device is arranged to be moved manually.

3. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said display area of said display unit is spherical.

4. A display device as specified in claim 3 wherein said display unit is a spherical shell.

5. A display device as specified in claim 1 wherein said display device is responsive to manual touching, and wherein said display device includes locations for activation of movement of said display by touching.

6. A display device according to claim 1 further including a control unit for controlling movement of said display unit in said display housing.

7. A display device as specified in claim 6 wherein said control unit is a trackball.

8. A display device as specified in claim 6 wherein said control unit is a joystick.

9. A display device as specified in claim 1 wherein said display unit is a touch screen display.

10. A display device as specified in claim 1 wherein motion of said display unit is limited by a stop mechanism.

11. A display device as specified in claim 1 wherein said housing is arranged as part of the steering mechanism of a vehicle.

12. A display device as specified in claim 11 wherein said display housing comprises a spherical shell and wherein a steering wheel is mounted on said shell.

13. A display device as specified in claim 12, wherein said steering wheel is coupled to a steer-by-wire steering arrangement.