Flush-fitted instrument cluster for a motor vehicle

• US 20060114571A1
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Kiesewetter, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A flush-fitted instrument cluster for a motor vehicle includes a first display device, a second display device, and a reflecting optical combination device. The first display device (2) displays a first image located in a direct field of vision (3) of a viewer. The first image includes a background surface area (2c). The second display device (4; 40, 41) is arranged at an angle to the first display device (2) and displays a second image including a background surface area (40a, 42a; 41a, 43a). The reflecting optical combination device (5) selectively displays the second image in the field of vision (3) of the viewer with the first image. The first image and the second image are not completely overlapping in the field of vision (3) of the viewer to form an overlapping surface area (40a, 41a) and non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a). When the background surface area (40a, 42a; 41a, 43a) of the second display device (4; 40, 41) and the background surface area (2c) of the first display device (2) have varying degrees of luminance between the overlapping surface area (40a, 41a) and the non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a), at least one of transparency and brightness of the non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a) is adjusted to minimize an unwanted jump in brightness.

Claims

1. A flush-fitted instrument cluster for a motor vehicle, said instrument cluster comprising:

a first display device (2) displaying a first image located in a direct field of vision (3) of a viewer, said first image including a background surface area (2c);

a second display device (4;

40, 41) arranged at an angle to the first display device (2) and displaying a second image including a background surface area (40a, 42a;

41a, 43a); and

a reflecting optical combination device (5) selectively displaying the second image in the field of vision (3) of the viewer with the first image, the first image and the second image not completely overlapping in the field of vision (3) of the viewer to form an overlapping surface area (40a, 41a) and non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a), wherein at least one of transparency and brightness of the non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a) being adjusted to minimize an unwanted jump in brightness when the background surface area (40a, 42a;

41a, 43a) of the second display device (4;

40, 41) and the background surface area (2c) of the first display device (2) have varying degrees of luminance between the overlapping surface area (40a, 41a) and the non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a).

2. The instrument cluster as in claim 1, in which the one of the brightness and transparency of the non-overlapping surface area (42a, 43a) is adjusted to correspond to the brightness of the overlapping surface area (40a, 41a).

3. The instrument cluster as in claim 1, in which one of the brightness and transparency of the overlapping surface area (40a, 41a) is also controlled such that the brightness of the background surface area (40a, 42a;

41a, 43a) does not completely overlap.

4. The instrument cluster as in claim 1, in which one of the transparency and brightness of the background surface area (40a, 42a;

41a, 43a) of the second display device (4;

40, 41) is controlled to blank out the background surface area (40a, 42a;

41a, 43a) of the second display device (4;

40, 41).

5. The instrument cluster as in claim 1, in which the background surface area (40a, 42a;

41a, 43a) of the second display device (4;

40, 41) is darker than the background surface area (2c) of the first display device (2).

6. The instrument cluster as in claim 1, in which the second display device (4;

40, 41) consists of two spatially separated second display devices (40, 41) are positioned on lateral boundaries of the first display device (2) and which project partially beyond them.

7. The instrument cluster as in claim 6, in which the second display devices (40, 41) are round gauges.

8. The instrument cluster as in claim 1, in which said second display device (40, 41) is one of an illuminated display device and self-luminous display device.

9. The instrument cluster as in claim 1, in which said first display device (2) is an LED display device.