Adjustable display unit in a vehicle

• US 20060249973A1
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Welter, Horst, Meier-Arendt, Guido, Dreyer, Jurgen, Moll, Winfried
• Application Number:
  US11/373,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20060249973A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/656 the user being a passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted

Abstract

The invention relates to a display unit (1) having a display panel (2) which displays information from an electronic appliance in a vehicle and which is arranged between a first and a second viewer and whose display panel (2) can be oriented either to the first or to the second viewer. In line with the invention, the display unit (1) is provided with a swivel device (4, 12) for automatic orientation. The swivel device (4, 12) is in turn connected to a user identification device which identifies whether the first or the second viewer is currently using the electronic appliance. The swivel device (4, 12) orients the display panel (2) automatically to the viewer identified as the user.

Claims

1. A display unit (1) having a display panel (2) which displays information from an electronic appliance in a vehicle and which is arranged between a first and a second viewer and whose display panel (2) can be oriented either to the first or the second viewer, characterized in that the display unit (1) is provided with a swivel device (4, 12) for automatic orientation, in that the swivel device (4, 12) is connected to a user identification device which identifies whether the first or the second viewer is currently using the electronic appliance, and in that the swivel device (4, 12) automatically orients the display panel (2) to the viewer identified as the user.

2. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic orientation is effected only if a piece of information which is connected to the use of the electronic appliance is output on the display unit (1) for the viewer identified as the user.

3. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the automatic orientation is effected only for prescribed control operations.

4. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein besides the automatic orientation it is also possible for the display panel (2) to be oriented manually.

5. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 4, wherein after the first or second viewer has oriented the display panel (2) manually the associated setting values for the swivel device (4, 12) are stored for the viewer and are taken into account for the next automatic orientation.

6. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swivel device (4, 12) contains at least one adjustable-length reciprocating element (4) which is attached to the back of the display unit (1) or of the display panel (2).

7. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein two reciprocating elements (4) are attached to the display unit (1) or to the display panel (2) at the same distance symmetrically with respect to an axis of rotation (A).

8. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein two reciprocating elements (4) are attached to the display unit (1) or to the display panel (2) along a line (L, R) running parallel to the axis of rotation (A).

9. The display unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swivel device contains a ball-and-socket joint (9) which can be adjusted by motor.