Transparent electroluminescent display with mechanical gauge

• US 6,542,146 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Pala, Silviu, Chutorash, Richard, Roza, Robert M., Toffolo, Daniel J., Borzea, Marian O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/320,884
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 345/636, 345/156, 340/971, 340/972, 340/973, 340/438, 340/439, 340/440, 340/441
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• 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 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• 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: G01D 7/06 Luminous indications projected on a common screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals

Abstract

A transparent display screen can be positioned in a driver'"'"'s line of sight or in front of mechanical indicators on an instrument panel. The display screen preferably has a frame or rim member along only one edge of the screen. Since the display screen is transparent and does not include a frame or rim around its perimeter, the display screen makes information available without obstructing the driver'"'"'s view of the road. The single frame or rim member supports all of the row and column electrodes that are used to selectively illuminate the pixels on the display screen. The transparent display screen can be used effectively with one or more mechanical indicators positioned properly near the display screen. In one example, a single controller controls the screen, an associated filter and the mechanical indicators.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a panel having at least one reconfigurable portion;

a panel frame extending along only one side of said panel;

a plurality of row electrodes and a plurality of column electrodes supported by said panel frame and extending from said frame into said reconfigurable panel portion;

at least one mechanical indicator component positioned near said panel; and

a controller that controls said row and column electrodes to selectively generate a displayed image on said panel and controls said indicator component such that said indicator component and said displayed image provide desired information to a viewer of said panel,

wherein said panel is supported such that said panel is moveable between a first position where said indicator components are behind said panel and a second position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said panel is transparent.

3. The system of claim 1, including a filter positioned between said indicator component and said display panel.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said filter is controlled to selectively allow said indicator component to be visible in combination with a displayed image on said panel.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said filter prevents light from behind said display panel from interfering with the viewer'"'"'s ability to perceive a displayed image on the display panel.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said filter comprises a variable transmissive device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said row electrodes extend along said reconfigurable panel portion in a generally straight line in a first direction and said column electrodes extend along said reconfigurable panel portion in a generally straight line in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to said first direction.

8. The system of claim 1, including at least one panel portion that is not reconfigurable and wherein said second panel portion includes at least one icon that is selectively illuminated.

9. The system of claim 1, including gauge display elements positioned near said indicator components, said gauge display elements being selectively energized to provide a gauge display with said indicator components when said panel is in said second position.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical indicator includes illumination and the controller controls the illumination.

11. A display system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one mechanical indicator component that is controllable to move into at least two positions, said indicator component being positioned in the vehicle so as to be visible to a driver of the vehicle; and

a transparent display panel positioned near said indicator component and that is controllable to selectively display an image on said panel,

wherein said panel is movable between a first position at which said image and said indicator component are viewable in superposition by the driver to provide a visible indication of desired information and a second position spaced from said first position within a normal line of sight of the driver.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said indicator component comprises a needle that is rotatable into a plurality of positions.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said indicator component provides a second visible indication of desired information different from the first-mentioned indication when said panel is at said second position.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said panel includes a frame portion along only one side of said panel, said frame portion being out of the normal line of sight of the driver when said panel is at said second position, and wherein a plurality of column electrodes and a plurality of row electrodes are supported by said frame portion and extend into said panel.

15. A display system comprising:

a display panel having a perimeter and that is controllable to selectively display a visible image on said panel;

a frame along only a portion of said panel perimeter such that another portion of said panel has an edge that is not framed, said frame having a frame portion running along a single edge of said panel perimeter;

a first plurality of electrodes having respective first and second ends and extending along at least a reconfigurable portion of said panel, said first ends of said first plurality of electrodes being supported by said frame portion; and

a second plurality of electrodes having respective first and second ends and extending along at least said reconfigurable portion of said panel, said first ends of said second plurality of electrodes being supported by said frame portion, said first and second pluralities of electrodes forming a grid on said reconfigurable portion of said panel such that said first and second pluralities of electrodes are controlled to provide the visible image.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first plurality of electrodes also extend along a second portion of said panel that is not reconfigurable.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said second portion of said panel includes at least one icon electrode that is configured as an icon and is selectively controlled to provide a visible image of the icon.

18. The system of claim 15, further including at least one mechanical indicator component behind said panel, said indicator component being selectively movable relative to said panel to provide a visible indication of desired information to a view of the displayed image and said indicator component.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said second ends of said first plurality of electrodes are also supported by said frame portion.