Display device

• US 8,094,127 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Young, Sarah
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US10/632,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20050024342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,085 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179, 345/184, 178 1801- 1803, 715700-702
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/122 Instrument input devices with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/11 Graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/122 with reconfigurable control functions, e.g. reconfigurable menus
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1442 Emulation of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1515 Reconfigurable dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/158 Haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/193 for improving awareness
• 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 35/20 Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

A display device includes a display, e.g., for displaying information relevant to the operation of a motor vehicle, on the display, an actuator layer being arranged, the operating surface geometry of which is deformable as a function of a control signal.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a display; and

an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display and including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a logic circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer;

wherein the display is configured to display information relevant to operation of a motor vehicle.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is transparent.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal includes an optical signal.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal includes light.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal includes an electrical field.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal includes an electromagnetic field.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is statically deformable at least for a duration of the control signal.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured to receive entry of user input.

9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein an area of the actuator layer is configured to receive the entry of the user input.

10. The display device according to claim 8, further comprising a computation device configured to deform the actuator layer in accordance with the control signal at a point of contact of the actuator layer touched by the user.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the computation device is configured to deform the actuator layer at the point of contact only in response to an input via the display by the user by touch at the point of contact.

12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer includes a sol-gel.

13. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is controllable by haptic feedback.

14. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is deformable by pressure with a force that exceeds a limiting value.

15. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is configured to produce an operating element.

16. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the operating surface geometry is deformable in response to the control signal.

17. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising the computation device configured to generate the control signal, the operative surface geometry deformable in response to the control signal generated by the computation device.

18. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the operating surface geometry is deformable in response to an electronic control signal.

19. A steering wheel, comprising:

a display device arranged on the steering wheel, the display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display, the actuator layer including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a logic circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer.

20. A passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device arranged within the passenger compartment, the display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display, the actuator layer including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a logic circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer.

21. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device arranged within the motor vehicle, the display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display, the actuator layer including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a control circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer.