Display device for a motor vehicle

• US 9,205,743 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Rahe, Christian, Fotso Fotso, Herve Serges, Lux, Stefan, Go, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, Shirley
• Application Number:
  US11/629,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20090015395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,843 Days
• Field of Search: 340/461, 340/438, 340/439
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• 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

Abstract

A display device for a motor vehicle includes a display control for generating a first image signal, an image multiplexer for combining the first image signal with a second image signal and for outputting a mixed image signal, and a screen for representing an image depending on the mixed image signal.

Claims

1. A display device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display control which, in operation, generates a first image signal;

an image multiplexer which, in operation, combines the first image signal with a second image signal and outputs a mixed image signal;

a monitor which, in operation, displays an image as a function of the mixed image signal, the monitor having at least one region; and

a control-signal interface which, in operation, reads in a control signal having a first control signal component controlling an electromechanical display, a second control signal component controlling an infotainment display, and a third control signal component controlling a warning display;

wherein, for each of the at least one region of the monitor, an image corresponding to the second image signal is displayed if there is no image corresponding to the first image signal.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the image multiplexer, in operation, prioritizes the first image signal with respect to the second image signal.

3. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an image-input interface which, in operation, reads in the second image signal.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the image-input interface includes a video interface.

5. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the image-input interface includes at least one of (a) an RGB interface, (b) an LVDS interface and/or (c) a DVI interface.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device, in operation, generates the first image signal as a function of the control signal.

7. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a diaphragm covering a portion of the electromechanical display, the control signal further having a diaphragm control signal component controlling the diaphragm.

8. A display device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display control which, in operation, generates a first image signal;

an image-input interface which, in operation, reads in a second image signal;

an image multiplexer which, in operation, combines the first image signal with the second image signal and outputs a mixed image signal;

a monitor which, in operation, displays an image as a function of the mixed image signal, the monitor having at least one region; and

a control-signal interface which, in operation, reads in a control signal having a first control signal component controlling an electromechanical display, a second control signal component controlling an infotainment display, and a third control signal component controlling a warning display;

wherein, for each of the at least one region of the monitor, an image corresponding to the second image signal is displayed if there is no image corresponding to the first image signal.

9. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device including;

a display control which, in operation, generates a first image signal;

an image multiplexer which, in operation, combines the first image signal with a second image signal and outputs a mixed image signal;

a monitor which, in operation, displays an image as a function of the mixed image signal, the monitor having at least one region; and

a control-signal interface which, in operation, reads in a control signal having a first control signal component controlling an electromechanical display, a second control signal component controlling an infotainment display, and a third control signal component controlling a warning display;

wherein, for each of the at least one region of the monitor, an image corresponding to the second image signal is displayed if there is no image corresponding to the first image signal.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, the first control signal component including at least one of (a) a speed of the motor vehicle and/or (b) a rotational speed of an engine of the motor vehicle.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, the third control signal component including at least one of (a) a temperature of an engine coolant, (b) an oil pressure of the motor vehicle, (c) a fill level of a tank of the motor vehicle, (d) at least one of (i) an instantaneous and/or (ii) an average fuel consumption of the motor vehicle, (e) a driven distance, (f) an average driving speed, (g) an ABS warning signal, (h) a closing status of a door of the motor vehicle, (i) a status of a parking brake, (j) a status of a safety belt, (k) a status of an airbag and/or (l) a signal of a driver-assistance system.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising an infotainment system including an image-output interface connected to an image-input interface of the display device by a data link.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the infotainment system, in operation, generates the second image signal.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the second image signal includes an image signal displaying information of at least one of (a) a navigation system, (b) a radio, (c) a DVD player, (d) a CD player, (e) a telephone, (f) a TV module and/or (g) an air-condition system.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a rearview camera connected to at least one of (a) an image-input interface of the display device and/or (b) an infotainment system of the motor vehicle by a data link, the second image signal including a video signal generatable by the rearview camera.

16. The display device according to claim 9, further comprising a diaphragm covering a portion of the electromechanical display, the control signal further having a diaphragm control signal component controlling the diaphragm.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device including;

a display control which, in operation, generates a first image signal;

an image-input interface which, in operation, reads in a second image signal;

an image multiplexer which, in operation, combines the first image signal with the second image signal and outputs a mixed image signal;

a monitor which, in operation, displays an image as a function of the mixed image signal, the monitor having at least one region; and

a control-signal interface which, in operation, reads in a control signal having a first control signal component controlling an electromechanical display, a second control signal component controlling an infotainment display, and a third control signal component controlling a warning display;

wherein, for each of the at least one region of the monitor, an image corresponding to the second image signal is displayed if there is no image corresponding to the first image signal.

18. A method for displaying an image on a display device for a motor vehicle, comprising:

generating, by a display control, a first image signal;

combining, by an image multiplexer, the first image signal with a second image signal

outputting, by the image multiplexer, a mixed image signal;

displaying, by a monitor, an image as a function of the mixed image signal, the monitor having at least one region; and

reading in, by a control-signal interface, a control signal having a first control signal component for controlling an electromechanical display, a second control signal component for controlling an infotainment display, and a third control signal component for controlling a warning display;

wherein, for each of the at least one region of the monitor, an image corresponding to the second image signal is displayed if there is no image corresponding to the first image signal.

19. The method of claim 18, the first control signal component including at least one of (a) a speed of the motor vehicle and/or (b) a rotational speed of an engine of the motor vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18, the third control signal component including at least one of (a) a temperature of an engine coolant, (b) an oil pressure of the motor vehicle, (c) a fill level of a tank of the motor vehicle, (d) at least one of (i) an instantaneous and/or (ii) an average fuel consumption of the motor vehicle, (e) a driven distance, (f) an average driving speed, (g) an ABS warning signal, (h) a closing status of a door of the motor vehicle, (i) a status of a parking brake, (j) a status of a safety belt, (k) a status of an airbag and/or (l) a signal of a driver-assistance system.