Display device

• US 20050024342A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 8,094,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 the display and including an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display is configured to display information relevant to operation of a motor vehicle.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is convexly deformable.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is concavely deformable.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator layer is at least one of convexly deformable and concavely deformable.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein an area of the actuator layer is configured to receive the entry of the user input.

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

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

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

17. The display device according to claim 12, 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.

18. The display device according to claim 17, 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.

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

20. A steering wheel, comprising:

a display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on the display, the actuator layer including an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal.

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

a display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on the display, the actuator layer including an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal.

22. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on the display, the actuator layer including an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal.