Display device for a vehicle, and vehicle

• US 9,902,265 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 02/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG), Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Lathrop, William Brian, Mejia, Maria, Glaser, Erik, Coser, Nathaniel, Lu, Helen
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, William N
• Application Number:
  US13/471,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20120287663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: 362559, 362558, 362561, 362488, 362489, 362 2309, 362 231, 362 2313, 362 2316, 362 2317, 362 232, 362 2322, 362 85, 362464
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/343 Illumination of matrix displays
• 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 35/212 displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob

Abstract

A display device for a vehicle includes a display unit, a display layer, and a light guide.

Claims

1. A display device for a vehicle, comprising:

a display unit to emit a luminous depiction of variable image information including at least one of a text and a symbol, wherein the display unit includes a projection display unit;

a display layer, including a back surface and a front surface, to receive the luminous variable image information depiction at the back surface and to display the luminous variable image information depiction on the front surface, wherein the display layer includes a touch-sensitive surface adapted to generate electrical signals indicating a position where a user touches the front surface, and wherein the projection display unit is adapted to project the luminous variable image information depiction on the back surface of the display layer;

a light guide, comprising a fiber optic light pipe having a first surface and a second surface, to guide light received at the first surface to the second surface, with the first surface mounted on the front surface of the display layer to receive at least a part of the luminous variable image information depiction, wherein the light guide is fitted through a cavity that extends through the back surface of the display layer such that the light guide is illuminated by the projection display unit; and

a control knob mounted on the front surface of the display layer, the light guide arranged in the control knob, the second surface of the light guide being exposed at a surface of the control knob.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the projection display unit includes a liquid crystal display or a laser projection display.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide has a cylindrical shape, the first and second surfaces arranged as end faces of the cylindrical shape.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises one of a car, a motorcycle, a ship, and a plane.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the control knob includes a rotary encoder control knob to generate a signal in response to a rotation of the control knob.

6. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an optical lens arranged between the display unit and the back surface of the display layer.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the optical lens includes a Fresnel lens.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display layer includes a diffusion layer.

9. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an anti glare cover provided on the front surface of the display layer.

10. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a bezel provided on the front surface of the display layer.

11. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of the display layer is curved.

12. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display layer is curved.

13. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is arranged as a component of at least one of a climate control unit, an instrument cluster, a steering wheel control, a center console control, a passenger infotainment unit, and a driver assist control panel of the vehicle.

14. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the luminous variable image information depiction is directed exclusively toward one of a passenger and a driver, using one of a slanted second surface and a curved display layer.

15. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is positioned at a back side of a front seat for rear seat passengers.

16. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device provides a three-dimensional impression of the variable image information as an output to a user.

18. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the cavity extends through the diffusion layer, and wherein the first surface is flush with the diffusion layer.

17. A method of displaying variable image information in a vehicle, comprising:

emitting light depicting variable image information including at least one of a text and a symbol with a projection display unit, wherein the projection display unit projects the emitted light on a back surface of a display layer;

transferring the emitted light from the back surface of the display layer to a front surface of the display layer, wherein the display layer includes a touch-sensitive surface adapted to generate electrical signals indicating a position where a user touches the front surface; and

guiding the transferred light, using a fiber optic light pipe having a first surface mounted on the front surface of the display layer, to a second surface of the fiber optic light pipe, wherein a control knob is mounted on the front surface of the display layer, the fiber optic light pipe is arranged in the control knob, and the second surface of the fiber optic light pipe is exposed at a surface of the control knob, and wherein the fiber optic light pipe is fitted through a cavity that extends through the back surface of the display layer such that fiber optic light pipe is illuminated by the projection display unit.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the display layer includes a diffusion layer, wherein the cavity extends through the diffusion layer, and wherein the first surface is flush with the diffusion layer.