DISPLAY DEVICE

Abstract

A display device for a vehicle, in particular for the placement in an instrument panel region of the vehicle. The display device includes a display element having an electronic display element, a cover element being situated at a surface of the display element, and a frame element, which at least partly, in particular circumferentially, surrounds the cover element. The frame element is connected via a first bonded joint to the cover element, and the frame element is connected via a second bonded joint to the carrier element.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A display device for a vehicle, for placement in an instrument panel region of the vehicle, the display device comprising: a cover element; a display element having an electronic display element; a frame element; and a carrier element, the cover element being situated at a surface of the display element, the frame element at least partly surrounding the cover element circumferentially, the frame element being connected to the cover element via a first bonded joint, and the frame element being connected to the carrier element via a second bonded joint.

19. The display device as recited in claim 18, wherein the frame element is connected to the cover element via a double-sided adhesive tape, as the first bonded joint.

20. The display device as recited in claim 18, wherein the frame element is connected to the carrier element via a liquid adhesive as the second bonded joint.

21. The display device as recited in claim 18, wherein the frame element has a connection section, the frame element is connected via the connection section to a connection section of the cover element and to a connection section of the carrier element.

22. The display device as recited in claim 21, wherein a first side of the connection section of the frame element is connected to the connection section of the cover element, and a second side of the connection section of the frame element facing away from the first side is connected to the connection section of the carrier element.

23. The display device as recited in claim 21, wherein the connection section of the cover element, the connection section of the frame element, and the connection section of the carrier element are situated behind one another when viewed in an assembly direction.

24. The display device as recited in claim 21, wherein the frame element includes a framing section configured to frame the cover element, the framing section adjoining the connection section of the frame element under a predefined angle at an end of the connection section of the frame element.

25. The display device as recited in claim 21, wherein the cover element has a cover section, the cover section covering the display element, and the connection section of the cover element adjoins the cover section and projects beyond the display element.

26. The display device as recited in claim 21, wherein the carrier element has a carrier bottom and side walls which adjoin the carrier bottom, the connection section of the carrier element adjoins the side walls, and the connection section of the carrier element extends under a predefined angle to the side walls perpendicular to the side walls.

27. The display device as recited in claim 26, wherein a body of the display element is situated at least partly inside a volume which is restricted by the carrier bottom and the side walls of the carrier element.

28. The display device as recited in claim 21, wherein the connection section of the frame element is provided with a multitude of slots.

29. The display device as recited in claim 18, wherein the carrier element is at least partly situated in a housing element, and the frame element is connected via a mechanical connection to the housing element.

30. The display device as recited in claim 29, wherein the frame element is connected to the housing element via a mechanical plug-in connection, the plug-in connection being a snap-in connection, as the mechanical connection.

31. The display device as recited in claim 29, wherein the frame element has a connection section, the frame element is connected via the connection section to a connection section of the cover element and to a connection section of the carrier element, and wherein the frame element has a housing section for connection to the housing element, the housing section extending under a predefined angle on a side of the connection section of the frame element facing away from a framing section.

32. The display device as recited in claim 31, wherein the housing element has a housing bottom and double walls adjoining the housing bottom, the carrier element is at least partly situated inside a volume which is restricted by the housing bottom and the double walls, and an intermediate region of the double walls is provided to accommodate the housing section of the frame element.

33. The display device as recited in claim 32, wherein at least one snap-in element is provided in the intermediate region of the double walls of the housing element in each case, which cooperates with the housing section of the frame element for a mechanical connection between the frame element and the housing element.

34. The display device as recited in claim 32, wherein at least one spring element is provided in the intermediate region of the double walls of the housing element, which exerts pressure on the housing section of the frame element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] FIG. 1 schematically shows a preferred example embodiment of a display device according to the present invention in a perspective view.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a cutaway of a preferred example embodiment of a display device according to the present invention in a schematic sectional view.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a cutaway of a frame element of a preferred example embodiment of a display device according to the present invention in a schematic sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0042] FIG. 1 broadly outlines a preferred embodiment of a display device 100 according to the present invention in a schematic and perspective view.

[0043] Display device 100 includes a display element 120 having an electronic display element, e.g., a TFT or LCD display. With the aid of a mounting element 101, for example, display device 100 is able to be mounted in a vehicle, e.g., in an instrument panel region of the vehicle.

[0044] Individual components of display device 100 are specifically developed and connected to one another in certain ways, as described in the following text with reference to FIG. 2.

[0045] FIG. 2 schematically shows a cutaway of the display device in a sectional view along the lines A-A shown in FIG. 1.

[0046] Display device 100 has a cover element 110, which covers or extends across the entire surface of display element 120. The cover element is produced from a transparent material, e.g., from silicates or an amorphous plastic, e.g., polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

[0047] A cover section 112 of cover element 110 covers display element 120. In this cover section 112, cover element 110 is connected to display element 120 by an adhesive layer (optical bonding). This cover section 112 is adjoined by a connection section 111 which projects beyond display element 120.

[0048] A body of display element 120 is at least partly situated inside a carrier element 160, which particularly is provided as a supporting element of display device 100 and, for instance, is made of a light metal such as aluminum or magnesium or their alloys, or from a plastic material, e.g., a plastic material provided with a glass or carbon fiber fill.

[0049] Carrier element 160 has a carrier bottom 163 and four side walls 162 which adjoin this carrier bottom at a right angle in each case. The body of display element 120 is at least partly situated inside a volume that is restricted by carrier bottom 163 and side walls 162. A connection section 161 adjoins side walls 161 at an upper end of side walls 162 facing away from carrier bottom 163. This connection section 161 extends at a right angle with respect to side walls 162 in each case.

[0050] A frame element 140 is provided which at least partly encloses or frames cover element 110. Frame element 140 in particular has a framing section 142, which circumferentially frames cover element 110. Frame element 140, especially its framing section 142, serves as a decoration of the display device, for example, and forms an accentuated frame and a protection of the edge of the cover element.

[0051] For example, frame element 140 is able to be produced from a plastic material which may be dyed or lacquered or galvanically metalized by a post-production process.

[0052] In addition, frame element 140 has a connection section 141 adjoining framing section 142 at a right angle and a housing section 143. This housing section 143 extends under a right angle on a side of connection section 141 facing away from framing section 142.

[0053] Via connection section 141, frame element 140 is connected both to connection section 111 of cover element 110 and to connection section 161 of carrier element 160.

[0054] To this end, a first, upper side of connection section 141 of frame element 140 is connected to connection section 111 of cover element 110 via a first bonded joint 131, in particular via an adhesive tape, in particular a double-sided adhesive tape.

[0055] A second, lower side of connection section 141 of frame element 140 facing away from the first side is connected to connection section 161 of carrier element 160 via a second bonded joint 132, in particular via a liquid adhesive.

[0056] Double-sided adhesive tape 131 in particular is a tape which has a porous foam in its core. A thin adhesive layer is applied to both sides of this foam core. The porous core is provided to compensate for unevenness of the bonding partners and also to compensate for lateral forces that are created in a thermal expansion of different materials. Adhesive tape 131 furthermore is characterized by its ability to adhere well to glass and plastic and also to metal. The thickness of adhesive tape 131, for example, amounts to between 0.3 to 0.5 mm and particularly is a function of the length of the bonding surface, in particular in relation to a circumferential direction of cover element 110 or in relation to a main extension direction of the bonding surface, in particular in the x-direction in the illustrated example of FIG. 2. Liquid adhesive 132 in particular is meant to compensate for unevenness between carrier element 160 and frame element 140.

[0057] Connection section 111 of cover element 110, connection section 141 of frame element 140 and connection section 161 of carrier element 160 are situated one behind the other in an assembly direction z. This assembly direction z runs perpendicular to the main extension plane or surface of cover element 110 defined by coordinate axes x and y.

[0058] Frame element 140 and carrier element 160 thus share the space for the connection or fastening, in particular by not being placed next to but underneath one another or one behind the other when viewed in assembly direction z.

[0059] In addition, display device 100 has a housing element 150, which particularly is provided as a rear and side cover of display device 100 or as a rear and side housing. This housing element 150 is able to be produced from a plastic material which can be lacquered, for instance. The plastic used may particularly be polypropylene (PP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) and/or polycarbonate (PC).

[0060] Carrier element 160 is at least partly situated in this housing element 150. Housing element 150 has a housing bottom 153 and four double walls which are made up of two individual walls 151, 152 in each case and adjoin the housing bottom. These individual walls 151, 152 are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate region in the y-direction. In addition, the individual walls 151, 152 are arranged parallel to each other and at a right angle with respect to housing bottom 153 in each case.

[0061] Housing bottom 153 of housing element 150 especially extends parallel to carrier bottom 163 of the carrier element. In addition, the individual walls 151, 152 of housing element 150 and side walls 162 of carrier element 160 are situated parallel to one another. Carrier element 160 is at least partly situated inside a volume that is restricted by housing bottom 153 and the double walls.

[0062] In addition, housing element 150 is connected to frame element 140 via a mechanical connection 133, in particular a plug-in or snap-in connection. For this purpose, the intermediate region between the respective individual walls 151, 152 is provided for the accommodation of housing section 143 of the frame element.

[0063] In addition, a multitude of snap-in elements 154 is provided in the intermediate regions between individual walls 151, 152, which cooperate with housing section 143 of frame element 140 for the mechanical connection 133 between frame element 140 and housing element 150.

[0064] Housing section 143 of frame element 140 may particularly be developed in the form of a multitude of plug-in elements, which are able to snap into a respective snap-in element 154 so as to produce a plug-in or snap-in connection.

[0065] Moreover, spring elements 155 are provided in the intermediate regions between individual walls 151, 152 of the double walls, which exert pressure on housing section 143 of frame element 140.

[0066] These spring elements 155 in particular have the function of keeping housing element 150 under tension during and after the connection to frame element 140, so that housing element 150 does not produce any noise such as a rattling noise during use after the assembly. Moreover, following the assembly, spring elements 155 in particular ensure that mechanical connection 133 between housing element 150 and frame element 140 remains securely closed. To stabilize spring elements 155, ribbing with the housing element, for instance, may be provided, which is able to brace spring elements 155 and retain their straight position in the unit in a reliable manner. In addition, carrier element 160, especially connection section 161 of carrier element 160, can be used as counter bearing for spring elements 155, which may function as support.

[0067] The more specialized development of the individual elements and the different connection techniques for connecting the individual elements make it possible to give display device 100 a narrow, slim design, in particular with regard to a distance B from an end of display element 120 to an end of frame element 140 or an edge of the display device. The connection techniques that are used in particular make it possible to produce a very narrow rim of the display device (what is termed a slim rim design). Moreover, the cost of the display device can be kept low, e.g., material and production costs. High flexibility is able to be achieved in a design or product design of display device 100, for instance in order to give product designers a large range of shapes and materials. In particular, the used connection techniques allow for the stress-free joining and retaining of the interconnected elements and make it possible to increase what is termed ‘black uniformity’, that is, the ability of display device 100 to display the most uniform, homogeneous black tone.

[0068] A liquid adhesive can often be limited in its ability to compensate for lateral expansions. In such cases, for example, connection section 141 of frame element 140 is able to be segmented, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 3, in order to compensate for stresses that occur during a thermal expansion.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a cutaway of frame element 140 in a schematic top view. Connection section 141 of frame element 140 is provided with slots 145 which are disposed at predefined intervals from one another and are meant to compensate for transverse shifting in the bonded state.