DISPLAY DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISPLAY DEVICE, CONTROL UNIT, AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A display device for a motor vehicle includes a first, planar display element arranged in a first display plane of the display device, and at least one further, planar display element, each arranged in a further display plane of the display device, upstream of the first display element in a viewing direction of a user. Together with the first display element, the at least one further display element forms a multilayered combination of display elements. Each of the at least one further display element has an at least partly transparent display surface and a visual protection element for setting a degree of a transparency of at least one region of the display element.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A display device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a first, planar display element arranged in a first display plane of the display device; and at least one further, planar display element, each arranged in a further display plane of the display device upstream of the first display element in a viewing direction of a user, the first display element and the at least one further display element forming a multilayered combination of display elements, each of the at least one further display element having an at least partly transparent display surface and a visual protection element setting a degree of transparency of at least one region of the display element, the visual protection element being configured as a switchable film.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the visual protection element is arranged at least one of behind and below the least partly transparent display surface of each further display element in the viewing direction.

12. The display device according to claim 11, wherein the visual protection element of each further display element is configured to change between a transparent state and an opaque state.

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the display device comprises at least two further display elements.

14. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the visual protection element of each further display element is configured to change between a transparent state and an opaque state.

15. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the display device comprises at least two further display elements.

16. A method for operating a display device, comprising: generating, by a control unit, an image control signal describing an image having at least two image elements, a first image element of the at least two image elements being displayed by a first planar display element arranged in a first display plane of the display device, and a second image element of the at least two image elements being displayed by a second planar displays element arranged in a second display plane of the display device upstream of the first display element in a viewing direction of a user, the first and second display elements forming a multilayered combination of display elements, the second display element having an at least partly transparent display surface and a switchable film forming a visual protection element setting a degree of transparency of at least one region of the second display element; setting, by the control unit in dependence on the image control signal, the degree of transparency of the visual protection element; outputting, by the control unit, the image control signal; and displaying the first and second image elements on the first and second display elements with the degree of transparency determined by the at least one visual protection element.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the visual protection element has a minimum size of a pixel.

18. A control unit controlling operation of a display device, comprising: at least one processor configured to generate an image control signal describing an image having at least two image elements, a first image element of the at least two image elements being displayed by a first planar display element arranged in a first display plane of the display device, and a second image element of the at least two image elements being displayed by a second planar displays element arranged in a second display plane of the display device upstream of the first display element in a viewing direction of a user, the first and second display elements forming a multilayered combination of display elements, the second display element having an at least partly transparent display surface and a switchable film forming a visual protection element setting a degree of transparency of at least one region of the second display element, setting, in dependence on the image control signal, the degree of transparency of the visual protection element, outputting the image control signal, and displaying the first and second image elements on the first and second display elements with the degree of transparency determined by the at least one visual protection element.

19. A motor vehicle, comprising at least one of a display device according to claim 10 and a control unit according to claim 18.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the visual protection element is arranged at least one of behind and below the least partly transparent display surface of each further display element in the viewing direction.

21. The motor vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the visual protection element of each further display element is configured to change between a transparent state and an opaque state.

22. The motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the display device comprises at least two further display elements.

23. The motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the visual protection element of each further display element is configured to change between a transparent state and an opaque state.

24. The motor vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the display device comprises at least two further display elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration concerning a first embodiment of the display device and a first embodiment of the method;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration concerning a further embodiment of the display device;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration concerning a further embodiment of the display device;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration concerning a further embodiment of the display device;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration concerning a further embodiment of the display device; and

[0030] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration concerning a further embodiment of the display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0032] In the case of the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each constitute individual features which are to be considered independently of one another and which each also develop the invention independently of one another and should thus also be regarded both individually and in a different combination from that shown. Furthermore, the embodiments described are also supplementable by further features among those already described.

[0033] In the figures, functionally identical elements are provided in each case with the same reference characters.

[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the display device on the basis of a first exemplary embodiment. In this respect, FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle 10, which can be configured for example as a car. A first exemplary embodiment of the display device 12 can be incorporated for example in a center console 14 or in an instrument cluster of the motor vehicle 10, or in a dashboard.

[0035] The display device 12 here includes three planar display elements 16, 17, 18, for example. A first display element 16 can for example be non-transparent and be arranged at the back from the user's viewpoint, i.e. be arranged in a rear display plane terminating the combination of the display elements 16, 17, 18 in the viewing direction. This first display element 16 can be configured for example as a screen known to the person skilled in the art from the related art, for example as an OLED screen or a TFT screen.

[0036] The first display element 16 in the example in FIG. 1 can be superimposed, preferably superimposed congruently, for example by two further, transparent display elements 17, 18. The latter here can be configured for example in each case as an OLED screen.

[0037] FIG. 1 here schematically shows sandwich-like stacking of the display elements 16, 17, 18, the individual display elements 16, 17, 18 being illustrated in a manner spaced apart distinctly from one another, for the sake of better elucidation. However, the display elements 16, 17, 18 can actually be close together or near one another, or bear one on top of another.

[0038] The respective display surfaces of the further display elements 17, 18 here are at least partly transparent; in other words, here each of the further display elements 17, 18 has at least one transparent region of the respective display surface. Transparent display surfaces are known to the person skilled in the art for example as liquid crystal screens.

[0039] Each of the display elements 17, 18 has a visual protection element 20, which can be configured for example as so-called intelligent glass, that is to say as electrically switchable glass, the light transmissivity of which can be altered by a voltage being applied, or can be configured as a switchable film. The further display elements 17, 18 in FIG. 1 each has a visual protection element 20, which is not shown in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity.

[0040] The detailed construction of the combination of the display elements 16, 17, 18, which can be arranged for example in a display device 10 of an instrument cluster, is shown in FIG. 2, wherein for example the first display element 16, which is superimposed by the further display elements 17, 18, may have two display regions 21, 22 for displaying image or display contents, and can display for example a remaining distance of a journey route (205 km) in a top left corner and a range of current tank contents (300 km) in a top right corner.

[0041] For reasons of clarity, only the display elements 16, 17, 18 are shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5. However, such display elements can be for example parts of the display device 12 shown in FIG. 1.

[0042] By the display element 17 being superimposed on the first display element 16, for example, a display region 23 can omit the display regions 21, 22 and display for example a perspectively represented course of a travel route with, for example, a direction of travel arrow.

[0043] The further display element 18, which can be arranged in a manner superimposed on the further display elements 16, 17 in the example in FIG. 2, may have, for example, two display regions 24, 25, which can display, for example, a current gear (D4) and a current speed (120) of the motor vehicle 10.

[0044] By way of example, a changeover from transparent to semitransparent or from transparent to opaque can be effected upon a voltage being applied.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows by way of example a visual protection element 20 of the display element 18 shown in FIG. 2 and a visual protection element 20 of the display element 17 shown in FIG. 2. The visual protection element 20 may have two segments 26, 27, for example, which, in the arrangement with the display element 18, can correspond to the corresponding display zones 24, 25. In the example in FIG. 3, the regions or segments 26, 27 can be switched to be opaque. Analogously thereto, a segment 28 of the visual protection element 20, which can be arranged on the display element 17 from FIG. 2, can likewise be switched to be opaque or semi-opaque. Here the segment 28 can correspond to the corresponding display region 23 of the display element 17.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows, in a plan view, once again the layer-like arrangement of the display elements 16, 17, 18, wherein each of the respective display elements 17, 18 may have a visual protection element 20, 20 switched by way of example and in each case a display surface 29, 30. An occupant 36 looks by way of example in the viewing direction S at the arrangement of the display elements 16, 17, 18 of an exemplary display device 12, the further constituent parts of which are not shown in FIG. 4 for reasons of clarity.

[0047] In other words, for example a film which is switchable in a segmented manner can be arranged as a visual protection element 20, 20 behind each of the transparent display surfaces 17, 18, which film can be switched to be transparent and/or black in segments, for example.

[0048] As an alternative to the embodiment of the examples described, a further display element 17, 18 can be configured in integral fashion as a switchable display surface 29, 30, for example as a screen composed of intelligent glass. In other words, the respective visual protection element 29, 30 can be integrated into a display surface 17, 18 and be configured for example as a circuit for setting the degree of transparency.

[0049] A segment 26, 27, 28 may include a multiplicity of switching elements, for example, which, in a manner comparable to pixel elements, can be of pixel size dimensions and can be switched independently of one another. A visual protection element 20, 20 can optionally include lines for transmitting the voltage for different segments or switching elements, wherein the lines can be configured as at least partly transparent in order to impair a transparency of the segment as little as possible. If a visual protection element 20, 20 configured by way of example as a film attains a maximum transparency of 50%, for example, then in the case of two display elements 17, 18 placed one above the other, for example, a total transparency of 25%, for example, can be brought about. In order to compensate for such a maximum total transparency reduced by possible lines of the visual protection element 20, 20, it can be provided, for example, that the first display element 16 can be designed and configured in such a way that image contents can be output in colors that are as bright and strong as possible.

[0050] By virtue of the segments 26, 27 switched to be opaqueas shown in FIG. 3, in the region of the display zones 24, 25 of the further display element 18 only the image contents of the display zones 24, 25 of the display element 18 can be visible to the user since corresponding regions below the display element 18 are concealed. Analogously, the image displayed by the display element 17 in the display region 23 can be visible, but a corresponding region of the display element 16 cannot be visible. By virtue of the regions or segments which are switched to be still transparent in the visual protection elements 20, 20, the result for the user is the overall view with a depth effect shown in FIG. 6, in which the user can see clearly and sharply the display regions 24, 25 of the display element 18, the display region 23 of the display element 17, and the display regions 21, 22 of the display element 16. The overall view illustrates the advantages of the display device 12, primarily a good depth effect and better readability of the displayed image content.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment, in which for example a visual protection element 20 of the further display element 18 superimposed on the other display elements 16, 17 can be switched fully or completely to be non-transparent, that is to say opaque, because for example the display element 18 can output the represented graphics or image elements or display contents over the whole area. Possible image contents output by the further display elements 16, 17 cannot then be visible.

[0052] Control of the display elements 16, 17, 18, that is to say control of the outputting of image contents or display contents by the respective display surface, and control or switching of the respective visual protection elements 20, 20, can be carried out for example by a control unit 32, which is illustrated as control unit 32 of the display device 12 in the example in FIG. 1.

[0053] Alternatively, the control unit 32 can be for example a controller or a control circuit board of the motor vehicle 10, which can be arranged structurally separately from the display device 12, and can be for example a component of an infotainment system or of an on-board computer of the motor vehicle 10. The control unit 32 is connected to the individual display elements 16, 17, 18 by a data communication connection 33. The data communication connection 33 can be for example a wireless data communication connection 33, for example a WLAN or Bluetooth connection, alternatively a wired data communication connection 33, for example a data bus of a data bus system.

[0054] The control unit 32 in FIG. 1 includes an optional processor unit 34, which may have a plurality of microprocessors, for example. The control unit 32 of the display device 12 in FIG. 1 likewise includes an optional data memory 35, which can be configured for example as a memory card or memory chip. By way of example, program code for carrying out the method can be stored on the optional data memory 35.

[0055] In S1, the control unit generates an image control signal, which can describe for example one image having a plurality of image elements or display contents, or a plurality of images, and an assignment of the corresponding image element or display content (or image) to one of the display elements 16, 17, 18, and to one of the display regions of the respective display element 16, 17, 18.

[0056] In addition, the image control signal describes the switching of the respective visual protection element 20, 20 of the display elements 17, 18. In other words, the image control signal describes a state to be set of the corresponding visual protection element 20, 20, that is to say a transparency or opacity to be set, optionally the corresponding segment to be switched of the visual protection element 20, 20. Depending on the image control signal generated, a state of the respective visual protection element 20, 20 is set by the setting of a corresponding degree of transparency or degree of opacity of the respective visual protection element 20, 20, or of the segments 26, 27, 28 (S2). In addition, in S3, the image control signal is output by the display elements 16, 17, 18, as a result of which the respective image element or respective display content is displayed on the respective display elements 16, 17, 18. The segments 26, 27, 28 can be shrunk to pixel level, for example, for maximum flexibility.

[0057] In other words, the image control signal describes tailored switching of the corresponding visual protection element 20, 20 and the distribution of the image elements or display contents among the display elements 16, 17, 18. Thus, in other words, an orchestration of the display elements 16, 17, 18 is effected.

[0058] Overall, the exemplary embodiments illustrate how display elements 16, 17, 18 are provided which can be switched to be transparent in a segmented manner, for example.

[0059] In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment, can for example transparent screens (displays), for example OLED screens (cf. display elements 16, 17, 18 in the figures), which, at a rear side, for example, can be provided with a respective visual protection element 20, 20 configured as a film, for example, wherein the visual protection elements 20, 20 can be switched optionally to be transparent and/or to be non-transparent in a segmented manner, for example. Exemplary visual protection elements 20, 20 are known to the person skilled in the art from the related art and are provided by the company Gauzy, for example. The exemplary switchable segments 26, 27, 28 can correspond for example to functional regions in each case of a graphical user interface display (GUI display), that is to say of the corresponding display surfaces 29, 30.

[0060] By way of example, a plurality of such display sandwiches can be positioned one behind another, wherein an image with a depth effect arises if certain or all regions of the exemplary switchable film are switched for example to transparent (see FIG. 2 to FIG. 6). The advantages mentioned above are afforded. A 3D combination can become a 2D combination, for example, by a switchable layer on the front display, that is to say a visual protection element 20 of the display element 18, being switched for example to be non-transparent (cf. FIG. 5).

[0061] A description has been provided with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof and examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase at least one of A, B and C as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).