DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISPLAY SYSTEM

Abstract

A display system comprises a display, configured for displaying data, wherein the display comprises an inactive display edge not configured for displaying, and an active display inner surface configured for displaying. The display system further comprises a backlighting module having luminous units, wherein the backlighting module is arranged directly or indirectly at a rear side of the display, such that the light emitted by the luminous units forms a backlight for the display. The backlighting module comprises a backlighting edge corresponding to the display edge and comprises a backlighting inner surface corresponding to the display inner surface. The display system further comprises and a control system for driving the luminous units. A vehicle comprising a display system and a method for operating a display system is also provided.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A display system, comprising: a display configured for displaying data, wherein the display comprises an inactive display edge not configured for displaying, and an active display inner surface configured for displaying; a backlighting module having luminous units, wherein the backlighting module is arranged directly or indirectly at a rear side of the display, such that the light emitted by the luminous units forms a backlight for the display, and wherein the backlighting module comprises a backlighting edge corresponding to the display edge and comprises a backlighting inner surface corresponding to the display inner surface; and a control system for driving the luminous units.

14. The display system according to claim 13, wherein the display system further comprises a transition edge region extending from the backlighting edge over a portion of the backlighting inner surface, and wherein a first number of individually driveable luminous units are arranged in the transition edge region.

15. The display system according to claim 14, wherein the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region comprises a second number of individually driveable luminous units, and wherein the first number is higher than the second number.

16. The display system according to claim 15, wherein the control system is configured to drive the luminous units arranged in the transition edge region individually or with said luminous units interconnected in first clusters, and to drive the luminous units comprised by the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region with said luminous units interconnected in second clusters, wherein the number of interconnected luminous units in the first cluster is lower than the number of interconnected luminous units in the second cluster.

17. The display system according to claim 13, wherein the display is configured as a liquid crystal display.

18. The display system according to claim 14, wherein the luminous units in the transition edge region are arranged in a matrix-shaped fashion.

19. The display system according to claim 15, wherein the luminous units in the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region are arranged in a matrix-shaped fashion.

20. The display system according to claim 16, wherein no luminous units, or in comparison with the transition edge region and the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region, a reduced number of luminous units are arranged in the backlighting edge.

21. The display system according to claim 16, wherein the display inner surface comprises non-visible regions and no luminous units are arranged in the backlighting inner surface corresponding to said regions.

22. The display system according to claim 16, wherein the display inner surface comprises non-visible regions and a reduced number of luminous units are arranged in the backlighting inner surface corresponding to said regions.

23. The display system according to claim 16, wherein the luminous units are configured as light emitting diodes.

24. The display system as claimed in claim 23, wherein the light emitting diodes are designed to be individually dimmable.

25. A vehicle, comprising: a display system, comprising: a display configured for displaying data, wherein the display comprises an inactive display edge not configured for displaying, and an active display inner surface configured for displaying; a backlighting module having luminous units, wherein the backlighting module is arranged directly or indirectly at a rear side of the display, such that the light emitted by the luminous units forms a backlight for the display, and wherein the backlighting module comprises a backlighting edge corresponding to the display edge and comprises a backlighting inner surface corresponding to the display inner surface; and a control system for driving the luminous units.

26. The display system according to claim 25, wherein a transition edge region extending from the backlighting edge over a portion of the backlighting inner surface is provided, wherein a first number of individually driveable luminous units are arranged in the transition edge region.

27. The display system according to claim 26, wherein the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region comprises a second number of individually driveable luminous units, wherein the first number is higher than the second number.

28. The display system according to claim 27, wherein the control system is configured to drive the luminous units arranged in the transition edge region individually or with said luminous units interconnected in first clusters, and to drive the luminous units comprised by the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region with said luminous units interconnected in second clusters, wherein the number of interconnected luminous units in the first cluster is lower than the number of interconnected luminous units in the second cluster.

29. A method for operating a display system, comprising: providing a display configured for displaying data, wherein the display comprises an inactive display edge not configured for displaying, and an active display inner surface configured for displaying; providing a backlighting module having luminous units, wherein the backlighting module is arranged directly or indirectly at a rear side of the display, such that the light emitted by the luminous units forms a backlight for the display, and wherein the backlighting module comprises a backlighting edge corresponding to the display edge and comprises a backlighting inner surface corresponding to the display inner surface; providing a control system for driving the luminous units; providing a transition edge region extending from the backlighting edge over a portion of the backlighting inner surface; operating a first number of individually driveable luminous units arranged in the transition edge region; and operating a second number of individually driveable luminous units arranged in the backlighting inner surface-without the transition edge region, wherein the first number is higher than the second number.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the method further comprises driving luminous units individually or with said luminous units interconnected in first clusters, which are arranged in the transition edge region, and interconnected in second clusters, which are arranged in the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region, wherein the number of interconnected luminous units in the first cluster is lower than the number of interconnected luminous units in the second cluster.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein no luminous units or, in comparison with the transition edge region and the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region, a reduced number of luminous units are arranged in the backlighting edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Further properties and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying figures, in which, schematically:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a display system;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a first configuration of a backlighting module; and

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a second configuration of a backlighting module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Although the disclosure has been more specifically illustrated and described in detail by means of the embodiments, the disclosure is not restricted by the examples disclosed.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a display system 1 according to the disclosure. Said display system comprises a liquid crystal display 2 configured for displaying an image. Since, in contrast to plasma or OLED displays, the liquid crystal display 2 is not self-luminous, the required brightness in the color elements/pixels has to be generated by a backlighting module 6 having LEDs 5.

[0035] The liquid crystal display 2 comprises a front glass 3 and a rear glass 4. The front glass 3 and the rear glass 4 serve as a protective layer and as a carrier for the LC (liquid) cells 10, which will be described in even more detail below.

[0036] The liquid crystal display 2 comprises a diffusor 7. The light generated by the backlighting module 6 has a spatial structure. The LEDs 5 positioned at the diffusor 7 behind the liquid crystal display 2 have a radiation power dependent on the aperture angle. Said spatial structure is uniformly distributed by means of the diffusor 7. Furthermore, the liquid crystal display 2 also comprises polarization filters 8 for polarizing the light that emerges from the LEDs 5.

[0037] Furthermore, the display system 1 also comprises a control unit, not shown, which can drive the LEDs 5 individually. In addition, the LEDs 5 are configured to be dimmable, which can likewise be regulated by the control unit, not shown. The control unit can be for example the control device of the vehicle.

[0038] Furthermore, the liquid crystal display 2 comprises LC (liquid crystal) cells 10 comprising liquid crystal molecules. In the latter, the linearly polarized light is rotated such that the desired brightness is attained in a color element. For this purpose, the alignment of the liquid crystal molecules is influenced by a voltage being applied between two electrodes.

[0039] Moreover, the liquid crystal display 2 also comprises a color filter 11. The perceived color of a pixel is determined by means of the color filter.

[0040] Furthermore, the liquid crystal display 2 also comprises a display edge. For this purpose, for example, the front glass 3 can be printed with a black edge as the display edge.

[0041] The liquid crystal display 2 is thus divided into an inactive display edge, that is to say that no image is displayed here, and into an active display inner surface, in which the image to be represented is displayed.

[0042] Further inactive surfaces can likewise be present, which can arise for example as a result of operating elements arranged on the liquid crystal display 2.

[0043] The backlighting module 6 comprises a backlighting edge 12 (FIG. 2) corresponding to the display edge, and a backlighting inner surface 13 (FIG. 2) corresponding to the display inner surface.

[0044] Furthermore, provision is made of a transition edge region 9 (FIG. 2) extending from the backlighting edge 12 (FIG. 2) over a portion of the backlighting inner surface 13 (FIG. 2). Said transition edge region comprises a first number of driveable LEDs 5.

[0045] At the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region 9 (FIG. 2), by contrast, a second number of individually driveable LEDs 5 are arranged. In this case, the first number is higher than the second number. The contrast of the image representation is increased as a result.

[0046] Furthermore, alternatively or optionally supplementarily, the LEDs 5 arranged in the transition edge region 9 (FIG. 2) can be interconnected in first clusters or be driven individually, and those LEDs 5 which are arranged in the backlighting inner surface without the transition edge region 9 (FIG. 2) can be interconnected in second clusters, wherein the number of interconnected LEDs 5 in the first clusters is lower than the number of interconnected LEDs 5 in the second clusters.

[0047] Moreover, no or only a reduced number of LEDs 5 can be arranged in the backlighting edge 12 (FIG. 2) or in the regions of the backlighting inner surface 13 (FIG. 2) that correspond to the non-visible regions. The local dimming algorithms are adapted according to the modified number of LEDs 5.

[0048] The higher resolution in the transition edge region 9 (FIG. 2) enables very local backlighting of details on the display inner surface. As a result, adjacent dark regions, for example the display edge region or regions in which an operating element is arranged, are illuminated less, as a result of which the local contrast increases. This has the effect that the active display inner surface differs less from the black print of the liquid crystal display 2. As a result of the reduction and/or even the omission of the LEDs 5 at the backlighting module 6, system costs are saved.

[0049] The transition between the active display inner surface of the liquid crystal display 2 and the black regions of the display is optimized to the effect that the difference is indiscernible to the driver. In other words, in particular, the background brightness of black image regions in the liquid crystal display 2 is minimized.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of a backlighting module 6a according to the disclosure.

[0051] The backlighting module 6a comprises a backlighting edge 12 and a backlighting inner surface 13.

[0052] In addition, the backlighting module 6a comprises a transition edge region 9 extending from the backlighting edge 12 over a portion of the backlighting inner surface 13.

[0053] Furthermore, the backlighting module 6a comprises LEDs 5 for illuminating the liquid crystal display 2.

[0054] The backlighting module 6a has no LEDs 5 at the backlighting edge 12. Furthermore, the LEDs 5 arranged in the transition edge region 9 are controlled individually by the control system (not shown). The LEDs 5 arranged in/on the backlighting inner surface 13 without the transition edge region 9 are controlled in clusters, here in groups of four.

[0055] While the LEDs 5 in the majority of the backlighting inner surface 13 are therefore interconnected in larger groups, the LEDs 5 in the transition edge region 9 are driven in smaller groups or individually.

[0056] A local higher resolution is achieved as a result. Overexposure of black regions such as the display edge, for example, is prevented.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a further detailed configuration of a backlighting module 6b according to the invention. This backlighting module 6b comprises the backlighting edge 12 and the backlighting inner surface 13.

[0058] In addition, the backlighting module 6b comprises the transition edge region 9 extending once again from the backlighting edge 12 over a portion of the backlighting inner surface 13.

[0059] Furthermore, the backlighting module 6b comprises LEDs 5.

[0060] The backlighting module 6b likewise has no LEDs 5 at the backlighting edge 12. Furthermore, the LEDs 5 arranged in the transition edge region 9 are controlled individually by the control system (not shown). The LEDs 5 arranged in/on the backlighting inner surface 13 without the transition edge region 9 are controlled in clusters, here in groups of four.

[0061] In addition, a first number of individually driveable LEDs 5 are arranged in the transition edge region 9; by contrast, a second number of individually driveable luminous units are arranged at the backlighting inner surface 13 without the transition edge region 9.

[0062] In this case, the first number is higher than the second number.

[0063] The resolution of the backlighting module 6b is increased in the transition edge region 9 of the liquid crystal display 2 (FIG. 1) by the addition of the additional LEDs 5 and by individual driving of the LEDs 5. The local dimming algorithms are adapted according to the modified density. In regions which are not visible, such as here the backlighting edge 12, the LEDs 5 are omitted and system costs are thus saved.

[0064] The display system 1 (FIG. 1) according to the disclosure is usable in all fields in which a display is used, for example in fields of consumer electronics, in aviation, in trains, in medical technology.