MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A DISPLAY SYSTEM AND AN OPERATING SYSTEM FOR SAME

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a display system having an image source positioned in a dashboard of the motor vehicle for emitting light beams. A reflection region extends in parallel to a lateral edge of a pane layer of a windshield of the motor vehicle. The reflection region is configured to reflect the light beams to generate a virtual image and the image source includes a one-dimensional switchable strip display. A controller of the motor vehicle is configured to provide, by using the one-dimensional switchable strip display corresponding to the virtual image, at least one of a dynamic running light and a static light strip.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A motor vehicle, comprising: a dashboard; a display system, including: a windshield including a pane layer, an image source, disposed in the dashboard, configured to emit light beams, a reflection region which extends in parallel to a lateral edge of the pane layer, such that in an installed position of the windshield, the lateral edge is disposed on the dashboard and the reflection region is configured to reflect the light beams to generate a virtual image, wherein the reflection region is disposed along at least one of a lateral region of the pane layer on a pane surface and a component separate from the pane layer on a frame of the windshield, and the image source includes a one-dimensional switchable strip display, disposed in the dashboard in parallel to the lateral edge predetermined by a radius of curvature of at least one of the pane layer and of the component, and a controller configured to provide, by using one-dimensional switchable strip display corresponding to the virtual image, at least one of a dynamic running light and a static light strip, wherein the dynamic running light is configured to generate an animation effect, and the static light strip is configured to display at least one of a setting process, a performed setting of a control parameter, and a remaining ratio of a storage capacity to a total storage capacity.

12. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the image source includes a two-dimensional switchable image display configured to generate the virtual image associated with the two-dimensional switchable image display by selective activation of pixels forming the two-dimensional switchable image display using the controller.

13. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the two-dimensional switchable image display overlaps the one-dimensional switchable strip display in a direction of the reflection region, or the one-dimensional switchable strip display is interrupted in the region of the two-dimensional switchable image display and adjoins the two-dimensional switchable image display on two sides opposite to one another, if the one-dimensional switchable strip display is disposed within a display plane formed by the two-dimensional switchable image display, or the two-dimensional switchable image display and the one-dimensional switchable strip display are disposed without overlap in relation to one another in the direction of the reflection region, so that in the installed position of the windshield, the one-dimensional switchable strip display is positioned between the two-dimensional switchable image display and the lateral edge or the two-dimensional switchable image display is positioned between the one-dimensional switchable strip display and the lateral edge.

14. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: an A-pillar adjoining the windshield; and a side mirror including a digital display, wherein the reflection region forms an optically continuous display surface, which is laterally bordered by the A pillar and/or is delimited by the digital display of the side mirror.

15. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to activate the image source based on at least one of a position and an orientation of a vehicle user, and the virtual image is displaced along a vertical axis and/or a transverse axis of the motor vehicle to generate an unconcealed display with reference to the vehicle user.

16. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the at least one of the position and the orientation of a vehicle user is obtained by an acquisition unit configured to obtain information about a head and/or eyes of the vehicle user, and/or an input user preference.

17. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the one-dimensional switchable strip display includes at least two single strips positioned against one another, a respective longitudinal extension axis of each of the at least two single strips is disposed in a plane oriented corresponding to the reflection region, and only one of the at least two single strips is to be activated to generate the virtual image associated with the one-dimensional switchable strip display.

18. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the one-dimensional switchable strip display is disposed on an actuator activateable by the controller, the actuator being configured to change a relative position of the one-dimensional switchable strip display in relation to the reflection region to displace the virtual image.

19. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reflection region includes a surface section which is permanently opaque and colored black and/or is switchable by the controller from a transparent state into a partially opaque and partially black colored state to generate the virtual image.

20. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 19, wherein when the surface section is permanently opaque and black colored the surface section includes a screen printed edge, and the screen printed edge includes a plurality reflection particles, and when the surface section is switchable by the controller, the surface section is formed by at least one of an electrochromic material, a thermochromic material, and a material based on liquid crystals.

21. A method for operating a motor vehicle having a dashboard, a windshield, and a display system, the method comprising: acquiring at least one of a setting process, a performed setting of a control parameter, and a remaining ratio of a storage capacity to a total storage capacity; activating, by a controller, an image source disposed in the dashboard, and emitting light beams by using a one-dimensional switchable strip display included in the image source, based on the acquiring, wherein the one-dimensional switchable strip display is disposed in the dashboard in parallel to a lateral edge predetermined by a radius of curvature of at least one of a pane layer of the windshield and of a component of the motor vehicle separate from the pane layer; and reflecting the light beams by a reflection region to generate a virtual image which corresponds to at least one of a dynamic running light and a static light strip, wherein the reflection region extends in parallel to the lateral edge, such that in an installed position of the windshield, the lateral edge is disposed on the dashboard, the reflection region is disposed along at least one of a lateral region of the pane layer on a pane surface and the component on a frame of the windshield, and the dynamic running light is configured to generate an animation effect, and the static light strip is configured to display at least one of the setting process, the performed setting of the control parameter, and the remaining ratio of the storage capacity to the total storage capacity.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising generating the virtual image using a two-dimensional switchable image display included in the image source by selectively activating pixels forming the two-dimensional switchable image display.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the two-dimensional switchable image display overlaps the one-dimensional switchable strip display in a direction of the reflection region, or the one-dimensional switchable strip display is interrupted in the region of the two-dimensional switchable image display and adjoins the two-dimensional switchable image display on two sides opposite to one another, when the one-dimensional switchable strip display is disposed within a display plane formed by the two-dimensional switchable image display, or the two-dimensional switchable image display and the one-dimensional switchable strip display are disposed without overlap in relation to one another in the direction of the reflection region, so that in the installed position of the windshield, the one-dimensional switchable strip display is positioned between the two-dimensional switchable image display and the lateral edge or the two-dimensional switchable image display is positioned between the one-dimensional switchable strip display and the lateral edge.

24. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein wherein the reflection region forms an optically continuous display surface, which is laterally bordered by an A pillar of the motor vehicle and/or is delimited by a digital display of a side mirror of the motor vehicle.

25. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: activating the image source based on at least one of a position and an orientation of a vehicle user, and displacing the virtual image along a vertical axis and/or a transverse axis of the motor vehicle to generate an unconcealed display with reference to the vehicle user.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising: acquiring information about a head and/or eyes of a vehicle user to obtain the at least one of the position and the orientation of the vehicle user; and/or acquiring an input user preference to obtain the at least one of the position and the orientation of the vehicle user.

27. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the one-dimensional switchable strip display includes at least two single strips positioned against one another, and a respective longitudinal extension axis of each of the at least two single strips is disposed in a plane oriented corresponding to the reflection region, wherein the method further comprises activating only one of the at least two single strips to generate the virtual image associated with the one-dimensional switchable strip display.

28. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: activating an actuator to change a relative position of the one-dimensional switchable strip display in relation to the reflection region to displace the virtual image, wherein the one-dimensional switchable strip display is disposed on the actuator.

29. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the reflection region includes a surface section which is permanently opaque and colored black and/or is switchable by the controller from a transparent state into a partially opaque and partially black colored state to generate the virtual image.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein when the surface section is permanently opaque and black colored the surface section includes a screen printed edge, and the screen printed edge includes a plurality reflection particles, and when the surface section is switchable by the controller, the surface section is formed by at least one of an electrochromic material, a thermochromic material, and a material based on liquid crystals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle having a display system in a side view;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a detail of the motor vehicle having the display system in a top view;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional illustration of the detail of the motor vehicle having the display system;

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective illustration of an interior of the motor vehicle having the display system in an embodiment, wherein a viewing direction through a windshield corresponds to a forward movement direction of the motor vehicle; and

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective illustration similar to FIG. 4 for a further embodiment of the motor vehicle having the display system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0036] The example embodiments explained hereinafter are example embodiments. In the example embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features to be considered independently of one another, which each also refine the disclosure independently of one another. The disclosure is therefore also to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features already described.

[0037] In the drawings, identical reference signs each identify functionally identical elements.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a motor vehicle 10 having a display system 12 in a side view, wherein the motor vehicle 10 can be controlled by a vehicle user 14, for example, a driver seated in a driver seat. Furthermore, the motor vehicle 10 can include a windshield 16, which can have a pane layer 18. For example, the windshield 16 can be formed as a composite glass pane and can have multiple respective pane layers 18 arranged one on top of another. The pane layer 18 can be delimited by two pane surfaces 20′, 20″ and one lateral edge 22, for example four lateral edges 22. For this purpose, one pane surface 20′ can face toward an interior 24 of the motor vehicle 10 and another pane surface 20″ can face toward surroundings 26 of the motor vehicle 10. In an installed position of the windshield 16, the lateral edge 22 can be arranged via a windshield frame 28 on the motor vehicle 10, for example between two A pillars 30′, 30″ and respective side mirrors 32′, 32″ or on a dashboard 34, wherein only the A pillar 30′ visible in the illustration and the side mirror 32″ are provided with a respective reference sign in FIG. 1.

[0039] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 10 shown in FIG. 1—shown in simplified form as a box in each case—can have a control device 36, an acquisition unit 38, and an image source 40. The control device 36 can activate the image source 40 as a function of data acquired by the acquisition unit 38. The acquisition unit 38 may be, for example, a driver observation camera, and acquire a head and eyes of the vehicle user 14, on the basis of which a position and an orientation of the vehicle user 14 can be ascertained by the control device 36. Furthermore, the acquisition unit 38 can for example be designed as a user interface 47, shown, for example, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, to be able to acquire a user preference, that is to say an input of the vehicle user 14. The image source 40 is described in detail hereinafter in conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

[0040] The motor vehicle 10 having the display system 12 is described further in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In this case, FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a detail of the motor vehicle 10 having the display system 12 in a top view and FIG. 3 shows a corresponding sectional illustration A-A having respective components which have already been described in conjunction with FIG. 1. FIG. 2 thus shows the pane surfaces 20′ of the windshield 16 facing toward the surroundings 26, which adjoin the two A pillars 30′, 30″ and an upper side of the dashboard 34, wherein a steering wheel 45 is arranged on the dashboard 34.

[0041] A possible embodiment of the image source 40 is shown by way of example in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In this case, the image source 40 can include, for example, multiple electrical illuminants, respective displays 42, 50 which are configured to emit light beams S1, which are shown as arrows in FIG. 3. The image source 40 can have an exclusively one-dimensionally switchable strip display 42, which is in parallel in the dashboard 34 to the lateral edge 22 predetermined by a radius of curvature 44 and alternatively to a component 46 separate from the pane layer 18 predetermined by a radius of curvature 44. For example, the strip display 42 can include a single strip 48′, 48″ formed as an LED strip. In this case—as shown for the single strip 48″—the strip display 42 can be arranged fixed in position in the dashboard 34. It is also possible that the single strip 48″ of the strip display 42 is arranged on an actuator 53 activateable by use of the control device 36, by use of which a relative position P1, P2 of the strip display 42 can be changed, as indicated by an arrow. For the sake of clarity, the arrow indicates only one possible movement direction of the actuator 53.

[0042] The image source 40 shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can additionally have a two-dimensionally switchable image display 50, wherein in the example three single image displays 51′, 51″, 51′″ are shown as display screens. A relative arrangement of the image display 50 and the strip display 42 can be designed variably. The strip display 42 including the single strip 48″ can be interrupted in the region of the image display 50, as shown for the single image display 51′, and can adjoin the image display 50 on two opposing sides 52′, 52″, if the strip display 42 is arranged within a display plane E1 formed by the image display 50. The image display 50, as shown for the single image display 51′, can also overlap the strip display 42 including the single strip 48′ in the direction of the windshield 16. This would be the case if a position-variable arrangement by use of the actuator 53 were omitted and the single strip were arranged permanently at the relative position P1. In this case, the two single strips 48′, 48″ of the strip display 42 would be positioned against one another, wherein a respective longitudinal extension axis A′, A″ of each of the single strips 48′, 48″ is arranged in a common plane E2, wherein in each case only one of the two single strips 48′, 48″ is to be activated by use of the control device 36. In FIG. 3, for example, the display plane E1 and the plane E2 are congruent. Furthermore, it can be possible to arrange the image display 50 and the strip display 42 free of overlap in relation to one another, so that in the installed position of the windshield 16, the strip display 42 is positioned between the image display 50 and the lateral edge 22 of the pane layer 18, or the image display 50 is positioned between the strip display 42 and the lateral edge 22 of the pane layer 18, wherein an illustration of such an arrangement was omitted for the sake of clarity.

[0043] It is furthermore shown in FIG. 3 how the light beams S1 emitted by the image source 40 are to be reflected at a reflection region 58 as reflected light beams S2 to generate a virtual image 54′, 54″. The virtual image 54′ corresponds here to the single strip 48′ of the strip display 42 in the respective relative position P1, P2 and the virtual image 54″ to the single strip 48″ of the strip display 42. The virtual image 56 associated with the image display 50 is generated by selective activation of pixels forming the image display 50 by the control device 36. The reflection region 58 can extend in parallel to a lateral edge 22 of the pane layer 18, wherein the reflection region 58 is provided along a lateral region 61 of the pane layer 18 at one of the pane surfaces 20′, 20″. Alternatively or additionally, the reflection region 58 can be provided along the component 46 separate from the pane layer 18 on the windshield frame 28, wherein an illustration has been omitted for the sake of clarity. The reflection region 58 forms an optically continuous display surface 60, which is shown in detail in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, and which is laterally bordered by the A pillars 30′, 30″ of the motor vehicle 10 and can be delimited by a digital display 62′, 62″ of the side mirror 32′, 32″, wherein the digital display 62′, 62″ is schematically indicated as overlapped by the respective A pillar 30′, 30″ in FIG. 2.

[0044] The image source 40 can be activated by use of the control device 36. As a function of the data acquired by the acquisition unit 38, the virtual image 54′, 54″ of the strip display 42 and/or the virtual image 56 of the image display 50 can be displaced along a vertical axis denoted as the x axis and along a transverse axis identified as the y axis of the motor vehicle 10 in order to generate an unconcealed display with respect to the vehicle user 14. Only one of the two single strips 48′, 48″ can also be activated in each case to generate the virtual image 54′, 54″ associated with the strip display 42. Furthermore, the relative position P1, P2 of the single strip 48′ of the strip display 42 in relation to the reflection region 58 can be changed to displace the virtual image 54′.

[0045] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 each show a different embodiment of the reflection region 58 and the virtual image 54′, 54″, 56′ having respective components which were already described in conjunction with FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3. The perspective illustrations shown show the interior 24 of the motor vehicle 10 having the display system 12 in two embodiments, wherein a viewing direction through a windshield 16 corresponds to a forward movement direction of the motor vehicle 10. The reflection region 58 can have two surface sections 64′, 64″. For this purpose, the surface section 64′ can be permanently opaque and colored black and the surface section 64″ can be switched by use of the control device 36 from a transparent state into at least one partially opaque and partially black colored state to generate the virtual image 54′, 54″, 56. The one surface section 64′ which is formed permanently opaque and colored black can—as shown in FIG. 4—include a screen printed edge 66 which has multiple reflection particles. FIG. 5 shows the switchable surface section 64″, which is formed, for example, from a material based on liquid crystals. A tint or a color profile can thus be implemented, for example, by use of the switchable surface section 64″.

[0046] In FIG. 4, the display surface 60 can be displayed as the virtual image 54′, 54″, 56 of the strip display 42 to indicate a performed setting of a control parameter, for example, an actuation of a turn signal 65. A dynamic running light 68′ can display an animation effect to indicate a selected travel direction and a static light strip 68″ can indicate a travel direction deviating from the selected travel direction. In addition, an arrow symbol 70 indicating the selected travel direction can be displayed by use of the image display 50. Furthermore, a remaining ratio of a storage capacity to a total storage capacity, for example as an available fuel supply, or a setting process, for example the increase of a current velocity to a maximum permissible velocity can be displayed. A redundant display by use of an instrument cluster can be omitted here or an attentiveness of the vehicle user 14 can be deliberately controlled on the basis of the redundant display.

[0047] To generate the virtual image 54′, 54″, 56, in a first operation V1, the setting process, the performed setting of the control parameter, and a storage ratio are acquired, wherein by use of this these can be provided as data by the acquisition unit 38 to the control device 36. Subsequently, in a second operation V2, the light beams S1 can be emitted as a function of the acquisition, that is to say based on the acquired data, by use of the image source 40, wherein the image source 40 is activated for this purpose by the control device 36. The emitted light beams S1 are reflected in a third operation V3 by use of the reflection region 58 and generate the virtual image 54′, 54″, 56 as reflected light beams S2, for example as the dynamic running light 68′ and as the static light strip 68″.

[0048] One or more aspects of the disclosure are based on the finding that an application of a black print, that is to say a black region formed by the screen printed edge 66, normally remains unused. This can be used here for an at least two-dimensional display as an optically continuous appearing display surface 60. For example, symbols, which describe a warning message or infotainment content, of an instrument cluster or a virtual assistant can thus be depicted. A three-dimensional impression of the display can optionally be achieved by using a dynamic perspective, which continuously acquires the head or the eyes of the vehicle user 14 (head or eye tracking) and adapts a perspective of the virtual image 54′, 54″, 56. Warning symbols can thus be overlaid dynamically in a viewing direction of the driver (vehicle user 14). Furthermore, visual display contents in the instrument cluster can also be reduced and items of information can be displayed in the field of view of the driver (vehicle user 14) in front of the unmoving and monochromatic background (reflection region 58). The image source 40 can for example reflect in the black region at a pane root (lateral edge 22 of the windshield 16), wherein the image source 40 can have the strip display 42 and the image displays 50. A particularly high contrast value can thus be implemented in the display so that the impression results that the black region itself is the strip display 42 or the image display 50.

[0049] Overall, the examples show how a pillar-to-pillar display can be provided by reflection in the black region (reflection region 58) of the pane (windshield 16).

[0050] A description has been provided with reference to various 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). That is the scope of the expression “at least one of A, B, and C” is intended to include all of the following: (1) at least one of A, (2) at least one of B, (3) at least one of C, (4) at least one of A and at least one of B, (5) at least one of A and at least one of C, (6) at least one of B and at least one of C, and (7) at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C. In addition, the term “and/or” includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items. That is, the scope of the expression or phrase “A and/or B” includes all of the following: (1) the item “A”, (2) the item “B”, and (3) the combination of items “A and B”.