Display device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

A display device for a motor vehicle having at least one annular gauge (1) and a display panel (2) having a display surface (20) intended to be oriented toward the inside of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The device comprises a transparent pane (4) positioned facing the display surface (20) and serving as a support for the annular gauge (1).

Claims

1. A display device for a motor vehicle, the device comprising: at least one annular gauge comprising a support ring, a display panel having a display surface configured to face an inside of a passenger compartment of the vehicle, a transparent pane positioned facing the display surface and serving to support the at least one annular gauge, wherein: the at least one annular gauge has a cut-out center to leave a surface of the display panel visible, the transparent pane having has marks at a periphery of the annular gauge, dimensions of the display panel are greater than those of the annular gauge, and the support ring of the annular gauge is fastened to the transparent pane.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support ring comprises a crown extending on the transparent pane so as to cover the transparent pane at the periphery of an opening, and a tubular part connected to the crown and passing through the opening.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the annular gauge comprises an annulus mounted rotatably and guided on the tubular part, the annulus carrying a pointer projecting beyond the crown.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one light source at the periphery of the transparent pane, in order to illuminate the marks by using the transparent pane as a light guide.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light source comprises an optical guide extending obliquely or perpendicularly to the transparent pane and having a reflection surface facing an edge of the transparent pane to reflect the light toward the transparent pane.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an optical fiber-based prism is positioned on the display panel in the cut-out of the annular gauge.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one light source at the periphery of the transparent pane, in order to illuminate the marks by using the transparent pane as a light guide.

8. The device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one light source at the periphery of the transparent pane, in order to illuminate the marks by using the transparent pane as a light guide.

9. The device as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one light source at the periphery of the transparent pane, in order to illuminate the marks by using the transparent pane as a light guide.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an optical fiber-based prism is positioned on the display panel in the cut-out of the annular gauge.

11. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein an optical fiber-based prism is positioned on the display panel in the cut-out of the annular gauge.

12. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein an optical fiber-based prism is positioned on the display panel in the cut-out of the annular gauge.

13. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein an optical fiber-based prism is positioned on the display panel in the cut-out of the annular gauge.

14. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein an optical fiber-based prism is positioned on the display panel in the cut-out of the annular gauge.

Description

(1) The understanding of the invention will be enhanced and other features and advantages will be made apparent by the following description, which refers to the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of the display device of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the display device of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a partial section through the device of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a front view of a display device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(7) In the following description, the front and rear orientations are to be interpreted with respect to the direction of observation by a user of the vehicle in which a display device according to the invention is installed. The upper and lower orientations are given with respect to the ordinary mounting position of the device in the vehicle.

(8) A display device for a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, comprises an annular gauge 1 and a display panel 2 placed behind the annular gauge 1. Thus a display surface 20 of the panel 2 is oriented toward the front, in other words toward the inside of a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The panel 2 enables a visible image to be generated on the display surface 20.

(9) The device is composed of a structure having the following elements: a surround 3, of rectangular shape, having a kidney-shaped central cut-out; a transparent pane 4 adjusted at the periphery of the central cut-out so as to be centered on the surround 3; a hood 5, fitted on the surround 3 so as to press the pane 4 against the surround 3 by clamping its periphery; a transparent screen 6 fastened to the hood 5; a mask 7 received by the surround 3 opposite the pane 4; a frame 8 fitted into the surround 3 and pressing the mask 7 against the surround; the frame 8 carries the panel 2 and presses it against the mask 7; an electronic circuit card 9 carried by the frame 8 and held behind the panel 2.

(10) Thus the transparent pane 4 is placed facing the display surface 20.

(11) The pane 4 also serves as a support for the annular gauge 1. For this purpose, it has an opening 40 through which a support ring 10 for the gauge passes. The support ring 10 comprises a crown 101 extending on the pane 4 so as to cover it at the periphery of the opening 40, and a tubular part 102 connected to the crown 101 and passing through the opening 40. The annular gauge 1 further comprises an annulus 11 mounted rotatably and guided on the tubular part 102. The annulus 11 carries a pointer 110 which projects beyond the crown 101 so as to be visible through the pane 4. A cap 12 is fitted onto the tubular part 102 and serves as a stop for the ring 11. The surround 3 has a housing 30 in which a stepper motor 31 is fastened. The motor drives a pinion 32 which engages with toothing 111 of the annulus 11, so as to make it pivot to a desired position. The pane 4 comprises marks 41 at the periphery of the annular gauge 1, next to which marks the pointer 110 may be located in order to indicate, for example, a speed of the vehicle, or an engine speed.

(12) The annular gauge 1 has a cut-out center to leave the surface of the panel 2 visible. Additionally, the dimensions of the panel 2 are greater than those of the annular gauge 1, so that the panel 2 also appears through the pane 4 beyond the periphery of the annular gauge 1.

(13) The display device comprises a light source 42 at the periphery of the pane 4, to illuminate the marks 41 by using the pane 4 as a light guide. The light source 42 comprises an optical guide 420 extending perpendicularly to the pane 4 and housed in a slide 33 of the surround 3. The optical guide 420 has a reflection surface 4201 facing the edge of the pane 4, to reflect the light toward the pane 4, and a receiving surface 4202 facing a set of light-emitting diodes 421 positioned on the electronic circuit card 9.

(14) In operation, the diodes 421 supply light to the optical guide 420, which transmits it to the pane by means of the reflection surface 4201. The light is received by the marks 41, which thus appear luminous, unlike the rest of the pane 4. The motor 31 is controlled by the electronic circuit card 9 so as to make the annulus 11 pivot and thus place the pointer 110 in a position facing one of the marks 41 to provide an indication. The panel 2 also displays other information useful to the vehicle driver, which the driver can see in the center of the annular gauge 1 or beyond the periphery of the latter.

(15) According to an improvement, which is not shown, an optical fiber-based prism is positioned on the panel 2 in the cut-out of the annular gauge 1, and has a display surface substantially in the plane of the pane 4. It thus enables the image generated by the panel 2 to be shifted to the position of the annular gauge 1.

(16) According to a second embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 5, the display device has two annular gauges 1a, 1b, positioned side by side. Each gauge has its own motor (not shown), and is constructed in the same way as in the first embodiment.

(17) The invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described above purely by way of example. The light source could be placed directly at the periphery of the pane, or could have a larger number of optical guides.