DISPLAY DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A DISPLAY DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING DISPLAY CONTENT

Abstract

A screen device and a stowage volume are provided in a display device. The screen device is mounted so as to be displaceable through an opening of the stowage volume along a predetermined displacement direction between a stowed position and at least one use position, which is different than the stowed position, out of an interior space of the stowage volume and into the interior space of the stowage volume. The display device has a support element which extends away from the interior space of the stowage volume proceeding from the opening along the predetermined displacement direction and is designed to mechanically support the screen device in a state in which it is at least partly pushed out of the stowage volume.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A display device, comprising: a stowage volume, having an opening; a screen device displaceable through the opening of the stowage volume along a predetermined displacement direction between a stowed position and at least one use position, different than the stowed position, out of an interior space of the stowage volume and back into the interior space of the stowage volume; and a support element which extends away from the interior space of the stowage volume proceeding from the opening along the predetermined displacement direction and mechanically supporting the screen device when at least partly pushed out of the stowage volume.

12. The display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the support element has at least one guide element, and wherein the screen device is positively guided by the at least one guide element along the predetermined displacement direction beyond the support element.

13. The display device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising at least one pivoting mechanism to displace the screen device between the stowed position and the at least one use position depending on a control signal.

14. The display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the at least one pivoting mechanism is arranged in the interior space of the stowage volume and pushes the screen device from the stowed position, continuously variably depending on the control signal, into at least one intermediate position and maintains the screen device in the at least one intermediate position.

15. The display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the screen device has a first display region having a first height and a first inherent stiffness and, adjacent to the first display region, a second display region having a second height and a second inherent stiffness, less than the first inherent stiffness, and wherein when the screen device is arranged in the stowage volume at least a portion of the second display region is curved.

16. The display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first inherent stiffness is caused by at least one of a materially and structurally stiffened carrier layer arranged on the screen device within the first display region.

17. The display device as claimed in claim 16, wherein a height of the support element corresponds at least to the first height of the first display region, wherein in the stowed position an upper edge of the first display region terminates flush with an upper edge of the support element, and wherein in at least one of the use position and the intermediate position, the first display region projects beyond the upper edge of the support element at least in sections and the second display region is supported by the support element at least in sections.

18. The display device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the screen device has a touch-sensitive sensor layer.

19. The display device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one pivoting mechanism to displace the screen device between the stowed position and the at least one use position depending on a control signal.

20. The display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one pivoting mechanism is arranged in the interior space of the stowage volume and pushes the screen device from the stowed position, continuously variably depending on the control signal, into at least one intermediate position and maintains the screen device in the at least one intermediate position.

21. The display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the screen device has a first display region having a first height and a first inherent stiffness and, adjacent to the first display region, a second display region having a second height and a second inherent stiffness, less than the first inherent stiffness, and wherein when the screen device is arranged in the stowage volume at least a portion of the second display region is curved.

22. The display device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first inherent stiffness is caused by at least one of a materially and structurally stiffened carrier layer arranged on the screen device within the first display region.

23. The display device as claimed in claim 21, wherein a height of the support element corresponds at least to the first height of the first display region, wherein in the stowed position an upper edge of the first display region terminates flush with an upper edge of the support element, and wherein in at least one of the use position and the intermediate position, the first display region projects beyond the upper edge of the support element at least in sections and the second display region is supported by the support element at least in sections.

24. A motor vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment enclosing an interior; and a display device, including a stowage volume, having an opening; a screen device displaceable through the opening of the stowage volume along a predetermined displacement direction between a stowed position and at least one use position, different than the stowed position, out of an interior space of the stowage volume and into the interior of the passenger compartment, then back into the interior space of the stowage volume; and a support element which extends away from the interior space of the stowage volume proceeding from the opening along the predetermined displacement direction and mechanically supporting the screen device when at least partly pushed out of the stowage volume.

25. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 24, further comprising at least one pivoting mechanism to displace the screen device between the stowed position and the at least one use position depending on a control signal.

26. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 25, wherein the at least one pivoting mechanism is arranged in the interior space of the stowage volume and pushes the screen device from the stowed position, continuously variably depending on the control signal, into at least one intermediate position and maintains the screen device in the at least one intermediate position.

27. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 24, wherein the screen device has a first display region having a first height and a first inherent stiffness and, adjacent to the first display region, a second display region having a second height and a second inherent stiffness, less than the first inherent stiffness, and wherein when the screen device is arranged in the stowage volume at least a portion of the second display region is curved.

28. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first inherent stiffness is caused by at least one of a materially and structurally stiffened carrier layer arranged on the screen device within the first display region.

29. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 27, wherein a height of the support element corresponds at least to the first height of the first display region, wherein in the stowed position an upper edge of the first display region terminates flush with an upper edge of the support element, and wherein in at least one of the use position and the intermediate position, the first display region projects beyond the upper edge of the support element at least in sections and the second display region is supported by the support element at least in sections.

30. A method for displaying display content by a display device having a screen device and a stowage volume, comprising: mounting the screen device displaceable through an opening of the stowage volume; moving the screen device along a predetermined displacement direction between a stowed position and at least one use position, different than the stowed position, out of an interior space of the stowage volume where a support element which extends away from the interior space of the stowage volume proceeding from the opening along the predetermined displacement direction mechanically supports the screen device when at least partly pushed out of the stowage volume; and displaying the display content on the screen device when in the at least one use position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] 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:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a display device, with a screen device being situated in a possible stowed position;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a screen device and support element;

[0030] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a display device with a screen device pushed at least partly out of a stowage volume;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a detail of a motor vehicle with a display device arranged in the motor vehicle; and

[0032] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for displaying display content.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In 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. Therefore, the disclosure is also intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those presented. Furthermore, the described embodiments are also able to be supplemented by further features from among those already described.

[0034] In the figures, identical reference characters in each case designate functionally identical elements.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic longitudinal sectional illustration of a display device 10. The display device 10 has a screen device 12 and a stowage volume 14 embodied as a stowage container. The screen device 12 can be displaced or pushed back and forth through an opening 16 of the stowage volume 14 along a predetermined displacement direction 18 between a stowed position and a use position. The display device 10 can have a pivoting mechanism 20 having a drive unit 22 and a pivoting arm 24 mounted on the drive unit 22. The pivoting arm 24 can be secured to one end of the screen device 12.

[0036] In order to realize displacement of the screen device 12 along the displacement direction 18, the drive unit 22 can transmit a rotational force 23 to the pivoting arm 24 and thus to the end of the screen device 12. The rotational force 23 can be generated for example depending on a control signal 26 communicated to the display device 10 by a control device 28. The pivoting mechanism 20 may be arranged in an interior space 30 of the display device 10, in particular of the stowage volume 14, and can push the screen device 12 out of the stowage volume 14 and pull it into the stowage volume 14 along the displacement direction 18 continuously variably and depending on the control signal 26.

[0037] Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows a support element 36 which attaches at the opening 16 and extends away from the interior space 30 of the stowage volume 14.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows by way of example an arrangement of the screen device 12 in a stowed position. The stowed position shown is characterized in that an upper edge 32 of the screen device 12 terminates flush with an upper edge 34 of the support element 36. The support element 36 in the stowed position shown in FIG. 1 is accordingly not visible to an eye 38 of an observer or user.

[0039] In the stowed position shown in FIG. 1, a first display region 42 projects, at least for the most part, out of the interior space 30 of the stowage volume 14, while a second display region 44 is stowed in a curved fashion within the stowage volume 14. In order to be able to realize the curvature shown in FIG. 1 within the second display region 44, the screen device 12 can be embodied as flexible or compliant within the second display region 44. Within the first display region 42, by contrast, the screen device 12 may be equipped with an increased inherent stiffness relative to the second display region 44. This increase in inherent stiffness can be obtained by a carrier layer 46 being fitted at the rear side. On a side of the screen device 12 that faces away from the carrier layer 46 and faces the observer's eye 38, there is arranged a display layer 48 for displaying pixel-based display content on the screen device 12. The display layer 48 can extend over an entire length of the screen device, that is to say over first and second display regions 42, 44. A continuous display of display content is thus ensured.

[0040] Between carrier layer 46 and display layer 48, a slot 50 can be integrated in the screen device 12. The slot 50 can serve as an engagement location for a guide element 40.

[0041] In order to realize guidance of the screen device 12 during displacement along the displacement direction 18, a guide element 40 can thus be provided.

[0042] With reference to the components designated and described in association with FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the screen device 12 with a guide element 40 guided laterally in a slot 50 of the screen device 12.

[0043] With reference to the components designated and described in association with FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of the screen device 12 in a use position, which is different than the stowed position. In the use position, the screen device 12 can be pushed out of the stowage volume 14 in such a way that the first display region 42 projects completely or at least almost completely beyond the support element 36. In other words, in the use position shown in FIG. 3, the first display region 42 projects beyond the upper edge 34 of the support element 36 at least in sections. In addition, the second display region 44 is supported by the support element 36 at least in sections. Consequently, an enlarged display surface can be provided to the observer's eye 38 in the use position.

[0044] In the stowed position described, the observer can select for example navigation software on a screen device 12 embodied as a touchscreen. Owing to this selection, the control device 28 can transmit a corresponding control signal 26 to the display device 10. The drive unit 22 can thereupon exert a rotational force 23 on the pivoting arm 24, and thus displace the screen device 12 from the stowed position into the use position shown in FIG. 3. A map representation of the selected navigation software can then advantageously be represented in an enlarged manner.

[0045] With reference to the components described and shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, FIG. 4 shows one exemplary possibility for the arrangement of the display device 10 in a motor vehicle 52. In FIG. 4, the display device 10 is integrated by way of example in a control panel 54 of the motor vehicle 52. In other words, a surface 56 of the control panel 54 forms a part of the stowage volume 14 or of the stowage container. The screen device 12 can thus be displaced through an opening 16 within the surface 56 of the control panel 54.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a method for displaying display content by a display device 10. First, S1 involves providing a display device 10 having a screen device 12 and a stowage volume 14, wherein the screen device 12 is mounted so as to be displaceable through an opening 16 of the stowage volume 14 along a predetermined displacement direction 18 between a stowed position and at least one use position, which is different than the stowed position, out of an interior space 30 of the stowage volume 14 and into the interior space 30 of the stowage volume 14. Next, S2 involves providing a support element 36 for the display device 10. The support element 36 extends away from the interior space 30 of the stowage volume 14 proceeding from the opening 16 along the predetermined displacement direction 18. Next, S3 involves pushing the screen device out of the interior space 30 depending on a control signal 26. In this case, the support element 36 mechanically supports the screen device 12. In S4, enlarged display content can then be displayed on the stowage volume 12 that has been pushed out in this way.

[0047] In one arrangement, a first rigid portion or a first display region of the screen device described is thus situated outside a control panel structure of a motor vehicle. A second portion or second display region may have flexible design and may be extended by suitable kinematics or by a pivoting mechanism. The housing or the stowage volume can be designed such that it has a support structure or a support element on the rear side, which is as high as the rigid portion in a non-extended state or in a stowed position. The support structure is then visually imperceptible to an observer. If the flexible portion or the second display region is extended, then the entire unit or the entire screen device can be supported on the support structure of the housing in the case of touch operation.

[0048] Overall, the examples show how an arrangement for an extendible or displaceably mounted flexible or compliant display can be provided.

[0049] 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).