WINDSHIELD WITH LAMINATED DISPLAY REGION, DISPLAY DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING WINDSHIELD OF THIS KIND

Abstract

Described is a windshield for a vehicle, for example, a motor vehicle, having a peripheral edge region. The peripheral edge region may contain a black print. The windshield may have at least one separate dark display region, which is isolated from the black print in the edge region. The dark display region may be a film laminated in the windshield. Further described are a display device for such a windshield and a motor vehicle having such a windshield.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A windshield of a vehicle, the windshield comprising: a black print to form a peripheral edge region of the windshield; and at least one dark display region isolated from the black print in the peripheral edge region, the at least one dark display region is a film laminated in the windshield.

11. The windshield as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one dark display region is isolated by being arranged at a distance from the black print.

12. The windshield as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one dark display region is isolated by being formed like an island surrounded by transparent sections of the windshield.

13. The windshield as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one dark display region has a color which has values in a cyan, magenta, yellow and key (CMYK) color model as follows: C=0 to 100, M=0 to 90, Y=0 to 50, K=60 to 100.

14. A display device for a motor vehicle, the display device comprising: an optical component to project items of information to be displayed; a display region, which is separate from the optical component and on which the projected items of information are displayable or displayed, the display region is a dark film laminated in a windshield of the motor vehicle.

15. The display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display region is arranged at a distance from the black print.

16. The display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display region is formed like an island surrounded by transparent sections of the windshield.

17. The display region as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display region has a color which has values in a cyan, magenta, yellow and key (CMYK) color model as follows: C=0 to 100, M=0 to 90, Y=0 to 50, K=60 to 100.

18. A motor vehicle, comprising: a windshield having a peripheral edge region in form of a black print, the windshield having at least one dark display region isolated from the black print in the peripheral edge region, the at least one dark display region is a film laminated in the windshield, and an optical component to project items of information to be displayed on the at least one dark display region in the windshield.

19. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the display region is provided above an interior trim element, which is arranged below the windshield.

20. The motor vehicle (12) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the interior trim element has a recess in such a way that the display region is at least partially arranged in the recess.

21. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the optical component is below the display region.

22. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one dark display region is isolated by being arranged at a distance from the black print.

23. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one dark display region is isolated by being formed like an island surrounded by transparent sections of the windshield.

24. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one dark display region has a color which has values in a cyan, magenta, yellow and key (CMYK) color model as follows: C=0 to 100, M=0 to 90, Y=0 to 50, K=60 to 100.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the examples of an invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a simplified and schematic view of a windshield outward from an interior;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a simplified and schematic enlargement of the display region shown in FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a simplified and schematic sectional illustration approximately corresponding to the section line III-Ill of FIG. 4;

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a simplified and schematic top view of a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a simplified and schematic illustration of a front window or windshield 10 of a motor vehicle 12, which may otherwise be only partially shown. The motor vehicle 12 is represented by way of example by indicated side windows 14 and front body struts (A pillars) 16. Furthermore, a steering wheel 18 is shown. A trim element 20 of the motor vehicle 12 is shown below the windshield 10.

[0024] A dark display region 22, shown pure black here by way of example, may be arranged in the windshield 10. The display region 22 may form a type of dark island within the otherwise transparent windshield 10. Items of information, for example, vehicle-relevant data, can be displayed on the display region 22. The display region 22 may be used here for mirroring or reflecting display elements which may be projected by an optical component (not visible in FIG. 1) onto the display region 22. The display region 22 may thus not be an active display having display elements, such as light-emitting diodes or the like, but rather a passive playback surface which may be provided in the region of the windshield 10.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the display region 22 in an enlarged illustration. The display region 22 may be formed trapezoidal having rounded corners in this example. The display region 22 can have its greatest extension here in the width direction X of the windshield 10. However, the display region 22 can have any arbitrary shape, thus can be made, for example, rectangular or polygonal or ellipsoidal or the like. It is also conceivable that the display region 22 may be arranged along a lateral edge of the windshield in such a way that he display region 22 may have its greatest extension in the longitudinal direction along the windshield 10. Furthermore, the display region 22 can also be formed as a type of angle having a leg which extends in the width direction and a leg which extends in the longitudinal direction.

[0026] The windshield 10 may have a black print 24 along its peripheral edge region, which is illustrated vertically shaded in FIG. 2. The display region 22 may be provided separated or isolated from the black print 24. The display region 22 may accordingly be surrounded by a transparent window section 26. In this way, the display section 22 may appear like an island within the windshield 10. With respect to a visible upper edge 28 of the inner trim element 20, it may also be possible to say that the display region 22 is perceptible as floating in the windshield 10.

[0027] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trim element 20 has a recess 30. The recess 30 has a shaping complementary to the shape of the display region 22. In this way, the display region 22 can be arranged somewhat lower, so that a larger transparent window surface remains above the display region 22 and the field of view of the driver is not strongly impaired. The provision of a recess 30 is an option, however, which necessarily has to be provided.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a simplified and schematic sectional illustration, which approximately corresponds to a section line III-Ill of FIG. 4, of a display device 32 which may have a display region 22 and an optical component 34. The optical component 34 may emit or project information in the direction of the display region 22. The display region 22 may reflect or mirror the information displayed by the optical component, so that the information can be read off for a vehicle occupant, for example, a driver of the motor vehicle 12, from the display region 22. In FIG. 3, the beam path of the displayed information may be identified in greatly simplified form by the arrows IA.

[0029] The display region 22 is formed as a dark or black film. The film is laminated into the windshield 10, which is illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 does not reproduce to scale the size relationships, in particular thicknesses, of windshield 10 and display region or film 22.

[0030] The information projected by the optical component 34 on the display region 22 can represent various vehicle-relevant parameters. In FIG. 2, a speed display 37, a range display 38, and a warning symbol 40 as representative of different warning signals that can be output or displayed are shown by way of example. The items of information 36, 38, 40 shown in FIG. 2 are solely by way of example and other items of information can also be displayed. For example, short scrolling texts could also be shown on the display region 22, which inform about traffic disruptions or the like.

[0031] The optical component 34 may be connected to a vehicle control unit 42, which is only schematically illustrated in FIG. 3. The vehicle control unit may activate the optical component 34 so that the desired information may be projected and displayed on the display region 22.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a motor vehicle 12 in a top view in simplified and schematic form. In this illustration, the black print 24 is apparent, which may be provided peripherally on the windshield 10. Furthermore, a display region 22 is also shown in simplified form, which may be arranged as a dark or black film in the windshield 10. Furthermore, the interior trim element 20 and the steering wheel 18 are apparent.

[0033] Described is a windshield having a passive, for example, reflective or mirroring display region 22, which may enable a cost-effective replacement of the windshield 10. The windshield 10 can be replaced without any electronic components having to be disposed of together with the windshield 10.

[0034] A description has been provided with particular reference to 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 refers to one or more of A, B or C, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).