DISPLAY APPARATUS FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, METHOD FOR OPERATING A DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A DISPLAY APPARATUS

Abstract

A flexible display device, providing an instrument cluster for a motor vehicle, is repositioned by a repositioning device from a stowed position into a use position by bending the display device.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A display apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising: a flexible display device including an instrument cluster of the motor vehicle; and a repositioning device configured to reposition the flexible display device from a stowed position into a use position by bending the flexible display device from the stowed position into the use position.

12. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a pivotable scoop having a first position covering the flexible display device in a vehicle vertical direction when the flexible display device is in the stowed position, and wherein the repositioning device is configured to reposition the scoop up and down between the first position covering the flexible display device and a second position revealing the flexible display device when the flexible display device is in the use position.

13. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the repositioning device is configured to reposition the scoop and the flexible display device into a partly erected position, and wherein the flexible display device is configured to display reduced content in the partly erected position in comparison to content of the instrument cluster displayed in the use position.

14. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a ribbon-shaped display, disposed behind the flexible display device in a vehicle longitudinal direction, configured to display at least some of content displayable by the flexible display device.

15. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising an operating element configured to manually actuate the repositioning device.

16. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the repositioning device includes a pivotable lever mechanism configured to bend the flexible display device from the stowed position into the use position.

17. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the flexible display device includes a display layer having organic light-emitting diodes.

18. A motor vehicle, comprising: a chassis; and a display apparatus including a flexible display device including an instrument cluster of the motor vehicle; and a repositioning device configured to reposition the flexible display device from a stowed position into a use position by bending the flexible display device from the stowed position into the use position.

19. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flexible display device further includes a pivotable scoop having a first position covering the flexible display device in a vehicle vertical direction when the flexible display device is in the stowed position, and wherein the repositioning device is configured to reposition the scoop up and down between the first position covering the flexible display device and a second position revealing the flexible display device when the flexible display device is in the use position.

20. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 19, wherein the repositioning device is configured to reposition the scoop and the flexible display device into a partly erected position, and wherein the flexible display device is configured to display reduced content in the partly erected position in comparison to content of the instrument cluster displayed in the use position.

21. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flexible display device further includes a ribbon-shaped display, disposed behind the flexible display device in a vehicle longitudinal direction, configured to display at least some of content displayable by the flexible display device.

22. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flexible display device further includes an operating element configured to manually actuate the repositioning device.

23. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the repositioning device includes a pivotable lever mechanism configured to bend the flexible display device from the stowed position into the use position.

24. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flexible display device further includes a display layer having organic light-emitting diodes.

25. A method for operating a display apparatus of a motor vehicle, comprising: moving a flexible display device of the display apparatus from a stowed position into a use position by a repositioning device bending the flexible display device, the flexible display device including an instrument cluster.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the flexible display device is bent from the stowed position into the use position upon ignition activation of the motor vehicle.

27. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising repositioning a pivotable scoop between a first position, covering the flexible display device in a vehicle vertical direction when the flexible display device is in the stowed position, and a second position revealing the flexible display device when the flexible display device is in the use position.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising stopping said repositioning of the pivotable scoop at a partially erect position between the stowed position and the use position; and displaying reduced content in the partly erected position in comparison to content of the instrument cluster displayed in the use position.

29. The method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising displaying at least some of content displayable by the flexible display device on a ribbon-shaped display disposed behind the flexible display device in a vehicle longitudinal direction.

30. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein said moving includes manual actuation of the repositioning device by a pivotable lever mechanism configured to bend the display device from the stowed position into the use position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further advantages, features and details will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments and on the basis of the drawings. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations specified below in the description of the figures and/or only shown in the figures can be used not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0024] In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partly illustrated cockpit of a motor vehicle, wherein a flexible display device, embodied as an instrument cluster, is arranged below a pivoted-up scoop;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the display device that has been bent into the use position, wherein a repositioning device for repositioning the display device is illustrated;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a further perspective view of the partly illustrated cockpit, wherein the display device has been bent down from the bent-up use position into the stowed position and has been covered by the scoop that has been pivoted downward; and

[0028] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view in which the display device, which is been bent down into the stowed position, and the scoop, which has been pivoted downward, are shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the figures, the same or functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference characters.

[0030] A display apparatus, denoted by 10 overall, for a motor vehicle is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 1. The display apparatus 10 has a flexible display device 12 that is embodied as an instrument cluster and a pivotable scoop 14 that is arranged over the flexible display device 12 in the vehicle vertical direction z. The display apparatus 10 moreover has a ribbon-shaped display 16, which is arranged below a windshield 18 on an instrument panel support 20, in which the display device 12 is integrated. As may be identified, the ribbon-shaped display 16 is arranged behind the scoop 14 and behind the flexible display device 12 in the vehicle longitudinal direction x in this case. By way of example, the display device 12 that is embodied as an instrument cluster may be an OLED display. Using the display device 12, it is possible to display multifarious information items, such as e.g. speed information items, rotational speed information items, navigation instructions and the like. In the present case, the display device 12 is bent up into the use position.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows, in a side sectional view, the display device 12 that is integrated into the instrument panel support 20. The display apparatus 10 includes a repositioning device 22 which is embodied to bend the display device 12 to and fro between the use position, shown here, and a downwardly bent stowed position. In the present case, the repositioning device 22 is embodied as a pivotable lever mechanism which can be pivoted about a hinge 24 in order to bend the flexible display device 12 upward and downward. Expressed differently, the repositioning device 22 thus can bend the flexible display device 12 upward and downward about the vehicle transverse axis y not shown here.

[0032] Here, the repositioning device 22 is embodied to reposition the scoop 14 up and down, in a manner corresponding to the repositioning of the display device 12, between a position that covers the display device 12 and, as illustrated here, a position that uncovers the display device 12. Here, the scoop 14 is pivotably mounted about a hinge 23. Expressed differently, the repositioning device 22 is embodied in such a way that the movement of the scoop 14 and the movement of the display device 12 are coupled to one another. The repositioning device 22 may have a single motor for repositioning both the display device 12 and the scoop 14. Thus, the flexible display device 12 precisely does not push the scoop 14 upward. Instead, the scoop 14 is moved by the repositioning device 22 in such a way that no forces act on the flexible display device 12 from the scoop 14. Here, it is also possible for the repositioning device 22 to have two motors, wherein the respective motors respectively ensure that the scoop 14 and the flexible display device 12 are moved in a manner coupled to one another.

[0033] Moreover, the repositioning device 22 is embodied to reposition the scoop 14 and the display device 12 into a partly erected position, wherein the display device 12 is embodied to display a reduced content in the partly erected position in comparison with the completely upwardly bent use position shown here. Thus, in the partly erected position, the scoop 14 only uncovers a narrower region, through which the driver can direct their view on the display device 12. Here, it is nevertheless still possible as a result of the reduced display of content that the driver can read certain content from the display device 12.

[0034] In FIG. 3, the scoop is shown in its folded-down position that covers the display device 12. Should the driver desire to have an improved view through the windshield 18, they can actuate, for example, an operating element (not shown here) in the form of a button or the like, as a consequence of which the repositioning device 22 is actuated in such a way that the display device 12 is bent down into the lowered stowed position. At the same time, the repositioning device 22 moves the scoop 14 into the folded-down position that covers the display device 12, as shown here.

[0035] As soon as the display device 12 has been bent into the lowered stowed position and the scoop 14 covers the bent-down display device 12, provision can be made for the display apparatus 10 to be operated in such a way that a reduced content, which, otherwise, is usually displayed by the display device 12 that serves as an instrument cluster, is displayed by the ribbon-shaped display 16. By way of example, it is also possible to display, in a reduced form, information in respect of the current speed of the motor vehicle, simplified navigation instructions by arrow symbols and the like on the ribbon-shaped display 16. Thus, if the scoop 14 is folded down, the driver thus has an unimpeded view through the windshield 18 and can still, in the process, read information that is relevant to them from the ribbon-shaped display 16. Alternatively, or additionally, provision can also be made for the scoop 14 to have a display (not illustrated here) on the upper side thereof, by which display content may be displayed additionally or alternatively, which content was previously displayed by the display device 12 that serves as an instrument cluster. Expressed differently, the display apparatus 10 thus still can display information that is relevant to the driver using the display that is arranged on the scoop 14 and not illustrated here when the display device 12 is bent down and the display device 12 is covered by the scoop 14.

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the bent-down display device 12 and the folded-down scoop 14 in a side sectional view. As may be identified, the flexible display device 12 and the repositioning device 22 are arranged and embodied in such a way that the flexible display device 12 can be bent down into the stowed position, shown here, in such a way that the scoop 14 can be pivoted so far down that it terminates substantially flush with the instrument panel support 20 and covers the view of the display device 12 bent into the stowed position. Depending on the installation space situation, the scoop 14 may also be arranged and embodied here in such a way that it is integrated completely flush into the instrument panel support 20 in the pivoted-down position.

[0037] The display device 12 may be moved from the recessed stowed position into the bent-up use position as soon as the ignition of the motor vehicle has been activated. Expressed differently, as soon as the ignition of the motor vehicle is activated, the display device 12 thus is moved automatically with the activation of the ignition from the recessed stowed position into the upwardly bent use position. Corresponding therewith, the scoop 14 then is pivoted up as well in a synchronous manner. As soon as the ignition of the motor vehicle is deactivated, the display device 12 is bent down into the stowed position again, wherein, coupled to this movement, the scoop 14 is likewise pivoted downward again such that the display device 12 is covered by the scoop 14. However, as already mentioned, the driver can also cause upward bending and downward bending of the display device 12 by way of an appropriate actuation of an operating element, and so they themselves can decide whether they would like to have displayed a corresponding content with the display device 12 serving as an instrument cluster at this time or, instead, would rather have the flexible display device 12 recessed in the stowed position such that they have an unimpeded view through the windshield 18.

[0038] 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).