Display device and manufacturing method

Abstract

A display device for vehicle interiors includes a screen having an active front screen surface comprising a main area and a marginal area, and a decorative layer covering the marginal area and not covering the main area. The decorative layer is configured such that in a non-switched-on state of the screen in the marginal area, the marginal area is not visible through the decorative layer In a switched-on state of the marginal area, light emitted from the marginal area is visible through the decorative layer. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing such a display device is provided.

Claims

1. A display device for vehicle interiors, comprising: a screen having an active front screen surface comprising a main area and a marginal area; and a decorative layer covering the marginal area and not covering the main area, wherein the decorative layer is configured such that in a non-switched-on state of the screen in the marginal area, the marginal area is not visible through the decorative layer, and in a switched-on state of the marginal area, light emitted from the marginal area is visible through the decorative layer.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a transparent protective layer for the screen which extends over the main area and is directly adjacent to the decorative layer.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has one or more touch-sensitive and/or pressure-sensitive switching elements which are arranged between the decorative layer and the marginal area and/or are integrated into the decorative layer in an area opposite the marginal area.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has one or more masking elements which are arranged between the decorative layer and the marginal area and/or are integrated into the decorative layer in an area opposite the marginal area, the one or more masking elements being configured to partially shield light emitted by the marginal area from the decorative layer.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the decorative layer has a transparency of between 15% and 50% in a visible spectral range.

6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device has a transparent support which is arranged at least in sections between the decorative layer and the active front screen surface.

7. The display device according to claim 1, including a control unit that is connected to the active front screen surface in a signal-transmitting manner and which is configured to provide image content in both the main area and the marginal area.

8. The display device according to claim 1, including one or more pressure-sensitive switching elements associated with corresponding sections of the marginal area.

9. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the transparent protective layer overlaps with the decorative layer such that the decorative layer is arranged in an overlapping area between the transparent protective layer and the active front screen surface.

10. The display device according to claim 4, wherein in the area of the one or more masking elements, the decorative layer has a transparency of at most 15% in a visible spectral range.

11. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the transparent support forms an enclosure for the screen.

12. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the display device has a sealing element which seals a gap between the screen and the transparent support.

13. The display device according to claim 12, wherein the sealing element is arranged between the decorative layer and a side of the screen which has the active front screen surface.

14. A method of manufacturing a display device to for vehicle interiors, comprising: a screen having an active front screen surface comprising a main area and a marginal area; a decorative layer covering the marginal area and not covering the main area, wherein the decorative layer is configured such that in a non-switched-on state of the screen in the marginal area, the marginal area is not visible through the decorative layer, and in a switched-on state of the marginal area, light emitted from the marginal area is visible through the decorative layer; wherein the display device has a transparent support which is arranged at least in sections between the decorative layer and the active front screen surface; and wherein the display device has a sealing element which seals a gap between the screen and the transparent support; and the method comprising the steps of: (a) applying an optically clear liquid adhesive to the active front screen surface, the optically clear liquid adhesive flowing at least in sections into the gap between the screen and the transparent support; and b) attaching a transparent protective layer for the screen, which extends over the main area and which is directly adjacent to the decorative layer, by bonding the transparent protective layer to the screen via the previously applied optically clear liquid adhesive.

15. A display device for vehicle interiors, comprising: a screen having an active front screen surface comprising a main area and a marginal area; a decorative layer covering the marginal area and not covering the main area; wherein the decorative layer is configured such that in a non switched-on state of the screen in the marginal area, the marginal area is not visible through the decorative layer, and in a switched-on state of the marginal area, light emitted from the marginal area is visible through the decorative layer; and wherein the active front screen surface is an active area of the screen, which is designed to display image content and faces a viewer or a vehicle interior.

16. The display device according to claim 15, including a control unit that is connected to the active front screen surface in a signal-transmitting manner and which is configured to provide image content in both the main area and the marginal area.

17. The display device according to claim 15, including one or more pressure-sensitive switching elements associated with corresponding sections of the marginal area.

18. The display device according to claim 17, wherein the marginal area makes image content visible through the decorative layer in a form of display elements and/or illuminated control elements that comprise input elements that are selectable by a vehicle occupant directly at a corresponding location in the decorative layer via the one or more pressure-sensitive switching elements.

19. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the marginal area makes image content visible through the decorative layer in a form of display elements and/or illuminated control elements that comprise input elements that are selectable by a vehicle occupant directly at a corresponding location in the decorative layer via the one or more pressure-sensitive switching elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a display device according to the disclosure in a schematic sectional view, and

(2) FIGS. 2 to 5 show a method of manufacturing the display device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(3) FIG. 1 shows a display device 10 for a vehicle, which has a screen 12 and a control unit 14. FIG. 1 shows only a part of the display device 10. It shows in particular a marginal area of the display device 10.

(4) The marginal areas of the display device 10 which are not shown can be designed analogously to the marginal area shown.

(5) The screen 12 has an active screen surface 16 arranged opposite a vehicle interior 18 and configured to provide image contents to vehicle occupants in the vehicle interior 18.

(6) The screen surface 16 has a central main area 20 and a marginal area 22 adjacent the main area 20.

(7) The marginal area 22 surrounds the main area 20 in an annular or rectangular shape.

(8) In an alternative embodiment, the marginal area 22 surrounds the main area 20 at least in sections, in particular in sections in an annular or rectangular shape.

(9) The control unit 14 is connected to the screen surface 16 in a signal-transmitting manner and is configured to provide image contents in both the main area 20 and the marginal area 22.

(10) In one embodiment, the control unit 14 is part of, or forms, an on-board computer of the vehicle.

(11) The screen 12 further has an inactive section 24 surrounding the screen surface 16 in a frame-like manner.

(12) The inactive section 24 is, for example, an unused section of the active screen surface of the screen 12 or a frame or an enclosure of the screen 12.

(13) In particular, the screen 12 is an LCD, TFT, LED, OLED, or QLED display.

(14) The display device 10 further comprises a transparent protective layer 26 arranged opposite and completely covering the main area 20, and a mount 28 arranged opposite the marginal area 22.

(15) In principle, the display device 10 may not include a protective layer 26 for the screen 12, particularly if the screen surface 16 is sufficiently robust and designed, for example, to be touched by an operator without being damaged.

(16) In this case, the protective layer 26 and the mount 28 are bonded to the screen 12 via the screen surface 16 by use of a liquid optically clear adhesive (LOCA) 30.

(17) Between the inactive section 24 and the mount 28, the display device 10 has a sealing element 32 which seals a gap 34 between the mount 28 and the screen surface 16 and thus prevents the liquid optically clear adhesive 30 from escaping via the gap 34.

(18) The screen 12 is attached to the mount 28 using a fastening element 36, for example a retaining clip, which ensures a defined gap 34 and a reliable sealing by the sealing element 32.

(19) The mount 28 has an exterior decorative layer 38 facing the vehicle interior 18, and a transparent support 40 extending between the marginal area 22 and the decorative layer 38.

(20) The transparent support 40 has an edge 42 facing the main area 20, from which the transparent support 40 extends between the marginal area 22 and the decorative layer 38 and beyond the screen 12, thus forming an enclosure in which the screen 12 is received in a frame-like manner.

(21) The transparent support 40 is formed of an optically clear plastic, for example.

(22) In the illustrated embodiment, the support 40 tapers towards its edge at the front, i.e. it becomes progressively thinner towards the edge so that the front side thereof has a chamfer.

(23) The decorative layer 38 extends from the edge 42 to an outer section 44 of the mount 28.

(24) The outer section 44 preferably merges seamlessly with interior elements of the vehicle which are adjacent to the display device 10 or into which the display device 10 is integrated.

(25) In the illustrated embodiment, the mount 28 includes a recess 46 in the outer section 44 in which a padding 48 is arranged below the decorative layer 38 to soften the surface in the outer section.

(26) In an overlapping area 50 adjacent to the edge 42, the decorative layer 38 is directly adjacent to the protective layer 26 and is arranged in this overlapping area 50 between the protective layer 26 and the support 40. At its marginal area, the protective layer 26 has a chamfer on the rear side which corresponds in angle to the chamfer of the support 40. The decorative layer 38 also extends between these areas with the chamfers.

(27) The side 52 of the protective layer 26 facing the vehicle interior 18 and the exposed side 54 of the decorative layer 38 facing the vehicle interior 18 are even with each other, as a result of which the surface 56 of the display device 10 facing the vehicle interior 18 is configured to be flat and the protective layer 26 merges smoothly into the decorative layer 38.

(28) In principle, the protective layer 26 can merge into the decorative layer 38 in any manner, but the two layers 26, 38 are preferably directly adjacent to each other.

(29) In an alternative embodiment, the protective layer 26 is adjacent to the decorative layer 38 in a flush manner without an overlapping area 50 with the chamfers where the decorative layer 38 is arranged between the protective layer 26 and the support 40.

(30) Additionally or alternatively, the decorative layer 38 may extend beyond the protective layer 26 into the vehicle interior 18 so that the side 52 of the protective layer 26 facing the vehicle interior 18 and the exposed side 54 of the decorative layer 38 facing the vehicle interior 18 are not planar but offset from each other perpendicularly to the screen surface 16. In other words, the transition from the protective layer 26 to the decorative layer 38 has a step.

(31) The decorative layer 38 has a transparency of less than 50% in the visible spectral range, as a result of which in the switched-off state, the marginal area 22 is substantially invisible to a vehicle occupant through the decorative layer 38 from the vehicle interior 18. However, light emitted from the screen 12 via the marginal area 22 is visible through the decorative layer 38. That is, the decorative layer 38 obscures the screen 12 in an opaque manner in the marginal area 22 as long as no light is emitted via the marginal area 22.

(32) Adjacent to the protective layer 26 and opposite the marginal area 22, masking elements 58 having respectively associated image elements and by which part of the light emitted via the marginal area 22 is shielded from the vehicle interior 18 are arranged in the decorative layer 38. If the masking elements 58 are illuminated by the marginal area 22, the corresponding image elements are visible from the vehicle interior 18 through the decorative layer 38.

(33) In an alternative embodiment, the masking elements 58 may be arranged at any location between the decorative layer 38 and the marginal area 22.

(34) The masking elements 58 are optional, i.e. they may be omitted in an alternative embodiment.

(35) Additionally or alternatively, image contents may be formed directly through the marginal area 22, particularly at locations where no masking elements 58 are provided.

(36) The embodiment shown here includes areas of the decorative layer 38 without a masking element 58 through which a light emitting display is directly visible in the marginal area 22, and areas with a masking element 58 in which the decorative layer 38 covers an image element of the masking element 58.

(37) In the areas without a masking element 58, the decorative layer 38 has a transparency of 40%.

(38) In an alternative embodiment, the transparency of the decorative layer 38 in the areas without a masking element 58 may be between 15% and 50%, preferably between 35% and 45%.

(39) In the areas with a masking element 58, the decorative layer 38 has a transparency of 4%.

(40) Alternatively, the transparency of the decorative layer 38 in the areas with a masking element 58 may be less than 15%, in particular between 2% and 8%.

(41) To prevent light from the main area 20 from falling on and illuminating the decorative layer 38, the mount 28 includes a light-proof layer 60 at the edge 42 which shields the edge 42 and the decorative layer 38.

(42) The mount 28 further includes pressure-sensitive switching elements 62 associated with corresponding sections of the marginal area 22 or corresponding masking elements 58, to serve as input elements at those locations.

(43) In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical, e.g., foil-like switching elements 62 are formed as a layer arranged immediately below the decorative layer 38 between the marginal area 22 and the decorative layer 38.

(44) In an alternative embodiment, the switching elements 62 may of course be formed in any shape.

(45) Furthermore, the switching elements 62 may be integrated at least in sections into the decorative layer 38.

(46) Additionally or alternatively, the switching elements 62 may be touch-sensitive.

(47) In all cases, the switching elements 62 preferably have a high transparency in the visible spectral range in order to shield the light emitted by the marginal area 22 as little as possible from the vehicle interior 18.

(48) In the illustrated embodiment, the display device 10 has a control 64 in the form of a printed circuit board for the switching elements 62, by which the switching elements 62 are connected to the control unit 14 in a signal-transmitting manner.

(49) In principle, the switching elements 62 can be connected directly to the control unit 14 in a signal-transmitting manner, as a result of which the control 64 can be omitted.

(50) With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, a method will now be described by which the display device 10 can be manufactured.

(51) In a first step (see FIG. 2), the screen 12 is fixed to the mount 28 with the fastening element 36 such that the sealing element 32 seals the gap 34 between the marginal area 22 and the support 40.

(52) In a next step (see FIG. 3), the liquid optically clear adhesive 30 is applied to the main area 20 of the screen surface 16. The liquid optically clear adhesive 30 flows at least in sections into the gap 34 and thus provides a good optical transition between the marginal area 22 and the support 40. Here, a good optical transition is understood to mean that the light is not refracted or is only slightly refracted during the transition from one material to an adjacent material, and thus image contents are displayed as faithfully as possible for a vehicle occupant in the vehicle interior 18.

(53) In a subsequent step (see FIG. 4), the protective layer 26 is applied and bonded to the screen 12 via the still liquid optically clear liquid adhesive 30.

(54) In a final step (see FIG. 5), the liquid optically clear adhesive 30 is cured.

(55) In this way, a display device 10 is provided which can be integrated particularly harmoniously into the interior design of a vehicle.

(56) In particular, the display device 10 does not have a frame which would be visible from the vehicle interior 18; rather, the protective layer 26 of the screen 12 merges directly into the decorative layer 38.

(57) As the decorative layer 38 leaves the main area 20 free, that is, does not cover the latter with respect to the vehicle interior 18, image contents displayed in the main area 20 are visible to vehicle occupants with particularly high quality.

(58) The marginal area 22 is further arranged to make image contents visible through the decorative layer 38 as required, for example in the form of display elements and/or illuminated control elements which can be used as input elements by a vehicle occupant directly at the corresponding location in the decorative layer 38 via the switching elements 62.

(59) In this way, a driver can be effectively assisted by displaying display and/or control elements that are important at the moment, while other display and/or control elements remain invisible.

(60) The disclosure is not limited to the embodiment shown. In particular, individual features of one embodiment can be combined as desired with features of other embodiments, in particular irrespective of the other features of the corresponding embodiments.