DISPLAY UNIT AND METHOD FOR REPRESENTING INFORMATION

Abstract

The disclosure relates to providing of a display that can provide content through either a virtual image from a heads-up-display or a transparent display physically adhered to the back surface of the heads-up-display. The aspects disclosure herein also relate to providing a detection of an input, and in response to detection, switching the combined display from a first mode to a second mode.

Claims

1. A display, comprising: a heads-up display; including: an image generating unit; and a projection surface for generating a virtual image; and a transparent display arranged on a surface of the projection surface, wherein information is displayed selectively on the heads-up display and the transparent display.

2. The display according to claim 1, wherein the projection surface comprises a first surface facing the image generating unit and a second surface facing away from the image generating unit, and that the transparent display is arranged on the second surface.

3. The display according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display is arranged by bonding or adhesion on the second surface of the projection surface.

4. The display unit according to one of claim 3, wherein the transparent display is defined as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

5. A method for controlling a display, comprising: providing a heads-up display with a transparent display, wherein the heads-up display and the transparent display are in an overlapping relationship; controlling, in a first operating mode, the display to project a virtual image via the heads-up display; and controlling, in a second operating mode, the display to display via the transparent display, two-dimensional content, wherein the two-dimensional content provides a same information as the virtual image.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: detecting an input at a surface of the display, or at a predetermined distance away from the surface of the display, and in response to detecting the input, switching the control from the first mode to the second mode.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the controlling in the second mode, is defined by reducing an intensity of the virtual image by a predetermined non-zero amount.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the controlling in the second mode, is defined by turning off the virtual image entirely.

9. The method according to claim 5, further comprising: detecting an input being removed at a surface of the display, or at a predetermined distance away from the surface of the display, and in response to detecting the input, switching the control from the second mode to the first mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Other details, features and advantages of embodiment of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference made to the attached drawings. In the drawings:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a basic representation of an arrangement according to the invention for representing information on a display unit,

[0042] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary representation of 2D objects and 3D objects with the display unit according to FIG. 1, and

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a method for controlling the display unit according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows the display unit 1, which includes a projection surface 2 of a head-up display unit 3 with an image generating unit 4. The representation of FIG. 1 includes only components of the units which area essential and necessary for their explanation. The image generation unit 4 arranged in the head-up display unit 3 projects an image to be represented onto the projection surface 2, the combiner, and generates a virtual image 5. The virtual image 5 appears for a user 7 at an appropriate distance behind the projection surface 2. In addition to this virtual image 5, the user 7 can also see the background 8 of the virtual image 5.

[0045] In the arrangement of the head-up display unit 3 in a motor vehicle, the user 7 is able to recognize the real vehicle environment in which the user 7 is moving with the vehicle as background 8 in the area of the front windshield. In the case that the head-up display unit 3 is being used in a central console of a motor vehicle, the background 8 can be fixed as desired. In addition to mono-color or multi-colored backgrounds 8 even an image or a video can be used as background 8. Even the insertion of a scene from the vehicle environment recorded by a camera located in or on the motor vehicle is possible, for example, a view behind the vehicle before or during a reverse movement of the motor vehicle can be inserted.

[0046] In order to realize the idea according to the aspects disclosed herein of making available a 2D view as well as a 3D view in the display for a user 7 and interactions with the display unit 1, a transparent display 6 is arranged, for example, behind the projection surface 2. The transparent display 6, which can be constructed, for example, as an OLED display, is advantageously permanently connected to the surface of the projection surface 2. Such a connection can be achieved by a bonding method or an adhesive method.

[0047] In the case that the display 6 is transparent, the user 7 sees, for example, the virtual image 5 and the vehicle environment or the virtual image 5 and a background 8 which is appropriately inserted or is firmly present in the display unit 1.

[0048] In the case that the display 6 is controlled by an appropriate control unit, which is not shown, in such a manner that one or more contents or objects 9 such as graphics, written signs, symbols and others according to FIG. 2 are displayed, the user 7 sees the objects 9 in two dimensions on the surface of the display unit 1. Therefore, for example, him selection keys or functional keys can be made available by which the user 7 can make a selection. Vehicle functions, for example, the air conditioning, sound system, automatic transmission functions and other adjustment or usages such as a navigation program can be controlled by such a selection.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a graphic representation generated with an arrangement according to FIG. 1. In a first operating mode of the display unit 1 in which the transparent display 6 appears transparently, a virtual image 5 is generated by the head-up display unit 3 which image appears to the user 7 behind the surface of the display unit 1 in a three-dimensional representation. In the representation of FIG. 2 the virtual image 5 is shown offset laterally to the right. The offset should correspond to a spatial impression of a user 7 looking from the left onto the display unit 1. The user 7 perceives from his position as the vehicle driver the image in the form of a holographic representation.

[0050] In the case that the user 7 comes in the vicinity of the surface of the display unit 1 with his hand or with a finger, the head-up display unit 3 is turned off or controlled in such a manner that the virtual image 5 is no longer generated and the transparent display 6 is activated. In order to recognize an approach to the surface of the display unit 1, various methods for recognizing gestures or, for example, methods which function capacitively or with infrared can be used.

[0051] If an approach to the surface of the display unit 1 is detected, selection possibilities or switches for the corresponding operating function in the form of one or more objects 9 are represented on the display 6 in a second operating mode by the transparent display 6. FIG. 2 shows by way of example three rectangular objects 9, wherein the qualities of the objects 9 such as shape, color, the location of the representation, labels and others can be adapted as desired. Such an object 9 can also be, for example, a written character, a symbol, a geometrical shape, a graphic, an image and other things.

[0052] For example, a selection of available radio stations, operating functions or travel destinations can be made available with the above. The user 7 can make a selection interactively by touching the surface of the display unit 1 at the position of an appropriate object 9. The display unit 1 recognizes on a capacitive or infrared basis the undertaken selection with the aid of the central control unit and initiates a corresponding reaction in accordance with the undertaken selection of the user 7.

[0053] The transfer from the first to the second operating mode and vice versa is smoothly completed here, which means that the 3D representation in the first operating mode, for example, is changed in such a manner that the impression is created that a represented 3D object is drawn out of the distance behind the projection surface 2 onto the surface of the transparent display 6 and merges into a 2D object. The 2D object is then available for an interaction with the vehicle driver or user 7.

[0054] When the user 7 has made his selection or has removed his hand or his finger from the surface of the display unit 1 again, after the passage of a given time a transfer from the second operating mode to the first operating mode is completed. In order to recognize the removal of the finger from the surface of the display unit 1, a gesture recognition is used or a detection by a capacitive or infrared sensor is again carried out.

[0055] Alternatively, the transfer from the second to the first operating mode can also be started by a corresponding input of the user 7.

[0056] Another embodiment provides that the transfer from one operating mode to the other operating mode is not completely carried out. In this case, for example, a part of the 3D representation remains retained while a 2D representation is displayed for the selection and/or for information by the transparent display 6. In this case it is provided that the visibility of the 3D representation is reduced in order to ensure a good ability to recognize the 2D representation. The visibility of the 3D representation is reduced, for example, to a value of 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, or 5% and therefore the 3D representation is rendered transparent.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary course of the method for controlling the display unit 1 of the invention. In step 10 the display unit 1 with the head-up display unit 3 is started up. In this method step there is the possibility of generating a 3D representation.

[0058] In step 11 a check is made by a method for gesture recognition or by a sensor operating with infrared or capacitively whether a hand of the user 7 is approaching the surface of the display unit 1.

[0059] In the case that no approach is detected in step 11, in step 12 a 3D representation of a virtual image 5 is generated in accordance with the first operating mode in step 12.

[0060] If a hand is detected in step 11 approaching the surface of the display unit 1, then a check is made in step 13 whether a set distance to the surface of the display unit 1 was dropped below during the approach. If a given distance to the surface of the display unit 1 is dropped below, in step 14 an at least partial cutting off of the head-up display unit 3 will take place. The head-up display unit 3 can be completely cut off and therefore does not generate any more virtual image 5. Alternatively, the head-up display unit 3 is controlled in such a manner that the virtual image 5 is reduced in its intensity and therefore can only be perceived to a low degree. The first operating mode is terminated. A change of position of the represented 3D object, that is, of the virtual image 5, for example, up to an object 9 represented in 2D can also take place with the reduction.

[0061] Along with the influencing of the head-up display unit 3 in step 14, at the same time the transparent display 6 is started in a second operating mode in step 15. Objects 9 are displayed on this transparent display 6 which are suitable for an interaction with the user 7. In step 15, for example, selection possibilities in the area of air conditioning, the navigation unit, of a sound system or of a radio receiver and more can be displayed.

[0062] Subsequently, it is possible for the user 7 in step 16 to select, change or turn on or turn off functions of the above-described systems. In order to detect the touching of the surface of the display unit 1, the surface is provided with any means known from the prior art for detecting a touching of the surface which can operate, for example, capacitively.

[0063] If the hand of the user 7 is removed from the surface of the display unit 1, this is recognized in step 17 by one of the means already described for the approach. Consequently, the transparent display 6 is turned off in step 18 and then appears completely transparent again. The second operating mode is terminated and the transfer to the first operating mode takes place in which the head-up display unit 3 is started up again and a virtual image 5 is generated.

[0064] After leaving the step 17 the course is continued in step 10, wherein the described course starts from the beginning.

[0065] If the display unit 1 according to the invention with the unit consisting of a projection surface 2 and the transparent display 6 is arranged so that it can be readily reached by the user 7, virtual images 5 can be inserted into the environment located in front of the vehicle, as is known from the prior art, and an interaction while observing certain safety regulations is possible. Also, contact-analog representations in the environment of the vehicle are then possible.

[0066] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.