DE102020130428A1 - E-paper display device on or in a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

An e-paper display device on or in a vehicle (1) is designed for use as a display device for displaying an image of a vehicle model designation (3), the e-paper display device (2) being connected to a display control device (4) for data transmission and wherein the display control device (4) is designed to generate a vehicle model designation image display (30) on the e-paper display device (2) on the basis of vehicle model designation image data (31) of the vehicle model designation (3), stored in a vehicle model designation data memory (46; 46') provided in the vehicle (1) or outside the vehicle (1) so that they can be called up.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to an e-paper display device on or in a vehicle according to claim 1. It also relates to the use of an e-paper display device to display a vehicle model designation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Model lettering for the model designation of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, are nowadays usually applied to the outer skin of the vehicle as chrome-plated plastic components during vehicle manufacture. Such model designations often contain information about the engine equipment or the drive power of the vehicle (e.g. in the case of combustion engines about their displacement or the power class), but they can also contain information about the vehicle equipment (e.g. relating to a sporty or luxurious vehicle equipment). This leads to a large number of variants of possible model designations and corresponding model inscriptions, which can lead to an increased possibility of errors during vehicle assembly in the manufacturing plant. The model lettering once attached to a vehicle during manufacture usually remains unchanged with the vehicle throughout the vehicle's life cycle.

In the future it will be possible to change vehicle properties or vehicle equipment (e.g. by activating hardware that is installed as standard but initially non-functional) using appropriate software upgrades even after the vehicle has been purchased, so that a vehicle can be upgraded over the course of its vehicle life cycle by such a software can be upgraded to a vehicle with equipment that would be assigned to a different model designation. Removing the conventionally present model lettering and attaching a new model lettering to the vehicle is expensive and requires the vehicle to be in the workshop.

STATE OF THE ART

It is known per se to attach e-paper display devices to the outer skin of the vehicle in order to communicate general messages or warnings to other road users (e.g US 2015/0032328 A1 ) or to display vehicle registration data (for example EP 3 571 096 B1 ).

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to achieve greater flexibility in the vehicle model display using at least one model lettering provided on the vehicle, which can be adapted to a change in the vehicle properties or the vehicle equipment during the vehicle's service life.

This problem is solved with the features of patent claim 1.

An e-paper display device is mounted on or in a vehicle and is used as a display device for displaying an image of a vehicle model designation, the e-paper display device being connected to a display control device for data transmission, and the display control device being configured to generate on the e-paper display device a vehicle model designation image display based on vehicle model designation image data of a vehicle model designation retrievably stored in a vehicle model designation data memory provided in the vehicle or outside the vehicle.

BENEFITS

The use of such an e-paper display device for displaying a vehicle model designation and thus for labeling the vehicle has the advantage that only one hardware component has to be kept available for all vehicles. Each vehicle is equipped with the same component and there is no component variance. The vehicle model designation is digital and can also be changed while the vehicle is in use. A further advantage is that a monolithic appearance of the outer skin of the vehicle is achieved without lettering applied to the outer skin of the body leading to the formation of a relief or edges.

Further preferred and advantageous design features of the e-paper display device according to the invention are the subject matter of dependent claims 2 to 5.

It is advantageous if the display control device is or can be connected to a vehicle data memory for data transmission and if the display control device is designed to retrieve vehicle model identification data from the vehicle data memory and, based on the retrieved vehicle model identification data, the vehicle model designation image data of the vehicle model designation from the vehicle model identifier data memory and to generate the vehicle model identifier image display on the e-paper display device based on the vehicle model identifier image data. If, for example, a performance upgrade takes place or certain vehicle equipment is activated, which can only happen for a limited period of time (e.g. the activation of seat heating in winter or an increase in performance with a change in the shock absorber characteristics for a motorsport weekend), the display of the vehicle model designation changes on the e-paper display device automatically due to changed vehicle identification data during the upgrade.

It is preferably useful if the vehicle data memory and/or the vehicle model designation data memory is part of a vehicle computer device provided in the vehicle or is provided in the vehicle and assigned to it.

In another particularly preferred development of the invention, which can be combined with other embodiments of the invention, the vehicle model designation data memory is provided outside the vehicle and is or can be connected to the display control device in the vehicle via a preferably wireless data transmission connection. In this variant, the display of the vehicle model designation can be changed remotely from outside, for example from a workshop or from the vehicle manufacturer.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with other embodiments of the invention, it is provided that the vehicle model designation image display on the e-paper display device can be switched on or off via a switching device connected to the display control device. In this way, the vehicle user can decide for himself - on a case-by-case basis - whether he is traveling with a "neutral" vehicle or whether he would like to communicate the drive power and equipment of his vehicle to the outside world.

The invention also relates to the use of an e-paper display device according to the invention for displaying a vehicle model designation, the e-paper display device being arranged on or in a vehicle and connected to a display control device for data transmission, and the display control device being configured to generate a vehicle model designation image display on the e-paper display device.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with additional design details and further advantages are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing.

character list

• 1 ein Fahrzeugheck mit einem integrierten E-Paper-Anzeigeelement;
• 2 einen schematischen Querschnitt durch ein E-Paper-Anzeigeelement;
• 3 ein schematisches Schaubild einer ersten Variante zur Einbindung einer erfindungsgemäßen E-Paper-Anzeigeeinrichtung in ein Fahrzeug und
• 4 ein schematisches Schaubild einer zweiten Variante zur Einbindung einer erfindungsgemäßen E-Paper-Anzeigeeinrichtung in ein Fahrzeug.

It shows:

• 1 a vehicle rear with an integrated e-paper display element;
• 2 a schematic cross section through an e-paper display element;
• 3 a schematic diagram of a first variant for integrating an e-paper display device according to the invention in a vehicle and
• 4 a schematic diagram of a second variant for integrating an e-paper display device according to the invention in a vehicle.

ILLUSTRATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1 shows the rear of a vehicle 1 with a vehicle body 10, which has a rear apron 12 and a rear trunk lid 14 and in which an e-paper display element 20 of an e-paper display device 2 in the region of the trunk lid 14 is flush with the outer skin of the trunk lid 14 is integrated. A vehicle model designation 3 can be seen on the e-paper display element 20 , which is shown as a vehicle model designation image display 30 on a display 20 ′ of the e-paper display element 20 .

In 2 the structure of the e-paper display element 20 according to the invention is shown schematically with a display 20', which has a transparent or translucent upper display window 22, behind which a multiplicity of display spheres 24 designed as microcapsules are located. At the same time, the display window 22 forms a first flat (upper) electrode 21 . A second flat (lower) electrode 23 is provided on the back of the e-paper display element 20 behind the display balls 24 . Each of the indicator spheres 24 has a transparent housing wall 25 which encloses an interior space 26 of the indicator sphere 24 . The interior 26 contains a plurality of first pigments 27 of a first color (here white) and a plurality of second pigments 28 of a second color (here black) surrounded by a transparent fluid 29, usually the black pigments 28 positive and the white pigments 27 are negatively charged.

When a positive or negative electric field is activated by applying a voltage to the electrodes 21, 23, the black pigments 28 and the white pigments 27 move to the opposite electrodes 21, 23, respectively. The amount of pigment particles that migrates to the upper (transparent) electrode 21 , is visible to the viewer as a black or white point in the display window 22.

This example in 2 The simple e-paper display element 20 shown is only capable of displaying black and white representations. Colors can also be displayed with a plurality of different display spheres, which contain colored pigments instead of the white pigments 27 .

The display 20 ′ of the e-paper display element 20 can be supplied with electrical control signals via a display control device 4 . For this purpose, the e-paper display device 2 is effectively connected to the display control device 4 for data transmission. In 2 this connection is represented by electrical data lines 41, 41', which form a first data transmission connection 42. The display control device 4 is part of a vehicle computer device 40 provided in the vehicle 1 or is provided in the vehicle 1 and assigned to this vehicle computer device 40 .

In 3 a first variant of an e-paper display device 2 according to the invention is shown in a vehicle 1 as a schematic diagram. The e-paper display element 20 mounted in or on the vehicle 1 forms a display 20' for displaying a vehicle model name 3 as a vehicle model name image display 30.

The e-paper display device 2 is connected to the display control device 4 via the data lines 41 , 41 ′ forming the first data transmission connection 42 . The display control device 4 is connected to a vehicle data memory 44 via a second data transmission connection 43 and is designed to retrieve vehicle model identification data 45 from the vehicle data memory 44 . This vehicle model identification data 45 contains information for determining the vehicle model in question and the associated vehicle model designation 3. On the basis of the retrieved vehicle model identification data 45, the display control device 4 then uses a third data line 47 from a vehicle model designation data memory 46 to assign corresponding data assigned to the vehicle model Vehicle model designation data 48 retrieved. From this vehicle model designation data 48, vehicle model designation image data 31 of the vehicle model designation 3 is created in the display control device 4 and transmitted to the e-paper display element 20 via the first data transmission line 42, whereupon the vehicle model designation image display 30 appears on the display 20' of the e-paper Display element 20 of the e-paper display device 2 is generated.

The display control device 4 is provided with or connected to a switching device 49, by means of which the vehicle model designation image display 30 on the display 20' of the e-paper display device 2 can be selectively switched on or off.

In the 4 schematically illustrated variant of the invention differs from the variant of 3 in that the vehicle model designation data memory 46' is provided outside the vehicle 1 and can be connected to the display control device 4 in the vehicle 1 via a preferably wireless data transmission connection 47'. The display control device 4 is also not coupled to the vehicle data memory 44, since the vehicle model designation data 48 is transmitted directly from a transmission device 46" assigned to the external vehicle model designation data memory 46' to the display control device 4 in the vehicle 1. Otherwise, the structure essentially corresponds to that of the variant out of 3 . The variant of 4 is therefore particularly suitable for influencing the display of the model designation 3 on the vehicle 1 in a way that is controlled centrally, for example by the vehicle manufacturer.

The invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiment, which merely serves to explain the core idea of the invention in general. Rather, within the scope of protection, the device according to the invention can also assume other configurations than those described above. In this case, the device can in particular have features which represent a combination of the respective individual features of the claims.

Reference signs in the claims, the description and the drawings are only intended for a better understanding of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

Reference List

1

vehicle

2

E-Paper Display Device

3

vehicle model designation

4

display controller

6'

display device

10

vehicle body

12

rear apron

14

trunk lid

20

E-Paper Display Element

20'

screen

21

first flat (upper) electrode

22

display window

23

second flat (lower) electrode

24

indicator balls

25

transparent housing wall

26

inner space

27

first pigments

28

second pigments

29

transparent fluid

30

Vehicle model designation image display

40

Vehicle Computer Setup

41

data line

41'

data line

42

first data transmission connection

43

second data transmission connection

44

vehicle data storage

45

Vehicle Model Identification Data

46

Vehicle model designation data store

46'

Vehicle model designation data store

46"

transmission facility

47

third data line

47'

wireless data transmission connection

48

Vehicle Model Designation Data

49

switching device

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US 2015/0032328 A1 [0004]
• EP 3571096 B1 [0004]

Claims (6)

E-paper display device on or in a vehicle (1) for use as a display device for the image display of a vehicle model designation (3), the e-paper display device (2) being connected to a display control device (4) for data transmission, and wherein the display control device (4) is adapted to generate a vehicle model designation image display (30) on the e-paper display device (2) on the basis of vehicle model designation image data (31) of the vehicle model designation (3) contained in a vehicle model designation data memory (46; 46') provided in the vehicle (1) or outside the vehicle (1) so that they can be called up. e-paper display device claim 1 , characterized in that the display control device (4) is or can be connected to a vehicle data memory (44) for data transmission and in that the display control device (4) is designed to retrieve vehicle model identification data (45) from the vehicle data memory (44). and based on the retrieved vehicle model identification data (45), retrieving and loading the vehicle model designation image data (31) of the vehicle model designation (3) from the vehicle model designation data memory (46) and based on the vehicle model designation image data (31), the vehicle model designation image display ( 30) on the e-paper display device (2). e-paper display device claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the vehicle data memory (44) and/or the vehicle model designation data memory (46, 46') is part of a vehicle computer device (40) provided in the vehicle (1) or is provided in the vehicle (1) and assigned to it. e-paper display device claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that the vehicle model designation data memory (46') is provided outside the vehicle and is connected or can be connected to the display control device (4) in the vehicle (1) via a preferably wireless data transmission connection (47'). E-paper display device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle model designation image display (30) on the e-paper display device (2) via a switching device (49) connected to the display control device (4) optionally one or is designed to be switched off. Use of an e-paper display device (2) according to one of the preceding claims for displaying a vehicle model designation (3), the e-paper display device (2) being arranged on or in a vehicle (1) and having a display control device (4 ) is connected for data transmission, and wherein the display control device (4) is designed to generate a vehicle model designation image display (30) on the e-paper display device (2).

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