DE102011000816B4 - Automatically moveable device - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatically moveable device (1), in particular automatically moveable floor dust collecting device, with an optical distance meter rotating with respect to a central vertical axis of the device (1) and a display area (7) formed in the outer surface (8) and providing an illuminated display, wherein a plurality of display areas (7) are formed next to one another in the circumferential direction and the display areas (7) are actuated, which display areas (7) are used to illustrate a working state of the device (1) by activating the display areas (7) in succession, thereby characterized in that to symbolize an all-round distance measurement, display areas (7) one behind the other in the circumferential direction light up one after the other and/or that two or more display areas (7) are formed one behind the other in the radial direction and a driving movement of the device (1) is indicated by the display areas (7 ) is symbolized in the radial orientation corresponding to the direction of travel.

Description

The invention relates to an automatically movable device, in particular an automatically movable soil dust collector, with an optical distance meter rotating with respect to a central vertical axis of the device and a display area formed in the outer surface, which produces an illuminated display, with a plurality of display areas being formed next to one another in the circumferential direction and wherein the display areas are activated, which display areas are used to clarify a working state of the device by successively activating the display areas.

Automatically moveable devices of the type in question are known, in particular in the form of automatically moveable suction and/or cleaning devices for cleaning floors, and in a further embodiment as automatically moveable transport devices or lawn mowers. As a rule, these devices have a display area, in particular arranged on an outer surface of the device, which display area displays, for example, status information of the device when it lights up. The user of the device is thus given a visual display in order to find out, for example, about the current status of the device. In particular, floor cleaning devices that can be moved automatically have complex applications that can assume a large number of operating states, which can also be subject to a large number of errors. Information about the status of the device can be transmitted to the user in a graphical manner via the display area. Known solutions for this typically provide seven-segment displays, liquid crystal displays or individual LEDs. These known solutions turn out to be unergonomic and not intuitively understandable. Any text messages, e.g. on liquid crystal displays, are difficult for the user to read if they are not directly above the device. In most cases, the user has to bend down to the device for better readability.

From the publications JP 2002-345703 A , DE 600 05 946 T2 and U.S. 2007/0250212 A1 devices are also known in which working states of the device are displayed by flashing display areas. For example, a fault can be displayed by flashing display areas, such as display lamps.

In view of the prior art described above, one of the technical problems of the invention is seen in improving the design of a device of the type in question, in particular with regard to the display.

This problem is solved first and foremost by the fact that to symbolize an all-round distance measurement, consecutive display areas light up one after the other in the circumferential direction and/or that a driving movement of the device is symbolized by alternating lighting of the display areas in the radial alignment corresponding to the driving direction. The plurality of display areas on the outer surface of the device preferably form a pattern on the outer surface of the device continuously or alternatively only when they are activated. Each display area can preferably be activated, i.e. made to light up, independently of the other display areas. In this way, moving patterns can be generated by triggering the display areas with a time offset, which moving patterns are more preferably used to transmit information, for example about the operating state of the device. The display system created in this way is used to intuitively symbolize operating states through temporal and local variations in the lighting behavior of the individual display areas for the user. For example, an error status of the device can be symbolized by simultaneous, fast and hard modulated flashing of all display areas. Overall, according to the proposed solution, information is transmitted to the user by controlling a plurality of display areas arranged next to one another in the form of a pattern that is easily recognizable by the user even if he is not directly at the device, and can also be perceived from a distance accordingly . With the display areas arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction, the “all-round distance measurement” function of the device can be symbolized according to the invention in a device with a rotating optical distance meter by the display areas lying one behind the other lighting up one after the other in the circumferential direction. The device function shown is immediately understandable for the user.

Further features of the invention are explained below, also in the description of the figures, often in their preferred assignment to the subject matter of claim 1 or to features of other claims. However, they can also be of importance in an assignment to only individual features of claim 1 or of the respective further claim or in each case independently.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the display areas are arranged together, more preferably in Circumferentially a self-contained or at least halfway closed display area offering. In this regard, there is the possibility of omitting individual segments, in particular display areas, in order to create space, for example, for control panels, charging contacts, suction nozzles, etc. Nevertheless, the user still has an approximately closed display area, at least subjectively.

In one configuration, the display areas are formed next to one another in the circumferential direction in the area of a circumferential housing wall of the device. An embodiment is preferred in which the display areas are formed on an upper side of the device, more preferably on a level plane, particularly in the operating position parallel to the ground to be traveled on. Correspondingly, a concentric pattern of display areas results with respect to a central vertical axis of the device, around which a distance sensor rotates in one possible embodiment. In this regard, square or rectangular arrangements of the display areas are also conceivable, in particular with central enforcement of the central vertical axis of the device. In a preferred embodiment, the design of the pattern follows the outline of the device.

Two or more display areas are formed one behind the other in the radial direction, in a further preferred embodiment with a concentric arrangement of two or more display areas formed next to one another in the circumferential direction. To symbolize an all-round scan, in an embodiment with, for example, three display areas arranged one behind the other in the radial direction, according to the invention all display areas arranged radially relative to one another light up one after the other in the circumferential direction. According to the invention, a movement of the device is symbolized by alternating illumination of the display areas in the radial alignment corresponding to the direction of travel. All display areas, for example to display an error message, can also light up alternately regularly or irregularly as a result of appropriate control.

In one embodiment, the display areas are combined in the form of an annular surface or a segment of an annular surface, more preferably in such a way that two-dimensional illuminated areas that are delimited from one another result on the outer surface side of the device. In one embodiment, the delimitation is sharp, i.e. there is a clear separation of the individual display areas that is also visible to the user.

In an alternative embodiment, the display area is provided by a light spot appearing on a continuous surface, in particular as a diffuse appearing light spot as a result of projection against the outer surface, with display areas or light spots arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction and/or in the radial direction, as further preferred, overlapping one another could be. These spots of light or the spots of light to be activated preferably form a pattern on the outer surface of the device, it being possible for each of these spots of light to be illuminated independently of the others.

In a preferred embodiment, a display area lights up with a single color, alternatively in different colors. The display of the operating state can be supported by appropriate selection of the active color, for example a red color for an error state and a green color for the correct operating state. The individual display areas can either be switched on or off completely (digital switching) or can be dimmed over several brightness levels. Both options are preferably also used to support the display of the operating status. For example, a rapid, digitally switched flash can indicate an error condition. A slow dimming between light and dark can indicate to the user that a proper operating condition is present. In one embodiment, the operating current or the operating voltage of the lighting means is regulated in order to dim the display areas. In this regard, it is also possible to carry out control via pulse width modulation.

Light sources that are just as large as the display areas to be illuminated are preferably used. In this regard, electroluminescent films, LEDs or flat OLED elements can be used. LEDs or OLEDs can be monochrome or multicolored, eg RGB LEDs. In order to create any overlaps, the planar light sources are arranged in an overlapping manner. Point light sources are preferred in this respect. Correspondingly, preference is given to using light sources which are punctiform compared to the size of the display area to be illuminated. At the same time, the installation space conditions, e.g. in automatically moving devices, make a flat design necessary. LEDs or incandescent lamps can be used here. Light sources deflected by light guides are also conceivable in this respect. In particular, when the display areas are illuminated with LEDs, these are arranged on a printed circuit board below the display area, with the problem of illuminating a flat field using a point light source being solved in that the light source, which is located inside the device (i.e. behind the outer surface of the device when viewed from the outside), , the outer surface of the device by means of an optical element assigned to the light source for beam conversion glowing. A lens is preferably provided for this purpose. This optical element preferably completely encloses the light-emitting area of the light source. The optical element, in particular the lens, transforms the characteristics of the emitted light in such a way that the light source, in particular the LED, illuminates a light spot in the plane of the outer surface in the display area, which has a significantly larger diameter than the light source itself. Even without a lens the light source projects a circular light spot on the outer surface of the device, which is significantly smaller than when a lens is interposed, so that a larger distance between the display area and the light source, e.g. LED, would be required for the same diameter, which leads to a larger installation space.

A circular light spot is achieved by using an LED with circular radiation, a rotationally symmetrical lens and a coaxial arrangement of lens and LED. Furthermore, a non-rotationally symmetrical lens (e.g. with a cylinder component), an LED with a non-circular characteristic or an offset arrangement can also be used, so that light spots of any shape are created, for example elliptical or free-form contours.

A diffuser layer (ground glass) is located on the outside of the device, preferably on the inside. This causes the decoupled light to be radiated diffusely so that the user cannot see the individual structure points. In an advantageous embodiment, the diffuser layer is formed by painting the device wall; a rough surface also fulfills this function. This can be produced, for example, by injection molding the device wall and roughening the corresponding surface in the tool.

By using small LEDs, e.g. in SMD technology, an overall very flat solution can be achieved. If several LEDs with their lenses are positioned close to each other, the illuminated light spots overlap.

In a preferred embodiment, the lenses are positioned on a printed circuit board. It makes sense to attach the lenses to the printed circuit board with the help of joining elements, which are part of the lens. The lenses are preferably produced in plastic injection molding, more preferably using polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) or a comparable transparent plastic. In addition to the optical surfaces, it makes sense to also mold other shaped elements, for example contact surfaces for the lenses on the circuit board or fastening means, such as snap hooks.

Rotationally symmetrical light spots are generated by appropriately shaping the lenses. A non-rotationally symmetrical radiation characteristic can be achieved by alternatively shaping the lenses. In addition to round spot shapes, elliptical, polygonal or star-shaped areas can also be illuminated accordingly. A limitation by free-form lines is also possible. Shapes are preferably chosen which are symmetrical or follow another technical rule. In this regard, asymmetrical or irregular shapes are also conceivable.

Alternatively, to solve the problem of illuminating a flat field with a point light source, a light guide is used between the point light source (LED) and the display area. This absorbs the light emitted by the point light source, directs it in the direction of the display area and distributes it evenly over the display area. A laterally radiating LED (side LED) is preferably provided, which feeds into a plate-shaped light guide, which light guide has the outline of an outer surface to be illuminated.

• 1 ein selbsttätig verfahrbares Gerät in Form eines Bodenstaub-Aufsammelgerätes in perspektivischer Darstellung, eine erste Ausführungsform der Ausbildung von Anzeigebereichen betreffend;
• 2 eine schematische Vertikalschnittdarstellung durch einen Anzeigebereich mit einer seitlich abstrahlenden LED und einem dem Anzeigebereich zugeordneten Lichtleiter;
• 3 in perspektivischer Darstellung Einzelsegmente von Lichtleitergruppen;
• 4 Zusammenbaudarstellungen der Lichtleitergruppen zur Bildung eines geschlossenen, kreisringförmigen Lichtleiterbauteils;
• 5 eine der 1 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch eine alternative Ausführung der Anzeigebereiche betreffend;
• 6 den schematischen Vertikalschnitt durch einen Anzeigebereich gemäß 5;
• 7 eine der 6 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch eine weitere Ausführungsform betreffend.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing, which only shows exemplary embodiments. It shows:

• 1 a perspective view of an automatically movable device in the form of a floor dust collecting device, relating to a first embodiment of the design of display areas;
• 2 a schematic vertical sectional view through a display area with a laterally emitting LED and a light guide associated with the display area;
• 3 perspective view of individual segments of light guide groups;
• 4 Assembly representations of the light guide groups to form a closed, annular light guide component;
• 5 one of the 1 Corresponding representation, however, relating to an alternative design of the display areas;
• 6 according to the schematic vertical section through a display area 5 ;
• 7 one of the 6 Corresponding representation, however, concerning a further embodiment.

Shown and described is initially with reference to 1 a device 1 in the form of a floor dust collector, further in the form of a automatically moveable household vacuum robot. This has a chassis, which on the underside, facing the floor 2 to be cared for, has electrically driven travel wheels 3 and preferably a brush that projects beyond the lower edge of the chassis floor and is also driven by an electric motor. The chassis is overlaid by a device hood 4, the device 1 having a circular outline. With regard to the design of the device 1 as a floor dust collection device, for example DE 102 42 257 A1 referred.

The electrical supply of the individual electrical components of the device 1, such as for the electric motor of the traversing wheels 3, for the electric drive of the brush, if necessary for a suction fan and also for the electronics provided in the device 1 for controlling the same and more preferably for displaying working states of the device takes place via a non-illustrated, rechargeable accumulator.

According to the invention, the device 1 is provided with distance/obstacle detection in the form of a non-contact sensor 5, having a light beam emitting device and a light beam receiving device. This sensor 5 is arranged on top of the device hood 4 of the device 1 and can be rotated about a vertical axis x, which also represents the central vertical axis of the device 1 . The sensor 5 preferably consists of a triangulation system, by means of which an all-round distance measurement (over 360° around the axis x, arrow r in 1 ) can be carried out.

A plurality of display areas 7 are provided in a concentric pattern to the vertical axis x on the upper side 6 of the device hood 4, which is preferably level in the operating state of the device 1 and is aligned parallel to the base 2. These are arranged next to one another and sharply separated from one another in three concentric circles, with the display areas 7 provided here also being arranged one behind the other in the radial direction with reference to a circle segment.

in the in 1 The exemplary embodiment shown shows a continuous pattern, ie the upper side 6 of the device 1 is used throughout for the arrangement of display areas 7.

All display areas 7 can be activated individually, i.e. they can each be activated and deactivated individually, with the activated state of a display area 7 causing the same to light up.

The display system created in this way is preferably used to symbolize operating states through temporal, spatial and/or color variations in the lighting behavior of the individual flat display areas 7 for the user in an intuitive manner, as a result of corresponding, preferably program-controlled activation of the individual display areas 7. So For example, a movement of the device 1 in the direction of movement a can be symbolized by an alternating illumination of the display areas 7 arranged one behind the other in the radial direction in the direction of movement a. An error state of the device 1 can be symbolized by a rapid and hard-modulated flashing of all display areas 7 simultaneously or alternately, further, for example, also at irregular intervals. In 1 three indicator areas 7 constituting a central beam of the pattern are activated, ie they light up.

If the three display areas 7 arranged one behind the other in the radial direction light up one after the other, viewed in the circumferential direction, the user intuitively sees a rotating movement on the upper side 6 of the device 1. This message is preferably linked to the operating state “scanning the surroundings”, symbolized accordingly the rotational movement of the sensor 5. A rotating light display corresponding to the rotation of the sensor 5 in the direction of the arrow r is thereby preferred.

Each individual display area 7 can either be switched on or off completely or dimmed over a number of brightness levels. Both options can also be used to support the display of the operating status.

In 2 a display area 7 is shown in a schematic vertical sectional view. A printed circuit board 9 is provided on the underside of the outer surface 8 (top side 6). In addition to further control components, this preferably has a laterally emitting LED 10 which emits into a light guide 11 arranged between circuit board 9 and outer surface 8 . This is in the form of a plate and has a floor plan corresponding to the field to be illuminated, more preferably a floor plan in the form of a segment of a circular ring. The underside 12 of the light guide 11 is provided with printing or structuring, e.g. in the form of domes, pyramids or other structural elements, which is designed such that light is reflected through this structure in a uniform luminance towards the top 13 of the light guide 11. On the upper side 13 there is a diffuser layer 21 which faces the preferably transparent device wall 25 . The reverse arrangement is also possible in this regard. The light guide 11 can also lie in a recess in the device wall 25 , with the upper side 13 of the light guide 11 running in the plane of the outer surface 8 . The diffuser layer 21 causes that decoupled light is radiated diffusely, so that the user cannot see the individual structure points. There is a reflector layer on the remaining free sides of the light guide, which reflects escaping light back into the system. A reflector layer is preferably also provided on the underside 12 of the light guide 11 .

In a further embodiment, the diffuser layer 21 is formed by painting the inside of the device wall 25; a rough surface also fulfills this function.

By using small LEDs, e.g. in SMD technology, and flat light guides 11, an overall very flat design can be achieved.

In an advantageous embodiment, the reflector surfaces on the sides of each light guide 11 are formed by a holding frame 14 . Each holding frame 14 carries three light guides 11 which are arranged one behind the other in the radial direction and are each designed in the manner of a segment of a circular ring. For this purpose, the holding frame 14 is formed from a material which reflects the light used as well as possible. In this regard, there is also the possibility of producing the light guide 11 and holding frame 14 as two-component plastic parts.

In a further preferred embodiment, the reflector layer is produced on the underside 12 of the light guide 11 in that the light guide 11 rests on the printed circuit board 9, which is printed at the contact point with a color that reflects the light used as well as possible.

In a further preferred embodiment, the LED 10 is shielded on all sides except for the coupling point into the light guide 11, so that extraneous light, which is not intended to be coupled into the light guide 11, does not result in undesired local lighting (hotspot). Furthermore, this shielding can be produced by a recess in the holding frame 14 described above, into which the LED 10 is inserted.

A possible embodiment of a two-component solution is in 3 shown. Shown are three light guides 11 aligned radially to one another, which are molded onto a common holding frame 14 . The holding frame 14 is colored white in order to be able to serve as a reflector. This has recesses 15 on the side facing the printed circuit board 9, which can accommodate the LEDs 10 radiating laterally. At the same time, the recesses 15 form the optical shielding of the LEDs 10 described above. These engage in recesses 17 which the holding frame 14 has on its side facing away from the light guides 11 . It is thus possible to construct a preferably self-contained ring of light guide segments. In this configuration, the holding frame 14 serves at the same time as an optical reflector for the end faces of the light guides 11. The structuring or printing on the underside of the light guides 11 is not shown. A preassembled embodiment is in 4 shown. Each holding frame 14 also has latching cams 18 on the underside. With these, the holding frames 14 can preferably be fixed on the printed circuit board 9, after which the individual segments, each consisting of a two-component part with a holding frame 14 and three light guides 11, are positioned via the holding lugs 16 and recesses 17 hold each other. In an advantageous embodiment, the attachment to the printed circuit board 9 can also be designed as a latching hook or screw boss.

In 5 a device 1 is shown in a perspective view, with display areas 7 on the upper side in a further embodiment. In this case, light spots 19 which diffusely merge into one another are projected on the upper side 6 of the device 1 . These light spots 19 preferably form a pattern on the upper side 6, it being possible for each of these light spots 19 to be illuminated independently of the others. By activating the light spots 19 in a time-staggered manner, moving patterns can be generated, which are then used to transmit information.

The upper side 6 of the device 1 is illuminated by light sources located in the device 1, which are designed in such a way that the illuminated display areas 7 result in the light spots 19. These can be switched on and off individually. By connecting the light spots 19 in a manner that varies over time, moving patterns (for example gestures) can be generated, which can represent a specific operating state, for example normal operation or a fault. In 5 a continuous pattern is shown on the upper side 6, with non-activated display areas 7 generating light spots 19 in the active state being shown in broken lines. Activated light spots 19 are shown hatched.

In 5 some of the light spots 19 are activated, ie they light up. As a result of the sequential lighting up of light spots 19 (each a light spot 19 or a plurality of connected light spots 19) in the circumferential direction, there is a quasi-rotating movement of the light spots 19 about the vertical axis x of the device 1, from which the user immediately obtains the information that the device 1 currently in scan mode.

The display system created in this way is preferably used to display operating states to symbolize temporal, spatial and / or color variations of the lighting behavior of the individual, preferably overlapping light spots 19 for the user in an intuitive way. A travel movement of the device 1 can be symbolized by the light spots 19 lighting up alternately in the direction of travel, and at least approximately by the alternating lighting up of light spots 19 arranged one behind the other in the radial direction and possibly overlapping.

Flat light sources can be used to generate the light spots 19, which are just as large as the display areas 7 to be illuminated. Electroluminescent films, LEDs or flat OLED elements can be used here, with LEDs or OLEDs being able to be monochrome or also multicolored, for example .in the form of RGB LEDs. Such planar light sources are arranged in an overlapping manner to produce the overlap.

Preference is given to light sources which are punctiform compared to the size of the display area 7 to be illuminated or to the size of the light spot 19 to be generated. In particular, LEDs 10 are used here. The problem that a flat field (light spot 19) should be illuminated with a point light source (here LED 10) is solved in that the light source (LED 10), which is located inside the device and covered by the device hood 4, which preferably transparent housing wall 25 -here the upper side 6- by means of an optical element assigned to the LED 10 in the form of a lens 20 for beam shaping. This lens 20 preferably completely encloses the light-emitting area of the LED 10 .

According to the illustration in 6 the LED 10 is fastened on a printed circuit board 9 arranged at a distance from the inner wall facing the device wall 25 . This LED 10 radiates light into a beam-shaping element, which optically fulfills the function of a lens 20 . The latter transforms the characteristics of the emitted light in such a way that the LED 10 illuminates a light spot 19 in the plane of the hood top 6, which has a significantly larger diameter than the LED 10.

A circular light spot 19 is achieved by using an LED 10 with circular emission, a rotationally symmetrical lens 20 and a coaxial arrangement of lens 20 and LED 10 . Alternatively, however, a non-rotationally symmetrical lens 20 (e.g. with a cylinder portion), an LED 10 with a non-circular characteristic or an offset arrangement can be used so that light spots of any shape are produced, such as ellipses or free-form contours. In addition to round spot shapes, elliptical, polygonal or star-shaped light spots 19 can also be produced. Shapes are preferably selected which are symmetrical or follow another technical rule, although asymmetrical or random shapes are also conceivable.

A diffuser layer 21 (ground glass) is preferably provided on the inside of the generally transparent housing wall 25 in the area of the upper side 6 . This causes the decoupled light to be radiated diffusely so that the user cannot see the individual structure points. In a preferred embodiment, the diffuser layer 21 is formed by painting the device wall; a rough surface also fulfills this function. This can be achieved, for example, by injection molding the device wall 25 and roughening the corresponding surface in the tool.

If several LEDs 10 with their lenses 20 are positioned close together, the light spots 19 to be generated overlap.

In a preferred embodiment, the lenses 20 are positioned on the circuit board 9 . For this purpose, it makes sense to attach the lenses 20 to the printed circuit board 9 with the aid of joining elements, which are part of the lenses 20 . In 6 Retaining pins 22 are indicated for this purpose, which are glued or caulked to the printed circuit board 9 in a preferred embodiment. Snap hooks, for example, are also conceivable in this regard, preferably again in connection with adhesive technology. Alternatively, the lenses 20 can also be glued or screwed onto the printed circuit board 9 .

The lenses 20 are more preferably produced in plastic injection molding. In addition to the optical surfaces, it is also possible to mold further shaped elements, for example bearing surfaces of the lenses 20 on the printed circuit board 9 or snap hooks.

The execution according to 6 shows a lens 20 which has two optically effective surfaces, namely the upper side 23 and the underside 24 of the lens 20. Alternatively, it is proposed to provide a lens 20 which manages with a single optical surface. Such an embodiment is in 7 shown.

In this embodiment, the beam shaping takes place only on the curved entry surface (underside 24) of the lens 20 facing the LED 10 . The upper side 23 is no longer an optical surface and, as is further preferred, can be designed to be planar. In execution after 7 the device wall 25 assigned to the top 6 sits directly on this planar top 23 of the lens 20 . This increases the stability of the construction. Both surfaces can, for example, be glued to one another or otherwise firmly connected to one another. The functional surface “matt screen” (diffuser layer 21) is provided on the outside of the device wall 25 in this embodiment.

In an advantageous development, the lens 20 and the device wall 25 can be combined in an integral component.

Reference List

1

Device

2

Floor

3

misconduct

4

device hood

5

sensor

6

top

7

display area

8th

outer surface

9

circuit board

10

LEDs

11

light guide

12

bottom

13

top

14

holding frame

15

recess

16

holding lug

17

recess

18

locking cam

19

spot of light

20

lens

21

diffuser layer

22

retaining pin

23

top

24

bottom

25

device wall

a

travel direction

right

Arrow

x

vertical axis

Claims (9)

Automatically moveable device (1), in particular automatically moveable floor dust collecting device, with an optical distance meter rotating with respect to a central vertical axis of the device (1) and a display area (7) formed in the outer surface (8) and providing an illuminated display, wherein a plurality of display areas (7) are formed next to one another in the circumferential direction and the display areas (7) are actuated, which display areas (7) are used to illustrate a working state of the device (1) by activating the display areas (7) in succession, thereby characterized in that to symbolize an all-round distance measurement, display areas (7) one behind the other in the circumferential direction light up one after the other and/or that two or more display areas (7) are formed one behind the other in the radial direction and a travel movement of the device (1) is indicated by the display areas (7 ) is symbolized in the radial orientation corresponding to the direction of travel. device after claim 1 , characterized in that the display areas (7) are arranged together. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display areas (7) are formed on a top side (6) of the device (1). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display areas (7) are combined in the form of a circular ring or circular ring-shaped area. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a display area (7) is provided by a light spot (19) appearing on a continuous surface and/or that the display areas (7) are designed to overlap one another. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a display area (7) can shine in different colors and/or brightness. device after claim 5 , characterized in that the light spot (19) is generated by an LED (10) which is arranged on a circuit board (9) below the display area (7). device after claim 7 , characterized in that a lens (20) is arranged between the LED (10) and the display area (7). device after claim 7 , characterized in that the LED (10) radiates laterally is arranged and the LED (10) is associated with a light guide (11).

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