DE102010055144A1 - Operating device for use in vehicle i.e. motor car, has control device controlling display area and shutter foils, which are formed as coating on display area for varying transparency of shutter foils - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (9) has a freely programmable display area (1) e.g. plasma-display, for displaying information. Shutter foils (3) are arranged in a viewing direction planar in front of the display area and partially cover the display area. A control device (5) controls the display area and the shutter foils. The shutter foils are formed as a coating on the display area for varying transparency of the shutter foils. The coating exhibits an electrically controllable liquid crystal foil. The shutter foils are arranged in sections (3a) changed by the control device. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling a display area.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device, in particular in a vehicle, with a freely programmable display surface for displaying information, cover means, which are arranged in the viewing direction flat in front of the display surface and by means of which the display surface is at least partially concealed, and a control device for controlling the display surface and the hood means. The invention further relates to a method for controlling the display area of such an operating device.

In a vehicle, in particular in a motor vehicle, various electronic devices are provided whose operation must be made possible for the driver or another vehicle occupant. These facilities include, for example, a navigation system, a driver assistance system, comfort control operating systems such. As the air conditioning system and communication and multimedia applications that z. B. include a telephone system, a radio or a CD player.

In modern motor vehicles, so many means are now provided for adjusting various vehicle functions that it is no longer expedient to provide separate display devices and separate operating elements for all vehicle devices. For this reason, the operation of the diverse vehicle facilities via a uniform operating concept with a central multi-function display, via the flexible information of the various vehicle equipment can be displayed and have multiple areas in which various information is displayed.

However, the operation of the various devices of the vehicle and the reception of the displayed information supplied by these devices are required to occupy the driver's attention of the motor vehicle as little as possible. It is therefore desirable to display the information in the motor vehicle so that it can be quickly and intuitively recorded by the driver, so that the detection of the displayed information does not lead to a distraction of the driver while driving. Furthermore, the operation should be so intuitive, simple and quick to carry out that the driver can operate the facilities of the vehicle whose information is displayed by the display device, even while driving. The type of operation and the information associated with the operation of information in a motor vehicle thus contributes to the safety of driving this vehicle.

From the DE 10 2007 052 343 A1 a method for displaying data in a vehicle is known in which information is displayed in a first display area of a display device, which relate to facilities of the vehicle, and processes are visualized in a second display area of the or a further display device, which run in facilities of the vehicle. In this case, the first display area is located in the primary field of view of the driver of the vehicle. The second display area, however, is located outside of the driver's primary field of view. It is located within reach of the driver. The display device which provides this display area is configured in particular as a touchscreen, ie a touch-sensitive surface is provided.

The space requirement of the information to be displayed in multifunction displays can change constantly, depending on which functional device and by which specific function output contents are displayed. Therefore, mechanical screens have been proposed that cover unnecessary parts of the display area and adjust the visible section of the display surface of each use situation. However, such a mechanical solution has the disadvantage that it makes high demands on the installation space, is sensitive to mechanical influences and is quite inflexible in use.

In the DE 10 2005 042 695 A1 an instrument panel is described with mechanical circular instruments for a motor vehicle. At a distance in front of the instrument panel, a disc is arranged, the degree of transparency can be switched by an electrical control. In this case, different degrees of transparency can be set in segments so that the round instruments lying behind are selectively visible. Via additional projection means, further information can be projected onto those segments of the pane that have been switched to be opaque. However, the arrangement of the additional projection means requires considerable space and is not very cost-effective.

In the US 2004/0140959 a display device is described with a display for displaying information, in particular for a cockpit of a vehicle. In front of the display, a disc spaced from the display is arranged, which can be switched transparent and opaque by an electroluminescent coating, wherein the opaque areas themselves can be used to display buttons. The disc has a touch-sensitive surface on the front. The touch position on the touch-sensitive surface may captured and considered for the display of the underlying display.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an operating device with a display surface of the aforementioned type and a method for controlling the same, in which the display area can be adapted flexibly to the current usage situation and which present a good visual appearance of the display surface.

This object is achieved by an operating device with the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 5. Advantageous training and further developments emerge from the dependent claims.

The operating device according to the invention is characterized in that the cover means are formed as a coating on the display surface and the transparency of the cover means is changeable. Coatings advantageously do not require a large amount of space and can be easily arranged on the display surface. The transparency of the cover means can be changed by a control signal, in particular by an electrical signal. The transparency can be color selective, so that the color of the cover means can be changed. The altered transparency may be due to a change in the polarization properties of the hood means and may be achieved, for example, by the electrical stimulation of a medium.

In a preferred embodiment of the operating device according to the invention, the coating comprises an electrically controllable liquid crystal film. Such liquid crystal films are known inter alia as "shutter films". They may comprise, for example, a CLC layer (CLC = cholesteric liquid crystal) and / or a PDLC layer (PDLC = polymer dispersed liquid crystal) whose transparency is advantageously variable as a function of an applied voltage.

In particular, the cover means can be segmented into sections and the sections can be changed by means of the control device such that the visible size and / or shape of the display surface is changeable. As a result, advantageously, the size and shape of the visible display area can be adapted to the information currently being displayed. By changing the transparency also different degrees of transparency can be generated by the information in sections z. B. shine through semitransparent. Due to the non-spaced arrangement of the cover means on the display surface as a coating, the transparency of which is variable in sections, is advantageously only a clear positional relationship between the display contents on the freely programmable display surface and the portions of the coating possible. In spaced arrangements results for a given section on the hood means depending on the viewing angle, a different section on the display surface, so that a meaningful adjustment of the visible display area to the currently displayed information is not possible.

The separately controllable sections can be arranged in different ways. Their shape can be adapted in particular to the image sections and image layouts that can be generated by the functional devices. The sections are divided, for example, line by line, column-wise, matrix-like or concentric. They may also be free-shaped or comprise free-form sections.

The operating device can have input means coupled to the control device, via which an operating action can be detected, which can be assigned to a position or a region on the display surface. The position or region to which the operator action is assigned may coincide with a section of the cover means whose transparency is independently controllable according to the invention. In this way, by means of the control device, a spatial relationship between operating action and the change in the transparency of the hood means can be established. Such input means may be used, for example, as mechanical switches, e.g. B. as a rotary control, or designed as a so-called touchpad.

In order to make the operation particularly user-friendly, it can be provided that the display surface has a touch-sensitive surface, via which an operating action can be detected, wherein the coating means designed as a coating between the display surface and the touch-sensitive surface or in the viewing direction in front of the touch-sensitive surface are arranged. The display area is thus a touch screen, so that the user can intuitively carry out operations on the touch-sensitive surface.

The operating device may further comprise proximity detection means coupled to the control device and through which operating actions or operator intentions attributable to a position on the display surface are detectable in an area in the viewing direction in front of the display area. This can advantageously be manual operator actions, eg. In Form of gestures, even be detected in front of the display area.

The proximity detection device may, for example, comprise a reflection light barrier which comprises at least one light source for emitting electromagnetic detection radiation into a detection area and a reception element for detecting a portion of the detection radiation which is scattered and / or reflected by the actuation element. It can comprise different light sources for individual zones in the detection area, which each emit electromagnetic detection radiation into the respective zone. Furthermore, a modulation device for modulating the emitted detection radiation may be provided, so that the detection radiation which is emitted into the individual zones differs in each case with respect to their modulation. In this case, the proximity detection device may also comprise an analysis unit with which the received reflected and / or scattered detection radiation can be analyzed with regard to its modulation, in order to determine in which zone the detection radiation is present at an object entering the detection area, e.g. As a user's finger, was scattered or reflected.

The operating device according to the invention is typically connected via an interface with functional devices whose display contents are displayed on the display surface. The functional devices are, for example, a navigation system, an infotainment device or comfort devices of the vehicle such. B. the air conditioning system.

In the method according to the invention for controlling a display area of an operating device, information is displayed on a freely programmable display area. A control signal is detected by which the displayed information is changed in a region on the display surface, and then in the viewing direction flatly arranged in front of the display surface hood means that at least partially obscure the display surface, controlled so that the occlusion is changed. The inventive method is characterized in that the cover means are formed as a coating on the display surface, wherein an area of the display surface, an overlapping portion of the cover means is assigned, and in response to the control signal, the transparency in at least one of the range of the changed information display on the Display surface associated portion of the hood means is changed. In particular, the inventive operating device can be controlled with the method according to the invention. It therefore has in particular the advantages of the operating device according to the invention mentioned with regard to the ease of use.

With a freely programmable display area, program-generated display contents can be displayed at any position on the display area. The display surface is, for example, an electrically controllable matrix display, in particular a liquid crystal or plasma display.

The transparency of the hood means can be controlled in dependence on the control signal in different degrees of transparency. In particular, there is a transparent state with almost 100% transparency, different semi-transparent states with degrees of transparency between 0% and 100%, and a masking or opaque state with 0% transparency, the transparency being understood relative to the light emission of the display surface without the masking means arranged in front of it ,

In particular, the control signal is generated as a function of a program via which information is displayed on the display surface or in dependence on an operating action. If, for example, the information on the display surface is changed by a program of a functional device in the vehicle, then a changed area requirement for the changed display contents may result. For example, a new function is started whose display contents are to be displayed in a display area in which no information was previously displayed and whose associated sections of the cover means were set to be opaque. It may also have been terminated a program, so that no more display content to be displayed. By means of the control device, it is now possible to generate a control signal which tailorises the transparency of precisely those sections on the display surface which are no longer needed or which are to be added again.

The cover means are preferably in those sections in the transparent state, which overlap with the areas on the display surface in which information is displayed. In the other sections, the cover means are typically switched to an opaque state.

However, alternatively or additionally, a control of the transparency may be provided such that the cover means are in the transparent state in a first section, so that first display contents are visible on the underlying area of the display surface, a control signal is detected and then in response to the Control signal in a second section the Cover means are changed from a partially transparent or hidden state to the transparent state, and second display contents are displayed in the underlying area of the display surface. The cover means in the first section can be changed to a partially transparent state, wherein in the underlying area of the display surface, the first display contents continue to be partially transparent visible. Thus, for example, a new application can be visually highlighted by being displayed transparently, the previous application still being dimmed by the partially transparent occlusion or being visible behind a frosted glass disc.

In a first embodiment, the transition from one degree of transparency to another degree of transparency can take place directly and as quickly as is possible by controlling the control device. However, it can also be provided in a second embodiment that the transparency is changed during the course of a defined time interval from a first degree of transparency to a second degree of transparency. The degree of transparency is, for example, continuously from a maximum transparency of almost 100% to a defined degree of transparency, eg. B. dimmed down 50% or 0%. Conversely, the degree of transparency can also be lightened accordingly. The time interval of the flowing transition and the change in the degree of transparency within the time interval may depend on the particular situation. For a dimming process of individual sections due to inactivity, for example, the time interval can be selected to be longer than for those situations in which there is a lot of operator activity on the part of the user. The time interval is typically perceptible to the user. It may in particular be of the order of magnitude of its own reactions, for example in a range between 0.5 and 5 seconds, preferably in a range between 1 and 3 seconds.

Those portions of the hood means that coincide with the areas of the display area that are not currently required for the display of information, in particular opaque, so set obscuring. It can be provided that a portion of the hood means in the concealing state is visually adapted to a region surrounding the display surface. For example, the cover means are designed such that they adapt to the visual appearance of the surrounding cockpit areas in the non-transparent state. Alternatively, a low degree of transparency can also be set for a section and the underlying display surface can be controlled in such a way that the visual impression of a decorative element is created.

The invention will now be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the figures.

1 shows schematically the structure of an embodiment of the operating device according to the invention,

2 10 is an exploded perspective view of the display surface and the shutter foil used according to an embodiment of the operating device according to the invention;

3a - 3c shows a concentric arrangement of the shutter foil into sections according to a first embodiment of the invention,

4a - 4c shows a strip-like structure of the shutter foil in sections according to a second embodiment of the invention,

5a - 5c shows a matrix-like structure of the shutter foil in sections according to a third embodiment of the invention, and

6a - 6b shows a sectional breakdown of the shutter foil on a combination display of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

In the 1 schematically is the structure of an embodiment of the operating device according to the invention 9 shown. A freely programmable display area 1 is full surface with a touch-sensitive surface 2 fitted. For example, it is a commercially available touch screen that captures an operator action performed by a user and a location or area on the display area 1 can be assigned. It can be further control means, for. B. a rotary-push-dial 4 be provided over which a user can perform operator actions. He can by means of the rotary-push-knob 4 For example, a cursor, text prompt, or a mouse pointer on the display area 1 and thus an operating action performed thereon of a position or an area on the display surface 1 assign.

The operating device 9 can also have an approach detection device (not shown) via which an operator action and / or an operator intention can be detected already before a user touch the sensitive surface 2 touched. For example, the approach detecting means may insert one into the display area 1 trained area entering object, z. As a user's finger, a position or an area on the display area 1 and derive a situation-specific operating action from this.

The display area 1 is with a so-called shutter foil 3 coated in different sections 3a is articulated. The transparency of the shutter foil 3 can for each of the sections 3a be controlled independently of each other. An exploded detail view of the display area 1 with the shutter foil 3 is in the 2 shown. By applying a voltage, the shutter foil 3 be controlled in sections such that the transparency and / or hue of the shutter foil 3 changed. The shutter foil 3 has contacts, for example 8th via which they can be controlled electrically and thus their transparency can be selectively changed.

The display area 1 with the touch-sensitive surface 2 , the rotary push-button 4 as well as the shutter foil 3 are with a control device 5 connected. The control device 5 is also over the data bus 6 the vehicle with various functional facilities 7a - 7c connected in the vehicle. In the functional device 7a - 7c it is in particular a driver assistance device with navigation system 7a , an infotainment facility 7b as well as comfort devices in the vehicle, eg. B. an air conditioning system 7c ,

In the control device 5 So run all those information together, with respect to the operating actions, via the rotary-push-dial 4 or via the touch-sensitive surface 2 and all of the functional units 7a - 7c of the vehicle emitted control commands by which the display contents on the display surface 1 be changed, incurred. Furthermore, the control device 5 designed to depend on this information the shutter foil 3 so electrically to control that the transparency of individual sections 3a the shutter foil 3 to be changed. It can be both individual sections 3a be selectively controlled and different degrees of transparency can be achieved by different electrical voltages. Depending on the design of the shutter foil 3 For example, a change in voltage can also have a color-selective effect on the transparency, resulting in the color of individual sections 3a are independently variable. Depending on a detected operating action on a position or in an area then the display area 1 and the transparency of the relevant section upstream of this heading or section 3a the shutter foil 3 to be controlled.

The structure of independently controllable sections 3a the shutter foil 3 on the display surface 1 can be done in different ways. Expediently, for example, those structures which are produced by the various functional devices, frequently expected display patterns on the display surface 1 orientate. In the 3a - 5a some generic embodiments are shown. In the 3b . 3c . 4b . 4c . 5b and 5c are associated control states of the shutter foil 3 with areas 3b and 3c represented two different degrees of transparency.

In a first embodiment in the 3a to 3c are the sections 3a arranged concentrically. By such an arrangement z. B. smaller or larger areas 3b are formed, in which the shutter foil 3 is transparent and used, for example, as a window for displaying display contents of a particular program. The surrounding non-transparent area 3c can z. B. be so matched to the outboard cockpit area that the corresponding area of the display area 1 visually as this adjacent cockpit surface looks like. With a change in the degrees of transparency of the individual concentric sections 3a can be generated for the user of the visual impression that the display area 1 concentrically reduce or enlarge according to a zoom effect.

In a second embodiment in the 4a to 4c are the sections 3a arranged in horizontally aligned strips. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for those display areas in which text or lists are often displayed. So in particular a large area 3b be produced in a transparent state, wherein selectively individual lines by changing the transparency of the shutter foil 3 can be darkened or highlighted.

In a third embodiment in the 5a to 5c are the sections 3a arranged in a matrix. Although such an arrangement is comparatively complex, it can also be used very flexibly. Through them can be areas 3b generate, whose shape, size and positioning can be made arbitrary within the given by the matrix-like arrangement grid size.

The shutter foil 3 on a display surface 1 can partially differently configured arrangements of independently controllable sections 3a exhibit. There is on the display area 1 For example, one or more areas with a concentric arrangement, in the innermost region z. B. Moreover, a strip-shaped arrangement is provided. In the 6a and 6b is a section-wise outline of the shutter foil 3 on a combination display of a vehicle illustrated according to an embodiment of the invention.

The concrete design of the sectional structure of the shutter foil 3 will generally be based on different aspects. Thus, among other things, the type of information to be displayed in the respective area of the display area 1 , the complexity of the eligibility of different sections 3a and, where appropriate, the cost of a particular order.

The method according to the invention will now be described with reference to an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the described arrangements of the shuttering foils 3 related to the 3a to 6b explained in more detail. In particular, with reference to the 1 and 2 described operating device 9 be used.

As a starting situation, for example, just a navigation map of a navigation system 7a on a larger area of the display area 1 shown. The shutter foil 3 will according to the pattern in the 3c driven. The user can, for example, via the touch-sensitive surface 2 change or move the map section of the navigation map. He can, for example, via a zoom-in or zoom-out gesture, the display area on the display area 1 zoom in or out, using the control device 5 the sections above the respective display areas 3a the shutter foil 3 be controlled in their transparency so that the transparent area for the current display area is tailor-made.

Through an operating action by means of the rotary push-button 4 a user now operates the infotainment device 7b to select a new radio station. The operating action is recorded on the system side and by means of the control device 5 becomes the display area 1 controlled such that the navigation map is turned off and in the same area, but in a smaller section, a control menu for operating the car radio is displayed. In addition, the control device controls 5 those sections 3a the shutter foil 3 for which the underlying display area 1 no longer displays output contents according to the pattern in the 3b in a non-transparent state, so that the visual impression arises as if the display area 1 would have shrunk. Alternatively, the navigation map may continue to be displayed in areas where it is not overlaid by the new ad, with the corresponding sections 3a the shutter foil 3 be changed to a semitransparent state.

The user now operates the operating menu for the car radio via the touch-sensitive interface 2 the display area 1 , For this he selects, for example, the station search of the receivable radio stations. The operating procedure starts the station search on the system side and then a list of receivable radio stations on the display area 1 displayed in an area according to the in the 4b pattern is structured. Through another operating action on the touch-sensitive display area 2 The user can select the desired radio station, whereupon a control signal is generated by the one hand, the acoustic output of the radio station is triggered via the vehicle speakers, on the other hand, the sections 3a the shutter foil 3 be controlled so that only the area in which the relevant list entry of the selected radio station is displayed, remains in a transparent state. All other previously transparent sections 3a in the area are named according to the pattern in the 4c changed to a semi-transparent state.

If, after an elapsed time interval of a predetermined length, e.g. 30 seconds, neither an operator action by a user nor a system activity of any of the attached functional devices 7a - 7c has been detected, the control device switches 5 the display area 1 according to 6a in a quiet mode. These are the sections 3a the shutter foil 3 for example, according to the pattern in the 6b controlled, the transition of those areas where the shutter foil 3 in the transparent state, was continuously over a set time interval, z. B. be dimmed for 3 seconds in a lower degree of transparency. The dimmed areas can be controlled in particular so that they look like the surrounding cockpit z. B. as a black area and thus provide a particularly peaceful and harmonious sight.

The length of the time intervals of the dimming and the detection of the system inactivity can be configurable by the user. A system inactivity can z. B. be detected after the expiration of a time interval of 5-60 seconds. Dimming can be set, for example, for a time interval of 0.5-3 seconds.

If a new operating intention is detected via the proximity detection, the display area can 1 and the shutter foil 3 be restored to the previous state that existed before entering sleep mode. In this case, the transition can be carried out immediately or in the course of a fixed time interval in a dimming process.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

freely programmable display area

2

touch-sensitive surface

3

Shutterfolie

3a

sections

3b

Area / sections with transparent shutter foil

3c

Area / sections with partially transparent or non-transparent shutter foil

4

Rotary push-button control

5

control device

6

Data bus in the vehicle

7a-7c

Functional devices in the vehicle

8th

contacts

9

operating device

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been 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.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102007052343 A1 [0005]
• DE 102005042695 A1 [0007]
• US 2004/0140959 [0008]

Claims (10)

Operating device ( 9 ), in particular in a vehicle, with - a freely programmable display area ( 1 ) for displaying information, - masking means ( 3 ), in the viewing direction area in front of the display area ( 1 ) are arranged and by means of which the display area ( 1 ) is at least partially concealable, and - a control device ( 5 ) for controlling the display area ( 1 ) and the cover means ( 3 ), characterized in that - the cover means ( 3 ) as a coating on the display surface ( 1 ) are formed and - the transparency of the hood means is changeable. Operating device ( 9 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coating comprises an electrically controllable liquid crystal film. Operating device ( 9 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover means ( 3 ) into sections ( 3a ) and the sections ( 3a ) by means of the control device ( 5 ) are variable such that the visible size and / or shape of the display surface ( 1 ) is changeable. Operating device ( 9 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that - the display surface ( 1 ) a touch-sensitive surface ( 2 ), via which an operating action can be detected, - wherein the coating means configured as a cover means ( 3 ) between the display area ( 1 ) and the touch-sensitive surface ( 2 ) or in the viewing direction in front of the touch-sensitive surface ( 2 ) are arranged. Method for controlling a display area ( 1 ) an operating device ( 9 ), in which - information on a freely programmable display area ( 1 ), a control signal is detected, by which the displayed information in an area on the display area ( 1 ), and - in the viewing direction, in front of the display area ( 1 ) arranged cover means ( 3 ), the display area ( 1 ) are at least partially obscured, so controlled that the occlusion is changed, characterized in that - the occlusion means ( 3 ) as a coating on the display surface ( 1 ) are formed, wherein an area on the display surface ( 1 ) an overlapping section ( 3a ) is assigned to the cover means, and - in dependence on the control signal, the transparency in at least one of the area of the changed information display on the display surface ( 1 ) associated section ( 3a ) of the hood means ( 3 ) is changed. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the control signal in dependence on a program, via which information on the display surface ( 1 ) or generated in response to an operator action. Method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the cover means ( 3 ) in those sections ( 3b ) are in the transparent state, which with the areas on the display surface ( 1 ) overlap where information is displayed. Method according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that - in a first section ( 3b ) the cover means ( 3 ) are in the transparent state, so that on the underlying area of the display surface ( 1 ) first display contents are visible, - a control signal is detected, - in response to the control signal in a second section ( 3c ) the cover means are changed from a partially transparent or hidden state to the transparent state and in the underlying area of the display surface ( 1 ) second display contents are displayed, and - the cover means ( 3 ) in the first part ( 3b ) are changed to a semi-transparent state, wherein in the underlying area of the display area ( 1 ) the first display contents are still partially transparent. Method according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the transparency is changed during the course of a defined time interval from a first degree of transparency to a second degree of transparency. Method according to one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that a section ( 3c ) of the hood means ( 3 ) in the concealing state to a the display surface ( 1 ) is visually adjusted.

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