FR2877293A1 - Motor vehicle, has data display device including flexible flat screen e.g. organic LED screen, of less thickness and plated at level of curved part of dashboard, where screen edge is integrated on support so as to roll screen around support - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle has a data display device (2) connected to a supply and control system (3). The device has a flexible membranous flat screen (4) e.g. organic LED screen, for supporting reversible deformations. The screen is of less thickness and is plated at the level of a curved part of a dashboard. The screen`s edge is integrated on a support (10) to roll the screen around the support, in a storage position, mounted in a protecting case. The support is slightly rotated around its longitudinal axis when the screen is in its utilization position. The support is rotated outside housing at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to a longitudinal direction of an armrest.

Description

2877293 1

  MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A SOFT SCREEN DISPLAY DEVICE

  The invention relates to a motor vehicle provided with a flexible screen data display device.

  Known display devices currently use rigid and fragile flat screens.

  These screens, when used on the rear of the headrest of a seat represent a certain danger in case of violent impact for the passenger sitting behind the seat. The head of the latter can indeed suffer damage by coming into contact with the screen. To limit this damage, it is possible to provide the retraction of the rigid screen inside its support housing, as described in document US 2004/0032543. Such a mechanism, if it reduces the risks during a shock, does not eliminate them however.

  Rigid screens also have the disadvantage of being bulky, so that they generally remain small.

  The documents US2004 / 0032541 and DE-19943696 describe removable media for mounting these rigid screens only when they are used, so as to limit their theft. However, when they are not used, these screens can not be folded, remain relatively bulky and must be protected to not be broken.

  Finally, these rigid screens do not integrate very aesthetically to the vehicle interior whose shapes are rarely flat, especially at the dashboard for navigation screens.

  The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a vehicle whose display device is provided with a flexible screen. The flexibility of the screen prevents any injury to a passenger in case of impact and increases the possibilities of integration of the screen to the vehicle.

  For this purpose, the object of the invention relates to a motor vehicle provided with a data display device connected to a control and power supply system, characterized in that the display device 2877293 2 comprises a screen membrane plate sufficiently flexible to withstand reversible deformations.

  Membrane screen means a screen similar to a membrane, that is to say formed of a thin layer of flexible and elastic material.

  In a first embodiment, the screen of the display device is plated on a surface of an element of the passenger compartment of the vehicle by fixing means. The screen can thus be plated on a curved surface, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance. Such a screen can be used on the dashboard of the vehicle as well for displaying the data relating to the operation of the vehicle as for the display of navigation data. The flexibility of the screen offers greater possibilities of integrating the screen with the cabin of the vehicle.

  In a second embodiment, the display device comprises a support, to which the screen is connected, provided with fixing means on an element of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the support being designed to support the screen in a retracted storage position and allow its extension during its use. The screen can then be stored when it is not in use so as to avoid its degradation. The support can then contain means for keeping the screen in the use position, or the screen can hold in the use position under the effect of its own weight. An additional weight may optionally be placed at the lower edge of the screen to promote the good performance of the screen in its extended position.

  In a variant, the support is retractable in a cabin element of the vehicle.

  Advantageously, the support is a tube to which one side of the screen is secured so as to allow the winding of the screen around the tube. Rolled up in this way, the screen is very compact and can be easily stored.

  When the support is retractable, it can then be pivotally mounted inside a housing of the passenger compartment around an axis substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. It can be easily removed, and remains protected and hidden when in the housing. The support can advantageously be pivotally mounted about its longitudinal axis, to allow adjustment of the deployed position of the screen. In a variant, the support may be provided with retractable support elements able to support the screen in an extended position.

  Alternatively, the passenger compartment of the vehicle comprises at least one retaining element remote support or its housing to maintain the screen in its extended position during use. One can then provide several holding elements at different locations of the passenger compartment, so that the same screen can be placed in many different positions corresponding for example to the different possible positions of the seats.

  Advantageously, the support is contained in a protective case.

  Advantageously, the fastening means are removable. The screen can then be easily moved and / or stored.

  Advantageously, the control and power system is placed at a distance from the screen. This system can then be integrated into the cabin in a location with more space than the chosen location for the screen. Thus, the choice of the location of the screen does not depend on the space available for this kind of system.

  The screen used is, for example, a screen with organic electroluminescent diodes. This kind of screen has the advantage of allowing a good visualization of the data it displays regardless of the angle at which it is viewed.

  The invention is now described with reference to the accompanying non-limiting drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the dashboard of a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the passenger compartment of a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the screen support shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a variant of the invention.

  FIG. 1 schematically represents the dashboard 1 of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

  This dashboard is provided with a data display device 2 connected to a control system e1: supply 3 (not visible in Figure 1).

  The display device comprises a flat membrane screen 4 flexible enough to withstand reversible deformations. This flat screen 4 is pressed against the surface of the dashboard 1, at the central portion thereof. It is fixed on this surface by fixing means 5 formed of pegs snapped into corresponding holes of the dashboard. It could however be screws, rivets or others.

  Thanks to its flexibility, the screen 4 is plated at a curved portion of the dashboard. Moreover, its small thickness allows easy installation of the screen on any console of the vehicle, and other elements of the cabin, such as, for example, a side door, a foot, a support headrest, a seatback, the ceiling of the vehicle.

  The screen 4 is connected by wires (not shown in FIG. 1) to the control and supply system 3.

  Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2 which illustrates the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, and in particular two seats 6 and the ceiling lamp 7. The data display device 2 is fixed to the ceiling lamp 7 by fastening means 8. It may be for example hooks which is suspended from the display device.

  The display device 2 is described with reference to FIG. 3. It comprises a rigid protective housing 9 in which a tube-shaped support 10 is rotatably mounted. An edge of the flexible screen 4 is secured to this tube so that the screen can be wound around the tube 10. An axial slot 11 is provided on the housing to allow the screen 4 to come out of the housing. The housing 9 also includes loops 12 for suspending the fastening hooks 8.

  One or more connection wires 13 connect the screen 4 to the control and power supply system 3. In FIG. 3, these wires directly connect the screen 4 to the system. Of course, when the housing is put in place, for example Suspended from the ceiling lamp 7, or son 13 can be plugged into a socket located in the ceiling (not shown) and connected to the system 3 which can then be placed in another element of the cabin, away from the screen.

  When the housing 9 is suspended from the ceiling, as shown in Figure 2, the screen 4 can be unrolled from the housing and held out by means of holding elements 14 located on a vehicle element away from the housing. In the example, it is a hook 14 cooperating with a ring located at the bottom of the screen, this hook 14 being fixed on the back of the back of a seat 6. Another hook 14 can be provided on the ceiling lamp 7 to allow the screen to be viewed in an extended position, for example, when the seats are transformed into a bed.

  Of course, such a display device can be fixed on various elements of the vehicle, such as, for example, the dashboard, a console, a side door, a foot, a headrest, a folder of seat, a headliner, an armrest.

  The housing 9 to store the screen 4 without the risk of damaging it in a relatively small space, allows to consider the use of relatively large screens, the increase in the size of the screen leading to not a significant increase in the volume of the housing, unlike rigid screens.

  Alternatively, the rigid housing could be replaced by a flexible housing, such as a bag, the fastening means 12 then being provided directly on the tube or support 10 to removably attach to a member of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

  Of course, in one or other of the embodiments, the screen or its support can be permanently attached to an element of the passenger compartment.

  FIG. 4 represents a variant in which the screen support is retractable in a cabin element of the vehicle, such as for example an armrest, without however being limited thereto. It is then movable between a position in which it is retracted inside the cabin element and a position in which the screen can be deployed and used. This variant has the advantage of allowing the use of the screen without support.

  In the example shown, as above, the support is formed of a tube 20 around which is wound the flexible screen 4. This tube is pivotally mounted about a substantially vertical axis 21 2877293 6 inside a housing 22 formed in an armrest 23. The tube 20 is pivotably mounted between a position in which it is located inside the armrest and protected by the armrest, and a position in which it is located outside the armrest.

  In a variant not shown, the support can be placed in a housing, a face of the latter can then be provided to close the opening of the housing 22 when the housing is stored in the armrest.

  The hinge pin 21 is preferably located on the side of the free end of the armrest, opposite the seat back, and the tube 20 can pivot out of the housing 22 by an angle of at least 90 relative to the longitudinal direction of the armrest. Thus, the screen can be viewed by a passenger sitting in the seat provided with the armrest 23.

  In order to allow the flexible screen to be held in a substantially vertical plane or inclined outside the support 20, the latter is provided with retractable support elements that can be deployed when the support is in the position of use of the screen. In the example shown, the support elements comprise two rods 24 each articulated at one end of the support and pivotable between a retracted position in which they extend along the support and a position of use in which they extend. substantially perpendicular to the axis of the support, so as to form a plane with the latter. These movements are symbolized by arrows on the figure. These rods 24 are positioned and designed so as to form lateral supports for the screen when the latter is deployed. The free ends of the rods are provided for this purpose with hooking means 25, for example hooks cooperating with rods. orifices 26 formed on the edge of the screen.

  For a correct retention of the screen in the deployed position, it is preferable to provide either means for locking the rods in the position of use, or a stiffening of the edge of the screen provided with orifices 26 joining the rods.

  Alternatively, the attachment means may also be rails extending in the longitudinal direction of the rods 24 and in which the side edges of the screen can slide.

  Alternatively also, the screen can cooperate, in its position of use, with holding means similar to those described in the preceding embodiment. For example, one or more hooks may be provided on the seat back located in front of the seat bearing the armrest 23, so as to stretch the screen between the backrest and the support in the use position.

  In order to improve the comfort of the passenger when he looks at the screen, it is also possible to provide the possibility of slightly rotating the support 20 about its longitudinal axis 27 when the screen is in its position of use to allow a more or less inclination of the screen deployed relative to a vertical plane.

  Of course, other embodiments of the support elements may be provided. It may be for example telescopic rods or retractable.

2877293 8

Claims (14)

  Motor vehicle provided with a data display device (2) connected to a control and power supply system (3), characterized in that the display device comprises a sufficiently flexible flat screen (4) to withstand reversible deformations.   2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen (4) of the display device is plated on a surface of a vehicle interior member by fastening means (5).   3. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the display device comprises a support (10, 20) to which the screen (4) is connected, provided with fixing means (12) on an element of the interior of the motor vehicle, the support being designed to support the screen in a retracted storage position and allow its extension during use.   4. Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the support (20) is retractable in a cabin element of the vehicle.   5. Vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the support (10, 20) is a tube to which one side of the screen is secured so as to allow the winding of the screen around the tube.   6. Vehicle according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the support (20) is pivotally mounted inside a housing (22) of the cabin element around a axis (21) substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (27).   7. Vehicle according to claim 6 or claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, characterized in that the support (20) is pivotally mounted about its longitudinal axis (25).   8. Vehicle according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the support (20) is provided with support elements (24) retractable capable of supporting the screen in an extended position.   9. Vehicle according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the passenger compartment of the vehicle comprises at least one holding member (14) remote from the support or its housing to maintain the screen in its position of extension when in use.   10. Vehicle according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the support (10, 20) is contained in a protective housing (9).   2877293 9 11. Vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fastening means (5, 12) are removable.   12. Vehicle according to claim 2 or characterized in that the cockpit element is selected from the dashboard, a console, a side door, a foot, a headrest, a seat back, an armrest, the vehicle ceiling, a headlining.   Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and supply system (3) is placed at a distance from the screen (4).   14. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen (4) is a screen with organic electroluminescent diodes.