FR3033422A1 - DISPLAY WITH IMAGE TRANSFER SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

Display system in a man-machine interface comprising a screen (10) with a digital display panel (5) configured to emit light signals through a screen front (30) defining a reference plane P, a rotary knob (9) arranged on the front face of the screen, of annular shape and having a recessed central zone (90), the system comprising an image transfer device (1) arranged in the hollow central zone the rotary knob 9, the image transfer device comprising an assembly (2) of parallel optical fibers (20), with an optical axis of the optical fibers which is perpendicular to the surface of the screen, so that information which is displayed by the screen on the digital display panel is transferred by the optical fibers in an enhanced image plane above the surface of the screen.

Description

The present invention relates to displays and display systems in a man-machine interface which include a digital display and a rotary knob thereagainst. It is already known in document US 2010 0 214 213 to provide for the center of the rotary knob to be recessed or hollow, so that a user can see the portion of the display screen through the zone. central of said rotary knob. However, it turns out that when the user is not in the axis of the rotary knob, part of the display is hidden and very often, the visibility of the information displayed in the hollow of the rotary knob is not ideal.

Accordingly, there has been a need to improve existing solutions to improve the visual perception of the user in the case of a physical rotary knob arranged on a digital display screen, such as a rotary knob or a thumbwheel. selection. For this purpose, it is proposed a display system in a man-machine interface comprising: a screen with a digital display panel configured to emit light signals through a screen front face defining a plane P, a rotary knob arranged on the front face of the screen, having an annular shaped body and having a central recessed area. The display system is remarkable in that it comprises an image transfer device arranged in the central area of the rotary knob, the image transfer device comprising an assembly of parallel optical fibers, with an optical axis of optical fiber which is perpendicular to the surface of the screen, so that information that is displayed by the screen on the digital display panel is transferred by the optical fibers into an image plane which is enhanced by above the surface of the screen, up to the upper surface of the optical fiber assembly. Thus, when a user looks at the central zone of the rotary knob, the images transmitted by the screen are perceived by the user at a position shifted forwardly 30, that is to say, raised relative to the reference plane. in this case on the upper surface of the optical fiber assembly. In various embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following arrangements may also be used: the digital display screen preferably comprises a protective window which has a protruding shape forward, this protruding shape corresponding with the central recessed area of the rotary knob; whereby the rotary knob is centered with respect to the protruding shape of the shield and the protruding shape protects the optical fibers; the protective glass has a thickness that is preferably substantially uniform (that is to say constant along its surface); whereby the molding operation of the protective glass, here synthetic plastic, can be well controlled; the digital display screen can be tactile and therefore include a capacitive detection pad; thus combining in the human-machine interface a touch interface with a rotary knob; the capacitive detection layer may comprise a matrix network of tracks and an opening (ie a "saving") in the form of a disk, corresponding to the position of the central zone hollowed out of the rotary knob, and the tracks of the capacitive detection network which are aligned with this disc and interrupted by the presence of the disc-shaped opening are connected by means of shunts which bypass the disc; the tactile detection function can thus be provided nominally on either side of the rotary knob and therefore all around the rotary knob zone; the shunts are arranged under the annular body of the rotary knob and are thus invisible from the point of view of the user; it is thus possible to use non-transparent shunts; the optical fiber assembly is preferably arranged directly against the digital display panel; this makes it possible not to degrade the quality of the image transferred and perceived by the user; the assembly of optical fibers may advantageously be composed of index gradient optical fibers; whereby a dispersion or positioning uncertainty of the optical fiber assembly can be compensated by the characteristics of the index gradient optical fibers; the assembly of optical fibers has a height close to the height of the rotary knob, so that the image plane in which the user perceives images is located in the vicinity of the upper surface of the rotary knob; the rotary knob may be equipped with metal parts making it possible to form an electrical coupling between a finger placed on the rotary knob and the capacitive detection layer of the display screen; the operation of a rotary selector can be obtained by detecting the influence of the rotation passage of the metal parts when the user rotates the rotary knob; the position of a finger on the rotary knob or in its immediate vicinity can be detected by means of remote detection by means of the capacitive tracks 3033422 3 situated in the vicinity of the opening, preferably with a detection zone of the order of 10 mm to 15 mm; the detection of the presence of a finger of the user can advantageously be used to trigger an action in the logic of the man-machine interface; 5 - the rotary knob may be equipped with a transparent touch pad arranged in the upper part of the central axial zone of the rotary knob; a reliable touch validation function is obtained; - It can be provided an axial movement of the rotary knob for a validation function; the proximity detection performed by the capacitive layer for detecting an element belonging to the rotary knob to discriminate a validation movement with respect to a simple rotational movement; according to an alternative embodiment, the capacitive sensing sheet can match the inner shape of the protective glass; this makes it possible to maintain the detection principle uniformly thanks to the capacitive detection ply 15 including in the cylindrical walls and the top of the protruding form. Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, in particular with reference to the accompanying drawings: FIG. 1 1 is a front view of a man-machine interface comprising a digital screen and a rotary knob according to a first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the rotary knob; FIG. axial section of the system along the section line in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a top view of the capacitive detection layer in the zone of the rotary knob, along the section line IV-IV of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 and shows a second embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 represents an example of assembly (wafer) of optical fibers; FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. and shows an alternative embodiment of the invention tion. In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

FIG. 1 represents a front view of a screen 10 of a motor vehicle, for a display system in a man-machine interface of an automobile interior. Preferably, the screen 10 is touch sensitive as will be seen later, however, a non-touch screen may also be suitable for the present invention. On this screen 10, there is installed a rotary knob, labeled 9, which may be a simple selector or a wheel / encoder-type device, which may furthermore comprise a function of validation independent of the rotation. This rotary knob 9 can be positioned on an edge of the screen 10, but it is not excluded to have the rotary knob 9 in a middle zone of the screen 10. In the example illustrated, the rotary knob 9 allows for example to select a number of options 15 which are displayed graphically in a peripheral zone outside the rotary knob 9. The rotation of the rotary knob 9 can also be used to adjust a parameter, to move through drop-down menus, etc. In the example shown in Figure 2, the rotary knob 9 can be rotated about an axis A in a first direction W1 and a second direction W2. Moreover, according to one option, the rotary knob 9 can be pressed towards the screen 10 (arrow V), for a validation function known per se. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, the screen 10 comprises a stack of layers 8 with, first of all, a digital display panel 5, which typically comprises a matrix of dot matrix or OLEDs matrix TFT transistors arranged in a plane layer of thickness E5 and configured to emit light signals as known per se. Above the digital display panel 5 is a capacitive detection layer 4, optional in the sense of the present invention, which will be detailed later. Above the capacitive sensing layer 4 is a transparent protective window 3; this protective window 3 may be formed of glass, however in the context of the present invention may be preferred a plexiglass or PMMA type material, that is to say a transparent synthetic plastic material having very good mechanical properties. Moreover, thanks to such a material, it is possible to form the protective glass 3 in an injection mold and to give it the desired shape.

Once obtained from molding, the protective glass 3 has an inner face 32 and an outer face 31. Preferably, the thickness E 3 of this protective glass 3 is substantially constant (uniform) over the entire surface of the screen 10, for example from 2 mm to 3 mm. The protective glass 3 protects the essential elements of the screen 10 with respect to the external physicochemical environment and with respect to the possible mechanical aggressions (impacts, scratches, etc.) 3033422 5 This window protection 3 is generally flat but has, at the particular location where the rotary knob 9 is positioned, a protruding shape 33 forwards, in other words an outgrowth, which will be detailed later. In general, on the screen 10, the light signals perceived by the user are therefore 5 emitted by the digital slab 5 and pass through the capacitive detection ply 4 as well as the protective pane 3, so as to be visible from the front face 11 of the screen 10. In addition, the man-machine interface comprises the aforementioned rotary knob 9, arranged on the front face 11 of the screen 10, that is to say on the outer face 31 of the window of protection 3, around the outgrowth 33.

The rotary knob 9 comprises a body 91 of annular shape, generally of revolution about the axis A, obtained from plastic molding and the rotary knob 9 has a central recessed area 90, the annular body surrounding the central recessed area 90 The rotary knob 9 may comprise an optical device, not shown, housed under the annular body. The rotary knob 9 may optionally have a thin, transparent upper wall 94 which closes the recessed central area 90 from above. It may also, alternatively or additionally, comprise conductive elements 98, 96 configured to enable the capacitive detection of the fingers of the user on the rotary knob 9 by the detection web 4. These conductive elements 98 may be 2, 3, 4 or more (only two are shown in Figure 2) and will be spaced from each other along the circumferential direction. These conductive elements 98 are each a metallized band obtained by ion deposition or by the insertion of a metal strip into the forming mold of the rotary knob 9. Each conductive element 98 extends vertically inside the knob rotating 9 preferably along and near its outer surface. The foot 96 of each conductive element 98 is in the vicinity of the capacitive sensing layer 4 (see FIG. As known per se, the capacitive sensing pad 4 can detect the capacity of the human body in this case via one or more fingers, and advantageously the aforementioned conductive elements 98, 96 short-circuit the distance between the The rotary knob 9 has a height H1 with respect to the reference plane P and a general diameter D3; typically the height H1 and the diameter D3 have dimensions of between 10 mm and 30 mm.

The recessed central zone 90 forms a cylinder of diameter D1 centered on the axis A of the rotary knob 9, at least in the upper part of the rotary knob 9; the recessed central zone 90 may be wider at the bottom as shown in the figures, for example to house an optical device and / or elements detectable by the capacitive detection layer 4. Note that the rotary knob 9 may comprise the upper central wall 94 already mentioned but however, the central recessed area 90 may be completely through, so that it is the outer surface of the protective window 3, at the top of the projecting form, which is in contact with the UF finger of the user. The protruding form 33 of the protective window 3 is typically cylindrical with a diameter D 2 and corresponds with the central recessed area 90 of the rotary knob 9, that is to say that this shape can constitute the bearing around which the rotary knob rotates. 9.

Alternatively, not shown in the figures, around the protruding form 33 of the protective window 3, a fixed hub is arranged which serves as a bearing for the rotary knob. Advantageously according to the invention, the system comprises a transfer device. image 1 arranged in the recessed central area 90 of the rotary knob 9. The image transfer device 1 is formed by an assembly 2 of optical fibers 20; preferably the optical fibers 20 are parallel to each other. Preferably, the optical axis of the optical fibers 20 is perpendicular to the reference plane P of the screen 10, that is to say in parallel to the axis of rotation A of the rotary knob 9. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the optical fiber assembly 20 is, in the illustrated example, cylindrical in shape with a circular cross-section and a height H2 close to the height H1 of the rotary knob 9. Each of the optical fibers 20 is in the form of a thin glass wire. or light guide plastic, as known per se, with a very thin cladding film. Each optical fiber 20 has a diameter preferably of between 2 μm and 100, preferably between 10 μm and 50 μm, and therefore the density and the number of optical fibers 20 are very large and compatible with a digital display panel. high definition broadcast. Thus, a "pixelization" effect is avoided because the resolution of the image C formed by the image transfer performed by the optical fibers 20 is equivalent to the resolution of the source image B formed at the level of the slab. 5 digital broadcast display.

The assembly 2 of optical fibers 20 is therefore like a cylindrical package called "pancake" or "fiber optic bundle" in English. Regarding the height H2 of the wafer, this will be defined as slightly less than the distance between the digital display panel 5 and the inner surface 32b of the protruding form 33 of the protective window 3. A dispersion of 35 manufacturing can be compensated by the presence of a transparent silicone seal having the disk shape of diameter D1, which makes it possible to catch a possible mounting clearance along the axial direction. As an alternative to the aforementioned seal, one can also use 3033422 7 to catch a possible game of optical glue, or optical gel ("optical bonding" in English) of the epoxy resin or silicone type. Regarding the nature of the optical fibers 20, it may be a uniform index material.

According to one option, it is also possible to choose index gradient optical fibers, that is to say that the material has an increasing index as one moves away from the axis of the fiber. This makes it possible to further improve the quality of the transferred image, in particular for cases where a point is found straddling two optical fibers, that is to say substantially equidistant from their axes. The index gradient optical fibers will also be advantageously used when the optical fiber assembly 20 can not be directly adjacent to the transmit digital display panel. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the visible image of the user's UE eye is perceived at position C while it is transmitted by the digital display panel 5 at position B. There is therefore a transfer effect images produced by the digital display panel 5, which increases the visibility and readability of the information displayed in the center of the rotary knob 9. It is noted that the area in the center of the rotary knob 9 may display contextual information defined by the man-machine interface. In the optional but frequent case where the screen 10 is of the touch type, the capacitive detection layer 20 is interposed between the protective glass 3 and the digital display panel 5. As known, the capacitive detection layer 4 comprises a matrix network of transparent detection tracks, the sheet having a low thickness E4 typically between 0.1 mm and 1 mm. As known and not described in detail, the detection of an object near the tracks is achieved by performing a line / column scan and detecting an increase in coupling capacity between a line and a column. At the location of the position of the rotary knob 9, this capacitive detection sheet 4 may advantageously comprise, as illustrated, a circular opening 40 in the form of a disk (also referred to as savings in the sheet); thus the optical gel is arranged in a cylindrical shape of diameter D1, which extends directly from the upper surface of the digital display slab 5 and substantially fills the available cylindrical concave space in the shape of the 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the capacitive detection layer 4 comprises transparent conductive tracks, in particular a first series of tracks 41 in the direction X and a second series of tracks 42 in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first one. The tracks 41a to 41e which are aligned with the opening disc 40 and interrupted by the presence of this opening 40 are connected by means of shunts 45a to 45e which bypass the disc. Shunt means a conductive electrical connection that can be obtained by a wire or an engraved track. According to the direction Y the logic is the same, but only one track 42 and its 5 shunt 46 are represented. The shunts 41, 42 may be formed by silver or gold wires, they are not necessarily transparent, because they are advantageously covered by the annular body 91 (indicated by the dashed line 95) of the rotary knob 9 which is extends to diameter D3.

When the user touches the rotary knob 9, his UF fingers are found near the conductive elements 98, and the capacity visible by the tracks of the capacitive detection layer 4 is modified by the presence of UF finger (s) which are detected by the conductive elements 98. The same phenomenon occurs when the fingers are in the immediate vicinity without necessarily touching the rotary knob 9. The electronic unit in charge of the management of the capacitive detection pad 4 can thus determine that the UF fingers of the driver are in contact or almost in contact with the rotary knob 9. When the rotary knob 9 rotates, the feet 96 of the conductive elements 98 scan different points of the detection network, and a rotation can thus be determined. More precisely, the rotation of the rotary knob 9 causes a circumferential displacement of the detectable elements 96, this displacement is detected by the tracks 41, 42 of the matrix network of the capacitive detection layer 4. It is noted that the connection shunts can be located inside the diameter D6 scanned by the detectable elements 96, and reliable detection by the rectilinear tracks 41, 42 is thus achieved.

Moreover, independently of the presence of these conductive elements, the capacitive detection layer 4 may have a relatively large detection range, that is to say of the order of 10 to 15 mm beyond the outer plane of the screen 10, and under these conditions, the capacitive detection layer 4 makes it possible to detect a finger UF at a distance of more than one centimeter from the screen 10, including in the region of the rotary knob 9, 30 included in the central zone of the rotary knob 9; for example, when several points of the mesh detection network which are at the edge of the opening 40 remotely detect a finger UF, this indicates the proximity of a finger just above the rotary knob 9, contact or not. Moreover, apart from the above detection functions, it is alternatively provided with a transparent tactile patch 94 already mentioned, which closes the recessed central zone 90 of the rotary knob 9 from above, and which makes it possible to directly detect a effective touch of the UF finger of the user. A tactile function is thus provided on the top of the rotary knob 9 in all respects analogous to the basic touch function on the other parts of the screen 10. In this case an electrical connection is provided to convey the signal of the patch. touch 94 to the capacitive detection pad 4.

Alternatively, the capacitive sensing mat 4 may be physically integrated with the digital display panel 5 (in-cell configuration in English and in technical jargon). Likewise, the presence of the opening 40 may be considered optional, and in these two cases, the optical fiber wafer 20 will extend from the top of the capacitive sensing layer 4 and will not be in direct contact with the As emissive elements of light, the optical behavior remains acceptable, especially with index gradient optical fibers. In a second embodiment, illustrated in particular in FIG. 5, the mounting of the rotary knob 9 also comprises an axial degree of freedom, the rotary knob 9 being able to be pushed according to the arrow V in the direction of the screen 10 by the user, and the rotary knob 9 being recalled in the opposite direction by a known elastic means and not shown. The movement of axial approximation of the detectable elements 96 can be detected by increasing the capacitive coupling between the tracks of the detection network 4 and the UF finger or the fingers of the user.

Indeed, when the user presses the rotary knob 9, these detectable elements 96 come close to the capacitive detection layer 4 and their presence in the immediate vicinity (position 96 ') can thus be detected by increasing the coupling with the UF finger (s) of the user; thus the intention of validation is determined.

On the other hand, it should be noted that in certain applications, the protective window 3 may have a general curvature, which may correspond to a shape of the dashboard of the vehicle. And under these conditions, since the digital display panel 5 is flat, it can install optical gel (optical bonding), between the digital display panel 5 emission and the capacitive detection layer 4 which matches the curved shape of the protective glass 3 to ensure the quality of the tactile detection function. Note that at the location of the rotary knob 9, according to a variant not shown, one could simply have the protective glass 3 pierced without having the projecting shape; in this case it is the fiber-optic wafer which will serve as a mechanical support for the rotary mounting of the rotary knob 9. The hole arranged in the protective glass 3 would be of diameter very slightly greater than the diameter D1 of the optical fiber wafer 20 .

According to a variant shown in FIG. 7, the optical fiber wafer 20 may itself have a function of mechanical support with respect to the rotary knob 9 and be housed in a single orifice 34 of the protective window 3. The window 3 is thus easier to manufacture and the visible surface of the optical fiber wafer 20, the user directly perceives the images at the free end of the fibers which further increases the quality of the images perceived.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Display system in a man-machine interface comprising: - a screen (10) with a digital display panel (5) configured to emit light signals through a front screen (30) defining a plane P, - a rotary knob (9) arranged on the front face of the screen (10), annular in shape and having a recessed central zone (90), characterized in that the system comprises a transfer device images (1) arranged in the recessed central area (90) of the rotary knob (9), the image transfer device (1) comprising an assembly (2) of parallel optical fibers (20), with an optical axis of the fibers lens (20) which is perpendicular to the surface of the screen (10), so that information which is displayed by the screen (10) on the digital display panel (5) is transferred by the optical fibers (20) in an image plane raised above the surface of the screen (10). 2. A display system according to claim 1, wherein the digital display screen (5) comprises a protective window (3) which has a protruding shape (33) forwards, this protruding shape corresponding with the central recessed area (90) of the rotary knob (9). 3. Display system according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the digital display screen (10) is tactile and comprises a capacitive sensing layer (4). 20 A display system according to claim 3, wherein the capacitive sensing mat (4) comprises a matrix array of tracks and a disc-shaped opening (40) corresponding to the position of the recessed central area of the rotary knob ( 9), the tracks (41, 42) of the capacitive sensing network (4) which are aligned with said disk and interrupted by the presence of the disk-shaped opening (40) are connected by means of shunts which bypass said disk. 5. Display system according to claim 4, wherein the shunts (45, 46) are arranged under an annular zone of the rotary knob (9) and are thus invisible from the point of view of the user. A display system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optical fiber assembly (2) (20) is disposed directly against the digital display panel (5). 3033422 12 A display system according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the optical fiber assembly (2) (20) is composed of index gradient optical fibers (20). 8. Display system according to claim 3, wherein the rotary knob (9) is equipped with metal parts (98, 96) for forming an electrical coupling between a finger (UF) placed on the rotary knob (9). and the capacitive sensing layer (4). 9. Display system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rotary knob (9) is equipped with a transparent touch pad (94) arranged in the upper part of the central axial zone of the rotary knob (9). ). 10 10. A display system according to claim 4 or claim 8, wherein the position of a finger (UF) is detected on the rotary knob (9) or in its immediate vicinity by means of remote detection by means of the tracks. capacitors located in the vicinity of the disk-shaped opening (40).