FR3063939A1 - VEHICLE TRIM MEMBER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SCREENS - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle trim element comprises at least two separate screens (6), said screens (6) extending adjacent to each other in a transverse direction. At least one of the screens (6) is a movable screen (8) movable between an extended position, wherein said movable screen (8) extends in continuity with the other screen (6) so as to form a extended display area (14) extending across the two screens (6, 8), and an extended position, wherein said movable screen (8) is offset from the other screen (6) so as to form two distinct display areas (16).

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number: 3,063,939 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 17 52 190

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : B 60 K 37/04 (2017.01), B 60 R 11/00

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 17.03.17. © Applicant (s): FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE (© Priority: Simplified joint stock company - FR. @ Inventor (s): BEAUREGARD JULIEN. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 21.09.18 Bulletin 18/38. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIE related: Joint stock company. ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): LAVOIX.

FR 3 063 939 - A1

VEHICLE TRIM ELEMENT COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SCREENS.

©) The vehicle trim element comprises at least two separate screens (6), said screens (6) extending adjacent to each other in a transverse direction. At least one of the screens (6) is a mobile screen (8) movable between an extended position, in which said mobile screen (8) extends in continuity with the other screen (6) so as to form a extended display area (14) extending over the two screens (6, 8), and a deployed position, in which said movable screen (8) is offset from the other screen (6) so as to form two separate display areas (16).

Vehicle trim element comprising a plurality of screens

The present invention relates to a vehicle trim element, of the type comprising at least two separate screens, said screens extending adjacent to one another in a transverse direction.

The invention also relates to a vehicle trim assembly comprising such a trim element.

It is known to have one or more screens in the passenger compartment of a vehicle in order to display information intended for the driver and / or passengers, for example information on driving the vehicle or on certain functions of the vehicle. A screen intended for passengers can also be used to broadcast audiovisual content for example.

However, the size of the screens is limited, which can make certain displayed content not very visible or limit the type of content that can be displayed. The presence of a large screen is however not recommended since certain content, for example audiovisual, may not be suitable for the driver and distract it. Displaying such content on a large screen could therefore be dangerous for the proper operation of the vehicle.

One of the aims of the invention is to propose a filling element making it possible to display any type of content in a modular manner depending on what is displayed.

To this end, the invention relates to a packing element of the aforementioned type, in which at least one of the screens is a movable screen movable between an extended position, in which said movable screen extends in continuity with the other screen so as to form an extended display area extending over the two screens, and a deployed position, in which said movable screen is offset with respect to the other screen so as to form two separate display areas.

Thus, in the extended position, a large display area is proposed, which allows information or animations to be displayed over an extended area. In the deployed position, the two screens are dissociated from one another, which allows for example a display of information visible to all on one of the screens and a display of content intended for passengers on the other screen. Thus, the packing element according to the invention allows a modular display depending on what one wishes to display.

According to other characteristics of the packing element according to the invention, taken in isolation or in any technically possible combination:

- the movable screen is movable in at least one direction different from the transverse direction;

- the movable screen is mounted at the end of an arm, said arm being movable relative to the lining element for moving the movable screen between the extended position and the deployed position;

- The arm is movable in translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction relative to the packing element;

- The arm is movable in rotation relative to the lining element in the deployed position so as to allow the orientation of the movable screen to be changed in the deployed position;

each screen is curved, said screens forming a continuous curvature in the extended position;

- the trim element comprises three screens, at least one of which is a mobile screen;

- the mobile screen extends between two fixed screens in the extended position so that the extended display area extends over the three screens; and

- at least the mobile screen is a touch screen for controlling at least one function by contact with said screen.

The invention also relates to a trim assembly for a vehicle, comprising at least one seat and a trim element as described above, the movement of the movable screen from the extended position to the deployed position being arranged to reduce the distance between the seat and said movable screen.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a packing assembly according to the invention, the movable screen being in the extended position,

- Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the packing assembly of FIG. 1, the mobile screen being in the deployed position, and

- Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the packing element of FIG. 2 seen from another angle.

With reference to FIG. 1, a trim assembly is described comprising at least one seat 2 and at least one trim element 4. Such an assembly is for example intended to be arranged in the passenger compartment of a vehicle, for example of a motor vehicle. The trim element 4 extends for example opposite the seat 2 so that an occupant seated on the seat 2 faces the trim element 4. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the element trim 4 is a vehicle dashboard and seat 2 is one of the front seats of the vehicle. Conventionally, the trim assembly includes, for example, two seats and the trim element extends opposite the two seats.

The trim element 4 comprises at least two screens 6, at least one of which is a movable movable screen 8 as will be described later. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the trim element 4 comprises three screens 6, including two fixed screens 10 and a mobile screen 8.

The screens 6 extend from an external surface 12 of the trim element 4 so as to be visible to the occupants of the seats 2 of the trim assembly. For example, the screens 6 extend from the upper surface of the dashboard to extend under the vehicle windshield. Thus, the screens 6 are arranged in the visual field of the occupants of the seats 2 when they look forward through the windshield.

The movable screen 8 is movable relative to the external surface 12 and to the fixed screens 10 between an extended position (Fig. 1) and a deployed position (Fig. 2 and 3).

In the extended position, the screens 6 extend in continuity with each other and are adjacent to each other so as to form an extended display area 14 formed by the addition of the display areas 16 of each screen 6 In the extended position, the screens 6 are for example arranged one beside the other in a transverse direction T, corresponding to the width of the vehicle, so as to extend substantially over the entire width or over a large part of the cabin width.

According to one embodiment, the screens 6 are arranged so that the extended display area 14 is substantially continuous from one screen 6 to another, that is to say that the transition from a screen 6 to the other is not substantially visible so that the vehicle occupants have the impression that the extended display area 14 is formed by a single large screen. This can be obtained by leaving no space between two adjacent screens 6, that is to say that the lateral edges opposite each screen 6 are pressed against each other in the extended position, and possibly by providing no border along the side edges opposite each screen 6. According to another embodiment, there is a gap between two adjacent screens 6. The gap is of the order of a few millimeters maximum, for example 5 mm or less. Given the dimensions of the screens 6 (height and length in the transverse direction T), this gap disappears and is not visible to give the impression of an extended display area 14 continues. Thus, in the extended position, the extended display area 14 seems to be formed "in one piece" and not by the addition of the display areas 16 of the different screens 6.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, in which the trim element comprises three screens 6, one of the fixed screens 10 extends for example facing the conductor, the movable screen 8 extends between the conductor and the front passenger and the other fixed screen 10 extends opposite the front passenger. It is understood, however, that the trim element could include more screens distributed differently, some or all of which could be mobile screens.

According to one embodiment, each screen 6 is curved in the transverse direction T. The curve followed by the screens 6 in the transverse direction T is continuous in the extended position, that is to say that the extended display area 14 is curved. The curvature is such that the concavity formed by the extended display area 14 is turned towards the passengers, that is to say that the extended display area 14 is more distant from the passengers in its central area than in the area from its side edges, as shown in FIG. 1. The radius of curvature of the extended display area 14 is for example substantially constant.

In the extended position, the content displayed by the extended display area 14 is spread out according to a particular operating mode on all the screens 6, that is to say that the same displayed information is distributed on the screens 6 For example, if an animation is displayed, this animation can go from one screen to another or include a part extending on one screen and another part extending on the adjacent screen. According to another example, if geolocation information is displayed, the map extends over at least two screens 6 or over the three screens 6. Thus, the extended display area 14 can display information of large dimensions, which improves legibility for passengers. The extended display area 14 can also be used to create aesthetic effects in the vehicle interior. For example, a special animation can be provided passing from one screen 6 to another when the vehicle is started and / or stopped.

According to another particular operating mode, the screens 6 are arranged to display different content. For example, the fixed screen 8 extending opposite the driver can be used to display information on the state of the vehicle, for example the speed at which the vehicle is moving, information on the distance traveled, on the levels fuel and oil, etc. In other words, the fixed screen 10 extending opposite can have the function of vehicle dashboard. The mobile screen 8 can be used to display vehicle geolocation information and / or information on certain vehicle functions, such as air conditioning, interior sound system, etc. The fixed screen 10 extending opposite the passenger can be used to display content intended for the passenger and not the driver, for example audiovisual or other content. According to another example, the mobile screen 8 and the fixed screen 10 facing the passenger are used to display content extending on the two screens 6.

The transition from one operating mode to another is for example linked to the way the vehicle is used or to the state of the vehicle. For example, when the vehicle is stationary, the three screens 6 can be used to display content spanning the three screens 6; while when the vehicle is moving, the fixed screen 10 facing the driver is used to display a dashboard of the vehicle and allow the vehicle to operate smoothly. In the case of an autonomous vehicle, that is to say a vehicle which can move without the intervention of a driver, the screens 6 can be used to display content spanning the three screens 6. When 'a manual driving phase is engaged, the display switches to the operating mode in which one of the screens 6 serves as a dashboard. Likewise, when the state of a function is modified, for example when it is desired to modify the temperature in the passenger compartment or to change the radio, etc., one of the screens can switch to an operating mode in which the information relating to this function is displayed. For example, the screen that switches is the screen next to the person who changes the status of the function.

It is therefore understood that in the extended position, the lining element 4 has a great modularity in the display, the content displayed by each screen 6 being linked or not to the content displayed on the other screens 6 depending on the state of vehicle operation.

The modularity of the display is further increased by passing the mobile screen 8 in a deployed position, in which the mobile screen 8 is offset with respect to the other or to the other screens 6. Thus, in the deployed position, each screen 6 forms a display area 16 distinct from the others and the information displayed on each of the screens 6 is for example not linked to the content displayed on the other screens.

The displacement of the movable screen 8 is done for example by means of an arm 18 movable relative to the external surface 12 and one end of which supports the movable screen 8. The arm 18 is for example movable at least according to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, corresponding to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, so that the movable screen 8 approaches the passengers when it passes from the extended position to the deployed position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In other words, the movable screen 8 moves at least in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction T. The arm 18 moves for example in translation in the longitudinal direction between a retracted position, in which the arm 18 extends in the lining element 4 so that the movable screen 8 is in the extended position, and a deployed position, in which the arm 18 extends projecting from the external surface 12 so that the mobile screen 8 passes into its deployed position.

According to one embodiment, the arm 18 can also move in an elevation direction in order to allow the height adjustment of the movable screen 8 in the deployed position.

According to one embodiment, the arm 18 is telescopic, that is to say it comprises a first part movable in translation relative to a second part between a retracted position, in which the first part extends in the second part, and a deployed position, in which the first part extends projecting from the second part. The mobile screen 8 is carried by the end of the first part so that the distance between the mobile screen 8 and the second part of the arm 18 can be adjusted by moving the first part between its retracted and deployed positions. Thus, the mobile screen 8 can be more or less close to the occupants of the vehicle when it is moved to its deployed position.

According to one embodiment which can be combined with the embodiments described above, at least part of the arm 18 is also movable in rotation so that the orientation of the movable screen 18 in the passenger compartment can be modified. The mobile screen 8 is for example mounted on a ball joint secured to the end of the arm 18 so that the mobile screen 8 can be rotated in all directions relative to the rest of the arm 18. According to another mode of embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the ball joint 20 is provided between a first part 22 of the arm 18 carrying the movable screen 8 and a second part 24 of the arm 18, connected to the lining element, so that the orientation of the first part 22, and therefore that of the mobile screen 8, can be modified relative to the second part 24 of the arm 18. Thus, in the deployed position, the mobile screen 8 can be turned towards the driver or towards the passenger by modifying the orientation of it.

According to one embodiment, at least the mobile screen 8 has a tactile surface making it possible to control at least one function of the vehicle by contact with this surface. For this purpose, the mobile screen 8 is for example coated with a capacitive film connected to a vehicle control device. Thus, the user can interact with the mobile screen 8 to control one or more functions of the vehicle, for example to control the air conditioning system and / or the sound system and / or to modify the display of the different screens 6. Thus, the mobile screen 8 can be used to control one or more functions of the vehicle, in particular when it is in the deployed position and when it is close to the users. Thus, the user does not need to reach out or bend over to interact with the mobile screen 8.

According to one embodiment, one or more fixed screens 10 can also be touch screens with which the occupants of the vehicle can interact.

The mobile screen 8 is controlled between the extended position and the deployed position, for example by a control module arranged in the vicinity of the occupants of the vehicle or by a voice or other control device. The mobile screen 8 can also switch to the deployed position automatically, for example as a function of a vehicle condition or as a function of the content displayed on the mobile screen. Switching to the deployed position allows for example to bring the screen closer to the users in order to facilitate its use in the case of a touch screen and / or in order to make the content displayed by the mobile screen 8 more readable.

In the deployed position, the mobile screen 8 can also be used to display content which should not be viewed by the driver so as not to distract him while driving. In this case, the mobile screen 8 is for example turned towards the passenger so as not to be visible to the driver.

The packing assembly described above therefore offers great modularity in the display, whether in the extended position or in the deployed position. The screens 6 can be used to replace the dashboard of the vehicle in the case of a trim element forming the dashboard of the vehicle. It is understood, however, that the invention can be applied to other types of trim elements, such as a door panel or the like.

Claims (10)

1, - vehicle trim element, comprising at least two separate screens (6), said screens (6) extending adjacent to each other in a transverse direction, characterized in that at least the one of the screens (6) is a mobile screen (8) movable between an extended position, in which said mobile screen (8) extends in continuity with the other screen (6) so as to form a display area extended (14) extending over the two screens (6, 8), and a deployed position, in which said movable screen (8) is offset with respect to the other screen (6) so as to form two areas of separate display (16). 2, - lining element according to claim 1, wherein the movable screen (8) is movable in at least one direction different from the transverse direction. 3, - lining element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movable screen (8) is mounted at the end of an arm (18), said arm (18) being movable relative to the element packing (4) for moving the movable screen (8) between the extended position and the deployed position. 4, - Packing element according to claim 3, wherein the arm (18) is movable in translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction relative to the packing element (4). 5, - lining element according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the arm (18) is movable in rotation relative to the lining element (4) in the deployed position so as to allow the orientation of the mobile screen (8) in the deployed position. 6, - packing element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each screen (6, 8) is curved, said screens (6, 8) forming a continuous curvature in the extended position. 7, - lining element according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising three screens (6), at least one of which is a mobile screen (8). 8.- lining element according to claim 7, wherein the movable screen (8) extends between two fixed screens (10) in the extended position so that the extended display area (12) extends over the three screens (8, 10). 5 9.- lining element according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least the movable screen (8) is a touch screen for controlling at least one function by contact with said screen (8). 10.- Upholstery assembly for vehicle, comprising at least one seat (2) and 10 a packing element (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the movement of the movable screen (8) from the extended position to the deployed position being arranged to reduce the distance between the seat (2) and said mobile screen (8). 1/3