GB2532556A

GB2532556A - Instrument cluster for a vehicle and method for operating an instrument cluster for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2532556A
Application number: GB1516236.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Weingarten Jan
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2014-09-15
Filing date: 2015-09-14
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Also published as: DE102014218435A1; GB201516236D0

Abstract

An instrument cluster 100 for a vehicle 101 comprises a display area 102 having at least one display element 104 for displaying a vehicle state, a transparent substrate 106 for displaying at least one virtual object 116, wherein the transparent substrate 106 is placed in front of the display area 102 as seen in the observation direction 110 of an occupant 112 of the vehicle 101. A light source 108 generates and/or makes visible the virtual object 116 on or in the transparent substrate 106 i.e. on hologram 118. The hologram may be a multiplex hologram and there substrate may have a holographic scattering plane. The virtual object may be visible in accordance with a position signal of a position of an eye of an occupant of the vehicle within a reference range.

Description

Instrument cluster for a vehicle and method for operating an instrument clusler for a vehicle Prior ad The present invention relates to an instrument cluster for a vehicle, to a method for operating an instrument cluster for a vehicle, to a corresponding control device and to a corresponding computer program.

Prior art

Vehicle instrument clusters are already on the market, which combine a freely programmable LC display with analogue display elements.

JP 07234374A describes a display device with a transparent hologram pane. Disclosure of the invention On the basis of this background and with the approach presented herein, an instrument cluster for a vehicle, a method for operating an instrument duster for a vehicle: also a control device which uses this method, and finally a corresponding computer program in accordance with the main claims are presented. Advantageous embodiments are found in the respective dependent claims and the following description. I5

One implementation of an instrument duster for a vehicle with a transparent substrate which is placed in front of the display area as seen in an observation direction of an occupant of the vehicle makes it possible to display virtual objects in a display area of the instrument cluster.

With this design, the attention of a driver of the vehicle to the content of the display area can be advantageously improved.

An instrument cluster far a vehicle is presented, wherein the instrument cluster has the following features: l0 a display area having at least one display element for displaying a vehicle state; a transparent substrate for displaying at least one virtual object, wherein the transparent substrate is placed in front of the display area as seen in an observation IS direction of an occupant of the vehicle: and a light source to generate and/or make visible the virtual object on or in the transparent substrate.

The instrument cluster can be an instrument block inserted in motor vehicles in the region of the steering wheel. A plurality of display elements of the vehicle, e.g. tachometer, rev. counter, fuel gauge, coolant temperature display, warning lights, travel direction indicator etc. can be combined in the display area. Positioning of the instrument cluster behind or over the steering wheel makes it possible for the vehicle occupants, e.g. the driver, to be kept informed as to a current state of the vehicle or functions of the vehicle simply by glancing at the display elements. The display area can have an LCD screen on which the display elements are digitally generated. Alternatively, the display area can also have analogue display elements. The transparent substrate can be formed as a pane, e.g. a cover pane for the display area.

The virtual object can be an image of a real object or an artificially generated object. The virtual object can be of an information-bearing anditor stereoscopic character. The light source can be integrated into the instrument cluster and be located e.g. laterally of the transparent substrate. For example. the light source can be designed to display the virtual object in cooperation with the transparent substrate in a region which is located in front of the transparent substrate as seen in the observation direction of an occupant and so, to an observer, e.g. the occupant of the vehicle, the virtual object seems to nestle against the display area or to be floating in front of the display area.

In accordance with one embodiment of the instrument cluster, the transparent substrate can comprise a hologram. The hologram can be designed to depict the virtual object upon illumination by the light source. Thus, the virtual object can advantageously be produced in a particularly simple and inexpensive manner.

For example, the hologram can be a multiplex hologram, Therefore, a depiction of the virtual object can advantageously be adapted in dependence upon a head movement of the occupant and so a three-dimensional effect of the virtual object can be maintained over a relatively large range of movement of the head of the occupant.

In accordance with one embodiment, the light source can comprise an LED. The LED can be formed in particular to generate white light. Thus the virtual object can be made 20 visible in a simple and inexpensive manner, In accordance with a further embodiment, the transparent substrate can have a holographic scattering pane. In this way, the virtual object can be generated by projection of an image onto the substrate by means of a suitable projector. With this variant of the concept presented herein, a multiplicity of different virtual objects, which appear two-dimensional, can readily be generated.

Accordingly, the light source can have at least one projector. The projector can be designed to project an image of the virtual object onto the holographic scattering pane.

In accordance with one embodiment, the light source can have at least one further projector. The further projector can be designed to project a further image of the virtual object onto the holographic scattering pane. The holographic scattering pane can be designed to generate a stereoscopic image of the virtual object by presentation of the image and of the further image. In order to generate the stereoscopic image, the holographic scattering pane can comprise two different scattering functions. Therefore, the virtual object can advantageously be displayed as a three-dimensional object.

In accordance with one particular embodiment, the substrate can be designed to display the virtual object, upon illumination by the light source, such that the virtual to object appears as a three-dimensional component of the display element. In this way the attention of the occupant to information content of the display instrument can be intuitively increased.

Furthermore. the instrument cluster can have a device for reading-in a position signal of a position of an eye of an occupant of the vehicle. Accordingly, the light source can be designed to generate or make visible the virtual object using the position signal. With this embodiment the depiction of the virtual object can be updated or dimmed corresponding to a head movement of the occupant. A sudden loss of the three-dimensional effect of the virtual object, which could irritate the occupant, can thus advantageously be avoided.

For example, the light source can also be designed to terminate the illumination of the transparent substrate when the position signal characterises the position of the eye as lying outside a reference range. It is also possible with this embodiment to readily avoid irritation of the occupant by reason of a dwindling or defective three-dimensional effect in connection with the depiction of the virtual object.

Furthermore, a method for operating an instrument cluster for a vehicle is presented, wherein the instrument cluster has a display area with at least one display element for 30 displaying a vehicle state, a transparent substrate placed in front of the display area as seen in an observation direction of an occupant of the vehicle for displaying at least one virtual object, and a light source for generating and/or making visible the virtual object on or in the transparent substrate, and wherein the method comprises the following steps: actuation of the light source to display the virtual object.

Actuation of the light source can be effected via provision of an actuation signal at a suitable interface of the light source. By means of this variant of the invention in the form of a method it is also possible to achieve the object of the invention quickly and 10 efficiently.

The approach presented herein further creates a control device which is designed to carry out, actuate or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented herein in corresponding devices. By means of these variants of the invention in the form of a control device, the object of the invention can also be achieved quickly and efficiently.

A control device can be understood herein to mean an electric device which processes sensor signals and outputs control and/or data signals in dependence thereon. The control device can have an interface which can be designed in terms of hardware and/or software. In a hardware design, the interfaces can be e.g. part of a so-called system ASIC which contains a very wide variety of functions of the control device. However, it is also possible for the interfaces to be self-contained integrated circuits or to consist at least partially of discrete components. In a software design, the interfaces can be software modules which are provided e.g. on a microcontroller in addition to other software modules.

Similarly advantageous is a computer program product or computer program with program code which can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semi-conductor memory, a hard disk storage unit or an optical memory, and is used to carry out, implement and/or actuate the steps of the method In accordance with one of the above-described embodiments, in particular when the program product or program is executed on a computer or a device.

By way of example only, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of an instrument duster for a vehicle in accordance with an exemplified embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 to 5 show perspective views of a vehicle interior with an instrument cluster in 10 accordance with an exemplified embodiment of the present Invention in the switched-off and switched-on state; Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an instrument cluster for a vehicle in accordance with a further exemplified embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 7 shows a flow diagram of a method for operating an instrument cluster for a vehicle in accordance with an exemplified embodiment of the present invention.

In the following description of favourable exemplified embodiments of the present invention, like or similar reference signs are used for the elements illustrated in the different figures and acting in a similar manner, wherein no repeated description of these elements is given.

In instrument clusters in accordance with the prior art, e.g. a freely programmable LC display is combined with analogue display elements. Analogue display elements can be e.g. the four tube rings of classic dials as well as scales and pointers of the display elements. These can be visible even when the instrument duster is in the switched-off state.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section with the aid of a schematic illustration of a side view of an instrument cluster 100 for a vehicle 101 in accordance with an exemplified embodiment of the present invention. The instrument cluster 100 is integrated into an instrument area of the vehicle 101 indicated in Fig. 1 by illustration of the roof and windscreen. The instrument cluster 100 comprises a display area 102 with a display element 104, a transparent substrate 106 and a light source 108. The display element 104 is in this case a tachometer of the vehicle 101 to display a travel speed. Naturally, the display area 102 can also have further display elements for displaying important vehicle states and functions which are typically presented in the instrument area of a vehicle, e.g, rev. counter, fuel gauge, coolant temperature display, travel direction indicator, various warning lights etc. in the exemplified embodiment shown in Fig, 1, the display area 102 has an LCD screen which digitally displays the display element 104. Alternatively, the display area 102 can be constructed in a classic manner with analogue display elements.

As the illustration in Fig. 1 shows, the transparent substrate 106 is disposed in front of the display area 102 as seen in a direction of observation 110, indicated by an arrow, of an occupant 112 of the vehicle 101. The occupant 112 is in this case a driver of the vehicle 101. The transparent substrate 106 can be formed from glass, synthetic material or a combination of glass and synthetic material, e.g. in a layered structure. In the exemplified embodiment of the instrument cluster 100 shown in Fig. 1, the transparent substrate 106 forms a cover pane for the display area 102.

The transparent substrate 106 is designed to display a virtual object 116 upon illumination by the light source 108 in a region 114 in front of the transparent substrate 106 as seen in the direction of observation 110 of the occupant 112. In the illustrated exemplified embodiment, the light source 108 is placed laterally of the transparent substrate 106 adjacent to a lower region of the transparent substrate 106 such that it can illuminate the transparent substrate 106 such that the virtual object 106 can be generated or made visible on or in the transparent substrate 106. In the exemplified embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the virtual object 116 is a tube ring for the display element 104.

In the exemplified embodiment of the concept presented herein and shown in Fig. 1, the virtual object 116 is made visible by illumination by the light source 108 of a hologram 118 incorporated into the transparent substrate 106. In the illustrated exemplified embodiment, the hologram 118 is a colour hologram which authentically replicates an illusion of a tube ring of the tachometer 104. Upon illumination of the hologram 118 by the light source 108 the tube ring is made visible as the virtual object 116 in the region 114 in front of the transparent substrate 106 such that it appears as a three-dimensional component of the display element 104. For this purpose, in the exemplified embodiment of the instrument cluster 100 shown in Fig. 1, the light source 108 has an LED to generate white light. During operation of the light source 108, the white light of the LED is radiated onto the hologram 118 such that the virtual object 116 appears in the desired manner in the region 114 between the transparent substrate 106 and the eye of the observer 112, e.g. in three-dimensional form.

IS In order to avoid the 3D effect achieved by making visible the virtual object 116 being lost or becoming defective upon lateral head movement of the observer 112 during observation of the display area 102, the hologram 118 is placed such that it is no further than a predetermined tolerance distance 120 from the display area 102. Care should be taken that the 3D content depicted by the hologram {e.g. tube rings) does not conceal the LCD content (e.g. tachometer scale).

The more depth the illustrated 3D content (in this case tube rings) has compared with the LCD plane, the sooner such concealment can occur. In this case an eye position tracking system could help to preserve the 3D impression in that LCD image content appearing behind a holographically depicted 3D structure is switched off. Otherwise, this would be visible through the (transparent) 3D structure. The shallower the depth (or distance) of the 3D content (from the LCD plane), the easier this is to achieve. Nothing is to be done if depth planes fall one above another and only 2D content is shown. In the case of distances or depths up to 5 mm, lateral distance between 3D content and LCD content will suffice. Furthermore, eye position tracking should be used to maintain the impression of depth in all head positions.

The hotogram 118 in accordance with one exemplified embodiment can be a multiplex hologram. When this is used, a depiction of the virtual object 116 can be adapted to head movements of the occupant 112 and so continuity can be imparted to the three-dimensional depiction of the virtual object 116.

In the exemplified embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the vehicle 101 has a device 122 for reading-in a position signal 124 of a position of an eye of the occupant 112 of the vehicle 101. In the illustrated example, the position signal 124 is provided to the device 122 by an optical sensor 126 of the vehicle 101 via a suitable interface, The optical sensor 126 can be part of a camera system which is installed in the vehicle 101 and which, in the interior of the vehicle 101, is directed towards the driver 112 of the vehicle 101 in order to plot his/her eye movements e.g. in order to detect signs of tiredness. In response to the position signal 124 an actuation signal 128 is provided to the light source 108 in order to actuate the light source 108 such that the virtual object 116 is generated or made visible in dependence upon a position of the eye of the observer 112.

For example, the light source 108 is actuated using the position signal 124 such that it terminates the illumination of the transparent substrate 106 when the position signal 124 characterises the position of the eye as lying outside a predetermined reference range. The light source 108 can be designed to switch off or gradually dim the light for illumination of the substrate 106 or hologram 118 once a limit of the reference range is reached. This prevents the driver 112 being irritated by a defective 3D depiction when observing the display area 102 when one of his/her eyes is outside the reference range because of a lateral head movement.

Figure 1 shows one possible embodiment of the concept proposed herein, in which in order to generate the virtual object 116 the hologram 118 received into the transparent 30 substrate 106 is used as a cover of the instrument cluster 100. The hologram 118 is illuminated in a controlled manner by means of white LED light from the light source 108, wherein the extremely realistic virtual 3D object 116 is reconstructed. In the variant shown in Fig. 1, the 3D object 116 represents a tube ring of the dial 104. The virtual 3D object 116 can represent a real 3D object which has conventionally been plotted by means of a suitable optical structure, Alternatively, the virtual 3D object 116 can be a 3D model presented by pixels. In accordance with the concept presented herein, the virtual 3D object 116 is placed in the region 114 such that it appears to nestle against the LCD screen of the display area 102 therebehind as seen in the driver's view 110, The impression thus arises that the virtual 3D object 116 had been attached to the LCD screen therebehind.

In accordance with the concept presented herein and illustrated graphically with the aid of Fig. 1, freely selectable static structures provided as a hologram can be combined with the LC display of the display area 102 lying therebehind. These static structures 116 can be concealed by switching off the hologram illumination 108, whereby the full Is LCD surface lying therebehind can be used for suitable applications. e.g. for presentation of NV image sequences. As seen from the driver's perspective 110, the 3D object provided as a hologram 118 can also float in front of the LC display, even in front of the cover pane 106 which contains the hologram 118. This permits a larger freedom of arrangement and interesting new effects which cannot be achieved with real objects. By means of this option also to "print" the hologram 118 by pixels, the object to be presented does not actually have to exist but merely the 3D model. in accordance with exemplified embodiments further new effects can thereby be achieved.

Figure 2 to 5 show perspective views of an exemplified vehicle interior with an exemplified embodiment of the instrument cluster 100 presented herein. As the illustrations show, the instrument cluster 100 is integrated in a instrument area 200 of the vehicle 101 behind the steering wheel of the vehicle 101. The vehicle 100 is in this case a passenger car The instrument cluster 100 can likewise be installed e.g. in a lorry. In the instrument cluster 100 shown in Figs. 2 to 5 the display area 102 again has an LCD screen 202 which is designed to digitally present the display elements of the display area 102, As also in the case of the exemplified embodiment shown in Fig. 1, a hologram incorporated into the transparent substrate 106 of the instrument cluster 100 is used to generate the virtual object 116.

In a state shown in Fig. 2 the LCD screen 202 is switched off or the cover pane 106 is not transparent and so the display area 102 is blank.

Fig. 3 shows the instrument cluster 100 with the LCD screen 202 switched on. The display element 104, in this case again the tachometer of the vehicle 101, is shown as a digital display on the screen 202.

Fig. 4 shows the instrument cluster 100 with the LCD screen switched off or with a non-transparent cover pane 106 and switched-on light source 108. The LCD screen in Fig. 4 is shown non-transparent merely to improve clarity. Illumination 400 of the transparent substrate 106, shown in the illustration by means of an array, by means of the light source 108, which comprises an LED, makes the virtual object 116 visible. As shown in the illustration in Fig. 4, the virtual object 116 in this case is a tube ring for the tachometer 104 and a further dial of the display area 102. The tube rings 116 are shown as virtual 3D objects and appear to an observer of the display area 102 to float directly on the cover glass 106.

Fig. 5 shows the instrument cluster 100 with the LCD screen 202 switched on and the light source 108 switched on. In this operational mode the instrument cluster 100 is predominantly used in driving operation. For an observer of the display area 102 the display elements 104 and the virtual three-dimensional tube rings 106 are now seen in combination and the impression is given that the virtual tube rings 116 are disposed on the display elements 104 or connected thereto.

Figs. 2 to 5 show an exemplified instrument cluster 100 in accordance with the invention having a 3D image hologram in the cover pane 106. The illustrated 3D object 116 is tube rings in this case which appear to float directly in front of the cover pane 106. Figs. 2 and 4 provide clear illustrations of the cover pane 106 as a non-transparent object. Fig. 3 shows a conventional tachometer 104 which is depicted by an LCD screen 202. An operating state of the instrument cluster 100 is shown in which the light source for the hologram is switched off. In the illustration in Fig. 4 the light source 108. which in this case has a punctiform LED emitter, has been switched on, whereby the reconstructed 3D object 116 appears. In order that it can be seen that the tube rings 116 are visually in front of the cover pane 106, this cover pane is shown as being non-transparent in Fig. 4. The illustration in Fig. 5 is suitable for giving an overall impression. The tube rings 116 reconstructed by the hologram appear to float over the I0 face of the tachometer 104.

The disappearance of the 3D effect during lateral head movements of the observer by reason of the overlapping of the reconstructed 3D object 116 and the screen content lying therebehind should be avoided as far as possible, since the screen content would also be visible through the hologram 116. This can be avoided in accordance with one exemplified embodiment in that the 3D object 116 lies very dose to the LCD surface, whereby shading can be avoided. Alternatively or additionally, the system can make provision for what is required by an eye position of the driver known to the system. A further advantageous approach is to allow the 3D object 116 to disappear or to be suitably adapted upon leaving the region which excludes shading, which is possible by means of so-called multiplex holograms.

Alternatively to the use, shown in Figs. 2 to 5, of an LCD screen 202 or of an FPC (freely programmable duster) analogue pointers and faces can also be used for the instrument duster 100.

By means of a perspective view Fig. 6 shows a further exemplified embodiment of the instrument cluster proposed herein having a cover pane hologram 106 for a vehicle. In the exemplified embodiment shown in Fig. 6, instead of a hologram a holographic 39 scattering pane 600 is used in combination with a projector 602 to generate the virtual object 116. As the illustration in Fig. 6 shows, the holographic scattering pane 600 is placed in front of an observer of the display area 102 in the direction of observation 110 of the observer. The projector 602 is disposed laterally above the scattering pane 600 and is designed to project an image of the virtual object 116 onto the holographic scattering pane 600. The virtual object 116 in the exemplified embodiment shown in Fig. 6 is a navigation arrow which appears to the observer's eye to float in front of the display elements 104 of the display area 102, In a variant of the exemplified embodiment of the instrument cluster 100 shown in Fig. 6, the image-producing projector 602 is used instead of the light source for the hologram and the cover pane hologram is arranged as a scattering pane or laISS 600 (HSS = holographic scattering surface). In this case, by way of example, a conventional analogue part 102 consisting of two dials 104 with moveable pointers is combined with the image 116 projected on the holographic screen 600. The transparent holographic screen 600 is located slightly in front of the analogue part 102 in the drivers view 110, The holographic screen 600 is actuated by the projector 602, which is mounted in front of the scattering pane 600 in the drivers view 110, with the beam path 400. The appearing 2D image content 116 is shown by way of example as an arrow. The projector 602 can be placed both in front of and also behind the holographic scattering surface 600 between the analogue part 102 and the holographic scattering surface 600 or also laterally. The angle of incidence of the beam path 400 on the holographic scattering surface 600 is freely selectable over a large angular range.

A variant of the instrument cluster 100 shown by way of example in Fig. 6 is used with analogue display elements 104 and transparent holographic scattering pane 600 as a cover glass. The holographic scattering pane 600 is actuated by the image projector 602 by means of the beam path 400. The driver of a vehicle using this instrument cluster 100 glances in the direction 110 and sees the image content, in this case the navigation arrow 116, floating over the analogue displays 104.

In a further embodiment not shown in the figures, a further projector is spatially offset from the first projector 602. Thus when using a holographic scattering surface 600 provided with two differing scattering functions, a stereoscopic image 116 is generated for the driver. If this is combined with a mechanism for tracking the eye position of the driver, the depicted image content 116 can be adapted such that the 3D effect is retained for the driver even in the event of relatively large lateral head movements. The advantage of this (autojstereoscopic depiction is that image content of the holographic scattering pane 600 can also be merged in depth with the analogue displays 104 or can even lie therebehind. The impression achieved thereby is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 but with a dynamically changeable 3D object 116.

Fig. 7 shows a flow diagram of an exemplified embodiment of a method 700 for operating an instrument cluster for a vehicle, The method 700 can be carried out in order to operate an instrument cluster as shown in Figs. 1 to 6. In a step 702 a light source of the instrument cluster is actuated in order, by means of illuminating a transparent substrate of the instrument cluster which is placed in front of a display area of the instrument cluster as seen in the direction of observation of an occupant of the vehicle, to generate or make visible a virtual object or a plurality of virtual objects.

In one variant, the method 700 includes a step 704, preceding the step 702, of reading-20 in a position signal of a position of an eye of the occupant of the vehicle. Accordingly, in step 702 the light source is actuated in order to generate or make visible the virtual object using the position signal.

The described exemplified embodiments illustrated in the figures are selected only as 25 examples. Different exemplified embodiments can be combined with one another completely or in respect of individual features. An exemplified embodiment can also be supplemented by features of a further exemplified embodiment, Furthermore, the method steps presented herein can be carried out repeatedly and in a 30 different sequence to the one described.

If an exemplified embodiment includes an "and/or conjunction between a first feature and a second feature this is to be read to mean that the exemplified embodiment in accordance with one embodiment comprises both the first feature and also the second feature and in accordance with a further embodiment comprises either only the first feature or only the second feature.

Claims

Claims An instrument cluster for a vehicle, wherein the instrument cluster comprises the following features: a display area having at least one display element for displaying a vehicle state; a transparent substrate for displaying at least one virtual object, wherein the transparent substrate is placed in front of the display area as seen in the observation direction of an occupant of the vehicle; and a light source to generate and/or make visible the virtual object on or in the transparent substrate.
2 An instrument cluster as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the transparent substrate has a hologram which is designed to depict the virtual object upon illumination by the light source.
3 An instrument cluster as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the hologram is no further than a predetermined tolerance distance from the display area.
4 An instrument cluster as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the hologram is a multiplex hologram.
5 An instrument cluster as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.characterised in that the light source has an LED, in particular to generate white light.
6 An instrument cluster as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transparent substrate has a holographic scattering pane.
7 An instrument cluster as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the light source has at least one projector which is designed to project an image of the virtual object onto the holographic scattering pane.
An instrument cluster as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the light source has at least one further projector which is designed to project a further image of the virtual object onto the holographic scattering pane, wherein the holographic scattering pane is designed to generate a stereoscopic image of the virtual object by presentation of the image and of the further image. 13
An instrument cluster as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the substrate is designed to display the virtual object, upon illumination by the light source, such that the virtual object appears as a three-dimensional component of the display element.
An instrument cluster as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the instrument cluster has a device for reading-in a position signal of a position of an eye of an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the light source is designed to generate or make visible the virtual object using the position signal.
An instrument cluster as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the light source is designed to terminate the illumination of the transparent substrate when the position signal characterises the position of the eye as lying outside a reference range.
An instrument cluster substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
A method for operating an instrument cluster for a vehicle, wherein the instrument cluster has a display area with at least one display element for displaying a vehicle state, a transparent substrate placed in front of the display area as seen in the observation direction of an occupant of the vehicle for displaying at least one virtual object, and a Ilght source for generating and/or making visible the virtual object on or in the transparent substrate, and wherein the method comprises the following step: actuating the light source to display the virtual object.
14 A method for operating an instrument duster for a vehicle, wherein the instrument i0 cluster is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, and wherein the method comprises the following step: actuating the light source to display the virtual object.
A method for operating an instrument cluster substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.
16 A control device which is formed to carry out all the steps of a method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15.
17 A computer program which is designed to carry out all the steps of a method as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15.
18 A machine-readable storage medium having a computer program as claimed in claim 17 stored thereon.