GB2594927A

GB2594927A - A display screen for a vehicle interior

Info

Publication number: GB2594927A
Application number: GB2006636.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Monks David
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Current assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Priority date: 2020-05-05
Filing date: 2020-05-05
Publication date: 2021-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-05
Also published as: GB2594927B; GB202006636D0

Abstract

An interior vehicle panel has mounted therein a display apparatus 9 having a touch screen 10 and a relocatable panel 12, including mechanical control elements (18, 19 fig 2) for engaging and controlling the touch screen 10. The relocatable panel 12 is movable between an active position where the mechanical control elements (18,19) may be used to control the touch screen and a passive position where the touch screen 10 can only be controlled by touch and not using the mechanical control elements. The invention also provides a vehicle comprising the interior car panel and an apparatus configured for mounting in an interior car panel. The mechanical control elements comprise buttons (18) each having a stylus tip 13 for contacting the screen and a knob (19) having an offset stylus tip 14. The elements (18,19) are for ease of use without sacrificing screen size.

Description

A DISPLAY SCREEN FOR A VEHICLE INTERIOR

Introduction

The present invention relates to a display apparatus for mounting to an inner vehicle panel. Background to the Invention Many vehicles such as cars include a dashboard-mounted display screen which is linked to features of the vehicle such as music and navigation systems, and to the electronic control system of the vehicle. Many vehicles also have a reversing camera which is linked to the display screen and enables the driver to see the space into which he or she is reversing.

In some vehicles the display apparatus is controlled using buttons and/or knobs. Buttons and knobs are easy for a driver to use whilst driving the vehicle, since it is possible to feel the location of a button and therefore the driver does not need to spend a long time looking for the button. However, in most vehicles, dashboard space is limited and buttons and knobs take up space that could be used to hold a larger screen. Therefore, whilst buttons and knobs are ergonomically preferable, they may limit the amount of space available for accommodating the display screen.

Sacrificing screen size is a problem since features on a smaller screen may be more difficult for a driver of the vehicle to see, particularly when the vehicle is in motion. In addition, a smaller screen will reduce the ability of the driver to easily and quickly see the view from a reversing camera, making the parking camera less useful..

In other vehicles the display apparatus is a touch screen and is controlled by the user's finger on the screen. Use of a touch screen means less space is taken up by buttons and therefore a large screen may be used. However, a touch screen is more difficult for a driver to use whilst still driving carefully, since it is not possible to feel the location of different parts of the screen and therefore the driver must spend longer looking at the screen to apply pressure to the correct place on the screen.

Similar problems apply to passengers of a vehicle as well. When a vehicle is driving it is not always easy to press a touch screen in the correct place to carry out the desired actions. This is particularly challenging when passengers have other problems with driving, e.g. travel sickness, preventing them from spending a long time looking at the screen. It is therefore also beneficial for the passengers to be able to use buttons or other manual controls to control the functions shown on a screen.

It therefore remains desirable to produce a display apparatus for a vehicle that can be controlled easily, e.g. using buttons or knobs, by a driver or passenger without sacrificing screen size.

The Invention An object of the present invention is to provide an improved display apparatus for a vehicle which has the functionality provided by touch screens but also has the ease of control associated with physical or mechanical control elements such as buttons and knobs.

Accordingly in a first aspect, the invention provides an interior vehicle panel having mounted therein a display apparatus wherein the display apparatus comprises (i) a touch screen and (ii) a relocatable panel, the relocatable panel having a plurality of mechanical control elements for engaging and controlling the touch screen and being movable between an active position where the mechanical control elements may be used to control the touch screen and a passive position where the touch screen can only be controlled by touch and not by using the mechanical control elements.

The terms "control" and "controlling" and related terms as used herein mean that at least some operations that would normally be carried out by a user touching the screen are carried out using the mechanical control elements. Thus, for example, menu selections that would normally be made by touching the screen can be made using the mechanical control elements. The control exerted by the mechanical control elements can be complete or only partial. Wien the control is complete, only the mechanical control elements can be used to operate the touch screen. When the control is partial, certain functions can be carried out using the mechanical control elements whereas other functions can be carried out by touching the screen.

The relocatable panel is movable between an active position and a passive position. The relocatable panel can be detachable from (and reattachable to) the apparatus but more usually it is attached to the apparatus and a mechanism is provided to enable it to be moved between the active and passive positions. For example, the mechanism can be configured to enable the relocatable panel to move between the active and passive positions by pivoting movement, or sliding movement, or a combination of pivoting and sliding movement. In one embodiment, the relocatable panel is hingedly attached to the apparatus.

The movement of the relocatable panel may be manual, automatic or partially automatic. If the movement of the relocatable panel is manual, the user has to physically move the panel between the active and passive positions themselves. For example, the user can simply tilt the panel between the active and passive positions. More usually, the movement of the panel is automatic or partially automatic. If the movement of the relocatable panel is fully automatic, it will move between the passive and active positions depending on the function of the display apparatus being used. If the movement of the relocatable panel is partially automatic, the user may have to select when the panel moves and press a button to initiate the movement of the relocatable panel between the active and passive positions.

The interior vehicle panel is capable of moving between an active and a passive position, wherein when the relocatable panel is in the active position it partially covers the touch screen and in the passive position the touch screen is fully visible, i.e. uncovered. When the relocatable panel is in the active position the mechanical control elements may be used to control the touch screen and when the relocatable panel is in the passive position the touch screen can only be controlled by touch and not using the mechanical control elements.

When the relocatable panel is in the active position, the mechanical control elements can be moved to a position such that they are very close to or in contact with the touch screen, such that they are able to control the touch screen. Preferably the mechanical control elements are able to be moved to a position where they are in contact with the touch screen.

Each mechanical control element can comprise an actuator element and an effector element. In the present context, an effector element is an element that engages the touch screen either by contacting the touch screen or by being in close proximity to it, and the actuator element is an element which is moveable by a user so as to move the effector element towards, away from, or across the touch screen. The effector element can be integrally formed with or otherwise fixedly connected to the actuator element, or it can be mechanically linked to the actuator element, or it may be a separate element which interacts mechanically with the actuator element.

A mechanical control element can be configured so that its effector element engages the screen at a single location, for example when the actuator control element is a button.

Alternatively, a mechanical control element can be configured so that its effector element engages the screen over a range of locations. For example, the mechanical control element can be configured to move the effector element along a path.

Thus, as an alternative to being a button, the actuator element may be a knob, joystick, slider, or other manually operable element.

In embodiments where one of the actuator elements is a knob, the mechanical control element can comprise an effector element which is offset or radially displaced from an axis of rotation of the knob. In such embodiments, the effector element typically moves along a circular path and the touch screen is able to detect the resultant sweeping motion of the connected, radially displaced effector element around its circular path.

In embodiments where one of the actuator elements is a slider, its associated effector element will typically move along a linear path and the touch screen is able to detect the sliding motion of the effector element along its linear path.

In embodiments where one of the actuator elements is a joystick, its associated effector element will typically move along a random path and the touch screen is able to follow the motion of the effector element along its random path.

In embodiments of the invention where the touch screen is able to detect sweeping motions directly (for example when the touch screen is a capacitive screen), the effector element can remain in engagement with the screen as it moves along its path (e.g. circular, linear or random.

In embodiments of the invention where the touch screen is not able to detect sweeping motions directly, the mechanical control element can be configured so that the effector element makes a series of point engagements with the screen along its path, the series of point engagements with the screen being interpreted by the apparatus as a sweeping motion.

Alternatively, instead of having a single effector element moving along a path, a plurality of effector elements may be provided along a given path, the effector elements being actuated in sequence by movement of the actuator element.

In one embodiment, where one of the actuator elements is a knob, the knob is connected to the effector element via a castellated ring such that turning the knob causes a spring-loaded effector element to move towards and away from the touch screen in a particular pattern. In this embodiment, the touch screen would detect the pattern of the effector making contact with the screen and the computer would interpret this as a rotation.

In an embodiment where one of the actuator elements is a slider, the slider and effector element may be connected via a castellated element such that moving the slider causes a spring-loaded effector element to move towards and away from the touch screen in a particular pattern. In this embodiment, the touch screen would detect the pattern of the effector making contact with the screen and the computer would interpret this as a sliding motion.

In one embodiment, a plurality of effector elements is arranged along a path (e.g. a circular path in the case of a knob and a linear path in the case of a slider) and a castellated element is provided which actuates each effector element in sequence as the actuating element (e.g. knob or slider) is moved.

The effector element can be, for example, a resistive stylus tip, a passive (capacitive) stylus tip or other stylus tip.

The display apparatus may be controlled using the touch screen regardless of the position of the relocatable panel. If the relocatable panel is in the active position, only the exposed touch screen may be used conventionally (i.e. by direct touch), with the covered part being controlled by the mechanical control elements. When the relocatable panel is in the passive position, the full touch screen may be used conventionally.

A touch screen is a display device enabling the user to interact with a computer by touching areas of the screen. The touch screen of the apparatus may be any type of touch screen, e.g. resistive, capacitive (either surface capacitive or projected capacitive), surface acoustic wave (SAW) or infrared (IR) among others.

A resistive touch screen comprises two conductive sheets separated by a small gap, such that when the user touches the screen, the two conductive layers connect resulting in electrical flow and a change of voltage which can then be detected. Resistive touch screens can be activated with any object; the object does not need to be a conductor.

A surface capacitive touch screen comprises a transparent electrode layer over a glass panel, with a protective cover above. When a user's body touches a capacitive touch screen, some electrical charge transfers from the screen to the user, resulting in a decrease in capacitance that can be detected. A projected capacitive touch screen has transparent electrode films and an integrated circuit chip embedded in the glass panel; this produces a three-dimensional electrostatic field. When a user's body comes into close proximity with a projected capacitive screen, changes in the ratio of the electrical current are detected. Projected capacitive touch screens allow multi-touch operation (i.e. can detect contact in multiple places on the screen at the same time).

A surface acoustic wave (SAW) touch screen comprises a glass screen with reflectors along the edges, transducers in two of the corners, and receivers in the two other corners (for a rectangular screen). This arrangement results in a grid of ultrasonic waves being set up on the surface of the screen. When a finger or stylus touches the screen, the grid is interrupted, and the interruption is detected as a drop in amplitude at that position.

An infrared (IR) touch screen uses IR emitters and receivers to create a grid of light across the screen. When a user's finger or a stylus touches the screen, the grid is interrupted and this interruption is detected.

Conventional use of a touch screen means controlling the touch screen by directly touching it either with the body, e.g. a finger or using a stylus. By comparison, the present invention involves a non-conventional use of a touch screen by using a mechanical control element e.g. a button or knob positioned over the touch screen.

The relocatable panel may be manually moved between the active and passive positions or the apparatus may be provided with means for doing this partially automatically or automatically. Thus, the relocatable panel may be mounted on a carrier or rack assembly which may be connected to one or more actuators for moving the carrier or rack, for example by pivoting the relocatable panel away from the active position and then optionally retracting it into a concealed storage location within the apparatus. When the relocatable panel is moved partially automatically, this may be achieved simply by the user by pressing a button which is electronically connected to one or more actuators for moving the panel. However, there are situations where it is desirable that the relocatable panel should be moved in to the passive position without direct input from the driver of the vehicle; for example when another function of the car is engaged, e.g. the car is moved into reverse gear and a reversing camera is activated, in which case it is preferable that the whole of the touch screen should be available for viewing. The electronic control system or onboard computer of the vehicle can therefore be programmed to operate in a fully automatic mode to move the relocatable panel to the passive position in certain predetermined circumstances as indicated above.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the relocatable panel will automatically move from the active position to the passive position without direct user input (i.e. the mechanism is fully automatic) when the car is put in reverse gear and the reversing sensors and/or reversing camera are activated. This enables the larger screen to be used for the reversing camera and/or reversing sensors, making parking safer by making it easier for the driver to see and productively use reversing sensors and a reversing camera.

The relocatable panel is typically in the active position for uses of the screen requiring inputting information, e.g. for selecting music, setting a satellite navigation system etc. The relocatable panel is typically in the passive position for functions that do not require inputting information, but instead require viewing the screen, e.g. reversing camera/sensors, using the satellite navigation system once set etc. The interior vehicle panel of the invention can be any panel on the inside of a vehicle, e.g. an interior door panel, a dashboard panel or a rear seat panel but more usually the interior vehicle panel is a dashboard panel or the rear panel of a seat. In one embodiment, the interior vehicle panel of the invention is a dashboard panel. In another embodiment, the interior vehicle panel of the invention is mounted on the rear of a seat or at another location where a passenger in the vehicle can operate the panel. In a further embodiment of the invention, the vehicle is provided with a dashboard panel comprising the display apparatus of the invention and one or more further apparatuses for use by passengers and mounted in interior panels at other locations in the vehicle, for example in the rear sides of seats.

Within the interior vehicle panel, the display apparatus is fixed in place and cannot be easily removed or replaced. The display apparatus is a part of the interior vehicle panel and thus without the display apparatus, the interior vehicle panel is incomplete. A mechanic or other trained professional would be needed to remove or replace the display apparatus from the interior vehicle panel.

The display apparatus is preferably able to detect whether the relocatable panel is in the passive or active position. This detection enables the display on the touch screen to change depending on the position of the relocatable panel and therefore the proportion of the touch screen visible. A preferred feature is that on-screen graphics indicate when the relocatable panel is in the active position.

The vehicle is a generally a road vehicle, and preferably is a car.

The invention further provides a car with an interior panel as above.

The invention also provides a display apparatus (as defined herein) which is configured for mounting in an interior car panel, comprising a (i) a touch screen and 00 a relocatable panel, the relocatable panel having a plurality of mechanical control elements for engaging and control the touch screen and being movable between an active position where the mechanical control elements may be used to control the touch screen and a passive position where the touch screen can only be controlled by touch and not using the mechanical control elements.

The display apparatus may be configured for mounting in the interior car panel in a number of ways. Thus, for example, it can be provided with one or more features of shape that enable it to be fitted into the car panel and it may be provided with one or more electrical connectors to connect it to the electronic control system of the vehicle. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the display apparatus is not a stand-alone apparatus but is intended to operate as an intrinsic part of the vehicle.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention will now be illustrated, but not limited, by reference to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an apparatus of the present invention with the relocatable panel in the passive position; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 with the relocatable panel in the active position; and Figure 3 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing interior features of the relocatable panel.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus 9 has a touch screen 10 and a relocatable panel 12 that can move between passive and active positions by pivoting about a hinge (not shown). On the relocatable panel 12 there are buttons 18 and a knob 19 that can be used to control the apparatus 9 when the relocatable panel 12 is in the active position. When the relocatable panel 12 is in the active position it is possible to bring the stylus tips 13 and 14 into contact with the touch screen by pressing on the buttons 18 or turning the knob 19. The buttons 18 are resiliently biased away from the screen by means of springs 24 such that when the button 18 is released by the user, it returns to its original position. The apparatus 9 may also be controlled by direct use of the touch screen 10, i.e. by the user's finger on the touch screen, regardless of the position of the relocatable panel 12.

Figure 1 shows the relocatable panel 12 in the passive position. Stylus tips 13 and 14 can be seen on the inside of the relocatable panel 12 protruding through small holes in the inner surface of the panel. In the passive position the full touch screen 10 is visible and the user may control the apparatus 9 using the touch screen 10 only. When the relocatable panel 12 in the passive position it is not possible to bring the stylus tips 13 and 14 into contact with the touch screen and therefore the touch screen cannot be controlled by the buttons18 or knob 19. The stylus tip 14 of the rotatable knob 19 is offset from the centre, and this means that on turning the knob, the stylus tip 14 moves along an arc about the rotational axis of the knob, and the arcuate path described by the stylus tip is "tracked" by the touch screen and converted into a function such as an increase or reduction in sound volume or tuning a radio to particular radio stations.

Figure 2 shows the relocatable panel 12 in the active position. The apparatus 9 may be controlled using the mechanical buttons 18 and knob 19 or by using the touch screen 10 directly. Use of the buttons 18 and knob 19, causes the resistive stylus tips to make contact with the screen 10 below, thereby controlling the apparatus 9. An on-screen graphic 22 is also shown, labelling the function of the button 18.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section of the apparatus 9. On pressing the button 18, the springs 24 are compressed and the stylus tip 13 is pushed against the touch screen 10 below. The button stoppers 25 are positioned so as to stop the button once the stylus tip 13 has reached the screen 10; this prevents the user pushing the buttons 18 too far and damaging the touch screen 18. The buttons are resiliently biased away from the screen by the springs 24. Therefore, on releasing the button 18, the spring 24 restores the button to its original position. Light guides 20 guide the light from the illuminated section of the screen 21 to the outside of the relocatable panel 12, enabling the light to be seen by the user whilst the panel 12 is in the active position; this enables the button position to be easily identified by the user even in the dark (i.e. when driving at night).

The drawings Figures 1 to 3 are provided for the purposes of illustrating the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations may be made to the apparatus described above in relation to the drawings without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

Claims An interior vehicle panel having mounted therein a display apparatus wherein the display apparatus has a (i) a touch screen and (ii) a relocatable panel, the relocatable panel having a plurality of mechanical control elements for engaging and controlling the touch screen and being movable between an active position where the mechanical control elements may be used to control the touch screen and a passive position where the touch screen can only be controlled by touch and not using the mechanical control elements.
2. The interior vehicle panel of claim 1 wherein each mechanical control element comprises an actuator element and an effector element, the effector element being an element that engages the touch screen either by contacting the touch screen or by being in close proximity to it, and the actuator element being an element which is moveable by a user so as to move the effector element towards, away from, or across the touch screen.
3. The vehicle panel of claim 2 wherein each actuator element is selected from a button, a knob, a joystick and a slider.
4. The interior vehicle panel of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the effector element is a resistive stylus tip or a passive (capacitive) stylus tip
5. The interior vehicle panel of any preceding claim wherein the display apparatus can be controlled using the touch screen when the relocatable panel is in either the active or passive positions.
6. The interior vehicle panel of any preceding claim wherein the touch screen of the display apparatus is a resistive touch screen.
7. The interior vehicle panel of any preceding claim, wherein the relocatable panel of the display apparatus automatically moves from the active to the passive position when the vehicle is put into reverse.
8. The interior vehicle panel of any preceding claim, wherein the display apparatus is able to detect whether the relocatable panel is in the passive or active position.
9. The interior vehicle panel of any preceding claim wherein the display screen on the display apparatus automatically changes depending on whether the relocatable panel is in the passive or active position.
10. The interior vehicle panel of any preceding claim which is a dashboard panel.
11. The interior vehicle panel of any one of claims 1 to 9 which is a rearwardly facing panel of a seat.
12. A vehicle which is fitted with one or more interior panels as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11.
13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the vehicle is a car.
14 A display apparatus configured for mounting in an interior car panel so as to form part of the car panel, the apparatus comprising a (i) a touch screen and 00 a relocatable panel, the relocatable panel having a plurality of mechanical control elements for engaging and control the touch screen and being movable between an active position where the mechanical control elements may be used to control the touch screen and a passive position where the touch screen can only be controlled by touch and not using the mechanical control elements.
15. The display apparatus of claim 14 wherein the display apparatus is as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9.