阅读说明：本技术 车载显示组件显示镜片 (Vehicle-mounted display assembly display lens ) 是由 约恩·默勒 于 2018-12-13 设计创作，主要内容包括：车辆显示组件包括被配置为描绘信息的显示器。在显示器上方布置有透明的镜片。导电静电放电(ESD)元件被布置在镜片上并且被配置为在镜片上的ESD事件期间电气地绕过显示器。(The vehicle display assembly includes a display configured to depict information. A transparent lens is disposed over the display. A conductive electrostatic discharge (ESD) element is disposed on the lens and is configured to electrically bypass the display during an ESD event on the lens.)

1. A vehicle display assembly, comprising:

a display configured to depict information;

a transparent lens disposed over the display; and

a conductive electrostatic discharge (ESD) element disposed on the lens and configured to electrically bypass the display during an ESD event on the lens.

2. The vehicle display assembly of claim 1, wherein said ESD element circumscribes said display.

3. The vehicle display assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the display has a display perimeter and the ESD element has an ESD perimeter disposed outboard of the display perimeter.

4. The vehicle display assembly of claim 3, wherein the lens has a lens perimeter outboard of the ESD perimeter.

5. The vehicle display assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the display has a frame supporting a display portion configured to depict the information, the frame being operably attached to a bracket mounted on a housing.

6. The vehicle display assembly of claim 5, wherein the frame is secured to the lens by an adhesive.

7. The vehicle display assembly of claim 6, wherein the adhesive is non-conductive to electrically insulate the lens from the display.

8. The vehicle display assembly of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the lens is mounted on the housing.

9. The vehicle display assembly of any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is mounted on the bracket, the PCB being in communication with the display and configured to provide the information.

10. The vehicle display assembly of any one of claims 5-9, wherein the ESD element is attached between and electrically interconnects the mirror plate and the bracket, the bracket configured to be electrically connected to ground.

11. The vehicle display assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the lens comprises a back surface facing the display, the back surface comprising an opaque masking material, the back surface having an unmasked portion surrounded by the masking material, the unmasked portion corresponding to an indicia configured to be selectively illuminated to convey a message to a driver.

12. The vehicle display assembly of claim 11, comprising a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in communication with the light source, the PCB configured to communicate with a vehicle communication bus and to selectively illuminate the indicia in response to a vehicle condition.

13. The vehicle display assembly of claim 11 or 12, wherein the masking material is electrically conductive and the ESD element is disposed on the masking material.

14. The vehicle display assembly of any preceding claim, wherein said ESD element is directly affixed to said lens.

15. An instrument panel, comprising:

a housing;

a bracket mounted on the housing;

a display having a display perimeter, the display having a frame supporting a display portion, the display portion configured to graphically depict information, the frame operatively attached to the stand;

a transparent lens disposed over the display, the lens comprising a back surface facing the display, the back surface comprising an opaque masking material, the back surface having an unmasked portion surrounded by the masking material, the unmasked portion corresponding to an indicia configured to be selectively illuminated to convey a message to a driver;

a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) mounted on the bracket, the PCB in communication with the display and configured to provide the information; and

a conductive electrostatic discharge (ESD) element disposed on the lens outside of the display perimeter, the ESD element configured to connect to ground and electrically bypass the display during an ESD event on the lens.

16. The instrument panel of claim 15, wherein said frame is secured to said lens by an adhesive, said adhesive being non-conductive to electrically isolate said lens from said display.

17. The instrument panel of claim 15 or 16, wherein said ESD element is attached between and electrically interconnects said lens and said bracket, said bracket configured to be electrically connected to said ground.

18. The instrument panel of any of claims 15-17, wherein said masking material is electrically conductive and said ESD elements are disposed on said masking material.

19. The instrument panel of any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein said ESD element is secured directly to said lens.

Background

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle display assembly, and more particularly, to an arrangement for grounding lenses of a display (e.g., those used in instrument panels or infotainment displays).

Vehicle displays, such as instrument panels, are widely used in passenger and commercial vehicles to communicate vehicle information to the driver. Typical modern instrument panels use a display, such as an LCD or other common type of display. The instrument panel includes a protective lens disposed over the display.

The electrostatic discharge may be transmitted to the instrument panel by the driver. In some dashboard configurations, electrical devices such as displays may be protected from electrostatic discharge, which may exceed 15 kilovolts, for example.

Disclosure of Invention

In one exemplary embodiment, a vehicle display assembly includes a display configured to depict information. A transparent lens is disposed over the display. A conductive electrostatic discharge (ESD) element is disposed on the lens and is configured to electrically bypass the display during an ESD event on the lens.

In further embodiments of the above vehicle display assembly, the ESD element may surround the display.

In a further embodiment of any of the vehicle display assemblies described above, the display can have a display perimeter, and the ESD element can have an ESD perimeter disposed outboard of the display perimeter.

In further embodiments of any of the above vehicle display assemblies, the lens can have a lens perimeter that is outboard of the ESD perimeter.

In further embodiments of any of the vehicle display assemblies described above, the display can have a frame supporting a display portion, which can be configured to depict information. The frame may be operably attached to the bracket. The bracket may be mounted on the housing.

In further embodiments of any of the above vehicle display assemblies, the frame may be secured to the lens by, for example, an adhesive.

In a further embodiment of any of the vehicle display assemblies described above, the adhesive may be non-conductive to electrically insulate the lens from the display.

In further embodiments of any of the above vehicle display assemblies, the lens may be mounted on the housing.

In a further embodiment of any of the above vehicle display assemblies, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) may be mounted on the bracket. The PCB may be in communication with the display and configured to provide information.

In a further embodiment of any of the vehicle display assemblies described above, the ESD element can be attached between and electrically interconnect the mirror plate and the carrier. The bracket may be configured to be electrically connected to the ground.

In a further embodiment of any of the vehicle display assemblies described above, the lens can include a back surface facing the display. The back surface may include an opaque masking material. The back side may have an unmasked portion surrounded by a masking material. The unmasked portions may correspond to the indicia. The indicia may be configured to be selectively illuminated to convey a message to the driver.

In a further embodiment of any of the vehicle display assemblies described above, the vehicle display assembly may include a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in communication with the light source. The PCB may be configured to communicate with a vehicle communication bus. The PCB may selectively illuminate the indicia in response to the vehicle condition.

In further embodiments of any of the vehicle display assemblies described above, the masking material may be electrically conductive. The ESD element may be disposed on the masking material.

In further embodiments of any of the above vehicle display assemblies, the ESD element can be directly affixed to the lens.

In another exemplary embodiment, the instrument panel may include a housing. The bracket may be mounted on the housing. The display may have a display perimeter. The display may have a frame supporting a display portion, which may be configured to graphically depict information. The frame may be operably attached to the bracket. A transparent lens may be disposed over the display. The lens may include a back surface facing the display. The back surface may include an opaque masking material. The back side may have an unmasked portion surrounded by a masking material. The unmasked portions may correspond to the indicia. The indicia may be configured to be selectively illuminated to convey a message to the driver. A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) may be mounted on the bracket. The PCB may be in communication with the display and configured to provide information. Conductive electrostatic discharge (ESD) elements may be disposed on the lens outside the perimeter of the display. The ESD element may be configured to be connected to ground. The ESD element may be configured to electrically bypass the display during an ESD event on the lens.

In a further embodiment of any of the above instrument panels, the frame may be secured to the lens by, for example, an adhesive. The adhesive may be non-conductive to electrically insulate the lens from the display.

In a further embodiment of any of the above instrument panels, the ESD element may be attached between the lens and the bracket. The ESD element can electrically interconnect the carrier and the lens. The bracket may be configured to be electrically connected to the ground.

In a further embodiment of any of the above instrument panels, the masking material may be electrically conductive. The ESD element may be disposed on the masking material.

In a further embodiment of any of the above instrument panels, the ESD element is directly secured to the lens.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

Drawings

The disclosure may be further understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an example vehicle instrument panel.

FIG. 2 is another schematic view of a vehicle display for use as the instrument panel shown in FIG. 1, wherein an electrostatic discharge (ESD) element is used to transfer charge to vehicle ground during an ESD event.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a lens of the instrument panel shown in FIG. 2 having a masking material and an arrangement for selectively illuminating indicia in the masking material.

FIG. 4 is an example ESD arrangement.

Fig. 5 is another ESD arrangement.

Fig. 6 is yet another ESD arrangement.

The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs, claims or the following description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual features, may be employed independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

Detailed Description

As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 includes an interior 12, which generally has an instrument panel 14. The instrument panel 14 may be arranged in various configurations based on various aesthetic and packaging considerations. Although the disclosed vehicle display assembly is described in greater detail in connection with the instrument panel 14, it should be understood that the vehicle display assembly may be used in other vehicle applications, such as an infotainment system.

The instrument panel 14 includes a housing 16, the housing 16 having an opening 18, the opening 18 being covered by a transparent lens 20. A display 22 is disposed within housing 16 below lens 20, which lens 20 may be glass. The display 22 may be an LCD, LED, OLED or other type of display that communicates information 24 to the driver using various graphics and text associated with various vehicle operating conditions.

Referring to FIG. 2, the display 22 includes a display perimeter 26. The lens perimeter 28 of the lens 20 encompasses the display perimeter 26. A conductive electrostatic discharge (ESD) element 30 is disposed on the lens 20 and is configured to electrically bypass the display 22 during an ESD event on the lens 20. That is, the ESD element 30 diverts electrostatic discharge to ground, which could otherwise flow to the display instead. An example ESD event may be a driver picking up an electrostatic charge when entering a vehicle and then touching the lens 20.

The ESD element 30 may be one or more discrete electrical contacts or, as shown in the example of fig. 2, a continuous conductive ring that encircles the display perimeter 26 to provide an ESD perimeter 32 outside of the display perimeter 26. ESD element 30 is connected to vehicle chassis ground 34 via electrical connection 35. The vehicle chassis ground 34 is connected to a negative terminal of a battery 36 that provides power to various vehicle systems.

With continued reference to fig. 2, the lens 20 may include various indicia 38 corresponding to various symbols and messages used to communicate the operating status or warning of the vehicle to the driver. Typically, these markers 38 are illuminated upon initial startup of the vehicle to indicate to the driver proper operation of the vehicle system, after which the markers 38 are no longer illuminated until a warning or change in the state of the vehicle system occurs. Referring to fig. 3, lens 20 includes a front face 40 and a back face 42. Masking material 44 is adhered to back side 42. For example, the masking material 44 may be provided by an opaque black paint. A portion of back surface 42 is left unmasked to provide unmasked portion 46, and the unmasked portion corresponds to indicia 38.

In one example, the fascia 14 includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)50, and the lights 48, such as LEDs, are mounted on the PCB 50 in alignment with the unmasked portion 46. The PCB 50 may be supported by a metal bracket 52 secured to the housing 16 and may also communicate with the display 22 to provide information. A communication bus 54 (e.g., CAN, FlexRay, automotive ethernet, etc.) communicates with the PCB 50 to communicate vehicle information to the PCB 50 and its processor(s) 56. The PCB 50 may also include a switching device 58 that selectively illuminates the lights 48 and their corresponding unmasked portions 46, thereby illuminating the indicia 38.

Turning to fig. 4, the display 22 includes a display portion 60 or screen depicting the information 24. The display portion 60 is supported by a metal frame 62. Adhesive 64 may be used to secure frame 62 to lens 20 and provide a gap 66 between display portion 60 and lens 20. In this example, the masking material 44 extends inwardly and beyond the display perimeter 26 to cover the frame 62 and provide an aesthetic appearance to the driver. In this arrangement, the adhesive 64 adheres the frame 62 to the masking material 44. For example, in one example, the adhesive 64 may be provided by at least one of a gasket, tape, or glue.

It may be desirable to provide a non-conductive adhesive 64 to electrically isolate the lens 20 from the display 22. If the masking material 44 is conductive, the ESD element 30 is secured to the masking material 44. Thus, the lens 20 is electrically connected to the ground 34.

In the example shown in fig. 5, the bracket 52 supports a frame 62 and is fixed to the housing 16. Further, the masking material 44 may be a conductive material. ESD element 30 may be disposed between lens 20 and carrier 52, securing these components to one another and providing electrical continuity between lens 20 and ground 34. It may be desirable to provide a space 68 between the masking material 44 and the frame 62 to accommodate tolerance stack-up issues between the components during assembly.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the ESD element 30 may be electrically connected to the back surface 42 of the lens 20 at a location where the masking material 44 is absent. This may be desirable when using a non-conductive masking material.

It should also be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit herefrom. Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention.

Although different examples have particular components shown in the figures, embodiments of the invention are not limited to those particular combinations. Some features or characteristics from one example may be used in combination with features or characteristics from another example.

Although example embodiments have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of the claims. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine their true scope and content.