DESCRIPTION: The invention is concerned with a display device for a vehicle and a method for operating the display device.

Nowadays a display device has become an integral part of a vehicle. The display device usually comprises a display panel (with or without touch- screen functionality) which usually functions as a user interface. The display panels are usually designed to display graphical display objects for providing information to a user, such that the information can be virtually accessible to the user. However, the user of the vehicle may want or need to communicate information with people outside the vehicle. These communications may take in a form of a printed or written notice. For example, the user may leave a parking ticket on a dashboard of the vehicle just behind the windscreen, so that a parking ticket inspector can view the parking ticket through the wind screen. Furthermore, other situations may arise when the user may need to leave a note for another person or people outside the vehicle. However, such way of communicating with people outside the vehicle by using a written note or putting a parking ticket on the dashboard is not ideal, since the user or the driver of the vehicle always need to be remembered to write a note or leave a park ticket before leaving the vehicle. Furthermore, it may be needed that a particular message should be shown to a particular person and should not be displayed for the other people which in the case of using a written note or a park ticket is not possible.

Document DE 10 2015 200 233 A1 discloses a device and a method for in forming the driver of a vehicle, in particular a passenger motor vehicle, out- side the vehicle, during an automatic parking operation with a display that is configured to be retractable between a retracted non used position and an extended display setting form into the dashboard. This is enabled by means of a driving mechanism for extending and retracting the latter, the driving mechanism additionally is equipped for a special taking of a specific infor mation position for informing the driver outside the vehicle.

Document US 2009/0128307 A1 discloses a display device for a vehicle comprising a display for representing application data to a vehicle user and piloting means for moving the display between at least two positions. The display device is characterized in that it further comprises checking means for checking whether or not the representation of data of an application se lected by the vehicle user is permitted in the actual state of the vehicle, re lease means in order to release the piloting means for controlling the display according the application or any application selected by the vehicle user, in case checking means emits an informative signal.

Document DE 102 38 531 A1 discloses a display device with a display panel with variable optical elements for an E-mail generation and for arrangement inside the vehicle so that the vehicle’s part or operating elements in the vehi cle can be seen through the display panel. The display panel is pilotable out of the direction of view from the driver to the vehicle’s part or operating ele ments.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device for a vehi cle which provides a display of information to a user inside the vehicle as well as to people outside the vehicle, especially when the user is not present in side the vehicle and/or the vehicle is parked.

The object is accomplished by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous developments with convenient and non-trivial further embodi ments of the invention are specified in the following description, the depend ent claims and the figures.

The invention is based on a realization to solve a problem of communicating with a predefined user or a plurality of persons outside a vehicle without re sorting to writing a note on a piece of paper and/or sticking it to the vehicle or putting it on the dashboard or leaving it behind the windshield. According to the invention, a display device for a vehicle comprises a display panel which is designed to display at least one graphic display object. Furthermore, the display device comprises a control circuitry which is designed to enable the displaying of the at least one graphic display object. In other words, the dis play panel may comprise a pixel matrix. The control circuitry may be adapted to actuate respective pixel elements of the pixel matrix in order to enable the displaying of the at least one graphic display object. Furthermore, the display device comprises a supporting arrangement which is designed to support the display panel, wherein the display panel is adjustable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the at least one graphic display object on the display panel is visually accessible to a user inside the vehicle. In other words, the user inside the vehicle, who can be the driver of the vehi cle, can access the graphic display object displayed by the display panel. The graphic display object may comprise information such as a navigation route and/or functionalities of an infotainment system and/or a weather re port. Furthermore, in the second position, the at least one graphic display object on the display panel is visually accessible to and/or at least one of a plurality of persons outside the vehicle. On one side, the supporting ar rangement may support the display panel which is in the first position in such a manner that the display panel is visually accessible to the user inside the vehicle and on the other side, the supporting arrangement can be used to adjust a position of the display panel in the second position, such that the display panel can be viewable from outside the vehicle. For example, the display device may be located or integrated by means of the supporting ar rangement on a dashboard of the vehicle in front of a windshield, such that in the first position, the display panel is visually accessible to the user inside the vehicle, whereas the display panel may be turned to a second position by means of the supporting arrangement, such that the display panel can be visible from outside the vehicle through the windscreen. Flence, the display device can enable a communication between the user of the vehicle with the plurality of persons outside the vehicle.

The display panel can be adjusted from the first position to the second posi tion by the user manually, for example by turning the display panel about the supporting arrangement. Furthermore, the display panel can be adjusted from the first position to the second position by means of the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry can receive a first control signal from an elec tronic control unit of the vehicle. The electronic control unit can send the first control signal to the control circuitry, for example when the vehicle is parked. Upon receiving the first control signal, the control circuitry can actuate an actuator of the supporting arrangement, which in turn can enable the display panel to adjust from the first position to the second position. Furthermore, the first control signal can enable the outputting of the at least one graphic dis play object in such a manner, that information represented by the graphic display object can be perceivable by the user or the plurality of persons out side the vehicle.

According to the invention, the control circuitry is adapted to enable the dis playing of the at least one graphic display object, such that information rep resented by the at least one graphic display object is displayed in accord ance with a predefined physical environment condition. The control circuitry can receive a second control signal from the electronic control unit of the ve hicle, wherein the second control signal can comprise information regarding the predefined physical environment. This is of advantage, because this en ables a selected form of information represented by the at least one graphic display object in accordance with the predefined physical environment condi tion. The predefined physical environment condition can be, for example, a presence of a selected person outside the vehicle, a weather condition out side the vehicle, a traffic condition or a location of the vehicle. Hence, an effi cient displaying of the information represented by the at least one graphic display object can be realized.

Furthermore, the display panel can be adjusted from the second position to the first position by means of the control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry can receive a third control signal from the electronic control unit. The elec tronic control unit can send the third control signal to the control circuitry, for example, when the vehicle is started or a door of the vehicle is unlocked. Upon receiving the third control signal, the control circuitry can actuate the actuator of the supporting arrangement, which in turn can enable the display panel to be adjusted from the second position to the first position. Further more, the third control signal can enable the outputting of the at least one graphic display object in such a manner that an information represented by the graphic display object is perceivable by the user inside the vehicle. Hence, an efficient and automatic adjustment of the display panel from the first position to the second position and vice versa can be realized.

The invention also comprises embodiments that provide features which af ford additional technical advantages.

In one embodiment, with the display panel in the second position, the prede fined physical environment condition can be based on an identification of a presence of the user in a predefined threshold distance from the display de vice outside the vehicle, as signaled by a proximity sensor. The proximity sensor can be a capacitive sensor or a photoelectric sensor or an inductive proximity sensor or an ultrasonic sensor or a radar sensor. Such proximity sensors can be installed on an outer surface of the vehicle, such that when the user or the plurality of persons lie or approach within the predefined dis tance from the display device outside the vehicle, then the presence of the user or the plurality of persons can be identified and a proximity signal can be sent from the corresponding proximity sensor to the control circuitry. The control circuitry can in turn enable the displaying of the at least one graphic display object on the display panel, wherein the display panel can be in the second position. This is of advantage, because this can enable an activation of the display panel only at the presence of the user or the plurality of per sons near the display device. Hence, it can be ensured that the information represented by the at least one graphic displayed object is visually accessi ble to the user or the plurality of persons, only when the user or the plurality of persons is close to the vehicle or is within the predefined threshold dis tance. This can ensure a conservation of energy, since the display panel is switched on or activated only in the presence of the user or the plurality of persons near the display device, rather than that the display panel is switched on in a continuous manner even in the absence of any person in front of the display device or far away from the display device, in which case the information displayed by the display panel cannot be accessible by any person outside the vehicle.

In one embodiment, with the display panel in the second position, the infor mation represented by the at least one graphic display object can be a pre defined text message comprising a personal message referring to a prede fined user, as signaled by a face recognition sensor and/or a receiver for re ceiving an identification signal form a mobile device. In other words, a face recognition sensor or other machine vision processing sensor may be used to identify a person or a predefined user in the proximity of the vehicle. Fur thermore, the data of the predefined user may be pre-stored in the control circuitry of the vehicle. Furthermore, the predefined user can be recognized by the receiver, which can be a part of the electronic control unit, such that when the predefined user is the proximity to the vehicle, the identification signal is sent from his mobile device, such as his smart phone, by means of, for example, Bluetooth, and hence, the predefined user can be identified. Upon an identification of the predefined user, the predefined text message comprising a personal message can be displayed on the display panel of the display device in the second position. For example, such a personal mes- sage can be a welcome message for the predefined user, whose name is, for example Arthur. Such that, when the predefined user approaches the vehi cle, then the display panel can display a text message, for example“Wel come Arthur”. A further advantage can be that certain personal messages which can be only meant to be displayed to a particular predefined user, can be displayed only to that particular predefined user and not to any other per son. This can enable security as well as privacy.

In one embodiment, the control circuitry may be adapted to disable the dis playing of the personal message by the display panel after an expiration of a predefined time interval and/or upon receiving a communication signal from the predefined user, that the personal message is no longer needed to be displayed and/or upon an identification that the predefined user is no longer proximate to the display device. This is of advantage, because this can ena bles the display of the information represented by the at least one graphic display object to the predefined user, such that the personal message is not displayed to any other person other than the predefined user. Hence, a pri vacy of the communication of the personal message can be established. It is further thinkable, that the control circuitry may be adapted to disable the dis playing of the graphic display object on the display panel after the expiration of the predefined time interval.

In one embodiment, with the display panel in the second position, information represented by the at least one graphic display object can be a predefined parking time, for which the control circuitry has triggered a digital payment. In other words, when a parking place at a parking location is found, the vehicle can be driven to the parking place and be parked. Upon the parking of the vehicle, the control circuitry can identify the parking of the vehicle by means of a GPS unit which can provide the location of the parking place or by an identification of a stoppage of an engine of the vehicle for a predefined time interval which can indicate the parking of the vehicle. Upon parking of the vehicle, the control circuitry can then send a login signal to a parking server unit, in order to notify the parking server unit that the vehicle has been parked and then at the same time trigger the digital payment to the parking server unit, in order to obtain a digital parking ticket. Furthermore, upon the parking of the vehicle, the control circuitry can trigger an adjustment of the display panel to the second position, such that the display panel can be visi bly accessible to a user or to a person outside the vehicle. In this situation, the information represented by the at least one graphic display object can be in form of a predefined parking time. The predefined parking time may in clude the time of parking of the vehicle as well as the amount of time remain ing from the allowed amount of time to be parked as per the digital parking ticket.

In one embodiment, with the display panel in the second position, the infor mation represented by the at least one graphic display object can be an in formational message and/or an advertisement on the basis of the predefined physical environment condition. Furthermore, the physical environment con dition can be based on an identification of a current location of the vehicle and/or a physical environment of the vehicle and/or a weather report, as sig naled by a backend server unit. In other words, on the basis of the current physical environment of the vehicle or the current surroundings of the vehicle at a point of time, the information displayed by the display panel can be cho sen, such that the informational message or the advertisement displayed by the display panel can correspond to the surroundings or the environmental condition of the vehicle at that particular time. For example, if the vehicle is parked at a parking place near a school, then the control circuitry can identify the location by the means of the GPS unit. At this point of time, the backend server unit can signal the control circuitry about the current weather, for ex ample, the weather is sunny and warm, in that case, the control circuitry can enable the display panel to display an advertisement of an ice cream. Since, the advertisement of the ice cream at that current situation of the weather and the location of the parked vehicle near the school can provide a suitable platform or marketing for a company or firm corresponding to the ice cream advertisement to achieve marketing and thereby gain financial benefits.

In one embodiment, with the display device in the second position, infor mation of the at least one graphic display object can include an identification code which indicates a booking of the vehicle in a booking system. For ex ample, the vehicle can be used as a car sharing vehicle, such that the vehi cle can be used by multiple users. The user upon parking his vehicle can decide to use his vehicle or rent his vehicle as a car sharing vehicle. In that case, the user can be connected to a backend server unit of a car sharing company by means of his display device. The user can log in to his user pro file of a car sharing company through the display device in the first position, in that case a registration signal can be sent from the control circuitry to the backend server unit of the car sharing company indicating that the vehicle is available as a car sharing vehicle. Upon receiving the registration signal, the backend server unit can send an identification signal to the control unit. After receiving the identification signal, information of the at least one graphic dis play object can include an identification code 34, which indicates the booking of the vehicle in a booking system, for example of the car sharing company. This is of advantage, because this enables the identification of the vehicle as a car sharing vehicle by the identification number which can be changed for every booking, this is in turn can be beneficial for security and privacy pur poses.

In one embodiment, an identification signal is received by the control circuitry based on a booking code corresponding to the identification code, upon which the control circuitry can be designed to send a vehicle activation signal to the electronic control unit, which controls an accessibility to the vehicle. In other words, the user upon identifying the vehicle by viewing the identification code on the display panel, can send an identification signal to the control cir cuitry by means of his smart phone, based the booking code. Upon receiving the identification signal, the control circuitry can send a vehicle activation signal to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit upon receiving the vehicle activation signal can allow an accessibility of the vehicle to the user. The electronic control unit can enable a unlocking of the vehicle door locking unit, such that the user can enter the vehicle and the electronic con trol unit can enable the user to have access to other devices in the vehicle and as a result of which the user can use the vehicle to travel as per his needs. This is of advantage, because this enables an efficient functioning of the vehicle as a car sharing vehicle. Furthermore, it is thinkable that the user can provide a digital payment by means of his smart phone to the car sharing company which in turn can transfer a part of the payment to the owner of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the display panel can be rotatably attached to the sup port arrangement, wherein the display panel is rotatable about an axis paral lel to a main edge of the display panel between the first position and the sec ond position. This is of advantage, because this enables the support ar rangement to be constructed in a simplified and an economical manner. Fur thermore, the supporting arrangement can form a robust structure, so that the display panel can be easily rotated from the first position to the second position. For example, the user, upon parking the car, can rotate the display panel from the first position to the second position, thus that the display panel can be visually accessible for the user or the plurality of people outside the vehicle.

The invention further provides a method for operating a display device com- prising a display panel for displaying information represented by at least one graphical object, such that the display panel can be adjusted between a first position and a second position. The method enables the displaying of the at least one graphical display object by means of a control circuitry of the dis play device, such that the information represented by the at least one graph- ical object is displayed in accordance with a predefined physical environment condition.

The invention also comprises various combinations of the features of the de scribed embodiments, if not stated otherwise.

In the following an exemplary implementation of the invention is described. The figures show:

Fig. 1 a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a display device with a display panel in a first position in a vehicle;

Fig. 2 a schematic illustration of an embodiment of the display device with a display panel in a second position in the vehicle; Fig. 3 a schematic illustration of the display device with a display pan el in the second position from outside the vehicle; and

Fig. 4 a block diagram of an embodiment of the display device. The embodiment explained in the following is a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, in the embodiment, the described components of the embodiment each represent individual features of the invention which are to be considered independently of each other and which each develop the in vention also independently of each other and thereby are also to be regarded as a component of the invention in individual manner or in another than the shown combination. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described. In the figures identical reference signs indicate elements that provide the same function.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an embodiment of a display device 10, wherein an interior view of an interior region 11 of a vehicle 12 is depict ed. The vehicle 12 may be a motor vehicle, such as a passenger vehicle. The vehicle 12 may comprise a driver assistant system (not shown in the Fig.), which can provide, for example, an autopilot functionality. In other words, the driver assistant system may drive the vehicle 12 autonomously or fully automatically. The vehicle 12 can further comprise an electronic control unit 13 which can be designed to operate other devices inside the vehicle 12.

The display device 10 with a first side 14 and a second side 15, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a display panel 16 which is designed to display at least one graphic display object 17. The display panel 16 can be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD). The display device 10 may further comprise a control circuitry 18 which can be designed to enable the displaying of the at least one graphic display object 17. Furthermore, the display device 10 can comprise a sup porting arrangement 19 which can be designed to support the display panel 16. The display panel 16 can be adjustable between a first position P1 and a second position P2, wherein in the first position P 1 , the at least one graphic display object 17 on the display panel 16 is visually accessible to a user (not shown in the figures) inside the vehicle 12 and in the second position P2, the at least one graphic display object 17 on the display panel 16 can be visually accessible to the user and/or at least one of a plurality of persons (not shown in the Fig.) outside the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the graphic display object 17 can be visible from outside the vehicle 12, for ex ample, through a windscreen 20 of the vehicle 12. The display device 10 can comprise a casing 21 which can surround and protect the display panel 16. Furthermore, the casing 21 can form the second side 15 of the display device 10, as shown in Fig. 2. The display device 10 can be rotatably attached to the support arrangement 19, wherein the display panel 16 can be rotatable about an axis parallel to a main edge 22 of the display panel 16 between the first position P1 and the second position P2.

The supporting arrangement 19 may comprise two supporting structures 24, such that each of the supporting structures 24 can be connected or attached to the casing 21 on each of an auxiliary side 23 of the display panel 16. Each of the supporting structures 24 may comprise a first end 25 and a second end 26, such that at the first end 25, each of the supporting structures 24 is integrated to a dashboard 27 of the vehicle 12. The second end 26 of each of the supporting structures 24 can be attached to the casing 21 on each of auxiliary side 23, such that the second end 26 of each of the supporting structures 24 can be connected rotatably to the casing 21 on each of the auxiliary side 23. For example, the user can be seated inside the vehicle and can view information represented by the at least one graphic display object 17 on the display panel in the first position P1. When the user parks the vehi cle 12 and decides to move out of the vehicle 12, in that case the user can rotate the display device 10 about the second end 26 of the supporting struc ture 24, such that the display device 10 is adjusted to the second position P2. In this case, information represented by the graphic display object 17 on the display panel can be visually accessible to the user and/or the at least one of the plurality of persons from outside the vehicle 12.

The control circuitry 18 can be adapted to enable the displaying of the at least one graphic display object 17, such that information represented by the at least one graphic display object 17 can be displayed in accordance with a predefined physical environment condition. When the display panel 16 is in the first position P1 , information represented by the at least one graphic dis play object 17 may be a navigation route and/or information about the weather and/or selection of a playlist of songs from a music system and/or selection of a radio station and/or a setting of an audio volume and/or setting of an air condition system, such that the user or a plurality of persons seated inside the vehicle, can access the necessary information represented by the graphic display object 17 on the display panel 16, in order to have a safe and comfortable drive.

When the display panel 16 is in the second position P2, the predefined phys ical environment condition can be based on an identification of a presence of the user or the at least one of the plurality of persons in a predefined thresh old distance from the display device 10 outside the vehicle 12, as signaled by a proximity sensor (not shown in the figures). Furthermore, when the display panel 16 is in the second position P2, information represented by the at least one graphic display object 17 may be a predefined text message comprising a personal message referring to a predefined user, as may be signaled by a face recognition sensor (not shown in the figures) and/or a receiver for re ceiving an identification signal form a mobile device. The control circuitry 18 may be adapted to disable the displaying of a per sonal message, such as,“XYZ”, as shown in Fig. 3, by the display panel 16, after an expiration of a predefined time interval and/or upon receiving a communication signal from the predefined user, that the personal message is no longer needed to be displayed and/or upon identification that the prede fined user is no longer proximate to the display device 10.

Furthermore, when the display panel 16 is in the second position P2, infor mation represented by the at least one graphic display object 17 may be a predefined parking time, for which the control circuitry 18 has triggered a digi tal payment. Furthermore, when the display panel 16 is in the second posi tion P2, information represented by the at least one graphic display object 17 can be an informational message and/or an advertisement on the basis of the predefined physical environment condition, wherein the physical envi ronment condition is based on an identification of a current location of the vehicle 12 and/or a physical environment of the vehicle 12 and/or a weather report, as signaled by a backend server unit 28, as shown in Fig. 4.

The vehicle 12 can be used as a car sharing vehicle, such that after parking the vehicle 12 at a parking location, the user can login to a website of a car sharing company by means of the display panel 16, furthermore, upon park ing the user may then turn the display panel 16 to the second position P2. Upon which the control circuitry 18 can send a registration signal 30 to the backend server unit 28, for example of a car sharing company, as shown by an arrow 31. Upon receiving the registration signal 30, the backend server unit 28 can send an identification signal 32 to the control circuitry 18, as shown by an arrow 33. After receiving the identification signal 32, information of the at least one graphic display object 17 includes an identification code 34, which indicates the booking of the vehicle 12 in a booking system, for example of the car sharing company.

Another user can login to the car sharing company website by means of a computing device, for example a smart phone 29, in order to book a vehicle that may be available. Upon logging the user or the smart phone 29 of the user may receive a booking signal 35 from the backend server unit 28, as shown by an arrow 36. After receiving the booking signal 34, the smart phone 29 of the user may display a booking code 37. The booking code 37 may include information about coordinates of the parking location of the ve hicle 12 and the identification code 34, that would be displayed on the display panel 16 of the vehicle 12. The user can travel to the parking location of the vehicle 12, upon reaching the parking location, the user can identify the vehi cle 12 by viewing the identification code 34 on the display panel 16. The user can then send an identification signal 38 to the control circuitry 18 by means of his smart phone 29, based the booking code 37. The identifica tion signal 38 can be received by the control circuitry 18, as is shown by an arrow 39. The identification signal 38 can be received by the control circuitry 18 from the smart phone 29 of the user by means of a wireless connection. Upon receiving the identification signal 38, the control circuitry 18 can send a vehicle activation signal 40 to the electronic control unit 13, as shown by an arrow 41. The electronic control unit 13 upon receiving the vehicle activation signal 40 can allow an accessibility of the vehicle 12 to the user. Further more, the control circuitry 18 can send the vehicle activation signal 40 to the backend server unit 28, as shown by an arrow 42, so that the user, who is the owner of the vehicle 12 can receive an information that the vehicle 12 is been used by another user by means of a signal or a message that can be received by his smartphone. The signal or message can be sent by the backend server unit 28, upon receiving the vehicle activation signal 40 from the control circuitry 18 of the display device 10.