Display device for displaying at least one symbol, switching device, and method for manufacturing a display device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10449894-B2
Application number	US-201515535938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 17, 2014
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

One general aspect of the present disclosure includes a display device for a vehicle for displaying at least one symbol. The display device may include a translucent cover layer, a symbol layer having a translucent symbol panel for displaying a symbol, and an opaque surface encompassing the symbol panel. A gap may be disposed between the symbol panel and the cover layer. A waveguide assembly may be included and configured to conduct light onto a side of the symbol panel facing away from the cover layer.

First claim

We claim:

1. A display device for a vehicle for displaying at least one symbol, comprising:
a translucent cover layer forming an outer surface of the display device and configured for exposure to environmental effects;
a symbol layer having a translucent symbol panel for displaying a symbol and an opaque surface encompassing the symbol panel; and
a waveguide assembly configured to conduct light onto a side of the symbol panel facing away from the cover layer,
wherein the symbol layer has a bulge that extends away from the cover layer and forms a gap, and
wherein the symbol panel is at least partially encompassed by the bulge of the symbol layer such that the symbol panel is located beneath the gap.

2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the waveguide assembly includes a light well, and wherein the symbol layer spans an opening of the light well.

3. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the symbol layer includes a film.

4. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the symbol layer includes a planar surface.

5. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the cover layer has a clearance lying opposite the symbol panel.

6. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the waveguide assembly includes a waveguide, and wherein the symbol layer is disposed on a surface of the waveguide facing the cover layer.

7. The display device according to claim 6 , wherein a spacing layer is disposed between the cover layer and the opaque surface of the symbol layer.

8. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein a light source for emitting the light is disposed on an end of the waveguide assembly facing away from the symbol panel.

9. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the symbol layer and a second symbol layer has a second translucent symbol panel for displaying a second symbol, wherein the second symbol panel is encompassed by at least one of the opaque surface and a second opaque surface, and wherein the display device includes a second waveguide assembly for conducting light to a side of the second symbol panel facing away from the cover layer.

10. A shifting device for shifting a vehicle transmission, wherein the shifting device has a display device according to claim 1 for displaying an operating stage of the vehicle transmission, using the at least one symbol.

11. A method for manufacturing a display device for a vehicle for displaying at least one symbol, the method comprising:
combining a cover layer, a symbol layer having a translucent symbol panel for displaying a symbol, and a waveguide assembly, wherein the waveguide assembly is disposed such that it conducts light onto a side of the symbol panel facing away from the cover layer, and wherein the cover layer forms an outer surface of the display device and configured for exposure to environmental effects,
wherein the symbol layer has a bulge that extends away from the cover layer and forms a gap, and
wherein the symbol panel is at least partially encompassed by the bulge of the symbol layer such that the symbol panel is located beneath the gap.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the waveguide assembly includes a light well, and wherein the symbol layer spans an opening of the light well.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the symbol layer includes a film.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the symbol layer includes a planar surface.

15. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the cover layer has a clearance lying opposite the symbol panel.

16. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the waveguide assembly includes a waveguide, and wherein the symbol layer is disposed on a surface of the waveguide facing the cover layer.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein a spacing layer is disposed between the cover layer and an opaque surface of the symbol layer, and wherein the opaque surface encompasses the symbol panel.

18. The method according to claim 11 , wherein a light source for emitting the light is disposed on an end of the waveguide assembly facing away from the symbol panel.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Kirilenko Alexander
• Rake Ludger
• Strassburg Karsten

Classifications

• F16H2063/423

  Range indicators for automatic transmissions, e.g. showing selected range or mode · CPC title

• G09F13/04

  Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia · CPC title

• F16H63/42

  Ratio indicator devices · CPC title

• F16H59/02 Primary

  Selector apparatus · CPC title

• B60Q3/14 Primary

  lighting through the surface to be illuminated · CPC title