CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of international PCT Application No. PCT/EP2017/063793, filed on Jun. 7, 2017 that in turn claims priority to European Patent Application No. EP 16 179 577.8, filed on Jul. 14, 2016, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention refers to a display unit according to claim1, a dashboard according to claim11, a vehicle according to claim12and a method according to claim13.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Venting systems e.g. in vehicles are required to heat up or to chill the space inside the vehicle dependent on the needs of the user. Since more and more vehicle are equipped with screens for displaying information in the middle of the dashboard the space for the venting systems is occupied by such screens. Thus, a sufficient venting is not possible any more.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display unit, a dashboard, a vehicle and a method for enhanced venting of air, in particular in areas with limited space.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is solved by a display unit according to claim1. The inventive display unit preferably at least comprises a screen for displaying visual information and an air conducting means for conducting air from a source to the screen.

The conducting means is preferably configured to direct the air at least sectionaly along the screen surface. According to the invention at least one deflection means is generated, arranged, provided, caused or formed, wherein the deflection means has a deflection surface for deflecting at least one part of the air directed at least sectionaly along the screen.

This solution is beneficial since the air flow can be redirected respectively deflected in a region that is used to visualize information to a person, in particular a user. Furthermore, the air flow removes dust or similar particles from the screen surface, thus the overall appearance of the screen device is improved.

Advantageous embodiments may be configured according to any claim and/or the following specification parts.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention a deformation means is arranged underneath a section of the screen surface for transferring a part of the screen between a deflection state and a non-deflection state, wherein the deflection means is formable by a deformation of the screen surface caused by the deformation means, wherein at least one part of the screen surface forms as the deflection means with the deflection surface a peak in the deflection state and wherein in the non-deflection state the deformation of the screen surface is less, in particular that one part of the screen is flat, compared with the deflection state. The deformation means can be designed in such a manner that deformations of the screen respectively deflection means can be caused in a screen surface section having at least 10% of the screen size or 20% of the screen size or 30% of the screen size or 40% of the screen size or 50% of the screen size or 60% of the screen size or 70% of the screen size or 80% of the screen size or 90% of the screen size or 95% of the screen size or 10% of the screen size or 99% of the screen size.

An air flow adjustment means for adjusting the air flow parameter, in particular the flow speed, the flow direction and/or the flow temperature is provided according to a further preferred embodiment. The deformation means preferably forms the size and/or shape and/or location of the deflection means in dependency of a signal corresponding to the adjustment. Alternatively the deformation means is preferably actuatable by a deflection adjustment means for setting up or changing the size and/or shape and/or location of the deflection means independently from an adjustment carried out by the air flow adjustment means. This embodiment is beneficial since the comfort of the user can be increased in different ways.

The number of deflection means can be set up or changed by the air flow adjustment means or the deflection adjustment means according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is beneficial since due to different numbers of deflections means. Additionally or alternatively the deformation means comprises at least one microfluidic, wherein the microfluidic can be transferred, in particular by means of a punp unit, between at least two different locations, wherein a transfer of the microfluidic between said locations causes a change between the deflection state and the non-deflection state of at least one deflection means.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the screen is a touch screen, wherein the air flow adjustment means is at least visually displayable as a defined field on the touch screen and wherein adjustments can be made by inputting commands via that touch screen and/or wherein the deflection adjustment means is at least visually displayable as a defined field on the touch screen and wherein adjustments can be made by inputting commands via that touch screen. This embodiment is beneficial since a user sees information and is able to input commands with respect to the visualized information. The screen can be a touch screen or it can also be a non-touch screen.

The conducting means ejects the air flow according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention in an angle lower than 30°, in particular lower than 15° or 10° or 5° or in parallel, with respect to the screen surface in the non-deflected state. This embodiment is beneficial since an air flow flowing in a small angle with respect to the screen surface can be deflected by the deflection means, thus individual venting schemes can be set up according to the preferences of the users. It is also conceivable that a control unit is provided. The control unit preferably stores venting schemes, thus a once stored venting scheme can be set up based on stored data. It is also conceivable that the venting schemes are storable with respect to a specific user or with respect to defined properties, like user properties (e.g. age and/or sex and/or height) and/or ambient conditions (temperature and/or humidity and/or atmospheric pressure).

The conducting means forms according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention at least a slit or tube like output opening adjacent to the screen surface, wherein the screen surface defines a front side of the display unit, and/or wherein the conducting means also forms an input opening, wherein the input unit is arranged on a backside of the display unit, in particular adjacent to the backside of the display unit, wherein air is preferably conductable by the conducting means via the input opening and the output opening from the backside of the display unit to the front side of the display unit. The output opening of the conducting means has preferably the same height as the maximum height of the deformation means. It is alternatively possible that the output opening height is 10% or 20% or 30% or 40% or 50% higher or smaller than the maximum height of the deflection means. Preferably multiple deflection means are provided or formable. In case of multiple deflection means all deflection means can be preferably deflected to the same maximum height. In case the deflection means can be deflected to different heights an average maximum height results and the output opening of the conducting means has preferably the same height as the average maximum height of the deformation means. It is alternatively possible that the output opening height is 10% or 20% or 30% or 40% or 50% higher or smaller than the average maximum height of the deflection means.

Multiple output openings are arranged in the outer region of the screen surface and a corresponding number of deflection means are formable by the deformation means according to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is beneficial since a complex venting respectively venting of multiple sections of the space adjacent to the front side of the screen can be carried out.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the screen surface is shaped in such a manner that the deflection means is materialized permanently independently of a state selected by an air flow adjustment means or the deflection means is reversely or non-reversely connected to the screen surface and/or the deflection means is at least transparent for light visible by humans, in particular light of wave lengths between 380 nm and 780 nm. This embodiment is beneficial since no deformation means must be provided, thus any screen can be modified to deflect air directed along the screen surface. Since no deformation means need to be provided the overall screen can be thinner and less complex, thus also cheaper.

The present invention also refers to a dashboard at least comprising a display unit according to any of the claims. Thus the present invention preferably refers to an air vent arrangement for car dashboards. Air is preferably injected from the frame of the screen, wherein the screen preferably belongs to a car infotainment system, and it is preferably conducted, in particular jetted, most preferred parallel to the surface of the screen. Over the screen preferably a microfluidic coating or glass is used, which preferably acts as a deformation means. To change the direction of airflow microfluidic surface is energized and one or more bumps, in particular transparent, are created, which is/are acting as deflection means. The angle and the size of the bumps respectively deflection means are preferably determined by electronic adjustment system preferably controlled by a control unit, and air flow through the driver and/or the passengers are adjusted according to size and shape of the bumps respectively deflection means and the speed of air flow. Air vents are the most critical parts for in car air conditioning and ventilation. Generally air vents are located on car dashboard (instrument panel) left/right and center. For infotainment screens up to 7″ or 10″ locating center air vents are not complicated. Many possible arrangements can be done for small infotainment screens. But recent in-car-infotainment systems or computers have very large screens up to 17″ on the dashboard. So there is a significant problem to locate air vents with very large screens. There is no solution in the prior-art which gives hidden ventilation solution with similar features with conventional ones. Thus, the present invention is beneficial since the screen is used for redirecting respectively deflecting an air flow respectively the screen acts as integral part of the air vent. According to the invention the display unit can be placed respectively arranged in locations different to those of infotainment screens inside the center of the dashboard, it is also possible to locate the novel system at any place inside the car.

The present invention also refers to a vehicle, in particular a car, a train, a boat, a plane, at least comprising a dashboard according to claim10or a display unit according to any of claims1to9.

It has to be understood that the display unit may also act as or controls a heating device and/or an air condition unit and that the air flow may consist of chilled or heated air.

The present invention also refers to a method for deflecting air. The inventive method preferably comprises at least the steps: Providing a display unit according to any of claims1to9or providing a dashboard according to claim9or providing a vehicle according to claim10, causing air to be conducted by the conducting means and causing a deflections means to deflect at least one part of the conducted air.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention a step of controlling the conducting means to direct the air to one of multiple sections of the screen surface can be executed and due to a further step the deformation means is caused to form at least one deflection means in the path of the air flow. These steps are beneficial since the deflection means are preferably provided in dependency of a prior adjustment of the air flow. Alternatively the deformation means is caused to form at least one deflection means controlling the conducting means to direct the air to the deflection means formed by the deformation means. This step is also beneficial since forming of a deflection means causes an adaption of the air flow to parameters of the deflection means. Such parameters can be e.g. the location and/or the shape and/or the height of the deflection means.

The step causing the formation and/or the shape and/or the position of one or more deflection means in dependency of commands inputted by means of the touch screen is a further preferred step according to the present invention. This step is beneficial since a touch screen is a wide spread unit with which many persons are familiar, thus this step helps to ease the usage of the device.

Forming multiple deflection means in the path of the air flow represents a further preferred step according to the present invention, wherein the deflection means are preferably shaped differently, in particular a second deflection means formed in the direction of the air flow behind a first deflection means extends higher than the first deflection means. This step is beneficial since due to the location and/or height and/or shape of the individual deflection means a large number of venting schemes can be set up.

The present invention further refers to a computer program product or a program code or system for executing one or more than one of the herein described methods.

Further benefits, goals and features of the present invention will be described by the following specification of the attached figures, in which exemplarily components of the invention are illustrated. Components of the devices and methods according to the inventions, which match at least essentially with respect to their function can be marked with the same reference sign, wherein such components do not have to be marked or described in all figures.

In the following the invention is just exemplarily described with respect to the attached figures.

