Public transport vehicle, including a device for displaying on a window

A vehicle includes at least one side bay equipped with a window, and a device for displaying at least one item of information on the window. The display device includes an image projector fastened to a ceiling of the vehicle. The display device emits light rays. A system of at least one mirror is arranged to reflect light rays emitted by the image projector in the direction of the window.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to French Patent Application No. 20 03458 filed on Apr. 7, 2020, the disclosure of which including the specification, the drawings, and the claims is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a public transport vehicle, particularly a rail vehicle, comprising at least one side bay equipped with a window.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In some cases, one wants to display information on the window of a side bay of the vehicle. To that end, a display is provided for displaying images on the window.

Image-displaying devices known from the prior art, however, are not satisfactory.

In particular, certain display devices comprise LCD screens sunk into the window. Such LCD screens do not allow the window to be transparent, and require that the entire window be replaced if it fails.

In order to preserve the window's transparency, there are also display devices comprising an image projector. However, given the architecture of a railway vehicle, it is difficult to arrange such an image projector in such a way as to obtain a satisfactory image on the window. More particularly, either the image is clear but too small, or the image is fuzzy and/or subject to the keystone effect. To achieve an image that is sufficiently clear and large, it would be necessary to arrange the projector a sufficient distance from the window, but this is not possible in a rail vehicle, due to the presence of passengers, the arched shape of the ceiling to which the projector is fastened, and the proximity of the arched panel to the glazings, the target area for implementing projectors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a particular purpose of the invention to remedy these shortcomings, by proposing a system that makes it possible to display sufficiently large, clean images, despite the constraints tied to the architecture of a rail vehicle.

To that end, a particular object of the invention is a public transport vehicle, particularly a rail vehicle, comprising at least one side bay equipped with a window, and a device for displaying at least one item of information on the window, characterized in that the display device comprises:an image projector, fastened to a ceiling of the vehicle, intended to emit light rays;a system of at least one mirror arranged to reflect light rays emitted by the image projector, in the direction of the window.

The system of mirrors particularly makes it possible to increase the distance travelled by the light rays, within a smaller storage space for the projector.

Furthermore, the projector is not pointed directly at the window, but to the opposite side, which limits the keystone effect.

A vehicle according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any combination that is technically possible.The system of mirrors comprises first and second mirrors, the first mirror being arranged to reflect the light rays emitted by the image projector toward the second mirror, and the second mirror being arranged to reflect the light rays reflected by the first mirror, toward the window.The second mirror is a pixelized mirror.At least one of the mirrors is linked to a mount by movable linking means that enable an adjustment of the position of the mirror by translation and/or by tilting.The image projector is at least partially housed in a housing bounded by the ceiling, typically an arched panel.The bay comprises a film, particularly a holographic film, covering the window or integrated into the window, the film forming a projection surface for the image.The vehicle comprises a plurality of bays, each one equipped with a respective display device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The FIGURE partially and schematically depicts a public transport vehicle10, particularly a rail vehicle.

The vehicle10comprises a structural body30comprising side walls and a ceiling, as well as an arched panel28.

At least one of the side walls, preferably each side wall, is equipped with at least one bay14comprising a window16.

The vehicle10comprises, for at least one of its bays, and preferably for each bay, a respective device for displaying images on the window16.

The display device comprises an image projector20capable of emitting light rays in order to form an image on a projection surface. The image projector20is preferably a video projector.

The image may be of any foreseeable type, and for instance may comprise informative text.

The projector20is at least partly housed in a housing built into the arched panel28. The image projector20is fastened to the structural body30by means of a first mount32, and first movable fastening means34connecting the image projector20to the first mount32. The image projector20can be tilted using the first movable fastening means34.

The projector20is oriented to emit light rays opposite the window16. As an example, a light ray R has been depicted in the FIGURE.

The display device further comprises a system22of at least one mirror arranged to reflect light rays R emitted by the image projector20, in the direction of the window16.

Advantageously, the system22comprises two mirrors, namely a first mirror24and a second mirror26.

The first mirror24is arranged to reflect the light rays R emitted by the image projector20, onto the second mirror26. The second mirror26is arranged to reflect the light rays R reflected by the first mirror24, onto the window16.

At least one of the mirrors24,26is linked to a second mount36fastened to the structural body30, particularly to the ceiling, by second movable fastening means38that enable an adjustment of the position of the mirror by translation and/or by tilting.

It is therefore possible to adjust the alignment of the mirrors to obtain a satisfactory image on the projection surface.

Advantageously, the second mirror26is a pixelized mirror. Such a pixelized mirror makes it possible to enlarge the image and correct the keystone effect caused by the orientation of the projector20.

Optionally, the keystone effect is also corrected by means of suitable software, within the projector20.

Advantageously, the first24and second26mirrors are connected to one another, such as by means of a hinge enabling the mirrors24,26to be tilted relative to one another.

Preferably, the bay14comprises a film covering the window16or integrated (laminated) into the window16, the film forming the projection surface for the image. This film is typically a holographic film.

The film enables a better reflection of the image than the window itself, while remaining transparent or substantially transparent. The film therefore forms an effective contact surface.

It will therefore be noted that the mirrors ensure maximum reflection of the luminous flux emitted by the projector20. There is therefore no loss of luminosity between the projector20and the window16.

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the previously described embodiment, but may exhibit various additional variants.