Patent Description:
Display devices in vehicles are known from the prior art for instance in which display devices are attached to the interior side of the roof of a vehicle and which displays can easily be pivoted from a storage position into an operational position in which the display screen is readable to the occupants of the vehicle.

<CIT> is an Art <NUM>(<NUM>) EPC prior art document showing such display device.

Here, <CIT> is acknowledged as the closest prior art, relative to which at least features in the appended independent claim are novel and involve an inventive step.

<CIT> discloses a motor vehicle comprising a flexible electronic display which is movable from a first position overlying a window and a second position within a storage space which may be within a roof of the vehicle.

<CIT> discloses a deployable display for use in a vehicle which is movable from a stowed position to a first deployed position functioning as a sun visor and a second deployed position functioning as a display screen.

<CIT> discloses a ceiling storage type on-vehicle flexible flat display device movable between a ceiling storage and a position forward of a rear seat.

In case a vehicle is equipped with a roof construction having a fixed semi-transparent panel or a roof construction having a semi-transparent panel which is openable, the use of a display devices becomes more complicated, especially when the roof construction is equipped with more than one semi-transparent panel and thus occupies a large area of the vehicle roof. In such case the use of display devices attached to the roof is difficult because when the display devices are in the storage position they would obstruct the view through the semi-transparent panels and the amount of light that may reach the interior. Also such display devices in their storage positions would influence other functionalities of the roof construction, for instance interfere with or completely cover the semi-transparent panels from the interior side, or obstruct ventilation in case of an opened panel.

From a customer point of view there is a tendency to enlarge the size of the display devices such that the occupants can view larger images. Such larger display devices are not suitable to be simply rotated downwards from a stored position into an operational position, because the rotating display device will move close towards or even may be within the facial region of the occupant. To avoid this, the display device may be moved from a stored position into an operational position in a different way. In that case, the display device is positioned overhead in a horizontal plane with the display screen facing downwards, the display device may be moved horizontally to the front and at the same time may be rotated downwards whereby the front part of the display device rotates downward first towards the operational position. In this way it is avoided that the display device protrudes into the facial region of the occupant. Nevertheless also with this improved movement of the display device still the display device interferes with the functions of the roof construction. Next to this, when the display screen is facing downwards when the display screen is in its stored position, there may be a risk of damaging the display screen for instance by objects being moved in the interior. And when the display device is visible in the interior of the vehicle in their stored position, there may be an incentive for theft of the display device.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide for a vehicle having a roof construction to be used in combination with a display device which can be used independent from the functions of the roof construction and which protects the display device against damages and theft.

The object is achieved in a roof construction and a vehicle having the features of the characterizing portion of claim <NUM>.

Due to the position of the display device above the headliner when in its storage position, it is protected against damage which may be caused by moving objects in the interior space. As the headliner also hides the display device from view, it does not interfere, for example in allowing light entering through the open or transparent panel when in its storage position. The flexibility of the screen allows for non-interfering movements of the display screen into and out of the operational position.

According to the present disclosure, the flexible display screen is connected to at least a first and second support element, the first support element being movable along substantially horizontal guides to move the display screen out of and into the cavity, the second support element being also movable along said guides and being movable downwardly and upwardly to move the screen into and from its lower operational position, a winding roller being provided to allow the second support element to form the display screen by unwinding the display screen.

Consequently, the display screen is not only moved out of the way into its storage position, but the size is also minimized by winding it onto a winding roller. Unwinding the display screen can be done in a way not disturbing the occupants.

At least one of said first and second support elements could include the winding roller to unwind and wind said flexible display screen.

Preferably, the display device could include a third supporting element also movable along the substantially horizontal guides, and a support beam carrying the second support element through a vertical moving mechanism, preferably a vertical linkage, forming at least a part of the drive system, wherein the display screen preferably extends both between the first and second support element and between the second and third support element to show images in two opposite directions.

In one embodiment, the first to third support element and the support beam are movable along the substantially horizontal guides as a unit to move the display screen from and to the storage position within the cavity, while the first and third support element are connected to the vertical linkage through a horizontal linkage and are configured to move with respect to each other and with respect to the support beam to activate the horizontal linkage and thereby the vertical linkage to move the second support element down and up.

The drive system may comprise at least one drive motor, capable of driving at least one pair of flexible drive cables extending along the guides, said drive cables being connected to at least one of the support elements.

The at least one panel may be at least semi-transparent and can be covered from the interior side by a sunscreen to block light coming through the panel, the sunscreen preferably being in the form of a rollo screen which can be rolled-on or - off from a winding roller which is positioned in the cavity for the at least one display screen. The display screen is preferably provided below the sunscreen, so that the sunscreen may be closed when the display device is in its operational position and therefore direct sunlight cannot reach the display screen.

In one embodiment, the drive cables are operatively connected to both the sunscreen and the display device, and wherein the drive system of the display screen is provided with coupling/uncoupling members to either couple to or uncouple from the drive cables or the guides.

In one particular embodiment, the display screen is formed by the sunscreen which is in the form of a rollo screen. In this way the sunscreen and the display screen are integrated.

The invention also includes a vehicle having a fixed roof and an opening therein, where a roof construction as described above is fitted at the opening of the fixed roof of the vehicle.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the roof construction and vehicle according to the invention.

<FIG> illustrates a vehicle, in this case an SUV type passenger car, having a fixed roof <NUM>, comprising an opening <NUM> formed therein and a roof construction attached to it. The roof construction of <FIG> includes a, preferably, at least semi-transparent panel <NUM>. <FIG> shows a roof construction equipped with either one or more movable panels <NUM> or with a combination of a fixed panel <NUM>' in the rear of the roof opening <NUM> and a movable panel <NUM> in the front thereof. The roof construction may however also comprise one (large) fixed panel.

Further a display device <NUM> is illustrated which is shown in an operational position. The operational position of the display device <NUM> is the position in which the rear occupant(s) RO has the optimum line of view on a display screen <NUM> of the display device <NUM>. In <FIG> not only a display screen <NUM> is shown for the rear occupant(s) RO, but also a display screen <NUM> for front occupant(s) FO if they are turned <NUM> degrees in order to look backwards. This is particularly useful in full self-driving vehicles wherein there is no driver necessary for driving the car.

The display screens <NUM>, <NUM> can be a flexible OLED-type screen or other flexible screen that emits images itself, but it can also be a passive display screen onto which images can be projected by a separate projector. This projector or these projectors can be arranged in a stationary or movable manner at a distance from the display screen <NUM>, <NUM> when in its operational position.

<FIG> shows a view of the interior of the vehicle with a part of the roof construction in the form of a sunscreen <NUM>, here a flexible sunscreen (rollo) which can be wound on and off a winding roller <NUM>. This winding roller <NUM> is positioned within a cavity <NUM> above a headliner <NUM> of the vehicle, covering fixed roof <NUM> and a frame <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the roof construction from below and hiding it from view. It is further shown in <FIG> that the display device <NUM>, at least (parts of) display screen <NUM>, <NUM>, is also positioned at least substantially within cavity <NUM> when in its storage position where it is also hidden from view. An opening <NUM> at the front of cavity <NUM> allows display device <NUM> and sunscreen <NUM> to enter and exit cavity <NUM>. Two elongated guides <NUM> also extend through opening <NUM> between cavity <NUM> and in this case a position in front of roof opening <NUM>. The guides <NUM> extend below the side edges of roof opening <NUM> and are not only used to guide substantially horizontal movements of parts of display device <NUM>, but also for guiding parts of an operating mechanism (not shown) for movable panel <NUM> and for guiding sunscreen <NUM> and in particular an operating beam <NUM> thereof, attached to the free forward end of sunscreen <NUM>. Normally, guides <NUM> will be covered from below by headliner <NUM>.

<FIG> shows how display device <NUM> is moved from its storage position within cavity <NUM> in forward direction along guides <NUM> to a position just behind front seats <NUM> at a proper viewing distance of rear occupants RO. It is also illustrated that display device <NUM> is moved to this position simultaneously with operating beam <NUM> so that sunscreen <NUM> is unwound.

In <FIG> it can be seen that display device <NUM> includes a rear support element <NUM> carrying a rear winding roller <NUM>', a second support element <NUM> in the form of a vertically movable central guide beam determining a lower edge of display screen <NUM>, <NUM> and a third support element <NUM> including a front winding roller <NUM>'. Between the positions of <FIG> and <FIG> these support elements <NUM> - <NUM> move as a unit. In the position of <FIG>, rear winding roller <NUM>' is locked with respect to guides <NUM> and unlocked from front winding roller <NUM>' and central guide beam <NUM>. When operating beam <NUM> is moved further forwards it still takes along front winding roller <NUM>', while rear winding roller <NUM>' is stationary. This relative movement between support elements <NUM> and <NUM> is used to move central guide beam <NUM> downwardly thereby unwinding flexible display screens <NUM>, <NUM> from winding rollers <NUM>', <NUM>' so as to be moved into their operational position. <FIG> illustrates that when front winding roller <NUM>' and central guide beam <NUM> have reached their end position, operating beam <NUM> can be disconnected from front winding roller <NUM>' so as to be moved to the front side of opening <NUM> and thereby cover opening <NUM> completely to prevent sunlight to enter the interior of the vehicle through roof opening <NUM> and through panels <NUM>, <NUM>'.

<FIG> and <FIG> show an example of a drive system to use the relative movement of support elements <NUM> and <NUM> to move guide beam <NUM>. First there is a support beam <NUM> which is slidably guided with its ends in guides <NUM>. Guide beam <NUM> is movably supported by support beam <NUM> through a vertical linkage <NUM> (only one of the linkages is shown in <FIG>, the same, but in mirror image, is provided near the opposite end of support beam <NUM>, see <FIG>). A horizontal linkage <NUM> (also present on the other side) is connected to the first and third support elements <NUM>, <NUM> and to vertical linkage <NUM>, such that when the legs of horizontal linkage <NUM> are moved from parallel to a triangular shape (with guide <NUM> as base), the parallel legs of vertical linkage <NUM> are also moved from a parallel (horizontal, transverse) position to a triangular shape (with support beam <NUM> as base), such that guide beam <NUM> is moved downwardly.

As is shown in <FIG> the legs of horizontal linkage <NUM> are pivotally connected to a slider <NUM> on support beam <NUM> and at the same time one of the legs of vertical linkage <NUM> is also pivotally connected to slider <NUM>. As a result, the movement of horizontal linkage <NUM> is transmitted into a vertical movement of vertical linkage <NUM> and thereby in a vertical movement of guide beam <NUM> in order to deploy display screens <NUM>, <NUM>. A movement of display screens <NUM>, <NUM> to the storage position again is done in reverse order.

The support elements <NUM>, <NUM> for winding rollers <NUM>', <NUM>' and support beam <NUM> will be provided with slide shoes at their ends engaging sliding grooves in guides <NUM> in order to enable sliding movements with respect to these guides <NUM>, just like operating beam <NUM>. When operating beam <NUM> is electrically operated there will be mounted an electric motor <NUM> on frame <NUM> and push-and-pull cables <NUM> connecting the electric motor <NUM> through guides <NUM> to the ends of operating beam <NUM>. This type of drive system is well known in the art. Also mechanisms to couple and uncouple or lock and unlock parts to a drive cable or to a guide <NUM> are known as well. Parts <NUM> and <NUM> of such locking/unlocking system are shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> again show how display screens <NUM>, <NUM> are unwound by first locking rear winding roller <NUM>' (<FIG>) and then continuing the sliding movement of front winding roller <NUM>' (<FIG>) and using this relative horizontal movement to convert it into a vertical movement of guide beam <NUM> until display screens <NUM>, <NUM> are in their operational position (<FIG>).

<FIG> shows an embodiment in which there is only display screen <NUM> wound on rear winding roller <NUM>'. Front winding roller <NUM>' is only used to create the relative horizontal movement, but this can also be accomplished by support element <NUM> without winding roller. Display screen <NUM> is fixedly connected at its end remote from rear winding roller <NUM>' to support beam <NUM>. In another embodiment it would also be conceivable to fix display screen <NUM> to guide beam <NUM>. In the embodiment according to <FIG> the vertical screen <NUM> could still be used to display images to front occupants FO. Front winding roller <NUM>' and its support element <NUM> can be left out completely if a linkage between first support element <NUM> and support beam <NUM> is able to activate vertical linkage <NUM>. Operating beam <NUM> will then be coupled to support beam <NUM>.

<FIG> again show how operating beam <NUM> of sunscreen <NUM> controls movements of display device <NUM>, so that sunscreen <NUM> is always closed/unwound at least partly if the display screens <NUM>, <NUM> are moved to their operational position. This is not illogical as display screens <NUM>, <NUM> will show their images in best quality if direct sunlight is blocked by sunscreen <NUM>. If one wishes to only close sunscreen <NUM> display device <NUM> will always be moved to its operational position unless operating beam <NUM> could be uncoupled from front winding roller <NUM>' at the start of its forward movement, such that display device <NUM> will remain stationary in its storage position within cavity <NUM>.

In the embodiment of <FIG> display device <NUM> and sunscreen <NUM> have their own (hand or electric) drive, so that the movements of display device <NUM> and (operating beam <NUM> of) sunscreen <NUM> are totally independent of each other.

It is clear from the foregoing description that the invention provides a vehicle with a display screen that can be integrated in the roof of the vehicle, has an advantageous deploying movement and is hidden from view when not in use.

Claim 1:
Roof construction, comprising:
at least one panel (<NUM>) configured to be fitted in an opening (<NUM>) in a fixed roof (<NUM>) of a vehicle,
a stationary frame (<NUM>) to which the at least one panel (<NUM>, <NUM>') is connected,
a headliner (<NUM>) on the interior side of the fixed roof for hiding the fixed roof (<NUM>) and stationary frame (<NUM>) from view,
at least one display device (<NUM>) capable of showing images from its display screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) to occupants (RO, FO) in the vehicle, and
a drive system (<NUM> - <NUM>) for moving the display screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) at least into a storage position, and into an operational position in which the display screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) is visible for occupants (RO, FO) in the vehicle,
wherein the display screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) is flexible and is moved, in its storage position, at least substantially into a cavity (<NUM>) above the headliner (<NUM>) and is thus substantially hidden from view.
characterized in that the flexible display screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) is connected to at least a first (<NUM>) and second (<NUM>) support element, the first support element (<NUM>) being movable along substantially horizontal guides (<NUM>) to move the display screen out of and into the cavity (<NUM>), the second support element (<NUM>) being also movable along said guides (<NUM>) and being movable downwardly and upwardly to move the display screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) into and from its lower operational position, a winding roller (<NUM>', <NUM>') being provided to allow the second support element (<NUM>) to form the display screen (<NUM>, <NUM>) by unwinding it.