Patent Description:
The invention can be applied in heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses, and construction equipment having a cabin.

In heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, it is known to equip the dashboard of a truck cabin with several information displays providing information about the operation of the truck, such as, usually, truck speed, fuel gauge, rotational speed of the motor and/or motor temperature. These information displays are usually gauges and/or a digital screen. To allow a truck driver to see these information displays without being distracted from the road, these displays are typically located behind the steering wheel, so that they are visible through openings in the steering wheel, or above the steering wheel. In addition, the information displays are located relatively high on the dashboard, so that all truck drivers can see the information displays, even small drivers.

A disadvantage of these displays is that they take up a lot of space, preventing the driver from seeing the lower part of the windshield and thus reducing visibility outside of the truck cabin, creating a blind spot in front of the truck cabin.

It is also known in the automotive field to provide an entertainment system comprising a video system used to project an image onto a steering wheel, the image being used for entertainment purposes, for example for telephone communication or to replicate a smartphone screen.

<CIT> discloses a driver's compartment for a motor vehicle, with a head-up display system comprising a projection device mounted on the roof for generating an image onto the windshield. The visibility outside of the truck cabin is reduced by the projected image, so that the blind spot in front of the driver's compartment is not reduced.

<CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> describe the projection of an image onto a steering wheel of a vehicle but do not solve the problem of the blind spot in front of a vehicle.

The invention aims at reducing the blind spot in front of the truck cabin by reducing the space occupied by the displays.

According to an aspect of the invention, the invention concerns a truck cabin for a truck comprising a windshield, a driver's seat, a steering wheel, a dashboard and a projector configured to project an image onto the steering wheel. According to the invention, the image projected by the projector onto the steering wheel is configured to comprise information about the operation of the truck, and in a first direction of sight of a driver sitting in the driver's seat and looking at the steering wheel, the dashboard does not comprise any other information displays about the operation of the truck. Furthermore, the projector is configured to adapt the image projected onto the steering wheel, depending on a steering angle of the steering wheel.

Hereby, a technical effect includes lowering the dashboard, which results in an improved visibility in front of the truck cabin, since the windshield is less hidden by the dashboard. Owing to the invention, by using the steering wheel as a projecting surface to project the information about the operation of the truck, the traditional information displays can be removed and the dashboard lowered, thus increasing the visibility in front of the truck cabin. Furthermore, the information about the operation of the truck projected onto the steering wheel are visible in an optimized manner, regardless of the steering angle of the steering wheel, improving the reception of information by the driver.

In certain examples, in a second direction of sight of the driver sitting in the driver's seat and looking above the steering wheel, the dashboard does not comprise any other information displays about the operation of the truck. Hereby, the dashboard can be lowered which results in an increased visibility in front of the truck cabin.

In certain examples, in the second direction of sight, the dashboard is not visible. Hereby, the driver of the truck is able to see a lower part of the windshield.

In certain examples, the driver's seat comprises a base and a backrest and a height measured along a vertical axis of the truck cabin between the base and a lowest visible point of the windshield, in the first direction of sight, is less than or equal to X mm. Hereby, the driver of the truck is able to see a particularly low point of the windshield, further increasing the visibility in front of the truck cabin.

In certain examples, a height measured along a vertical axis of the truck cabin between a lowest visible point of the windshield, in the first direction of sight, and a lowest visible point of the windshield, in a second direction of sight of a driver sitting in the driver's seat and looking above the steering wheel, is greater than or equal to Z mm. Hereby, the driver of the truck is able to see a particularly low point of the windshield, compared to the lowest point visible on an ordinary truck, further increasing the visibility in front of the truck cabin.

In certain examples, the steering wheel comprises a central part on which the image is projected by the projector, an outer ring, spokes connecting the central part to the outer ring and an upper opening delimited by the central part, the outer ring and two spokes, the upper opening being located on an upper half of the steering wheel, and wherein, in the first direction of sight, when a steering angle of the steering wheel is equal to <NUM>°, the windshield is visible through the upper opening. Hereby, by moving his sight a little, the driver can either look at the projected image onto the central part, or at the front of the truck cabin through the upper opening, thus reducing the time needed to switch from one to the other.

In certain examples, in the first direction of sight, the dashboard is not visible through the upper opening. Hereby, the front of the truck cabin is visible through the entire upper opening, further increasing the visibility in front of the truck cabin.

In certain examples, when the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°, the projector projects the image on a first area of the steering wheel, wherein, when the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°, the projector projects the image on a second area of the steering wheel and wherein the second area is a portion of the first area. Hereby, more information about the operation of the truck is displayed when the truck is driving straight, i.e. when the driver is more available to read this information, and less information about the operation of the vehicle is displayed when the truck is maneuvered, i.e. when the driver is less available to read this information, improving the reception of information by the driver.

In certain examples, the projector is mounted on a roof of the truck cabin. Hereby, the projector is easily fixed in the truck cabin, decreasing the cost of the truck cabin.

In certain examples, the information about the operation of the truck projected by the projector onto the steering wheel is selected from a set of information including truck speed, fuel gauge, rotational speed of the motor and/or motor temperature. Hereby, the information projected onto the steering wheel includes the information essential for driving the truck.

Additional features and advantages are disclosed in the following description, claims, and drawings, and in part will be readily apparent therefrom to those skilled in the art or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. There are also disclosed herein control units, computer readable media, and computer program products associated with the above discussed technical effects and corresponding advantages.

With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of aspects of the invention cited as examples.

Aspects set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

An exemplary truck cabin <NUM> is visible on <FIG>. The truck cabin <NUM> comprises a floor <NUM>, a roof <NUM>, a rear wall <NUM> and a windshield <NUM>.

A vertical axis Z is defined as an axis, vertical when the cabin <NUM> is mounted on a truck lying on flat ground. In the following description, "vertical", "up", "down", "low" and "above" refer to the vertical axis Z. The floor <NUM> and the roof <NUM> are respectively located on a lower side and on an upper side of the truck cabin <NUM>, along the vertical axis Z.

A longitudinal axis X is defined as corresponding to a main axis of the cabin and of a non-represented truck on which the cabin is intended to be installed, i.e. the direction of travel of the truck. In the following description, "front", "back" and "rear" refer to the longitudinal axis X. The windshield <NUM> and the rear wall <NUM> are respectively located on a front side and on a rear side of the truck cabin <NUM>, along the longitudinal axis X.

A transversal axis Y is defined as a width axis of the cabin <NUM>, and is perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes X and Z. In the following description, "left" and "right" refer to the transversal axis Y.

The vertical axis Z is perpendicular to the axes X and Y, which are therefore horizontal. In the following description, "horizontal" refers to any element comprised in a plane perpendicular to the axis Z.

The truck cabin <NUM> also comprises a driver's seat <NUM>, which includes a base <NUM> and a backrest <NUM>. The base <NUM> is essentially horizontal, and allows a driver <NUM> to seat on the driver's seat, and the backrest <NUM> is essentially vertical, and allows the driver <NUM> to rest his back when sitting in the driver's seat.

Advantageously, the driver's seat is adjustable in height, i.e. the distance between the base <NUM> and the floor <NUM> is adjustable, in particular to adapt to the height of the driver <NUM>. In the following description, it is considered that the seat is raised to the maximum, that is, that the distance between the base and the floor is maximal.

<FIG> and <FIG> are viewed from the perspective of the driver <NUM> seated in the driver's seat <NUM>.

The truck cabin <NUM> also comprises a steering wheel <NUM>, which is best seen in <FIG> and <FIG>. The steering wheel is rotatably mounted onto a steering column <NUM> of the truck cabin <NUM>, in such a way that a rotation of the steering wheel causes a rotation of non-represented wheels of the truck. A central point of the steering wheel is noted C. An axis of rotation of the steering wheel, non-represented, passes through the central point C. In other words, the steering wheel <NUM> is rotatable around the central point C in a plane P26 perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel. A height axis A and a width axis B are defined relative to the steering wheel <NUM> as corresponding to two main axis of the steering wheel, centered onto the central point C and belonging to the plane P26. The steering wheel essentially extends in the plane P26.

When the steering wheel <NUM> is not turned, that is, when a steering angle of the steering wheel is equal to <NUM>°, as represented on <FIG>, the height axis A is perpendicular to the transversal axis Y and oriented towards the rear wall <NUM>, whereas the width axis B is parallel to the transversal axis Y and oriented to the right. When the steering angle of the steering wheel is equal to <NUM>°, as represented on <FIG>, the height axis A is perpendicular to the transversal axis Y and oriented towards the windshield <NUM>, whereas the width axis B is parallel to the transversal axis Y and oriented to the left. In practice, independently of the steering angle of the steering wheel <NUM>, the plane P26 formed by the axis A and B is parallel to the transversal axis Y.

In the example, the height axis A is an axis of symmetry of the steering wheel <NUM>. In the example, the width axis B separates the steering wheel <NUM> into an upper half 26A and a lower half 26B.

The steering wheel <NUM> comprises a central part <NUM>, an outer ring <NUM> and spokes to connect the central part to the outer ring.

The center part <NUM> straddles both the upper and lower halves 26A, 26B of the steering wheel <NUM>, and, in the example, is predominantly located in the lower half of the steering wheel.

In the exemplary embodiment, the steering wheel <NUM> comprises two upper spokes <NUM> and two lower spokes <NUM>, with the two upper spokes <NUM> located between the upper half 26A and the lower half 26B of the steering when, and the two lower spokes <NUM> located in the lower half 26B of the steering wheel.

As a variant, not shown, the upper spokes <NUM> and lower spokes <NUM> are arranged differently. As a variant, not shown, the steering wheel comprises a different number of spokes, for example, two spokes, corresponding to the upper spokes or to the lower spokes, or three spokes, with two upper spokes and one lower spoke. Other configurations can be considered.

The steering wheel comprises an upper opening <NUM>, which is delimited by the central part <NUM>, the outer ring <NUM> and the two upper spokes <NUM>. The upper opening <NUM> is located, at least partially, in the upper half 26A of the steering wheel <NUM>. In the example, the upper opening <NUM> is completely located in the upper half of the steering wheel.

As a variant, not shown, the steering wheel comprises a different number of upper openings <NUM>, depending of the number of spokes of the steering wheel, for example two upper openings.

The steering wheel comprises three lower openings <NUM>, which are delimited, for two of them, by the central part <NUM>, the outer ring <NUM> one upper spoke <NUM> and one lower spoke <NUM>, and for the third one, by the central part <NUM>, the outer ring <NUM> and the two lower spokes <NUM>. The lower openings <NUM> are located, at least partially, in the lower half 26B of the steering wheel <NUM>. In the example, the lower openings <NUM> are completely located in the lower half of the steering wheel.

As a variant, not shown, the steering wheel comprises a different number of lower openings <NUM>, depending of the number of spokes of the steering wheel.

The truck cabin <NUM> comprises a dashboard <NUM>, extending alongside the transversal axis Y. The dashboard <NUM> is located, along the longitudinal axis X, between the windshield <NUM> and the steering wheel <NUM>, and, along the vertical axis Z, between the floor <NUM> and the steering wheel <NUM>.

Preferably, the dashboard <NUM> comprises air conditioning grids 42A, controls of the truck, not shown, such as, for example, air conditioning control or cruise control, and/or security systems, not shown, such as, for example, airbags.

The truck cabin <NUM> comprises a projector <NUM>, which is preferably mounted to the roof <NUM>, for example with a projector mount <NUM> connecting the projector to the roof. The projector <NUM> is aligned with the steering wheel <NUM>, along the transversal axis Y. Preferably, the projector <NUM> is located above the driver's seat <NUM>. The projector <NUM> is an optical device that projects an image or images onto the steering wheel <NUM>, which is therefore acting as a projection screen. The projector <NUM> is a digital video projector, using, for example lasers or LEDs to project the image. The projection cone C44 of the projector <NUM> is shown in dotted line in <FIG>. Projector <NUM> position could be manually adjusted to ensure that projected image fit with steering wheel <NUM>. Adjustment could be automatically setting according to steering wheel <NUM> angle and driver position.

The image projected by the projector <NUM> onto the steering wheel <NUM> comprises information about the operation of the truck, such as, for example and in a non-limitative way, truck speed, fuel gauge, rotational speed of the motor and/or motor temperature. By being projected directly onto the steering wheel, the information about the operation of the truck are easily readable by the driver <NUM>.

In practice, the image projected by the projector <NUM> is projected on the central part <NUM> of the steering wheel <NUM>. When the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°, as visible on <FIG>, the image projected by the projector <NUM> is projected in a first area S1 of the steering wheel <NUM>, this area being defined on the central part <NUM>. When the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°, as visible on <FIG>, the image projected by the projector <NUM> is projected in a second area S2 of the steering wheel <NUM>, which is different from the first area S1 but still defined on the central part <NUM>.

In the example, the image projected by the projector <NUM> is stationary, in the plane P26 of the steering wheel <NUM>. The projection cone C44 is configured so that the first area S1 occupies a maximum surface of the central part <NUM>. In other words, the projector is configured to project the largest possible image when the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°, i.e., the first area S1 covers the largest possible portion of the central part <NUM> of the steering wheel. Therefore, the image projected by the projector <NUM> is predominantly located in the lower half 26B of the steering wheel <NUM>, when the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°.

Since the central part <NUM> of the steering wheel <NUM> is rotated around its axis of rotation passing through the central point C of <NUM>° when the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°, as visible on <FIG>, the second area S2 corresponds to a fraction of the first area S1. In practice, the second area S2 corresponds to the fraction of the central part <NUM> intersecting with the first area S1 when the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°.

Since the second area S2 is only a fraction of the first area S1, the image projected onto the second area S2 is smaller than the image projected onto the first area S1. To accommodate for this smaller image, the image projected onto the second area S2 comprises less information about the operation of the truck than the image projected onto the first area S2, and/or the information displayed in the image projected onto the second area are of a smaller size than the information displayed in the image projected onto the first area.

In the example, the first area S1 has a surface comprised between <NUM> and <NUM><NUM>, preferably equal to <NUM><NUM>, and the second area S2 has a surface comprised between <NUM> and <NUM><NUM>, preferably equal to <NUM><NUM>.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown, the image projected by the projector <NUM> is mobile, in the plane P26 of the steering wheel, and the projector <NUM> is configured to maintain a constant surface area of the projection zone when the steering wheel is rotated around the central point C. In particular, in this alternative embodiment, the image projected by the projector onto the steering wheel is rotated around the central point C along with the steering wheel. To maintain a good readability by the driver <NUM> of the information displayed onto the steering wheel, the various displayed information can be rearranged inside of the projected image during the rotation of the steering wheel, with their orientation remaining identical.

Since the information about the operation of the truck is projected by the projector <NUM> onto the steering wheel <NUM>, there is no need for the dashboard <NUM> to include ordinary information displays providing this information, such as gauges and/or a digital screen. In comparison with an ordinary truck cabin, the dashboard <NUM> is therefore lowered, along the vertical axis Z, at the level of the steering wheel <NUM> along the transversal axis Y. In other words, at the level of the steering wheel <NUM> along the transversal axis Y, the dashboard <NUM> does not comprises any information displays about the operation of the truck.

A first direction of sight, or line of sight, of the driver <NUM> is noted L1 and is visible on <FIG>. The first direction of sight L1 corresponds to the direction of sight of the driver <NUM> when the driver is sitting in the driver's seat <NUM> and looking at the steering wheel <NUM>, and more particularly at an edge <NUM> between the central part <NUM> and the upper opening <NUM>. The first direction of sight L1 intersects the windshield <NUM> on a first intersection point noted P1, which corresponds to the lowest visible point of the windshield through the upper opening <NUM>, when the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°. The first intersection point P1 is visible on <FIG> and <FIG>. When the steering angle is equal to <NUM>°, as visible on <FIG>, the first intersection point P1 is hidden by the central part <NUM> of the steering wheel <NUM>.

A second direction of sight, or line of sight, of the driver <NUM> is noted L2 and is visible on <FIG>. The second direction of sight L2 corresponds to the direction of sight of the driver <NUM> when the driver is sitting in the driver's seat <NUM> and looking above the steering wheel <NUM>, and more particularly right above the outer ring <NUM> of the steering wheel. The second direction of sight L2 intersects the windshield <NUM> on a second intersection point noted P2, which corresponds to the lowest visible point of the windshield above the steering wheel <NUM>. The second intersection point P2 is visible on <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>.

The first and second directions of sight L1 and L2 are, in practice, perpendicular to the transversal axis Y.

Along the vertical axis Z, the first intersection point P1 is located above the base <NUM> of the driver's seat <NUM> at a height H1 which is less than or equal to <NUM>. In the example, the height H1 is equal to <NUM>.

Along the vertical axis Z, the second intersection point P2 is located above the base <NUM> of the driver's seat <NUM> at a height H2 which is less than or equal to <NUM>. In the example, the height H2 is equal to <NUM>.

Thus, in the example, the first and second intersection points P1 and P2 are separated, along the vertical axis Z, by a vertical distance or height H3, which is greater than or equal to <NUM>. In the example, the height H3 is equal to <NUM>.

When the driver's seat <NUM> is adjustable in height, the heights H1 and H2 are measured when the driver's seat is raised to the maximum.

The truck cabin <NUM> does not comprises any information displays about the operation of the truck, other than the image projected by the projector <NUM>, at least in the first direction of sight L1 and preferably in the second direction of sight L2. In particular, the dashboard does not comprise any information displays about the operation of the truck In other words, from the driver <NUM> perspective, the truck cabin comprises no information display behind and above the steering wheel <NUM>. In other words, the cabin <NUM> has no screen in the direction L1, and preferably in the direction L2. This is particularly beneficial, since this allows for the driver <NUM> to see the windshield <NUM> through the upper opening <NUM>, and in particular down to the first intersection point P1, instead of seeing a dashboard with information displays as it is the case in the usual truck cabins. Indeed, in the usual truck cabins, the lowest visible point of the windshield is located in the line of sight of the driver when the driver is looking above the steering wheel, i.e., in the usual truck cabins, the lowest visible point corresponds roughly to the present second intersection point P2.

Therefore, thanks to the invention, the lowest visible point of the windshield <NUM>, from the driver <NUM> perspective, is lowered by the height H3, along the vertical axis Z, as compared to the lowest visible point of the windshield of usual truck cabins. The visibility of the driver <NUM> in front of the truck cabin <NUM> is therefore increased, by diminishing the blind spot caused by the dashboard <NUM>, thus reducing the risk of accidental collision of the truck with objects located in front of the truck cabin <NUM>.

As a variant of the invention, not shown, the image projected by the projector <NUM> is also projected onto the upper spokes <NUM> and/or onto the lower spokes <NUM> of the steering wheel <NUM>.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention within the framework of the claims.

For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A truck cabin (<NUM>) for a truck, comprising a windshield (<NUM>), a driver's seat (<NUM>), a steering wheel (<NUM>), a dashboard (<NUM>) and a projector (<NUM>) configured to project an image onto the steering wheel, characterized in that:
- the image projected by the projector (<NUM>) onto the steering wheel (<NUM>) is configured to comprise information about the operation of the truck, and
- in a first direction of sight (L1) of a driver (<NUM>) sitting in the driver's seat (<NUM>) and looking at the steering wheel (<NUM>), the dashboard (<NUM>) does not comprise any other information displays about the operation of the truck,
and in that the projector (<NUM>) is configured to adapt the image projected onto the steering wheel, depending on a steering angle of the steering wheel (<NUM>).