Patent ID: 12249895

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, which is set forth hereinafter. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating a whole external appearance of a vehicular display apparatus500according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG.2is a diagram illustrating a display region of a display module exposed at the outside of a housing illustrated inFIG.1in a simple mode, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG.3is a diagram illustrating the display region of the display module exposed at the outside of the housing illustrated inFIG.1in a normal mode, according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG.4is a diagram illustrating the display region of the display module exposed at the outside of the housing illustrated inFIG.1in a full mode, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring toFIG.1, the vehicular display apparatus500may include a housing100, a display module200, and a controller unit300.

The housing100may configure a portion of an instrument panel or a cockpit module and may include a rectangular opening portion which extends in a horizontal direction of the display module200.

The display module200may be loaded into an inner portion of the housing100through the opening portion or may be unloaded to the outside of the housing100and may include a driving device for loading or unloading the display module200into or to the inner portion or the outside of the housing100. The driving device may be configured to move the display module100into and out of the housing100. The driving device will be described below in detail with reference toFIGS.5and6.

The display module200may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel, and a cross-sectional shape of thereof may be a rectilinear or curved shape. A front surface of the display module200may be defined as a display screen210. The display screen210may be divided into a plurality of display regions. The display regions may be configured to display different pieces of information (e.g., UI information). However, the present embodiment is not limited thereto, and a display screen divided into three display regions211,213, and215is illustrated inFIG.1.

The three display regions211,213, and215may be unloaded to the outside of the housing100and may be selectively exposed, based on an operation mode. The operation mode may be defined as a simple mode, a normal mode, and a full mode.

In the simple mode, as illustrated inFIG.2, only a first display region211, defined at an uppermost portion, of a full region of the display screen210may be exposed at the outside of the housing100.

In the normal mode, as illustrated inFIG.3, the first display region211and a second display region213, defined at a center portion, of the full region of the display screen210may be exposed at the outside of the housing100.

In the full mode, as illustrated inFIG.4, the first display region211, the second display region213, and a third display region215, defined at a lowermost portion, of the full region of the display screen210may be exposed at the outside of the housing100.

In the simple mode ofFIG.2where only the first display region211is exposed, a display area shown to a user may be smallest, and in the full mode ofFIG.4where the first to third display regions211,213, and215are exposed, a display area shown to a user may be largest.

Therefore, in the simple mode ofFIG.2, the amount of information provided to a user may be smallest, and in the full mode ofFIG.4, the amount of information provided to the user may be largest.

The first to third display regions211,213, and215may be configured to display different (differentiated) pieces of US information. As described above, in the simple mode where only the first display region211is exposed, because the amount of information provided to the user is smallest, essential UI information may need to be displayed on the first display region211. The essential UI information may include information associated with driving of a vehicle, and for example, may include information associated with a digital cluster, a digital fuel gauge, a digital speedometer, digital revolutions per minute (RPM), a vehicular battery capacity, a vehicular system breakdown, an outdoor air temperature, and/or gear shift notice.

UI information which is relatively less important may be displayed on the second and third display regions213and215, and such UI information may include, for example, information associated with multimedia elements such as a radio, a music phone, and email.

For visibility of UI information displayed on each display region, only a display region defined in each operation mode may need to be exposed at the outside of the housing100. For example, when a portion of the second display region in addition to the first display region211defined in the simple mode is exposed at the outside of the housing100, the visibility of UI information displayed on the first display region211may be reduced by UI information displayed on a portion of the second display region. Accordingly, the movement amount (or position) of the display module200may be precisely controlled so that the display region defined in each operation mode is exposed at the outside of the housing100.

The precise control of movement amount (or position) of the display module200may be achieved by a driving device designed in the housing200. The driving device may be controlled by the controller unit300illustrated inFIG.1.

The controller unit300may control the driving device on the basis of in-vehicle communication such as controller area network (CAN) communication. The controller unit300may be a micro controller unit (MCU) which is programmed to control the movement amount (or position) of the display module200by using the driving device. The MCU may be implemented so that a microprocessor, a memory, a programmable input/output (I/O) module, and a communication module are integrated into one chip.

FIG.5is a diagram illustrating a driving device for moving the display module illustrated inFIG.1, andFIG.6is an enlarged view of a rack-pinion gear illustrated inFIG.5.

Referring toFIGS.5and6, a display module200may be loaded into a housing100or unloaded to the outside of the housing100on the basis of a mechanical operation of a driving device400, and the mechanical operation of the driving device400may be controlled by the controller unit300.

To this end, the driving device400may include an actuator401, a main pulley402, a timing belt403, a sub-pulley404, a rotary shaft405, and a rack-pinion gear406, and moreover, may further include a reflector70, two supporters407and408, and sensor units407A and408B. The sensor units407A and408B may include a light emitting sensor407A and a light receiving sensor408B.

The actuator401may generate power for loading the display module200into the housing100or unloading the display module200to the outside and may stop the generating of the power so that a display area other than the display area defined for each operation mode is not exposed at the outside of the housing100, based on a stop command of the controller unit300.

In an embodiment, the power may be rotary power, and in this case, the actuator401may be implemented with an electric motor. Hereinafter, the actuator401may be assumed as an electric motor and may be referred to by like reference numeral.

The main pulley402may be coupled to the rotary shaft401A of the electric motor401and may rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, based on the rotary power of the electric motor401.

The timing belt403may transfer the rotary power of the main pulley402, which rotates clockwise or counterclockwise, to the sub-pulley404.

The sub-pulley404may rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, based on rotary power transferred through the timing belt403. The rotary shaft405may be coupled to the sub-pulley404, and the rotary shaft405may rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, based on a rotation of the sub-pulley404.

The rack-pinion gear406may be coupled to the rotary shaft405, and the rack-pinion gear406may transform a rotary motion of the rotary shaft405to a rectilinear reciprocating motion. Based on the rectilinear reciprocating motion, the display module200may be loaded into the housing100, or may be unloaded to the outside of the housing100.

In detail, as illustrated inFIG.6, the rack-pinion gear406may include a rack gear406A and a pinion gear406B which is gear-coupled to the rack gear406A.

The rack gear406A may be implemented in a “1”-shape, one end portion thereof may be connected to a lower end of the display module200, and the pinion gear406B may be coupled to the rotary shaft405.

The pinion gear406B may perform a rotary motion on the basis of a rotation of the rotary shaft405, and the rack gear406A gear-coupled to the pinion gear406B may transform a rotary motion to a rectilinear reciprocating motion, and the display module200coupled to the one end portion of rack gear406A may also perform a rectilinear reciprocating motion on the basis of the rectilinear reciprocating motion of the rack gear406A. Based on the rectilinear reciprocating motion, the display module200may be loaded into the housing100, or may be unloaded to the outside of the housing100.

In a case where the display module200is implemented in a bent shape, the rack gear406A may be implemented in a slightly bent shape so that the bent display module200is smoothly loaded or unloaded through an opening portion of the housing100.

Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present invention, in order to precisely control the movement amount (or position) of the display module200, the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406B passing through a fixed point may be counted, and the movement amount (or position) of the display module200may be calculated based on the counted number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406b.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B may be used for counting the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406B. The light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B may be disposed to face each other with the pinion gear406btherebetween.

In order to implement such an arrangement structure, the two supporters407and408may be disposed with the pinion gear406btherebetween, and the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B may be installed to face each other at end portions of the supporters407and408.

Each of the supporters407and408may be a printed circuit board (PCB) with the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B mounted thereon, and in this case, as illustrated inFIGS.5and6, may be a PCB which is manufactured in an L-shape.

The light emitting sensor407A may generate an optical signal such as an infrared signal and may transfer the optical signal to the light receiving sensor408B. In this case, based on the gear teeth of the pinion gear406bpassing through a region between the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B, the light receiving sensor408A may selectively receive the optical signal transferred from the light emitting sensor407A.

That is, because the light receiving sensor408B receives only an optical signal passing through a region between adjacent teeth of the pinion gear406b, the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406bmay be counted by counting the number of optical signals received by the light receiving sensor408B.

The controller unit300may receive the optical signal from the light receiving sensor408B through the supporter408which acts as a PCB, and the number of rectangular pulses corresponding to the received optical signal may be counted as the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406bpassing through a region between the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B.

Subsequently, the controller unit300may precisely control the movement amount (or position) of the display module200on the basis of the counted number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406B, with reference to a lookup table.

The lookup table may be a table where the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406bmapped to the movement amount (or position) of the display module200for each operation mode is defined and may be stored in a memory of the controller unit300.

In an embodiment, when the current counted number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406bmatches the predetermined number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406brecorded in the lookup table, the controller unit300may transfer an operation stop command to the electric motor401to stop an operation of the electric motor401.

Although not shown inFIG.5, the controller unit300may include a motor controller which directly controls an operation of the electric motor401.

Furthermore, inFIGS.5and6, the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B respectively installed in the two supporters407and408with the pinion gear406B therebetween are illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B may be installed in one supporter, and the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406B rotating may be counted.

In a case where the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B are installed in one supporter, as illustrated inFIG.6, the reflector6is provided on a teeth side surface of the pinion gear406B, the light receiving sensor40B may receive an optical signal reflected by the reflector6.

When a material of the reflector6is a material for reflecting the optical signal transferred from the light emitting sensor407A, the kind thereof is not limited. The reflector6may be formed by coating a material, which may be attached on the teeth side surface of the pinion gear406B or may reflect an optical signal, on the teeth side surface of the pinion gear406B.

The reflector6may not be provided on side surfaces of all gear teeth of the pinion gear406B and may be provided on side surfaces of some gear teeth of the pinion gear406B with a certain interval therebetween.

FIGS.7and8are diagrams for describing an installations structure of a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor for precisely controlling the movement amount (or position) of a display module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.7and8, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A may be arranged on a rear surface of a display module200in a vertical direction. Accordingly, the plurality of light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A may move in a movement direction of the display module200.

A plurality of (for example, three) light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B may be arranged in a vertical direction on a front surface of a housing100facing the rear surface of the display module200to face the plurality of light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A. In this case, the plurality of (for example, three) light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B may be fixed without moving, unlike the plurality of light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A.

On the other hand, the plurality of (for example, three) light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B may be disposed on the rear surface of the display module200, and the plurality of light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A may be disposed on the front surface of the housing100.

InFIGS.7and8, an embodiment is illustrated where three light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A are disposed on the rear surface of the display module200and the three light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B are disposed on the front surface of the housing100.

FIGS.9and10are diagrams for describing an operation principle of each of a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor for precisely controlling the movement amount (or position) of a display module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG.9illustrates positions of light emitting sensors and light receiving sensors in the simple mode, andFIG.10illustrates positions of light emitting sensors and light receiving sensors in the full mode.

As illustrated inFIG.9, in the simple mode where only a first display region (211ofFIG.2) of a display module200is exposed, a plurality of light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A and a plurality of light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B may be horizontally arranged in parallel in a one-to-one relationship, and all of the light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B may receive optical signals from the light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A.

When an optical signal sensing result is received from all of the light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B, the controller unit300may transfer an operation stop command to an electric motor401to stop an operation of the electric motor401.

As illustrated inFIG.10, in the full mode where all of display regions (211,213, and215ofFIGS.1to4) of the display module200are exposed, the light emitting sensor703A disposed at a lowermost portion of a rear surface of the display module200among the light emitting sensors701A,702A, and703A and the light receiving sensor701B disposed at an uppermost portion among the light receiving sensors701B,702B, and703B may be horizontally arranged in parallel, and the light receiving sensor701B may receive only an optical signal transferred from the light emitting sensor703A.

When the controller unit300receives an optical signal sensing result from the light emitting sensor701B, the controller unit300may transfer an operation stop command to the electric motor401to stop an operation of the electric motor401.

Although not shown, in the normal mode, two light emitting sensors702A and703A and two light receiving sensors701B and702B may be horizontally arranged in parallel, and the light receiving sensors701B and702B may receive optical signals transferred from the light emitting sensors702A and703A.

When the controller unit300receives an optical signal sensing result from each of the light receiving sensors701B and702B, the controller unit300may transfer the operation stop command to the electric motor401to stop an operation of the electric motor401.

As described above, the vehicular display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may quantitatively control the movement amount (or position) of the display module by using a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor, and thus, may precisely expose a display region, defined for each operation mode, at the outside of the housing100without an error.

FIG.11is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of a vehicular display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.11, the operating method of the vehicular display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention may be an operating method of a vehicular display apparatus which includes a driving device400including an electric motor401and a gear406operating based on power of the electric motor401, a display module200which moves to an inner portion or the outside of the housing100on the basis of a mechanical operation of the gear406, and a controller unit300controlling the electric motor401.

In the operating method according to an embodiment of the present invention, first, in step S111, a process of sensing an optical signal of the light emitting sensor407A passing through a region between gear teeth of the gear406and transferring an obtained sensing result to the controller unit300by using the light receiving sensor408B may be performed.

Subsequently, in step S113, a process of counting the number of gear teeth of the gear406passing through a region between the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B by using the controller unit300on the basis of the sensing result may be performed.

Subsequently, in step S115, a process of receiving a control command for controlling movement of the display module200on the basis of the counted number of gear teeth of the gear406by using the actuator401may be performed.

In an embodiment, when the gear406includes the pinion gear406B which performs a rotary motion on the basis of power of the actuator401and the rack gear406A which is gear-coupled to the pinion gear406B and changes the rotary motion to a rectilinear reciprocating motion for moving the display module200to an inner portion or the outside of the housing100, a process of counting the number of gear teeth of the gear406may be a process of counting the number of gear teeth of the pinion gear406B.

FIG.12is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of a vehicular display apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG.12, in step S121, a process of sensing an optical signal of a light emitting sensor reflected by the reflector6provided on the teeth side surface of the gear406and transferring an obtained sensing result to the controller unit300by using the light receiving sensor408B may be performed. In this case, although not shown, the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B may be installed in one supporter407.

Subsequently, in step S123, a process of counting the number of gear teeth of the gear406passing through a region in front of the light emitting sensor407A and the light receiving sensor408B by using the controller unit300on the basis of the sensing result may be performed.

Subsequently, in step S125, a process of receiving a control command, controlling movement of the display module200, from the controller unit300by using the actuator401on the basis of the counted number of gear teeth may be performed.

In an embodiment, when the gear406includes the pinion gear406B which performs a rotary motion on the basis of power of the actuator401and the rack gear406A which is gear-coupled to the pinion gear406B and transforms the rotary motion to a rectilinear reciprocating motion for moving the display module200to an inner portion or the outside of the housing100, a process of transferring the sensing result based on step S121to the controller unit300may include a process of sensing an optical signal of the light emitting sensor407A reflected by a reflector (6ofFIG.6) provided on the teeth side surface of the pinion gear406B.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the movement amount (or position) of a display module may be quantitatively controlled by using a light emitting sensor and a light receiving sensor, and thus, a display region defined for each operation mode may be exposed at the outside of a housing without an error.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.