IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,094,127
Granted Patent B2
US 8,094,127 · App. 10/632,348 · Granted Jan 10, 2012

Display device

Assignees: Volkswagen AG; Audi AG
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,094,127
App. No.
10/632,348
Granted
Jan 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display device includes a display, e.g., for displaying information relevant to the operation of a motor vehicle, on the display, an actuator layer being arranged, the operating surface geometry of which is deformable as a function of a control signal.

Claims (27)

1. A display device, comprising:

a display; and

an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display and including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a logic circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer;

wherein the display is configured to display information relevant to operation of a motor vehicle.

2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator layer is transparent.

3. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal includes an optical signal.

4. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal includes light.

5. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal includes an electrical field.

6. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal includes an electromagnetic field.

7. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator layer is statically deformable at least for a duration of the control signal.

8. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the display is configured to receive entry of user input.

9. The display device according to claim 8 , wherein an area of the actuator layer is configured to receive the entry of the user input.

10. The display device according to claim 8 , further comprising a computation device configured to deform the actuator layer in accordance with the control signal at a point of contact of the actuator layer touched by the user.

11. The display device according to claim 10 , wherein the computation device is configured to deform the actuator layer at the point of contact only in response to an input via the display by the user by touch at the point of contact.

12. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator layer includes a sol-gel.

13. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator layer is controllable by haptic feedback.

14. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator layer is deformable by pressure with a force that exceeds a limiting value.

15. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator layer is configured to produce an operating element.

16. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating surface geometry is deformable in response to the control signal.

17. The display device according to claim 1 , further comprising the computation device configured to generate the control signal, the operative surface geometry deformable in response to the control signal generated by the computation device.

18. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating surface geometry is deformable in response to an electronic control signal.

19. A steering wheel, comprising:

a display device arranged on the steering wheel, the display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display, the actuator layer including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a logic circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer.

20. A passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device arranged within the passenger compartment, the display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display, the actuator layer including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a logic circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer.

21. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a display device arranged within the motor vehicle, the display device including a display and an actuator layer arranged on an outwardly facing side of the display, the actuator layer including (a) a material having a reversibly and controllably changeable volume and (b) an operating surface geometry deformable as a function of a control signal generated by at least one of (a) a computation device and (b) a control circuit, control signal being applied directly to the actuator layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2003
From: YOUNG, SARAH
To: VOLKSWAGEN AG; AUDI AG
Reel/Frame 014757/0421 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050024342A1 · Feb 3, 2005