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EP-4741202-A1 - VEHICLE INTERIOR ASSEMBLY HAVING A LIGHT-EMITTING PORTION

EP4741202A1EP 4741202 A1EP4741202 A1EP 4741202A1EP-4741202-A1

Abstract

A vehicle interior assembly includes a non-visible display facing a surface configured to reflect an image appearing on the display toward an occupant area of a vehicle passenger cabin in which the assembly is installed. The assembly is configured to emit light directly from a light-emitting portion of the surface facing the occupant area. The vehicle interior assembly may include a panel that includes the surface. The panel may be at least partially transparent at the light-emitting portion. The panel may be at least partially transparent at an image-reflecting portion of the surface. The light-emitting portion and the image-reflecting portion may form a continuous planar surface. An icon may be formed when light is emitted from the light-emitting portion of the surface. The icon may be a warning icon.

Inventors

  • PICCIN, HUGO
  • BUCHHEIT, STEPHANE

Assignees

  • Faurecia Interior Systems, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251112

Claims (15)

  1. A vehicle interior assembly comprising a non-visible display facing a surface configured to reflect an image appearing on the display toward an occupant area of a vehicle passenger cabin in which the assembly is installed, wherein the assembly is configured to emit light directly from a light-emitting portion of the surface facing the occupant area.
  2. The vehicle interior assembly of claim 1, further comprising a panel that includes the surface, wherein the panel is at least partially transparent at the light-emitting portion.
  3. The vehicle interior assembly of claim 2, wherein the panel is at least partially transparent at an image-reflecting portion of the surface.
  4. The vehicle interior assembly of claim 3, wherein the light-emitting portion and the image-reflecting portion form a continuous planar surface.
  5. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherein the panel is 50-75% transparent.
  6. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a light-emitting layer arranged to emit light directly from the light-emitting portion of the surface, wherein the light-emitting layer is at least partially transparent.
  7. The vehicle interior assembly of claim 6, further comprising a light-emitting diode (LED) that includes the light-emitting layer.
  8. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light-emitting portion of the surface is an upper portion of the surface closest to the display.
  9. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein an icon is formed when light is emitted from the light-emitting portion of the surface.
  10. The vehicle interior assembly of claim 9, wherein the icon is a warning icon.
  11. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein light from the light-emitting portion of the surface appears at least twice as bright as the reflected image.
  12. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a brightness of the display remains constant when light is emitted directly from the light-emitting portion of the surface.
  13. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display is a downward-facing display that displays the image in a direction toward a floor of the vehicle passenger cabin.
  14. The vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface is oriented at a 10 to 80 degree angle with respect to the display.
  15. A vehicle instrument panel comprising the vehicle interior assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reflected image includes at least one of: a speedometer, a tachometer, an odometer, a temperature gauge, a fuel gauge, a turn indicator, a headlight indicator, a compass, a navigation map, or a gear indicator.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure is related generally to vehicle interior assemblies and, more particularly, to vehicle interior assemblies presenting information or images to vehicle occupants. BACKGROUND Vehicle interior assemblies commonly convey information to a driver and/or other vehicle occupants, such as vehicle speed, navigation information, HVAC settings, etc. In some cases, such information may be conveyed in a reflected image. In one example, FR3073053 discloses a heads-up display that projects informational images onto an interior surface of the windshield in the driver's field of view. Such displays have the advantage that the driver does not need to look down to a traditional instrument panel to check the vehicle speed, fuel level, etc. But images in the driver's field of view can also be distracting, and their visibility can be compromised in bright sunlight. SUMMARY Embodiments of a vehicle interior assembly include a non-visible display facing a surface configured to reflect an image appearing on the display toward an occupant area of a vehicle passenger cabin in which the assembly is installed. The assembly is configured to emit light directly from a light-emitting portion of the surface facing the occupant area. In various embodiments, the vehicle interior assembly includes a panel that includes the surface. The panel is at least partially transparent at the light-emitting portion. In various embodiments, the panel is at least partially transparent at an image-reflecting portion of the surface. In various embodiments, the light-emitting portion and the image-reflecting portion form a continuous planar surface. In various embodiments, the panel is 50-75% transparent. In various embodiments, the vehicle interior assembly includes a light-emitting layer arranged to emit light directly from the light-emitting portion of the surface. The light-emitting layer is at least partially transparent. In various embodiments, the vehicle interior assembly includes a light-emitting diode (LED) that includes the light-emitting layer. In various embodiments, the light-emitting portion of the surface is an upper portion of the surface closest to the display. In various embodiments, an icon is formed when light is emitted from the light-emitting portion of the surface. In various embodiments, the icon is a warning icon. In various embodiments, light from the light-emitting portion of the surface appears at least twice as bright as the reflected image. In various embodiments, a brightness of the display remains constant when light is emitted directly from the light-emitting portion of the surface. In various embodiments, the display is a downward-facing display that displays the image in a direction toward a floor of the vehicle passenger cabin. In various embodiments, the surface is oriented at a 10 to 80 degree angle with respect to the display. In various embodiments, a vehicle instrument panel includes the vehicle interior assembly. The reflected image includes at least one of: a speedometer, a tachometer, an odometer, a temperature gauge, a fuel gauge, a turn indicator, a headlight indicator, a compass, a navigation map, or a gear indicator. It is intended that any one or more of the above-listed features, along with any of the features in the figures and in the following description, can be combined in any technically feasible combination to define a claimed invention, except where features are mutually exclusive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Illustrative embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a vehicle interior assembly; andFIG. 2 is a front view of the vehicle interior assembly. DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS Described herein is a vehicle interior assembly that reflects an image from a non-visible display toward an occupant area of the vehicle. A portion of the surface that reflects the image is also able to directly emit light on-demand so that the viewer sees the reflected image and a secondary image, such as a warning light, coming from the same surface. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a vehicle interior assembly 10. The illustrated assembly 10 is embodied as a vehicle instrument panel of the type positioned just below the vehicle windshield that typically includes gauges and presents other vehicle-related information to the driver with only a quick glance downward. The following description is applicable to any vehicle interior assembly installed anywhere in a vehicle, such as on the passenger side of the vehicle interior, a rear seating area, a door, a ceiling, etc. The vehicle interior assembly 10 includes a display 12 and a panel 14 supported by a base 16. The base 16 provides the overall shape and structure of the illustrated instrument panel 10 and supports the display 12 and panel 14 in relative positio