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EP-4741204-A1 - DISPLAY WITH INTEGRATED USER MONITORING SYSTEM

EP4741204A1EP 4741204 A1EP4741204 A1EP 4741204A1EP-4741204-A1

Abstract

A display system with an embedded user monitoring system is disclosed herein. The display system is suitable for use with a vehicle. The display comprises a backlighting tile with one or more apertures. The display system further comprises one or more optical sensors and or one or more infrared LEDs. The infrared LEDs are located within the one or more apertures. The display system advantageously is more aesthetically pleasing than systems known in the art and provides improved operation of the user monitoring system functionality.

Inventors

  • GOURLAY, JAMES
  • PEDEN, Derek
  • JANKAUSKAS, Marius
  • ABACI, Berkan
  • LE FOULER, Yves
  • El Yahyaoui, Sara
  • Dembrey, Charlie
  • ROBINET, Stéphane

Assignees

  • Design LED Products Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251023

Claims (10)

  1. A display system, suitable for a vehicle, the display system comprising: a backlighting tile comprising one or more apertures; one or more optical sensors; and one or more infrared LEDs, wherein the one or more infrared LEDs are located within the one or more apertures.
  2. The display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the one or more optical sensors are also located within the one or more apertures.
  3. The display system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the display further comprises a decorative layer and wherein the backlighting tile is configured to backlight the decorative layer.
  4. The display system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the display system further comprises a cover layer and wherein the decorative layer is located between the cover layer and the backlighting tile.
  5. The display system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the display further comprises one or more infrared covers, each infrared cover being positioned between the cover layer and the one or more infrared LEDs.
  6. The display system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the display system further comprises a mask print layer and or a diffuser layer and or a reflector layer.
  7. The display system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reflector layer is located on the opposing side of the backlighting tile relative to the location of the decorative layer.
  8. The display system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the display system further comprises one or more optical lenses and wherein the one or more optical lenses are configured to focus radiation upon the one or more optical sensors.
  9. The display system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the one or more apertures extend between opposing surfaces of the backlighting tile.
  10. The display system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the apertures additionally extend into one or more additional layers of the display system.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of display systems. In particular, the present invention relates to a display system with an integrated user monitoring system. The display system is suitable for, although not necessarily exclusively, the interior and or exterior of a vehicle, for example, as a display system integrated in the instrumental panel of a vehicle, or as a display system integrated in the outside of a B pilar of a vehicle. Background to the Invention A user monitoring system known in the art, for example an interior monitoring system, is a safety system for a vehicle which monitors a driver and occupants, specifically driver characteristics such as distraction, drowsiness, alertness and or tiredness. It can be used also for identifying the identity of user. Such systems known in the art comprise at least an infrared LED and an optical sensor both located within a housing. Interior monitoring systems are positioned within the interior of a vehicle, for example on a dashboard, steering column or interior rear-view mirror. The infrared LED emits infrared radiation (typically with a wavelength of 940nm) towards the driver and or occupants, which is reflected off for example the driver and or occupants' faces and reflected infrared radiation is collected by the optical sensor thereby resulting in an image of the driver and or occupants. If the interior monitoring system detects, for example, the driver is not paying attention to the road, the interior monitoring system provides an output, such as illuminating warning lights or even actively braking the vehicle. User monitoring systems known in the art are located within dedicated housing which disadvantageously clutter the interior of a vehicle and negatively impact the aesthetics of the vehicle. Furthermore, as the components of user monitoring systems known in the art are constrained within the dedicated housing, they are relatively close together which is not desirable for optimal thermal performance of such systems. These systems also disadvantageously comprise a relatively poor signal-to-noise ratio and so have limited accuracy. Furthermore, such systems can be prone to disturbance due to a high amount of background infrared radiation emitted by infrared LED light source. There is generally a need for an apparatus to address the problems identified above. Summary of Invention It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus that obviates or mitigates one or more drawbacks or disadvantages of the prior art. Further aims and objects of the invention will become apparent from reading the following description. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a display system, suitable for a vehicle, the display system comprising: a backlighting tile comprising one or more apertures;one or more optical sensors; andone or more infrared LEDs,wherein the one or more infrared LEDs are located within the one or more apertures. Most preferably the one or more optical sensors are also located within the one or more apertures. The one or more optical sensors may comprise one or more infrared sensors and or one or more visible sensors. Optionally, the one or more infrared LEDs and the one or more optical sensors may be located within the same one or more apertures. It is advantageous for the one or more infrared LEDs and or one or more optical sensors to be located in the one or more apertures in the backlighting tile as this results in a relatively thinner display system. Furthermore, a thinner display system is easier to integrate into a support, for example, into the interior or the exterior of a vehicle. Also, a user monitoring system can be integrated in a display system as presented in this invention more easily while keeping unnoticed by a user. Most preferably, the display system comprises two or more infrared LEDs. Preferably, the two or more LEDs are located within one or more apertures. Most preferably, the two or more LEDs are located within two or more apertures. It is advantageous for the display system to comprise two or more infrared LEDs, specifically a distributed array of two or more infrared LEDs, as this results in a wider field of illumination and a wider field of view. This increases the signal-to-noise ratio, and thereby the quality of the resulting detected image. The infrared LEDs can be operated at lower power resulting in greater longevity and reduced power consumption. Preferably, the one or more apertures comprises one or more sensor apertures and or one or more LED apertures. Preferably, the one or more optical sensors are located within the one or more sensor apertures. Preferably, the one or more infrared LEDs are located within the one or more LED apertures. Preferably, each of the one or more LED apertures comprises one of the one or more infrared LEDs. Preferably, the display system further comprises a decorative layer. The backlighting tile is configured to backl