The present invention relates to a device for a utility vehicle structure. The invention also relates to a utility vehicle structure having at least one such device. A utility vehicle structure generally denotes structures for utility vehicles, for example structures in the region of a loading space or a loading surface. Depending on the type of utility vehicle, the structures can comprise side, roof and/or rear walls and/or flexible covers. Utility vehicles are, for example, trucks and their trailers or semitrailers.
The present invention relates generally to structures for utility vehicles, such as a truck structure, a trailer structure, a semitrailer structure, a swap body structure, or a fixed motor vehicle structure, and in particular a utility vehicle structure with communication technological side, roof and, for example, rear-side devices. The present invention relates in particular to utility vehicles used for the transport of goods and heavy loads.
As already mentioned in the introductory part, the term utility vehicle structure within the scope of the present invention includes, among other things, all truck or trailer structures such as truck structures, trailer structures, and all other structures that are usually provided on the rear side with a cover, with a roll-up door, with a folding door, with a platform, or with a bi-leaf or multi-leaf door.
Structures for utility vehicles with bi-leaf rear wall doors have become established today in particular in the case of utility vehicle structures with sliding covers and box structures, which are paneled with either what are known as plywood panels or other so-called sandwich panels or modules. Furthermore, box structures made of steel are known, the side walls of which consist, for example, of two separate side wall leaves that can be opened separately. For this purpose, the side walls consist of, for example, two separate side wall leaves that are separately hinged at the front and rear sides, wherein the two side wall leaves in this embodiment can also consist of individual side wall segments that can be folded with respect to one another.
The rear wall doors of common utility vehicle structures nowadays usually consist of two separate door leaves, which are each pivotably attached to the outside of the respective corner stanchions via single or double joint hinges so that the two door leaves can be moved into their fully opened position. In order to secure the two separate door leaves in their closed position against unintentional opening, the two separate door leaves are equipped with rod locks or locking rods, which secure the two separate door leaves at the top and the bottom with respect to the utility vehicle structure.
The door leaves themselves are usually made of profiles in aluminum or steel and usually have a sealing lip running all around to protect the loading space against the ingress of water. In addition, an overlapping edge construction in the middle of the portal protects the loading space from excessive entry of environmental influences, like water or dirt. Furthermore, the doors can consist of modular, form-fittingly and/or force-fittingly interlocking system panels, which are then structurally stiffened with frame elements, as is typical of a construction set, and are made to be so stable in terms of security engineering that, as an assembled construction set door, they comply with traffic law and load securing standards and guidelines.
In addition, both the doors and the sides are generally provided with lettering or imprints for advertising purposes, which differ from customer to customer, as a result of which significant costs are involved, but income from advertising for third parties becomes possible and/or is generated.
Another problem inherent in these known side and door solutions is that changing the motif of the above-mentioned lettering on side walls and/or rear wall doors is always very complex and costly; a different customer equals immense costs. If the normal user of truck structures, the freight forwarder, wants to generate additional income by driving with third-party advertising, the freight forwarder generally has to spend several thousand euros per all-around lettering. This investment becomes all the more expensive, the more intact the truck structure is intended to be after every lettering change, since particularly high-quality materials must be used in that case. The latter is especially true if what are known as leasing vehicles or objects are involved; that is to say if the freight forwarder is not the owner of the truck and/or trailer including structure. The same problem naturally also arises if the user is not a freight forwarder but, for example, a manufacturer or distributor.
The invention is based on the object of making the utility vehicle structure more flexible to use and of providing a corresponding device for this purpose.
This object is achieved by a device for a utility vehicle structure, having at least one component of the utility vehicle structure with a pixel-technological display field for displaying changing motifs, which has a multiplicity of separately drivable display pixels, wherein the display field is attached to the outside of the component or is integrated structurally, e.g. on the outside, into the component. The display pixels are visible here on the outside of the component so that the changing motifs can be presented to a viewer outside the utility vehicle structure. The invention has the advantage that the utility vehicle structure can be expanded to include the possibility of a variable display of motifs, for example for advertising purposes and/or for signaling operating states of the utility vehicle or dangerous situations in the surroundings. By adding such a pixel-technological display field to the component of the utility vehicle structure, display technology that facilitates the changing of motifs, is suitable for displaying substantially any desired changing motifs and can generate, permit and/or ensure motif changes similar to lettering and/or typographical displays is added.
The pixel-technological display field can be implemented, for example, as a display or as a display network with individual display pixels or cells.
The display field or the arrangement of the display pixels can, for example, have a rectangular shape. The display pixels can be arranged in the form of a matrix, distributed two-dimensionally over the surface area of the display field.
The display field can be embodied in the form of a black-and-white display field. In this case, the individual display pixels can be embodied in a single color and thus can be switched only between the states light/dark.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to be embodied in the form of a color display field for displaying colored motifs. In this way, the display field can be used much more universally than with a pure black-and-white display. In particular, all possible motifs can be presented better. To implement the display of colored motifs, the display field can for example have display pixels in different colors, for example according to the RGB color scheme or color system or preferably the CMY or CMYK color scheme or color system. In particular, the display field can be embodied in the form of a color display field with CMY or CMYK electrowetting technology.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to be embodied in the form of a self-luminous display field. The display field is thus embodied in the form of a light-emitting display field. This has the advantage that the motifs on the display field can be presented much more clearly and with improved contrast both in daylight and in the dark. In the case of a colored display in particular, the brilliance of the presentation can be significantly improved.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to have background lighting to increase the contrast of the display pixels and/or self-luminous display pixels. Different technologies can be used to implement the display pixels, preferably the technology of electrowetting (also called e-wetting for short). The individual display pixels can, for example, if they are embodied in the form of self-luminous display pixels, be embodied in the form of LEDs or SMDs.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the
pixels of the display field to be translucent. This has the advantage that the display field thus corresponds to the reprographic standards of the 20th and 21st centuries, in particular in digital printing, offset printing, and inkjet printing, with the result that maximum color brilliance is produced and ensured with the least possible printed graphic effect of what are known as “muted” colors. Muted colors are colors mixed or blended with black; the impression is then one of darkened brilliance or darkened colorfulness.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the light emission of the display field to be less than +0.5 cd/m2 in comparison with the (relative) ambient light of the utility vehicle. In this way, the strength of the light emission is limited to a level that can be easily accepted in road traffic, in particular without special approval procedures. In particular, although the display field is self-luminous, it can be classified as a non-lighting and non-light-signalling function or device, which means that no approval as a lighting device is required.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the
pixel distance between the display pixels of the display field to be at least 1 mm, or at least 1.5 mm, or at least 4 mm. The pixel distance (pitch) between the display pixels is therefore chosen to be comparatively large, which for the display of motifs in the
outside area has the advantage that they can be comfortably perceived by viewers from the desired distance, for example from a viewing distance of 5 m. This also means the viewer does not wish to look at the presented motif from a closer viewing distance. Due to the pixel distance, it is no longer possible to perceive the motif meaningfully if the viewing distance is shorter.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the component of the utility vehicle structure to be a door leaf, a side wall, a rear wall, a roof wall, a tail lift, and/or a cover of a utility vehicle structure. Thus, the device according to the invention can be used highly universally at the utility vehicle structure, wherein it is also possible for a plurality of devices of the type mentioned to be used at a utility vehicle structure, for example by embodying the left and right side walls and the rear wall in the form of a device of the type according to the invention, i.e.
each being equipped with a pixel-technological display field. It is also particularly advantageous to embody a cover of a utility vehicle structure in the form of a device according to the invention, i.e. to equip it with a pixel-technological display field. Depending on the requirements, a side cover, a rear cover, and/or a roof cover can be equipped with a pixel-technological display field.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to be integrated into the cover or to be attached to the cover, for example by adhesive bonding, welding, and/or sewing. In this way, a digital cover for utility vehicles can be implemented.
It is possible when using the CMY or CMYK color scheme or color system, but also in the special case of using a monochrome, duplex, triplex or quadruplex color scheme or color system, to also use the term composite reprocover in this respect. In particular, e-wetting technology with its translucent color technology should be considered for use in this respect.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to be flexibly preformable, in particular for it to be embodied in the form of a foldable display field. When integrating the display field into a cover, for example, this has the advantage that the cover can be used in the usual way, i.e. it can be folded up or folded to the side for loading and unloading the utility vehicle without this process being hindered by the display field.
By integrating the pixel-technological display field into a rear wall or rear cover, it is possible to implement for example rear advertising on the utility vehicle with changing motifs in the main viewing direction of following road users or recipients.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to be preferably used for static, non-dynamic motifs or typographical images. Furthermore, the fact that the change sequence as such does not generate any dynamic image effects at all, which means that in particular neither the following traffic or following road users nor any other road users may be distracted from the traffic by dynamic display contents or effects, also corresponds to the advantageous embodiment. This type of embodiment of the invention with preferably static, non-dynamic image information or visual contents is therefore used with the described method of presentation to avoid traffic accidents through signage on the utility vehicle.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to have a surface area of at least 1 m2. Accordingly, the display pixels of the display field occupy at least the mentioned area of at least 1 m2.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to make up at least 30%, in particular at least 50% or at least 70%, of the outer surface of the component. This has the advantage that the outer surface of the component can be used to a large extent for presenting the changing motifs by means of the display field. For example, it is advantageous if the display field makes up at least 60%, in particular at least 70%, of the outer surface of the rear-side component and/or the display field makes up at least 30%, in particular at least 50% of the outer surface of the lateral and/or roof-side component (side wall and/or roof).
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to protrude from the outer surface of the component by less than 15 mm, in particular less than 10 mm. This has the advantage that the external dimensions of the utility vehicle structure are substantially not changed by the display field, with the result that there is no need at least with regard to the dimensions to comply with special, extended approval conditions.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the display field to be embodied in the form of a one-part or multi-part display field. If the display field is embodied in the form of a multi-part display field, one part of the display pixels can be arranged at a distance from another part of the display pixels of the display field. For example, the multi-part display field can extend over a plurality of components of the utility vehicle structure, for example two adjacent door leaves or a side wall and a rear wall.
The object mentioned in the introductory part is also achieved by a utility vehicle structure with at least one device of the type explained above. Advantageously, the utility vehicle structure can also have a plurality of such devices, for example when a side wall and a rear wall or a plurality of side walls or additionally a roof wall of the utility vehicle is/are expanded to have a pixel-technological display field. In the case of the covers mentioned, it is also possible for a plurality of the covers, for example roof cover, side cover, rear cover, to be expanded by a pixel-technological display field.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pixel-technological display field is equipped with a computer or is connected to a computer. The individual pixels of the display field can be controlled by the computer, i.e. the presentation of a motif on the display field and a change between different motifs. If the computer is not part of the display field, it can be attached, for example, to the component of the utility vehicle structure or be integrated therein. The computer can also be arranged separately at the utility vehicle. The computer can be connected to a remote data transmission device via which the computer can remotely receive control commands and/or signage data that contain the motifs to be displayed on the display field. The change of motifs, for example, can be controlled remotely using the control commands. For this purpose, provision is made, for example, for remote data transmission tunnels that are secured against unauthorized access to be used in an operator-active and/or device-active manner between the operator controlling and transmitting data and the data-receiving computer. The computer can be embodied in the form of a commercially available personal computer (PC), for example a mini PC. The on-board computer can advantageously be switched on and/or switched off independently of any persons or automatically, with the result that it is avoided that the vehicle battery has insufficient energy to start the vehicle and/or that transport-relevant units such as cooling units have insufficient power. The computer can also be described as a signage computer. The signage unit is advantageously separated from the computer's operating system in order to ensure that only signage data are displayed on the display field. For this purpose, the computer advantageously has an integrated or connected signage player and/or an integrated or connected router with an integrated or connected SIM card reader or interface including a SIM card with or without an active SIM card communication contract or an alternative location-independent, non-hardware-connected communication option between the data-managing or signage-managing operator and the computer. Functional unit modules for computers, players, and routers are preferably provided for signage operation that is as secure against access and trouble-free as possible; routers with an integrated SIM card slot have become established on the market independently of signage applications.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the light emission of the display field to be less than 0.5 cd/m2 in comparison with the (relative) ambient light. For this purpose, provision is made for at least one light sensor per vehicle side equipped with a display field to be installed, for example, parallel to the main light emission axis on the same vehicle side, so that the computer can be supplied with the ambient light data that are relevant to the device system and in this way can adapt the light emission of the display field according to the ambient light.
In order to generate suitable data regulating the pixel luminosity, an advantageous embodiment of the invention makes provision for a special software or app to ensure the adjustment of the luminosity of the pixels of the display field such that the pixels are controlled with less than 0.5 cd/m2 light emission with respect to the ambient light.
In order to generate suitable data regulating the pixel color contrasts, an advantageous embodiment of the invention makes provision for a further special software or app to ensure the color contrast adjustment of the pixels of the display field such that the pixels generate colors according to the relative ambient light conditions in a manner such that the pixels are controlled with less than 0.5 cd/m2 with respect to the ambient light, and, additionally, colors are generated that neither achieve a signal effect nor avoidably distract from the traffic.
To generate suitable data regulating the pixel colors, provision is likewise made according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention for a further special software or app to ensure the color adjustment of the pixels of the display field such that the pixels generate colors according to the relative ambient light conditions such that the pixels are controlled with less than 0.5 cd/m2 with respect to the ambient light, and in addition colors are generated that neither achieve a signal effect nor avoidably distract from the traffic.
With regard to the software or apps for adjusting the luminosity of the pixels of the display field and also for adjusting the color contrast of the pixels of the display field and also for adjusting the color of the pixels of the display field, it is advantageously also possible to use only one software or app or fewer than three pieces of software or apps.
The invention makes it possible to provide a utility vehicle structure whose rear wall door can be opened as completely as possible even in tight spaces and which causes lower costs in terms of production, especially for the lettering and changing the lettering of the rear wall door, but also in the case of the side walls—regardless of whether it is a cover or box or other types of structures—at least cumulatively over the total usage time of the truck and/or trailer or its structures.
To solve these problems inherent in the known rear wall portals and side wall structures, a communication-technological door device in which a display integrated into the structure replaces, for example, the lettering is proposed according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. For example, any costs for lettering are consequently reasonably and expediently incurred only once, since the display does not require any further new lettering or re-lettering including associated and resuiting post-treatments. The use of a display, e.g. in the rear doors, eliminates the need for costly lettering or printing and also for any necessary repair and/or rework costs, which would occur, for example, if the original surface was damaged when the lettering was changed, for example due to irregular surface damage such as tearing out surface components or sections, for example in the case of sealing coatings or varnishes, or scratching the surfaces through the use of tools and/or hand protection measures in order to remove the previous lettering. In the context of this application, “display” is used to denote in representative fashion any communication-technological display surface and/or technology that is not analog but digital in terms of lettering; for example, LED, electrowetting, and other, in particular future, visualization technologies that structurally tend to have a pixel-technological structure or to be a display.
An integrated display, for example, can also replace the lettering on the sides of truck and/or trailer structures, for example covers or box structures. Here, too, the same investment, cost, and surface advantages as described above for the rear doors arise.
The e.g. integrated utility vehicle structure display in the roof, side or rear walls is intended to be a communication-technological substitute for the standard customary and typical roof, side wall, and/or rear lettering. The recipient's impression should be as similar as possible to that of conventional lettering systems by means of analog lettering; especially with regard to the luminous intensity. The digital utility vehicle structure lettering by means of a display is intended to replace the customary lettering on the rear, roof, and/or side walls as far as possible, and should in no way generate a signal effect in the sense of vehicle illumination and/or identification.
The e.g. integrated utility vehicle structure display on the rear, roof, or side walls should therefore ensure contrasts depending on the ambient light, which, in terms of the recipient's superficial impression, is, for example, very similar to or approximates the impression of conventional analog lettering.
The e.g. integrated utility vehicle structure display in the rear, roof, or side walls in the form of a structurally matrix-like grid is intended to offer additional protection against tearing of vehicle structure covers, which provides additional support for the devices which comply with the guidelines against deliberate external influences by third parties that damage or destroy the cover; and may therefore be considered eligible expenditures.
The e.g. integrated utility vehicle structure display in the rear, roof, or side walls of utility vehicle structures is intended to offer a significant added value overall for the users of vehicle structures, and in particular for freight forwarders. Freight forwarders in particular are burdened by increasing cost pressure from fuels, but also by increasing regulatory pressure from public institutions, and as a result, drivers are affected by increasingly poor labor and freight forwarding market conditions. The option of receiving income in particular from digitalized marketing for advertising third parties, which is quite relevant nowadays, can represent and bring with it for workers in the freight forwarding industry a considerable and significant relief or compensation in terms of the cost pressures caused by the freight forwarding market, which cannot be provided to this extent by anyone else, especially not by the public sector or, for example, charities, cooperatives, or trade unions.
In the context of this patent list, “display” is used to denote in a representative fashion any communication-technological display surface and/or display technology that is not designed in an analog manner in terms of lettering, but, for example, a digital LED, e-wetting, and/or other, including future visualization technology that is structural or tends to have a pixel-technical structure or be a display. Such a pixel-technological display-based network or display is used to generate graphic and/or typographic information and can have a modular system architecture - such displays can therefore be one-part and/or multi-part.
Further advantageous embodiments 1 to 44 of the invention will be given below in the form of bullet points, wherein each of the embodiments can be combined with one another as desired.
While in the embodiment of
1 Loading portal
2 Door leaves
3 Door leaves
4 Corner stanchions
5 Display
6 Display network
7 Data-unit/box display
8 Power distributor
9 Data cable/line
10 Power cable/line
11 Data-unit/-box truck
12 Power converter
13 Truck power distributor
14 Battery
15 Cooling fan/ventilation
16 Rubber seal (e.g. foam rubber, FKM, EPDM)
17 Protective film (water, liquids, falling rocks, dust, dirt, ice)
18 Display frame (outer frame, screen)
19 Door panel/panels or wall panel/panels
20 Panel overhang/frame
21 Hinge
22 Double-jointed hinge
23 Theft/vandalism protection
24 Locking rod
25 Recess for locking rod
26 Connecting screw/s
27 Fixing screw/s
28 Rubber-bonded metal/shock absorbers
29 Display rear wall (possibly with air slots or holes)
30 U-profile
31 LED module/E-wetting module
32 LED module interface data+power
33 LED/SMD
34 Display pixel protection (glass, resin, plastic; film)
35 Display hinge
36 Display protection (nub, strip, welt)
37 Locking rod encapsulation (tube)
38 Side/side cover/side wall/side section
39 Roof/roof cover/roof wall/roof section
40 Rear/rear cover/rear wall/rear section
41 Legal identification signs
42 Multi-element display with complete display modules
43 Display cover (“LED cover”/“reprocover”/“Composite reprocover”)
44 Screen of the outer frame
45 Inner frame (for receiving display)
46 Light sensor
47 Material connection (e.g. welding, adhesive bonding, seam, riveting)
48 Display cell (for “reprocover”/“composite reprocover”/“composite cover”/“LED cover”)
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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20 2019 001 774.7 | Apr 2019 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/060871 | 4/17/2020 | WO | 00 |