Patent Application
20190045117
This document relates generally to the motor vehicle equipment field and, more particularly, to a panoramic display screen assembly which extends fully across a motor vehicle at the interface of the windshield and the instrument panel. The display screen assembly includes at least one integral ventilation passageway for distributing air from an HVAC system across the windshield and/or the front sidelights or front door windows of the motor vehicle.
This document relates to a panoramic display screen mounted where the instrument panel meets the windshield of the motor vehicle. The panoramic display screen extends fully across the entire width of the windshield and instrument panel of the motor vehicle. Further, the panoramic display screen includes a least one integral ventilation passageway configured to distribute air from an HVAC system across the windshield and in some embodiments also to sidelight or front door window demisters provided in the A-pillars of the motor vehicle.
In accordance with the benefits and advantages disclosed herein, a panoramic display screen assembly is provided. That panoramic display screen assembly comprises an elongated body that extends across a base of a motor vehicle windshield at the top of the instrument panel. The display screen assembly further includes a first ventilation passageway in the elongated body that is configured to distribute air from a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the motor vehicle across the windshield.
The elongated body may include a display screen, a close out panel oriented motor vehicle forward toward the windshield, and a support substrate packaged between the display screen and the close out panel. The first ventilation passageway may be at least partially formed in the support substrate.
The first ventilation passageway may further include a first inlet and a first outlet located intermediate a first end and a second end of the elongated body. Further, the first passageway may increase in cross sectional area from the first inlet to the first outlet.
The display screen assembly may further include a second passageway having a second inlet and a second outlet. The second outlet may be located at the first end of the elongated body. In addition, the display screen assembly may further include a third passageway having a third inlet and a third outlet. The third outlet may be located at the second end of the elongated body.
In accordance with an additional aspect, a motor vehicle assembly is provided comprising a windshield, an instrument panel and a display screen. That display screen extends across a base of the windshield and atop the instrument panel. The display screen includes an elongated body and a first ventilation passageway, in the elongated body, configured to distribute air from an HVAC system across the windshield.
The elongated body may further include a display screen, a close out panel oriented motor vehicle forward toward the windshield and a support substrate. The support substrate is provided between the display screen and the close out panel.
The first ventilation passageway may be at least partially formed in the support substrate. Further, the first ventilation passageway may include a first inlet and a first outlet located intermediate a first end and a second end of the elongated body. Further, the first passageway may increase in cross sectional area from the first inlet to the first outlet.
The motor vehicle assembly may further include a second passageway having a second inlet and a second outlet. The second outlet may be located at the first end of the elongated body. In addition, the motor vehicle assembly may further include a third passageway having a third inlet and a third outlet. The third outlet may be located at the second end of the elongated body.
The instrument panel may include a first HVAC outlet in communication with the first inlet, a second HVAC outlet in communication with the second inlet and a third HVAC outlet in communication with the third inlet. In addition, the motor vehicle assembly may further include a first demister in a first A-pillar adjacent the windshield and a second demister in a second A-pillar adjacent the windshield. The first demister may be provided in communication with the second outlet while the second demister may be provided in communication with the third outlet.
A method of clearing a windshield of fog or ice above a full width display screen is also provided. That method may be described as comprising the steps of (a) directing conditioned air from an HVAC system to a first HVAC outlet provided in an instrument panel beneath the full width display screen and (b) directing the conditioned air from the first HVAC outlet to an air distribution passageway behind a central portion of the full width display screen onto the windshield.
In addition, the method may include the steps of directing the conditioned air from the HVAC system to a second HVAC outlet provided in the instrument panel beneath the full width display screen and directing the conditioned air from the second HVAC outlet to a first demister passageway behind the first end portion of the full width display screen and through a first demister in a first A-pillar adjacent the windshield. Still further, the method may include the steps of directing the conditioned air from the HVAC system to a third HVAC outlet provided in the instrument panel beneath the full width display screen and directing the conditioned air from the third HVAC outlet to a second demister passageway behind a second end portion of the full width display screen and through a second demister in a second A-pillar adjacent the windshield.
In the following description, there are shown and described several preferred embodiments of the display screen assembly, the motor vehicle assembly and the related method of clearing a windshield of fog or ice above a full width display screen. As it should be realized, the display screen assembly, motor vehicle assembly and method are capable of other, different embodiments and their several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the display screen assembly, motor vehicle assembly and method as set forth and described in the following claims. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawing figures incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the display screen assembly, the motor vehicle assembly and the related method and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the display screen assembly, the motor vehicle assembly and the related method of clearing a windshield of fog or ice above a full width display screen, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures.
Reference is now made to
In the embodiment illustrated in
As best illustrated in
The elongated body 18 includes a close out panel 26 oriented motor vehicle forward toward the windshield 12 so as to provide a cosmetic appearance when viewed through the windshield at the front of the motor vehicle. Further, the elongated body 18 includes a support substrate 28 packaged between the display screen 24 and the close out panel 26. Both the close out panel 26 and the support substrate 28 may be molded from appropriate materials such as plastic resins or reinforced composite materials.
As further illustrated in
As illustrated, the first ventilation passageway 30 includes a first inlet 32 and a first outlet 34 located intermediate a first end 36 of the display screen assembly 16 at the first A-pillar 20 and a second end 38 of the display screen assembly at the second A-pillar 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the first ventilation passageway 30 increases in cross sectional area from the first inlet 32 to the first outlet 34 in order to ensure distribution of conditioned air across the inner surface of the windshield 12.
As further illustrated in
As further illustrated in
Conditioned air passing through the first ventilation passageway 30 is discharged through the first outlet 34 across the interior surface of the windshield 12 for defogging or defrosting the windshield. Conditioned air passing through the second ventilation passageway 40 is delivered to a first demister 60 in the first A-pillar 20 through the second outlet 44. The first demister 60 functions to distribute that air across the first side light or side window 62 where that air functions to defog or defrost that window. Similarly, the third ventilation passageway 46 serves to deliver conditioned air to a second demister 64 in the second A-pillar 22 through the third outlet 50. The second demister 64 functions to distribute that conditioned air across the inner surface of the second sidelight or side window 66 thereby serving to defog or defrost that window.
Reference is now made to
In either of the embodiments of the motor vehicle assembly 10, 10′ illustrated, respectively, in
As illustrated in
It should be appreciated that this or other information may be displayed as desired. In some embodiments, the display of information may be configured and customized by the motor vehicle operator.
As should be appreciated, the top of the panoramic display screen 24 and the display screen assembly 16 are positioned sufficiently low so as to not interfere with the visual field required by the driver to safely operate the motor vehicle.
Consistent with the above description, a method is provided of clearing a windshield 12 of fog or ice above a full width display screen 24 of the panoramic type extending fully across the base of the windshield between the A-pillars 20, 22 and along the top of the instrument panel 14. That method includes the step of directing conditioned air from an HVAC system 58 to a first HVAC outlet 52 provided in the instrument panel 14 beneath the full width display screen 24 and directing that conditioned air from the first HVAC outlet through a first ventilation passageway 30 behind a central portion of the full width display screen onto the windshield 12.
The method may further include the steps of directing the conditioned air from the HVAC system 58 to a second HVAC outlet 54 provided in the instrument panel 14 beneath the full width display screen 24 and directing that conditioned air from the second HVAC outlet through a second ventilation passageway 40 behind a first end 36 of the full width display screen 24 and then through the first demister 60 in a first A-pillar 20 adjacent the windshield. Still further, the method may include the steps of directing the conditioned air from the HVAC system 58 to a third HVAC outlet 56 provided in the instrument panel 14 beneath the full width display screen 24 and directing that conditioned air from the third HVAC outlet through a third ventilation passageway 46 behind a second end 38 of the full width display screen and then through the second demister 64 in a second A-pillar 22 adjacent the windshield.
The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, in a fully autonomous motor vehicle, the panoramic display screen 24 may be configured to display videos, informational programming, entertainment programming or other desired materials from substantially any desired source including sources available over a wireless internet or other network connection. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.
