DISPLAY DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20140292695A1
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Published: 10/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: WAKAMOTO, Naoki, NIWA, Makoto, KONNO, Daigo
• Granted Patent: US 10,067,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display

Abstract

A display device for a vehicle includes an operating unit which a passenger can operate, and a display unit which displays various types of images based on an operation input at the operating unit. The operating unit and display unit are disposed separated from each other. The operating unit is situated between the eyes of a driver performing the operation input and the display unit, and overlays the display unit on the line-of-sight direction of the driver performing the operation input.

Claims

1. A display device for a vehicle comprising:

an operating unit that receives an operation input from a passenger; and

a display unit that displays various types of information based on the operation input from the operating unit;

wherein the operating unit and the display unit are disposed separated from each other; and

wherein the operating unit is situated between the eyes of the passenger performing the operation input and the display unit, and situated at a position overlaying the display unit in the line of sight of the passenger performing operation input.

3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

5. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit is a touch panel including an operating surface, to detect whether the operation input has been performed as to the operating surface by touching or coming into proximity.

7. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit is situated within a range reachable by a passenger seated in a seat.

9. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit is attached to a steering wheel situated in front of a driver'"'"'s seat.

11. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit is attached to any one of a pillar member provided in front of the driver'"'"'s seat, a roof member connected to the upper end side of the pillar, and an interior member covering at least one of the pillar member and the roof member from the inner side of the vehicle cabin, the members being used to configure a vehicle body.

13. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit has at least a part of the outer perimeter thereof which is covered by a cover member having an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape or is formed into an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape.

15. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the operating unit is attached to a vehicle-mounted part via the cover member.

17. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit is disposed between an instrument panel situated toward the front of the driver'"'"'s seat, and a steering wheel, the instrument panel and the steering wheel being used to configure a vehicle body.

19. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the operating unit is attached to either one of a steering column which rotatably supports a steering shaft to which the steering wheel is attached, and the instrument panel, the steering column and the instrument panel being vehicle-mounted parts.

21. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 17,

wherein the operating unit is attached to a vehicle-mounted part by way of a supporting member;

and

wherein the supporting member includes

an extension extending in generally the same direction as an operating direction in which the operation input is performed,

a vehicle-mounted part attaching unit linked to one end of the extension toward the front side of the vehicle, and attached to the vehicle-mounted part, and

an operating unit attaching unit linked to the other end of the extension toward the rear side of the vehicle, and attached to the operating unit.

2. A display device for a vehicle comprising:

an operating unit configured to receive operation input from a passenger; and

a display unit configured to display various types of information based on the operation input from the operating unit;

wherein the operating unit and the display unit are disposed separated from each other; and

wherein the display unit is situated between the eyes of the passenger performing the operation input and the operating unit, and situated at a position overlaying the operating unit in the line of sight of the passenger performing operation input.

4. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the display unit is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

6. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit is a touch panel including an operating surface, to detect whether the operation input has been performed as to the operating surface by touching or coming into proximity.

8. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit is situated within a range reachable by a passenger seated in a seat.

10. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit is attached to a steering wheel situated in front of a driver'"'"'s seat.

12. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit is attached to any one of a pillar member provided in front of the driver'"'"'s seat, a roof member connected to the upper end side of the pillar, and an interior member covering at least one of the pillar member and the roof member from the inner side of the vehicle cabin, the members being used to configure a vehicle body.

14. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit has at least a part of the outer perimeter thereof which is covered by a cover member having an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape or is formed into an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape.

16. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the operating unit is attached to a vehicle-mounted part via the cover member.

18. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the operating unit is disposed between an instrument panel situated toward the front of the driver'"'"'s seat, and a steering wheel, the instrument panel and the steering wheel being used to configure a vehicle body.

20. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the operating unit is attached to either one of a steering column which rotatably supports a steering shaft to which the steering wheel is attached, and the instrument panel, the steering column and the instrument panel being vehicle-mounted parts.

22. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 18,

wherein the operating unit is attached to a vehicle-mounted part by way of a supporting member;

and

wherein the supporting member includes

an extension extending in generally the same direction as an operating direction in which the operation input is performed,

a vehicle-mounted part attaching unit linked to one end of the extension toward the front side of the vehicle, and attached to the vehicle-mounted part, and

an operating unit attaching unit linked to the other end of the extension toward the rear side of the vehicle, and attached to the operating unit.

23. A display device for a vehicle comprising:

a first display unit situated toward the front of the vehicle from a passenger seated in a seat; and

a second display unit formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material, the second display unit being disposed separated from the first display unit;

wherein the second display unit is situated between the eyes of the passenger viewing a display screen of the first display unit and the first display unit, and situated at a position overlaying the first display unit in the line of sight of the passenger viewing the display screen of the first display unit.

24. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 23, further comprising:

a control unit that controls images displayed on the first display unit and the second display unit;

wherein the control unit effects control such that a right eye image and a left eye image, which are disparity images, are displayed on the second display unit.

25. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 24, further comprising:

a detecting unit that detects the position of the eyes of a passenger;

wherein the control unit effects control so as to change display positions of the right eye image and the left eye image based on detection results from the detecting unit.

26. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 24,

wherein the second display unit includes a touch panel to detect whether the input operation input has been performed as to an operating surface by touching or coming into proximity;

and

wherein the control unit sets a region including

a region in which the right eye image can be displayed, and

a region in which the left eye image can be displayed,

as an operable region in which the touch panel can be operated.

27. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the first display unit includes a touch panel to detect whether the input operation has been performed as to an operating surface by touching or coming into proximity.

28. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 23,

wherein the second display unit has an optical filter at the side thereof toward the rear of the vehicle the optical filter being configured to transmit light of a particular direction;

and

wherein the filter transmits light in a direction of the line of sight of either one of the right eye and the left eye of the passenger viewing the first display unit, but transmits little or no light in a direction of the line of sight of the other of the right eye and the left eye.

29. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 28, wherein either one of the first display unit and the second display unit includes a touch panel to detect whether the input operation has been performed as to an operating surface by touching or coming into proximity.