Display apparatus for automotive vehicle

• US 4,967,191 A
• Filed: 07/21/1989
• Issued: 10/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Iino, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fatahiyar, M.
• Application Number:
  US07/383,041
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/98, 340/97, 340/980, 353/13, 353/14, 358/103, 358/104, 358/93, 358/250, 350/174
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A display apparatus for an automotive vehicle comprises a projector disposed at the ceiling of a vehicle passenger compartment to project display images and a reflecting member pivotally disposed in a dashboard of the vehicle to reflect the display images projected by the projector toward the driver. The reflecting member is a mirror or a hologram plate. The display images are stable without being subjected to the influence of external sunlight, while increasing the field of vision on the front windshield. Further, when the hologram plate is used, it is possible to obtain large display images in spite of a small-sized projector and to improve the visual recognizability of display images.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for an automotive vehicle, which comprises:

(a) a projector, disposed at a ceiling in a passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle, for projecting display images;

(b) a reflector, disposed in a recess formed in a panel surface of a dashboard of the automotive vehicle, for reflecting the display images projected by said projecting means toward a driver of the automotive vehicle, said reflector being any one of a mirror and a hologram plate being disposed frontwardly inclined so that an upper portion of said reflector is positioned relatively closer to a front end of said vehicle than is a lower portion of said reflector; and

(c) a pivotal shaft, disposed in the recess formed in the panel surface of the dashboard, for pivoting said reflector.

2. The display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises another reflector, disposed at the ceiling in the passenger compartment, for reflecting the display images projected by said projector disposed at the ceiling toward said other reflector disposed in the recess formed in the panel surface of a dashboard, said other reflector being any one of a mirror and a hologram plate.