Display apparatus for a vehicle

• US 4,999,011 A
• Filed: 02/02/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yoshiyuki, Iino, Tadashi, Aoki, Kunimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): HAROIAN, HARRY
• Application Number:
  US07/305,018
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 353/10-14, 353/7-9, 353/30-35, 340/705, 350/144, 350/174
• US Class Current: 353/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/302 for viewing without the aid of special glasses, i.e. using autostereoscopic displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/363 using image projection screens volumetric display H04N13/388

Abstract

A display apparatus for a vehicle comprises a unit for projecting display pattern provided by a display unit onto a projecting face in front of a driver'"'"'s seat, the projecting unit having first and second display devices respectively forming virtual images in positions different from each other in front of the projecting race; and a unit for visually overlapping an outer landscape in front of a front glass and the virtual images of the display patterns provided by the projecting unit. The display apparatus further comprises a half mirror for making a display pattern of the first display device penetrate therethrough, and reflecting a display pattern of the second display device.

A virtual image display apparatus comprises a display device for providing plural display patterns by making light penetrate therethrough; a lens for enlarging images of the display patterns and forming virtual images thereof and projecting the virtual images onto a reflecting member, the display device being arranged within the focal distance of the lens; and a device for providing a stereo-image based on the virtual images by the display device and the lens.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a projecting face provided in front of a driver'"'"'s seat of the motor vehicle; and

projecting means including at least first and second display devices each having a display pattern therein, the first and second display devices being adapted to, in use, directly project the display patterns from the same direction onto the projecting face to form virtual images of the display patterns in such a manner that the virtual images overlap on an outer landscape in front of the projecting face, wherein the first and second display devices of the projecting means are arranged within the projecting means in front-to-back relationship with each other in order to produce the virtual images of the display patterns in positions different from each other in front of the projecting face, thereby providing a stereo-image indication of the projected display patterns.

2. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projecting means further comprises a lens for enlarging the projected display pattern from the first or second display device.

3. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second display device is arranged far away from the first display device with respect to the projecting face.

4. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first display device comprises two spaced devices each having the display pattern, and the second display device is disposed at the back of the portion between the two spaced devices.

5. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the projecting means further comprises a lens for enlarging the display pattern projected from the second display device, the lens being disposed between the spaced devices of the first display device.

6. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the projecting means is provided as a unit disposed within a dashboard of the motor vehicle.

7. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the projecting means is provided as a unit disposed within a dashboard of the motor vehicle.