Display apparatus for a vehicle

• US 4,999,012 A
• Filed: 04/15/1988
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Iino, Tadashi, Suzuki, Yoshiyuki, Aoki, Kunimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Haroian, Harry N.
• Application Number:
  US07/182,292
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 353/7, 353/8, 353/9, 353/10-14, 353/30, 353/35, 340/705, 350/144, 350/335
• 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 patterns 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 face; 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 vehicle, which comprises:

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

a plurality of liquid crystal devices which are spaced apart from, and overlapped with each other along an optical axis, each of the liquid crystal devices having a display pattern therein;

a light source for projecting the display patterns of the liquid crystal devices onto the projecting face to form plural virtual images of the display patterns so as to overlap on an outer landscape in front of the projecting face; and

a lens for enlarging the projected display patterns, wherein the overlapped liquid crystal devices are arranged within the focal distance of the lens in such a manner so as to provide a stereo-image of the indication of the projected display patterns.

2. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal devices are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

3. The display apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a glass plate is interposed within the space.