Head up display apparatus for automotive vehicle

• US 5,034,732 A
• Filed: 05/15/1989
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Iino, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/351,548
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/461, 340/980, 340/97, 340/52 R, 340/98, 350/174, 350/606, 350/607, 350/632, 350/637, 350/639, 353/13, 353/14, 358/103, 358/104, 358/93, 358/250
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• 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 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• 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 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence

Abstract

In a head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle including a projector unit disposed at the ceiling of the automotive vehicle to project display images and a half-mirror reflector unit for reflecting the projected display images to the driver, the height of the half-mirror reflector unit and the angular position of the projector unit are automatically adjusted according to vehicle speed, so that virtual display images can be appropriately seen by the driver ahead of the half mirror reflector unit along the driver'"'"'s eye direction variable according to vehicle speed, by use of a relatively small half-mirror reflector unit.

Claims

1. A head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

(a) projecting means, disposed within a passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle, for projecting display images;

(b) half mirror reflecting means, disposed at a predetermined location within the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle, for reflecting the display images projected by said projecting means to a driver;

(c) first acuator means, coupled to said half mirror reflecting means, for moving said half mirror reflecting means up and down to adjust a height of said half mirror reflecting means relative to said predetermined location;

(d) sensor means for detecting vehicle speed;

(e) second actuator means, coupled to said half mirror reflecting means, for pivoting said half mirror reflecting means to adjust an angular position of said half mirror reflecting means so that display images can be correctly reflected from said half mirror reflecting means to the driver; and

(f) control means, coupled to said first and second actuator means and said sensor means, for controlling a height and angular positions of said half mirror reflecting means according to vehicle speed detected by said sensor means to automatically form virtual display images ahead of said half mirror reflecting means in a driver'"'"'s eye direction variable according to vehicle speed.

3. The head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said projecting means is disposed at a ceiling of the passenger compartment.

5. The head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control means controls said projecting means and said half mirror reflecting means in accordance with table look-up method on the basis of detected vehicle speed.

6. The head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said control means controls said projecting means and said half mirror reflecting means in direct forward control method.

7. The head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first actuator means comprises a sensor for detecting an angular position of said projecting means and said second actuator means comprises a sensor for detecting height position of said half mirror reflecting means, to control said projecting means and said half reflecting mirror means in feedback control method.

8. The head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises an operation panel including an auto/manual selector switch and buttons for manually adjusting a projection direction of said projector means and a height and an angular position of said half mirror reflecting means.

2. A head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

(a) projecting means including an optical system, disposed within a passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle, for projecting display images;

(b) first actuator means, coupled to said projecting means, for pivoting said projecting means to adjust a projection direction of the display images;

(c) half mirror reflecting means, disposed at a predetermined location with the passenger compartment of the automotive vehicle, for reflecting the display images projected by said projecting means to a driver;

(d) second actuator means, coupled to said half mirror reflecting means, for moving said half mirror reflecting means up and down to adjust a height of said half mirror reflecting means relative to said predetermined location;

(e) sensor means for detecting vehicle speed;

(f) third actuator means, coupled to said half mirror reflecting means, for pivoting said half mirror reflecting means to adjust an angular position of said half mirror reflecting means so that display images can be correctly reflected from said half mirror reflecting means to the driver; and

(g) control means, coupled to said first, second, and third actuator means and said sensor means, for controlling an angular position of said projecting means and height and angular positions of said half mirror reflecting means according to vehicle speed detected by said sensor means to automatically from virtual display images ahead of said half mirror reflecting means in a driver'"'"'s eye direction variable according to vehicle speed.

4. The head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein said projecting means is disposed at a ceiling of the passenger compartment.

9. The head up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set forth in claim 2, which further comprises an operation panel including an auto/manual selector switch and buttons for manually adjusting a projection direction of said projector means and a height and an angular position of said half mirror reflecting means.