Display apparatus for automobiles

• US 5,181,012 A
• Filed: 09/23/1991
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Iino, Tadashi, Aoki, Kunimitsu, Furuya, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US07/763,728
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 340/461, 340/980, 340/705, 340/438, 358/103, 359/630, 359/609, 359/613, 359/614, 353/13, 353/14
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A display apparatus for automobiles which enhances the quality of the displayed image by a shading portion which prevents external light from being observed. A display apparatus for automobiles according to the present invention includes an indicator, a reflection member having a reflection surface which opposes a display surface of the indicator and a light transmissible reflection member arranged between the indicator and the reflection member. The light transmissible reflecting member transmits display light of the indicator and reflects reflected light from the reflection member to a driver'"'"'s side. A meter hood extends to the driver'"'"'s side of the reflection member. A shading portion extends below the reflection surface of the reflection member on the meter hood side of the reflection member.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for automobiles comprising:

an indicator;

a reflection member having a reflection surface which opposes a display surface of said indicator;

a light transmissible reflection member arranged between said indicator and said reflection member for transmitting display light of said indicator and for reflecting reflected light from said reflection member to a visual field;

a meter hood extending from a dashboard toward a visual field side of said light transmissible reflection member, said reflection member located within said meter hood; and

a shading means, connected to said meter hood and extending below said reflection surface of said reflection member which is located on said meter hood, for preventing external light from being reflected from end portions of said light transmissible reflection member into said visual field.

2. A display apparatus for automobiles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shading means includes a black reflection plate.

3. A display apparatus for automobiles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said shading means includes a dark shading layer formed at one end of a transparent front cover provided on said meter hood, said transparent front cover being formed at one end of said reflection member projecting from said meter hood.

4. A display apparatus for automobiles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflection member includes a total reflection mirror with a concave surface for displaying an enlarged displayed image of said indicator.

5. A display apparatus for automobiles as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a case body having a shape of a hollow pillar for enclosing a circumference of said indicator and a part of a surface of said light transmissible reflection member;

a transmissible reflection plate arranged between said light transmissible reflection member and said indicator in said case body; and

an alarm indicating portion formed on a side of said case body, said alarm indicating portion comprising a bulb and a filter lens on which an alarm symbol is printed, wherein when said bulb is turned on, said alarm symbol and a displayed image of said indicator are multiply displayed.

6. A display apparatus for automobiles as claimed in claim 5, wherein inner surfaces of said case body are covered with a hair-like material for eliminating diffused reflection in said case body.