Indication display unit for vehicles

• US 5,327,154 A
• Filed: 07/03/1991
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Aoki, Kunimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/724,454
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/784, 340/980, 353/13, 353/14, 358/93, 358/103, 358/104, 358/241, 345/7, 345/8
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated

Abstract

An indication display unit which includes an LC board as its reflector, by the reflector'"'"'s changing of its transmissivity, the reflected image thereon projected from an indication projector and other images, such as an image directly exposed from an indicator located behind the LC board or the image generated by itself, can be respectively selected to be reflected therefrom. Accordingly, with the indication display of this invention, the clarity of the displayed image can be greatly improved, and simultaneous display of various indications can be achieved.

Claims

1. An indication display unit for vehicles enabling a driver to sight at least one of a first indicting image and a second indicating image, comprising:

an image projection means for projecting said first indicating image, said image projection means including a display device; and

a reflecting means, having a front side facing a driver seat and a back side, located in front of the driver seat for receiving and reflecting said first indicating image being projected by said image projection means from said front side of said reflecting means, said reflecting means being made of a liquid crystal display which is transparent when in an off state to thereby permit said driver to sight said second indicating image located in said back side of said reflecting means.

2. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflecting means is made of a dot-matrix type liquid crystal display which can also generate an image to be reflected therefrom.

3. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein at least one indicating device is disposed behind said reflecting means.

4. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the transmissivity of said reflecting means can be changed depending on an on/off state of said liquid crystal display so that the transmissivity level of said indicating image can be adjusted.

5. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said liquid crystal display comprises different segments of electrode patterns, wherein different images can be observed on or through said display.

6. An indication display unit for vehicles enabling a driver to sight at least one of a first indicating image and a second indicating image, comprising:

an image projection means for projecting said first indicating image, said image projection means including a display device; and

a reflecting means, having a front side facing a driver seat and a back side, located in front of the driver seat for receiving and reflecting said first indicating image being projected by said image projection means from said front side of said reflecting means, said reflecting means being made of a liquid crystal display which is transparent when in an off state to thereby permit said driver to sight said second indicating image located in said back side of said reflecting means, wherein said reflecting means is made of a dot-matrix type liquid crystal display which can also generate an image to be reflected therefrom.