Retracting head up display with image position adjustment

• US 5,394,203 A
• Filed: 06/06/1994
• Issued: 02/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Murphy, Morgan D., Groves, Doyle J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US08/254,715
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 353/11, 353/12, 353/13, 353/14, 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/633, 340/705
• US Class Current: 353/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• 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 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence

Abstract

An opening in a vehicle dash pad allows a HUD reflecting element or mirror to be retracted into the dashboard when not in use. A cover panel hinged to the dash pad supports the mirror and closes the opening when retracted. The panel is joined to a gear arrangement which is controlled by a motor for moving the panel and mirror between storage and operating positions. The mirror is coupled to the panel by a ball joint and the mirror is adjusted about two tilt axes by motor-driven cams for positioning the HUD image in the view of the operator.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle having a dash pad, an adjustable head up display mounted in the dash pad and having a reflecting element for movement between a stored position beneath the dash pad and an operating position above the dash pad adjacent the line of sight of an operator, comprising:

a hinged support bearing the reflecting element;

means coupled to the support for moving the support and the reflecting element between stored and operating positions;

means beneath the dash pad for projecting a display to the reflecting element when in operating position, thereby presenting an image at a position viewable by the operator; and

adjustable means mounting the reflecting element on the support for fine adjustment of the image position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the means coupled to the support includes first motor means for moving the support;

and

the adjustable means includes second motor means for fine adjustment of the reflecting element.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the means coupled to the support comprises the first motor means and a gear arrangement for operating the hinged support about a hinge axis to move the reflecting element from its stored position to its operating position.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the adjustable means comprises:

a pivot for movably mounting the reflecting element on the support;

cam means driven by the second motor means for adjusting the reflecting element; and

spring means for biasing the reflecting element against the cam means.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable means includes:

means for movably mounting the reflecting element on the support for horizontal adjustment of the image; and

a motor-driven cam for moving the reflecting element to horizontally adjust the image position.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable means includes:

means for movably mounting the reflecting element on the support for vertical adjustment of the image; and

a motor-driven cam for moving the reflecting element to vertically adjust the image position.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustable means comprises:

a ball pivot for movably mounting the reflecting element on the support;

first and second cam means for adjusting the reflecting element about first and second axes, thereby allowing adjustment of the image position in two directions; and

means for biasing the reflecting element against the cam means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 including:

an opening in the dash pad located below the line of sight of a vehicle operator;

the reflecting element being retracted into the opening when moved to the storage position;

a panel for covering the opening in the dash pad when the reflecting element is in stored position, the panel being attached to the hinged support member for movement with the reflecting element.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 including:

an opening in the dash pad located below the line of sight of a vehicle operator;

the reflecting element being retracted into the opening when moved to the storage position;

a panel for covering the opening in the dash pad when the reflecting element is in stored position, the panel being attached to the hinged support adjacent to the reflecting element;

the adjustable means comprising means for pivotally coupling the reflecting element to the panel and motor driven means between the panel and the reflecting element for tilting the reflecting element to position the image.