Indication display unit for a vehicle

• US 5,400,045 A
• Filed: 12/21/1992
• Issued: 03/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Aoki, Kunimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saras, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US07/996,856
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/461, 340/980, 359/839-844, 359/859, 359/630-633, 353/13, 353/14, 345/1, 345/2, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08

Abstract

There is disclosed an indication display unit for a vehicle which comprises a plurality of indicators including those for remote display as well, and a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces and mounted on a dashboard. By use of the indication display unit described above, respective images indicated on the plurality of indicators are reflected on the plurality of reflective surfaces as to be visibly observed forwardly of the reflecting plate by a driver without interference with the driver'"'"'s visual field.

Claims

1. An indication display unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of indicators; and

a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces being vertically arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and having adjoining ends thereof connected to each other, and said reflecting plate being mounted on a dashboard between a windshield of said vehicle and a driver, each of the reflective surfaces being planar,

wherein respective images indicated on a respective one of said plurality of indicators are separately reflected on a corresponding one of said plurality of reflective surfaces so that each image can be separately and directly observed forwardly of said reflecting plate by a driver at an angle of reflection different from another angle of reflection of another image, wherein said plurality of indicators comprise one of;

(a) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has an image directed to a front of said vehicle and into a first reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and at least one indicator which is located at said dashboard of said vehicle and has another image directed substantially upwards and into a second reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and

(b) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has said image directed to said front of said vehicle and into at least one of first and second reflective surfaces of said reflecting plate to thereby allow said driver to observe said image and said another image forwardly of said reflecting plate.

2. An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflecting plate is bent in a substantially L shape configuring upper and lower reflective surfaces thereon;

one of which being inclined upwardly, while the other being inclined downwardly.

3. An indication display unit for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of indicators for remote display; and

a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces being vertically arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and having adjoining ends thereof connected to each other, and said reflecting plate being mounted on a dashboard between a windshield of said vehicle and a driver, each of reflective surfaces being planar,

wherein respective images indicated on a respective one of said plurality of indicators are separately reflected on a corresponding one of said plurality of reflective surfaces so that each image can be separately and directly observed forwardly of said reflecting plate by a driver at an angle of reflection different from another angle of reflection of another image, wherein said plurality of indicators comprise one of;

(a) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has an image directed to a front of said vehicle and into a first reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and at least one indicator which is located at said dashboard of said vehicle and has another image directed substantially upwards and into a second reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and

(b) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has said image directed to said front of said vehicle and into at least one of first and second reflective surfaces of said reflecting plate to thereby allow said driver to observe said image and said another image forwardly of said reflecting plate.

4. An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein positions of said plurality of indicators for remote display can be determined according to inclination angles of each of said plurality of reflecting surfaces.