Head up display installation arrangement

• US 5,563,620 A
• Filed: 12/14/1993
• Issued: 10/08/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Terai, Takehiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/165,905
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 340/980, 348/115, 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/633, 359/13, 359/14, 359/48, 359/49, 359/50, 353/13, 353/14
• 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 2027/0156 with optionally usable 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 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

An installation arrangement for a head up display for an automotive vehicle has an installment panel which mounts a head up display unit. The installment panel is mounted in a vehicle body such that the display unit is suitably disposed on the driver'"'"'s side. The head up display is reflected through an opening in a top side of the installment panel to be reflected on a reflective portion of a windshield panel. A wall portion of the installment panel has an access opening for allowing servicing of the display unit. The installation is arranged such that the access opening is covered by a meter and a meter lid for which the display is operative. Thus good appearance is maintained while servicing is simplified.

Claims

1. A head up display installation for a vehicle, comprising:

an installment panel having a first opening formed at an upper side thereof;

a head up display unit having a housing attached at a predetermined position to an interior portion of said installment panel, for facilitating transmission of information displayed on said head up display unit;

a reflective element mounted within said housing at a predetermined position for facilitating transmission of information displayed on said head up display unit;

a light source which is attachable to and detachable from said housing of said head up display unit, said predetermined positions of said housing and said reflective element being maintained independently of attachment or removal of said light source; and

an access opening provided at a front side of said installment panel and a meter removably mounted at a location on said front side of said installment panel so as to cover said access opening, said access opening allowing convenient access to one of said light source and circuitry related to said head up display;

wherein attachment and removal of said light source from said housing maintains a focus of said light source in said head up display installation.

2. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 1, further including a finishing member installed over said meter.

3. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 1, further including a light receiving surface installed at a predetermined position on a windshield panel of said vehicle above said first opening and in alignment with a reflecting direction of said reflective element.

4. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 1, further including a transparent cover portion mounted over said first opening.

5. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 4, wherein the size of said transparent cover is substantially equal to said first opening.

6. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing is substantially rectangular in shape, has at least one open side and includes means for removably mounting said light source on a side other than said open side.

7. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in an installed condition of said head up display unit, a mounting of said light source is positioned proximate said access opening.

8. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein said meter is operatively connected to said head up display unit.

9. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light source is a single replaceable unit.

10. A vehicular head up display installation, comprising:

a head up display unit including a housing containing a removably mounted light source and a permanently mounted first fixed reflective element, said housing being configured such that removal of said light source does not alter an alignment of said first fixed reflective element, said housing further having at least one installation portion formed thereon;

a second fixed reflective element having a predetermined angular relation to said first fixed reflective element, said second fixed reflective element being provided on a fixedly mounted vehicular windshield;

structural members integral to said housing and engageable with corresponding members formed on a body portion of said light source, said structural members of said housing being positioned such that, according to attachment to said housing, said light source is mounted, aimed and focused in relation to said first and second fixed reflective elements such that an output of said light source is reflected from said first fixed reflective element to said second fixed reflective element;

an installment panel fixedly mounted below said vehicular windshield and including;

at least one attachment portion engageable with said installation portion of said housing so as to install said head up display unit at an operational position;

a first opening defined in an upper side of said installment panel and positioned between said first and second fixed reflective elements;

a second opening, defined in a wall portion of said installment panel covering said head up display unit, said second opening facilitating access to a mounted position of said light source at a location substantially opposing said operational position of said head up display unit; and

a meter removably attached over said second opening of said installment panel;

wherein attachment and removal of said light source from said housing maintains said focus of said light source in said vehicular head up display installation.

11. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 10, wherein said meter has a finished member installed thereover.

12. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 10, further including a transparent cover portion mounted over said first opening.

13. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 10, wherein said light source is a single replacement unit.

14. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 10, wherein said meter is operatively connected to said head up display unit.

15. A head up display installation for a vehicle, comprising:

and installment panel having a first opening formed at an upper side thereof;

a head up display unit having a housing attached at a predetermined position at an interior portion of said installment panel;

a reflective element mounted at a predetermined installed position within said housing;

a light receiving display surface installed at a predetermined position on a windshield panel of said vehicle above said opening and in alignment with a reflecting direction of said reflective element; and

a light source removably attached to said housing, said housing and said light source being arranged so that attachment of said light source to said housing positionally aligns said light source with said reflective element to assure correctly aligned light transmission from the light source to said light receiving display surface.

16. A head up display installation as set forth in claim 15, wherein said light source is a single replaceable unit.