Liquid crystal windshield display

• US 5,638,202 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael E. Rofe
• Original Assignee: Michael E. Rofe
• Inventors: Rofe, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, CHARLES LELAND
• Application Number:
  US08/629,912
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 359/83, 359/63
• US Class Current: 349/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

The liquid crystal windshield display is a passive type display system utilizing an LCD, where the windshield acts as the LCD platform. Basically the same LCD technology that is currently used on many of the calculators in use. Except whereas all LCDs currently in use for calculators are reflective, the liquid crystal windshield display utilizes LCD technology in a see-through mode.

Claims

1. A display for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a first piece of glass;

a second piece of glass congruent to and spaced apart from said first piece of glass to form an automotive windshield, said first piece of glass and said second piece of glass defining a space therebetween;

a layer of liquid crystal having a first perimeter and disposed in said space to display information from the automotive windshield;

a first polarizing element, having a second perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and secured to said first piece of glass;

a second polarizing element, having a third perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and secured to said second piece of glass, wherein said second and third perimeters are within said first perimeter when viewed by the intended viewer of said display; and

at least one bead in said space and extending between said first piece of glass and said second piece of glass to maintain said space therebetween.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1 further including at least one transparent electrode sandwiched between the first and the second polarizing elements.

3. A display as claimed in claim 1 further including:

At least one transparent electrode disposed so that it is directly adjacent the layer of liquid crystal.

4. A display as claimed in claim 1 further including:

Two sets of transparent electrodes directly adjacent to and on both sides of the layer of liquid crystal.

5. A display as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one bead is fabricated from a thermoplastic material.

6. A windshield assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a windshield;

a layer of liquid crystal having a first perimeter and disposed within the windshield to display information from the windshield within a field of vision of a driver of the automotive vehicle;

a first polarizing layer, having a second perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal so that any polarized light passing through the layer of liquid crystal is due to the first polarizing layer;

a second polarizing layer, having a third perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and spaced from the first polarizing layer, the liquid crystal being sandwiched between the first and second polarizing layers, wherein said second and third perimeters are within said first perimeter when viewed by the intended viewer;

at least one transparent electrode sandwiched between the first polarizing layer and the second polarizing layer; and

electronics to apply an emf to the liquid crystal via the at least one transparent electrode.

7. A windshield assembly in an automotive vehicle comprising:

a windshield;

a layer of liquid crystal having a first perimeter and disposed within the windshield to display information from the windshield within a field of vision of a driver of the automotive vehicle;

a first polarizing layer, having a second perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal so that any polarized light passing through the layer of liquid crystal is due to the first polarizing layer;

a second polarizing layer, having a third perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and spaced from the first polarizing layer, the liquid crystal being sandwiched between the first and second polarizing layers, wherein said second and third perimeters are within said first perimeter when viewed by the intended viewer;

the second polarizing layer rotated ninety (90) degrees out of alignment with the first polarizing layer; and

at least one transparent electrode sandwiched between the first polarizing layer and the second polarizing layer.

8. A display for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a first piece of glass;

a second piece of glass congruent to and spaced apart from said first piece of glass to form an automotive windshield, said first piece of glass and said second piece of glass defining a space therebetween;

a layer of liquid crystal having a first perimeter and disposed in said space to display information from the automotive windshield;

a first polarizing element, having a second perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and secured to said first piece of glass; and

a second polarizing element, having a third perimeter disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and secured to said second piece of glass, wherein said second and third perimeters are within said first perimeter when viewed by the intended viewer of said display.

9. A windshield assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a windshield;

a layer of liquid crystal having a first perimeter and disposed within the windshield to display information from the windshield within a field of vision of a driver of the automotive vehicle;

a first polarizing layer, having a second perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal so that any polarized light passing through the layer of liquid crystal is due to the first polarizing layer;

a second polarizing layer, having a third perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and spaced from the first polarizing layer, the liquid crystal being sandwiched between the first and second polarizing layers, wherein said second and third perimeters are within said first perimeter when viewed by the intended viewer.