Vehicle-mounted display mechanism

• US 5,847,685 A
• Filed: 09/24/1996
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Electronics Incorporated (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Otsuki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US08/718,682
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/87, 345/905, 312/7.2, 312/248, 312/223.2, 248/917-923, 340/995, 361/681
• US Class Current: 345/87
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/92 Angular and linear video display screen support adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

In a vehicle-mounted display system a display projects from a fixed case in a horizontal posture and then is rotated to a raised posture, an end of the display is prevented from projecting outwardly of the fixed case, and the movement of the display in the horizontal posture and its rotation into the raised posture require a series of operations. A TV monitor is supported on a movable bracket by first support points guided on an intermediate case. Link members are rotatably supported by second support points to the TV monitor, and third support points on the link members are guided in the intermediate case. Gears fixed to the movable bracket move over first rack members on a fixed case, and the movable bracket and the intermediate case advance while locked together. When the intermediate case advances, the intermediate and fixed case are locked together, while the intermediate case and the movable bracket are unlocked. The gears then shift from the first to second rack members on the intermediate case, and only the movable bracket advances. Then the third support points are restricted. With further advance of the bracket member, the first support points advance, so that the TV monitor is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to a raised posture.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted display system comprising:

a fixed case having an open end;

a display movable in and out of the open end of said fixed case and rotated from a horizontal posture to a raised posture while said display is moving out of said fixed case;

a movable bracket housed within the fixed case, the movable bracket supporting said display and capable of moving toward and away from the open end of said fixed case;

guides provided in said fixed case and connected to said movable bracket; and

a raising mechanism for rotating said display from the horizontal posture into the raised posture during movement of said movable bracket toward the open end;

wherein said raising mechanism comprises;

a first support point for rotatably coupling a lower end of said display in the raised posture to said movable bracket;

a second support point for rotatably coupling an intermediate portion of said display to a link member;

a third support point provided on said link member;

a restricting guide provided on said guides for allowing said third support point to move forward through a predetermined distance; and

a raising guide substantially parallel to said restricting guide for guiding said first support point forward of said third support point when said movable bracket further advances after said third support point has been moved to a fore end of said restricting guide and restricted in its further movement.

2. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 1, further comprising a ratchet mechanism for setting a rising angle of said display in a stepwise manner, said ratchet mechanism being connected between said display and said guides.

3. A vehicle-mounted display system including a display movable in and out of a fixed case, the fixed case having an open end, the display being rotated from a horizontal posture to a raised posture while said display is moving out of said fixed case, said display system comprising:

an intermediate case housed within the fixed case, the intermediate case being capable of moving toward and away from the open end of said fixed case;

a movable bracket movably mounted on the intermediate case, the movable bracket supporting said display and capable of moving toward and away from the open end relative to said intermediate case;

a drive mechanism for applying a driving force to move said movable bracket toward the open end of the fixed case;

a lock mechanism for locking together said intermediate case and said fixed case when said intermediate case has moved a predetermined distance within said fixed case toward the open end;

guides provided on said intermediate case and connected to said movable bracket; and

a raising mechanism for rotating said display from the horizontal posture into the raised posture during the movement of said movable bracket within said intermediate case toward the open end of the fixed case, after said intermediate case has been locked to said fixed case;

wherein said raising mechanism comprises;

a first support point for rotatably coupling a lower end of said display in the raised posture to said movable bracket;

a second support point for rotatably coupling an intermediate portion of said display to a link member;

a third support point provided on said link member;

a restricting guide provided on said guides for allowing said third support point to move forward through a predetermined distance; and

a raising guide substantially parallel to said restricting guide for guiding said first support point forward of said third support point when said movable bracket further advances after said third support point has been moved to a fore end of said restricting guide and restricted in its further movement.

4. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 3, wherein said drive mechanism comprises:

a motor mounted on said movable bracket;

a gear supported by said movable bracket and driven by said motor;

a first rack member on said fixed case and meshing with said gear; and

a second rack member on said intermediate case and meshing with said gear when said intermediate case has moved a predetermined distance within said fixed case toward the open end.

5. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 4, wherein when said intermediate case is retracted into said fixed case, both said rack members are positioned side by side, and when said intermediate case has moved a predetermined distance within said fixed case toward the open end, both said rack members are positioned so their teeth are in series.

6. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a rotatable shaft having said gear attached adjacent an end thereof and rotatably supported by said movable bracket, wherein each end of said rotatable shaft projects out of said movable bracket and is movably inserted into guide slots formed in said intermediate case.

7. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 3, wherein said lock mechanism comprises:

a first lock for locking together said movable bracket and said intermediate case; and

a second lock for locking together said intermediate case and said fixed case;

wherein said first lock is in a locked state and said second lock is in an unlocked state when said display member is stored in said fixed case, and said first lock is in an unlocked state and said second lock is in a locked state when said bracket member and said intermediate case locked together by said first lock have advanced through a predetermined distance within said fixed case.

8. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 3, wherein said lock mechanism comprises:

a lock arm having first and second lock recesses and pivotably supported on said intermediate case;

a first lock projection on said movable bracket and capable of engaging in said first lock recess; and

a second lock projection on said fixed case and capable of engaging in said second lock recess;

wherein when said display is stored in said fixed case, said first lock projection engages in said first lock recess for locking said bracket member and said intermediate case together and said second lock projection does not engage in said second lock recess for allowing said intermediate case to move within said fixed case, and when said intermediate case has advanced through a predetermined distance within said fixed case, said lock arm is pivoted so that said first lock projection disengages from said first lock recess for allowing said bracket member to move with respect to said intermediate case and said second lock projection engages in said second lock recess for locking said intermediate case within said fixed case.

9. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 8, wherein said lock arm has a first sloped surface for guiding said first lock projection when said first lock projection enters said first lock recess, and a second sloped surface for guiding said first lock projection when said first lock projection escapes from said first lock recess.

11. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 6, wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises:

said first support point;

a member having a plurality of concave portions in which said first support point engages; and

a spring for urging said member in a direction to approach said first support point.

12. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 11, wherein said raising guide is formed having a front end portion thereof with a curved portion for allowing rotation of said first support point caused by the raising operation of said display, and said member is provided near said curved portion.

13. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a sensor member for detecting that said movable bracket has moved to a position where said first support point engages in any of said plural concave portions of said member; and

a controller for controlling the movement of said movable bracket in response to the detection by said sensor member.

14. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 13, wherein said sensor member is a photosensor attached to said movable bracket, and further comprising a reflecting member facing said photosensor when said photosensor has moved to the position where said first support point engages in any of said plural concave portions of said member.

10. A vehicle-mounted display system comprising:

a fixed case having an open end;

a display movable in and out of the open end of said fixed case and rotated from a horizontal posture to a raised posture while said display is moving out of said fixed case;

a movable bracket housed within the fixed case, the movable bracket supporting said display and capable of moving toward and away from the open end of said fixed case;

guides provided in said fixed case and connected to said movable bracket;

a raising mechanism for rotating said display from the horizontal posture into the raised posture during movement of said movable bracket toward the open end; and

a ratchet mechanism for setting a rising angle of said display in a stepwise manner, said ratchet mechanism being connected between said display and said guides;

a first support point for rotatable coupling a lower end of said display in the raised posture to said movable bracket;

a second support point for rotatable coupling an intermediate portion of said display to a link member;

a third support point provided on said link member;

a restricting guide provided on said guide for allowing said third support point to move forward through a predetermined distance; and

a raising guide substantially parallel to said restricting guide for guiding said first support point forward of said third support point when said movable bracket further advances after said third support point has been moved to a fore end of said restricting guide and restricted in its further movement.

15. A vehicle-mounted display system including a display movable in and out of a fixed case, the fixed case having an open end, the display being rotated from a horizontal posture to a raised posture while said display is moving out of said fixed case, said display system comprising:

an intermediate case housed within the fixed case, the intermediate case being capable of moving toward and away from the open end of said fixed case;

a movable bracket movably mounted on the intermediate case, the movable bracket supporting said display and capable of moving toward and away from the open end relative to said intermediate case;

a drive mechanism for applying a driving force to move said movable bracket toward the open end of the fixed case;

a lock mechanism for locking together said intermediate case and said fixed case when said intermediate case has moved a predetermined distance within said fixed case toward the open end;

guides provided on said intermediate case and connected to said movable bracket;

a raising mechanism for rotating said display from the horizontal posture into the raised posture during the movement of said movable bracket within said intermediate case toward the open end of the fixed case, after said intermediate case has been locked to said fixed case; and

a ratchet mechanism for setting a rising angle for said display in a stepwise manner, said ratchet mechanism being connected between said display and said guides;

a first support point for rotatable coupling a lower end of said display in the raised posture to said movable bracket;

a second support point for rotatably coupling an intermediate portion of said display to a link member;

a third support point provided on said link member;

a restricting guide provided on said guide for allowing said third support point to move forward through a predetermined distance; and

a raising guide substantially parallel to said restricting guide for guiding said first support point forward of said third support point when said movable bracket further advances after said third support point has been moved to a fore end of said restricting guide and restricted in its further movement.

16. A vehicle-mounted display system including a display movable in and out of a fixed case, the fixed case having an open end, the display being rotated from a horizontal posture to a raised posture while said display is moving out of said fixed case, said display system comprising:

an intermediate case housed within the fixed case, the intermediate case being capable of moving toward and away from the open end of said fixed case;

a movable bracket movably mounted on the intermediate case, the movable bracket supporting said display and capable of moving toward and away from the open end relative to said intermediate case;

a drive mechanism for applying a driving force to move said movable bracket toward the open end of the fixed case;

a lock mechanism for locking together said intermediate case and said fixed case when said intermediate case has moved a predetermined distance within said fixed case toward the open end;

guides provided on said intermediate case and connected to said movable bracket; and

a raising mechanism for rotating said display from the horizontal posture into the raised posture during the movement of said movable bracket within said intermediate case toward the open end of the fixed case, after said intermediate case has been locked to said fixed case;

wherein said lock mechanism comprises;

a lock arm pivotably supported on said intermediate case and having a guide slot extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said intermediate case;

a second lock recess formed in continuation with said guide slot and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said guide slot;

a first lock recess extending in a direction opposite to said second lock recess;

a spring for urging said lock arm to rotate in one direction;

a first lock projection provided on said bracket member and capable of engaging in said first lock recess of said lock arm; and

a second lock projection on said fixed case and inserted in said second lock recess of said lock arm;

wherein when said display is stored in said fixed case, said second lock projection is positioned in said guide slot and said lock arm is pivoted in a direction against an urging force of said spring, so that said first lock projection engages in said first lock recess, and when said movable bracket and said intermediate case locked together have advanced through a predetermined distance within said fixed case, said lock arm is pivoted by the urging force of said spring so that said second lock projection enters from said guide slot into said second lock recess for locking said intermediate case to said fixed case and said first lock projection disengages from said first lock recess for allowing said movable bracket to move with respect to said intermediate case.

17. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 16, wherein said lock arm includes a pair of lock arms opposing to each other, said pair of lock arms having one end pivotably supported to said intermediate case with a spring stretched between free ends of said lock arms for urging said free ends together.

18. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 16, wherein said intermediate case includes a support plate having a slot extending parallel to the direction of movement of said intermediate case, said lock arm is rotatably supported on said support plate, and said second lock projection on said fixed case is inserted through both the guide slot of said lock arm and the slot of said support plate.

19. A vehicle-mounted display system according to claim 16, wherein said lock arm has a first sloped surface for guiding said first lock projection when said first lock projection enters said first lock recess, and a second sloped surface for guiding said first lock projection when said first lock projection escapes from said first lock recess.

20. A vehicle-mounted display system including a display movable in and out of a fixed case, the fixed case having an open end, the display being rotated from a horizontal posture to a raised posture while said display is moving out of said fixed case, said display system comprising:

an intermediate case housed within the fixed case, the intermediate case being capable of moving toward and away from the open end of said fixed case;

a movable bracket movably mounted on the intermediate case, the movable bracket supporting said display and capable of moving toward and away from the open end relative to said intermediate case;

a drive mechanism for applying a driving force to move said movable bracket toward the open end of the fixed case;

a lock mechanism for locking together said intermediate case and said fixed case when said intermediate case has moved a predetermined distance within said fixed case toward the open end;

a raising mechanism for rotating said display from the horizontal posture into the raised posture by a moving force of said movable bracket while said movable bracket moves within said intermediate case toward the open end of the fixed case and after said intermediate case has been locked;

wherein said lock mechanism comprises;

a lock arm pivotably supported on said intermediate case and having a guide slot extending substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said intermediate case;

a second lock recess formed in continuation with said guide slot and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said guide slot;

a first lock recess extending in a direction opposite to said second lock recess;

a spring for urging said lock arm to rotate in one direction;

a first lock projection provided on said bracket member and capable of engaging in said first lock recess of said lock arm; and

a second lock projection on said fixed case and inserted in said second lock recess of said lock arm;

wherein when said display is stored in said fixed case, said second lock projection is positioned in said guide slot and said lock arm is pivoted in a direction against an urging force of said spring, so that said first lock projection engages in said first lock recess, and when said movable bracket and said intermediate case locked together have advanced through a predetermined distance within said fixed case, said lock arm is pivoted by the urging force of said spring so that said second lock projection enters from said guide slot into said second lock recess for locking said intermediate case to said fixed case and said first lock projection disengages from said first lock recess for allowing said movable bracket to move with respect to said intermediate case.