Display apparatus for a car

• US 5,850,215 A
• Filed: 09/27/1995
• Issued: 12/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Shoji, Kamiya, Kazuo, Muramatsu, Tatsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US08/534,301
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 345/87, 345/204, 345/213, 345/905, 348/837, 361/681, 361/682, 248/917, 248/919, 248/920
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/905 Display device with housing structure

Abstract

A display control circuit of a display unit is divided such that circuit portions and connecting means susceptible to noise are arranged in the display unit, while circuit portions and connecting means other than the circuit portions and connecting means susceptible to noise are placed away from the display unit through an extension cable. Due to this, the display unit can be made thinner and noises can be prevented from entering the circuit portions and connecting means arranged in the display unit. Further, the display apparatus may have a movement mechanism for making the display unit stand up. In this case, two guide grooves are formed at the sides of an intermediate case of the display unit housing. Due to this, the intermediate case can be made thinner, matching the thickness of the display unit.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a car comprising;

a display unit for displaying images; and

at least one display control circuit for controlling said display unit,

at least one circuit portion or at least one connecting means of said at least one display control circuit, in which are generated or carried signals which suffer from waveform distortion and are susceptible to the effects of noise when signal lines between said at least one circuit portion or said at least one connecting means and said display unit become longer, being arranged near said display unit, and

circuit portions and connecting means of said at least one display control circuit other than said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means being arranged away from said display unit through at least one extension cable,

said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means comprise a digital synchronization control circuit and connecting lines for connecting said at least one display control circuit with said display unit and for generating or carrying the signals which cannot be corrected when affected by noise.

4. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 1, wherein the waveform distortion comprises distortions which make a level of low level components of the signals become higher, a level of high level components of the signals become lower, and the level of the low level components and the level of the high level components of the signals approach each other.

5. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signals which suffer from waveform distortion and are susceptible to the effects of noise when the signal lines become longer are signals for determining and controlling position of pixels or frames on a screen of said display unit.

6. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 1, wherein the signals carried on the at least one extension cable are signals for determining and controlling color, brightness, or luminance on a screen of said display unit.

14. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 1, said display unit comprising:

an intermediate case supported in a manner enabling movement with respect to a fixed case to an intermediate position in a forward direction and being restricted in movement in the forward direction at the intermediate position, said display unit being supported in a manner enabling movement with respect to said intermediate case;

a movement mechanism connected rotatably to said display unit and having at least one drive unit; and

links connected rotatably to two sides of said display unit,

a driving force of said at least one drive unit being used to move said intermediate case forward to the intermediate position, further move said display unit and said movement mechanism forward with respect to said intermediate case at the intermediate position, and swivel said display unit to a stand-up position,

the display apparatus further comprising

guide pins provided at said movement mechanism,

large diameter guide pins provided at said links,

small diameter guide pins provided at said links and having diameters smaller than said large diameter guide pins,

first guide grooves, provided at sides of said intermediate case, having curved portions at front ends thereof for guiding said guide pins, and

second guide grooves, provided at the sides of said intermediate case, having first straight portions for guiding said large diameter guide pins and said small diameter guide pins, second straight portions for guiding said small diameter guide pins and having front ends opening upward, and step differences positioned at connecting portions of said first and second straight portions for restricting forward movement of said large diameter guide pins and allowing movement of said small diameter guide pins to said second straight portions.

15. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 14, wherein said fixed case is provided with at least one portion for accommodating another device below or above a portion which accommodates said display unit.

16. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 14, wherein said fixed case accommodates a CD player below or above a portion which accommodates said display unit, said fixed case further accommodating at least one control unit for controlling display of car navigation information.

17. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 14, wherein said display unit displays car navigation information.

18. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 14, wherein said fixed case is of a size enabling housing in a 1DIN space.

19. The display apparatus for a car of claim 1, wherein said display unit has a flat display, the display apparatus further comprising:

a flat box-shaped case of a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of said display unit, said at least one display control circuit and a movement mechanism,

said movement mechanism being provided in said flat box-shaped case for moving said display unit to exit and stand up from an opening provided at a front end of said flat box-shaped case and to retract into said flat box-shaped case from said opening,

said circuit portions and said connecting means of said at least one display control circuit other than said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means being accommodated in said flat box-shaped case away from said display unit through the at least one extension cable.

2. A display apparatus for a car comprising:

a flat display unit having a flat display for displaying images;

at least one display control circuit for controlling said flat display; and

a movement mechanism for moving said flat display unit to stand up from a state in which a screen of said flat display unit is lying flat and to retract from the stand up position,

at least one circuit portion or at least one connecting means of said at least one display control circuit, in which are generated or carried signals which suffer from waveform distortion and are susceptible to the effects of noise when signal lines between said at least one circuit portion or said at least one connecting means and said flat display unit become longer, being arranged near said flat display unit, and

circuit portions and connecting means of said at least one display control circuit other than said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means being arranged away from said flat display unit through at least one extension cable.

21. The display apparatus for a car according to claim 2, wherein said flat display unit further comprises a backlight, arranged along a back surface of said flat display opposite a viewing surface of said flat display, for illuminating said flat display,

said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means being arranged near said flat display unit such that nothing is mounted on a rear surface of said backlight.

3. A display apparatus for a car comprising:

a flat display unit having a flat display for displaying images;

at least one display control circuit for controlling said flat display unit;

a flat box-shaped case of a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of said flat display unit for accommodating said flat display unit and said at least one display control circuit; and

a movement mechanism, provided in said flat box-shaped case, for moving said flat display unit to exit and stand up from an opening provided at a front end of said flat box-shaped case and to retract into said flat box-shaped case from said opening,

at least one circuit portion or at least one connecting means of said at least one display control circuit, in which are generated or carried signals which suffer from waveform distortion and are susceptible to the effects of noise when signal lines between said at least one circuit portion or said at least one connecting means and said flat display unit become longer, being arranged inside said flat display unit, and

circuit portions and connecting means of said at least one display control circuit other than said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means being accommodated in said flat box-shaped case away from said flat display unit through at least one extension cable.

10. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flat box-shaped case is provided with at least one portion for accommodating another device below or above a portion accommodating said flat display unit.

11. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flat box-shaped case accommodates a CD player below or above a portion for accommodating said flat display unit,

said flat box-shaped case further accommodating at least one control unit for providing car navigation information.

12. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flat display unit displays car navigation information.

13. The display apparatus for a car as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flat box-shaped case can be accommodated in a 1DIN space.

22. The display apparatus for a car according to claim 3, wherein said flat display unit further comprises a backlight, arranged along a back surface of said flat display opposite a viewing surface of said flat display for illuminating said flat display,

said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means being arranged near said flat display unit such that nothing is mounted on a rear surface of said backlight.

7. A display apparatus for a car comprising:

a thin display for displaying images;

luminance signal means for receiving video signals relating to pictures to be displayed on said thin display and for separating and generating luminance signals from the video signals;

synchronization control means for separating and generating various types of driving control signals from the luminance signals separated and generated by said luminance signal means and for sending the driving control signals to said thin display;

color signal means for receiving the video signals, separating and generating color signals from the video signals, separating and generating from the color signals primary color signals with luminances in accordance with the luminance signals, and sending the primary color signals to said thin display;

at least one first circuit board, on which said synchronization control means is mounted, adjoining at least one side edge of said thin display;

at least one second circuit board, on which said luminance signal means and said color signal means are mounted;

flexible first connecting means for carrying the luminance signals sent from said luminance signal means to said synchronization control means;

flexible second connecting means for carrying the primary color signals sent from said color signal means to said thin display, said flexible second connecting means being provided integrally along with said flexible first connecting means; and

third connecting means for carrying the driving control signals sent from said synchronization control means to said thin display,

said flexible first and second connecting means being longer than said third connecting means or longer or substantially equal to a length or a width of said thin display, said flexible first and second connecting means carrying the luminance signals and the primary color signals which are resistant to noise, said third connecting means carrying the driving control signals which are susceptible to noise,

said flexible first and second connecting means enabling said at least one second circuit board to be arranged away from said at least one first control board.

8. A display apparatus for a car comprising:

a flat display for displaying a picture;

luminance signal means for receiving video signals relating to pictures to be displayed on said flat display and for separating and generating luminance signals from the video signals;

synchronization control means for separating and generating various types of driving control signals from the luminance signals separated and generated by said luminance signal means and for sending the driving control signals to said flat display;

color signal means for receiving the video signals, separating and generating color signals from the video signals, separating and generating from the color signals primary color signals with luminances in accordance with the luminance signals, and sending the primary color signals to said flat display;

at least one first circuit board, on which said synchronization control means is mounted, adjoining at least one side edge of said flat display;

a flat display unit accommodating said flat display and said at least one first circuit board;

at least one second circuit board, on which said luminance signal means and said color signal means are mounted;

flexible first connecting means for carrying the luminance signals sent from said luminance signal means to said synchronization control means, said flexible first connecting means being longer than a length of said flat display unit in a longitudinal direction;

flexible second connecting means for carrying the primary color signals sent from said color signal means to said flat display unit, said flexible second connecting means being provided integrally along with said flexible first connecting means and being longer than the length of said flat display unit in the longitudinal direction;

third connecting means for carrying the driving control signals sent from said synchronization control means to said flat display;

a thin box-shaped case for accommodating said flat display, said at least one first circuit board, said at least one second circuit board, said flexible first and second connecting means and said third connecting means, said thin box-shaped case having a length in the longitudinal direction longer than the length of said flat display unit in the longitudinal direction and having a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of said flat display unit; and

a movement mechanism provided in said thin box-shaped case for moving said flat display unit to exit and then stand up from an opening made at a front end of said thin box-shaped case and to retract into said thin box-shaped case from said opening,

said flexible first and second connecting means carrying the luminance signals and the primary color signals which are resistant to noise, said third connecting means carrying the driving control signals which are susceptible to noise, and

said at least one second circuit board being arranged away from said at least one first circuit board by said flexible first and second connecting means and being fixed at a rear of an inside of said thin box-shaped case.

9. A display apparatus for a car comprising:

a flat liquid crystal display panel for displaying a picture;

at least one backlight arranged at a rear surface of said flat liquid crystal display panel for lighting a screen of said flat liquid crystal display panel from behind;

luminance signal means for receiving video signals relating to pictures to be displayed on said flat liquid crystal display panel and for separating and generating luminance signals from the video signals;

synchronization control means for separating and generating various types of driving control signals from the luminance signals separated and generated by said luminance signal means and for sending the driving control signals to said flat liquid crystal display panel;

color signal means for receiving the video signals, separating and generating color signals from the video signals, separating and generating from the color signals primary color signals with luminances in accordance with the luminance signals, and sending the primary color signals to said flat liquid crystal display panel;

at least one first circuit board, on which said synchronization control means is mounted, adjoining at least one side edge of said flat liquid crystal display panel;

a flat display unit accommodating said flat liquid crystal display panel, said at least one backlight, and said at least one first circuit board;

at least one second circuit board on which said luminance signal means and said color signal means are mounted;

flexible first connecting means for carrying the luminance signals sent from said luminance signal means to said synchronization control means, said flexible first connecting means being longer than a length of said flat display unit in the longitudinal direction;

flexible second connecting means for carrying the primary color signals sent from said color signal means to said flat liquid crystal display panel, said flexible second connecting means being provided integrally along with said flexible first connecting means and being longer than the length of said flat display unit in the longitudinal direction;

third connecting means for carrying the driving control signals sent from said synchronization control means to said flat liquid crystal display panel;

a thin box-shaped case for accommodating said flat liquid crystal display panel, said at least one first circuit board, said at least one second circuit board, said flexible first and second connecting means and said third connecting means, said thin box-shaped case having a length in the longitudinal direction longer than the length of said flat display unit in the longitudinal direction and having a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of said flat display unit; and

a movement mechanism provided in said thin box-shaped case for moving said flat display unit to exit and then stand up from an opening made at a front end of said thin box-shaped case and to retract into said thin box-shaped case from said opening,

said flexible first and second connecting means carrying the luminance signals and the primary color signals which are resistant to noise, said third connecting means carrying the driving control signals which are susceptible to noise, and

said at least one second circuit board being arranged away from said at least one first circuit board by said flexible first and second connecting means and being fixed at a rear of an inside of said thin box-shaped case.

20. A display apparatus for a car comprising:

a display unit for displaying images; and

at least one display control circuit for controlling said display unit,

at least one circuit portion or at least one connecting means of said at least one display control circuit, in which are generated or carried signals which suffer from waveform distortion and are susceptible to the effects of noise when signal lines between said at least one circuit portion or said at least one connecting means and said display unit become longer, being arranged near said display unit, and

circuit portions or connecting means of said at least one display control circuit other than said at least one circuit portion or said at least one connecting means being arranged away from said display unit through at least one extension cable,

said display unit comprising

a liquid crystal display for displaying the images on a viewing surface, and

a backlight, arranged along a back surface of said liquid crystal display opposite said viewing surface, for illuminating said liquid crystal display,

said at least one circuit portion and said at least one connecting means being arranged near said display unit such that nothing is mounted on a rear surface of said backlight.

23. A display apparatus for a car comprising:

a liquid crystal display having a viewing surface for displaying images;

a backlight, having a first surface arranged along a back surface of said liquid crystal display opposite said viewing surface, for illuminating said liquid crystal display;

a first control circuit, coupled to said liquid crystal display, for generating control signals for controlling display of images on said liquid crystal display, said first control circuit including circuit elements which are susceptible to noise which distorts the control signals,

said first control circuit, said liquid crystal display and said backlight being provided within a housing such that no circuit elements are on a second surface of said backlight opposite said first surface;

a second control circuit, arranged within said display apparatus outside of said housing and being coupled to said liquid crystal display and said first control circuit, for generating additional control signals for further controlling display of images on said liquid crystal display, said second control circuit including circuit elements that are not susceptible to noise; and

a moving mechanism for moving said housing to extend out of an opening of the display apparatus, to rotate into an upright position and to retract said housing into the display apparatus.