Head-up display having installation mechanism

• US 5,905,477 A
• Filed: 08/06/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited, Shimadzu Corporation
• Inventors: Yamaya, Shuichi, Kobayashi, Mitsugu, Nasu, Ryutaro, Sugibuchi, Toshihiko, Kuwayama, Yukiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, FRANCIS N
• Application Number:
  US08/907,024
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 359/630, 359/13
• US Class Current: 345/7
• 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: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0089 around three axes, i.e. universally mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• 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

A second supporting section installed detachably on a supporting surface is connected to a first supporting section installed detachably on a head-up display, such that the supporting sections can move relative to each other. Receiving sections provided on the under side of the head-up display comprises receiving surface. The receiving surface faces the under side of the head-up display via a gap. The first supporting section comprises a inserting section. The inserting section is forced removably along the under side of the head-up display into the gap between the receiving surface and the under side of the head-up display. By means of the force fit of the inserting section into the gap, the under side of the head-up display engages with the upper surface of the first supporting section.

Claims

1. A head-up display having an installation mechanism, comprising:

a head-up display, and

an installation mechanism for installing this head-up display on a supporting surface;

wherein

the installation mechanism comprises a first supporting section installed detachably on the head-up display and a second supporting section installed detachably on the supporting surface;

the first supporting section and the second supporting section are connected such that they can be moved relative to each other;

a receiving section is provided on the under side of the head-up display;

the receiving section has a receiving surface which faces the under side of the head-up display via a gap;

the first supporting section comprises a inserting section which is forced removably along the under side of the head-up display into the gap between the under side of the head-up display and the receiving surface; and

the under side of the head-up display engages with the upper surface of the first supporting section by means of the force fit of the inserting section into the gap.

2. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein

a recess section is formed in either the under side of the head-up display or the upper surface of the first supporting section, and a projecting section is formed in the other of these;

during the force fit of said inserting section into said gap, the projecting section causes the upper surface of the first supporting section to separate from the under side of the head-up display, whereby the first supporting section is able to undergo elastic deformation;

the elastic deformation of the first supporting section can be reverted by means of the fitting of the projecting section into the recess section;

the projecting section engages with the inner surface of the recess section such that the head-up display is prevented from moving in the direction in which said inserting section is removed from said gap; and

in a state where the projecting section is fitted into the recess section, the head-up display is prevented from moving in the direction in which said inserting section is forced into said gap.

3. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein

a third supporting section attached to the first supporting section and second supporting section is provided;

the third supporting section is attached to either the first supporting section or second supporting section via sliding surface consisting of a portion of a spherical plane, such that it can move relatively in a spherical plane; and

the third supporting section is attached to the other of the first supporting section and second supporting section such that it is rotatable around at least one axis other than a yaw axis, which passes through the center of the spherical plane and is perpendicular to said supporting surface.

4. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, wherein

image display light emitting means and a combiner for changing the light path of the image display light are provided;

and

at least one of the image display light emitting means and combiner is installed on said supporting surface by means of said installation mechanism.

5. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 3, wherein

either the first supporting section or second supporting section is pressed against the third supporting section by means of a first connecting section having a sliding surface consisting of a portion of a spherical plane which is concentric with said spherical plane;

the other of the first supporting section and second supporting section is pressed against the third supporting section by means of a second connecting section having a sliding surface consisting of a portion of a spherical plane which is concentric with said spherical plane; and

at least one of the connecting sections is located on the inner side of at least one of said sliding surfaces.

6. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a combiner positioned in front of an observer, image display light emitting means, a housing having a projection opening facing in an upward direction, and a transparent cover which covers this projection opening, wherein

a virtual image which is an object of observation is formed in front of the combiner by changing the light path of the image display light emitted from the housing via the projection opening, by means of the combiner;

means for changing the light path of the image display light is provided below the transparent cover such that the image display light emitted from the projection opening travels in an oblique forward and upward direction; and

the position of the transparent cover with respect to said image display light emitting means and said light path changing means is determined such that when the light path of image display light reflected at the lower surface of the transparent cover is changed by said light path changing means, said image display light reaches a position below the range of the forward field of view of the observer.

7. The head-up display according to claim 6, wherein the position of the transparent cover with respect to said image display light emitting means and said light path changing means is determined such that when the light path of image display light reflected at the lower surface of the transparent cover is changed by said combiner after being changed by said light path changing means, said image display light reaches a position below the range of the forward field of view of the observer.

8. The head-up display according to claim 6, wherein the position of the transparent cover with respect to said image display light emitting means and said light path changing means is determined such that when the light path of image display light reflected at the lower surface of the transparent cover is changed by said light path changing means, said image display light reaches a position below the transparent cover.

9. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 6, further comprising a cover which blocks external light reflected by the upper surface of the transparent cover after passing through the combiner such that the light does not reach the observer'"'"'s eyes.

10. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a combiner positioned in front of an observer, image display light emitting means,, and a housing having a projection opening facing in an upward direction;

wherein

a virtual image which is an object of observation is formed in front of the combiner by changing the light path of image display light projected from the housing via the projection opening by means of the combiner;

the image display light is projected from the projection opening such that it travels in an oblique forward and upward direction;

a movable cover which can be moved between a closed position and an open position is provided between the combiner and the observer;

the moveable cover is positioned such that when it is in the closed position, it closes the rear side of the projection opening to block at least a portion of the image display light, and when it is in the open position, it does not block any of the image display light;

the combiner is movable between a use position and a retracted position; and

the light path of the image display light projected from the projection opening is changed by the combiner in the use position, such that the image display light is directed to the observer, and the front side of the projection opening is closed by the combiner in the retracted position.

11. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 10 further comprising means for coupling the combiner and the movable cover such that when the combiner moves to the use position, the movable cover moves to the open position, and when the combiner moves to the retracted position, the movable cover moves to the closed position.

12. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a combiner positioned in front of the observer, image display light emitting means, and a housing containing the emitting means;

wherein

a virtual image which is an object of observation is formed by changing the light path of the image display light by means of the combiner;

the image display light emitting means comprises liquid-crystal display means and a light source for back-lighting positioned so as to oppose to the liquid-crystal display means;

air current generating means for forcibly generating an air current is provided inside the housing;

a discharge outlet for discharging the air current from said housing is provided in the side of the housing; and

means for changing the direction of the air current discharged from this discharge outlet is provided, such that the air current travels in a forward direction from the discharge outlet.

13. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a combiner positioned in front of the observer, and an image display light emitting means;

wherein

a virtual image which is an object of observation is formed by changing the light path of the image display light by means of the combiner;

the image display light emitting means comprises liquid-crystal display means and a light source for back-lighting positioned so as to opposed to the liquid-crystal display means;

a space is formed between the liquid-crystal display means and the light source;

means for forcibly generating an air current passing through the space is provided; and

the air current is generated such that it forms a laminar flow in the space.

14. The head-up display having an installation mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a combiner positioned in front of the observer, image display light emitting means, and a housing which contains the image display light emitting means;

wherein

the image display light emitting means comprises liquid-crystal display means and a light source for back-lighting which shines light for back-lighting onto the liquid-crystal display means;

a virtual image which is an object of observation is formed by changing the light path of the image display light by means of the combiner;

a case, which can block at least a portion of the infra-red light emitted from the light source for back-lighting is provided inside the housing;

an opening leading inside the case is provided in the housing; and

the light source for back-lighting can be inserted into the case from outside the housing and it can be removed out of the housing from inside the case, via the opening.