Display device with indicators having increased brightness

• US 6,411,216 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Azuma, Masatoshi, Kobayashi, Mitsugu, Shima, Osamu, Nagano, Keiichi, Fukushima, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US09/622,578
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.78, 340/459, 340/462, 340/525, 340/461, 362/489, 359/630
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10

Abstract

A first indicator has a display board, a pointer to point the display board, a light source to subject the display board to transmitted illumination, and pointer driving means to drive the pointer. A housing stores the first indicator, a second indicator formed of a first light emitting type indicator, and a third indicator formed of a second light emitting type indicator. The viewer sees the second indicator reflected upon a semi-transmitting reflection board, the third indicator through the semi-transmitting refection board, and the first indicator not through the semi-transmitting reflection board.

Claims

1. A display device projecting indication light upon a reflection board to indicate a virtual image, comprising:

a first indicator having a display board and a light source to subject said display board to transmitted illumination, said display board being peripherally spaced away from said reflection board so as to prevent overlap between said display board and reflection board with respect to the line of sight of a viewer;

a second indicator having a light emitting type indicator to project said indication light;

said reflection board to reflect said indication light; and

a housing storing said first and second indicators and said reflection board, wherein said housing has a light shielding wall provided between said first and second indicators.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein

said first indicator is an indicating instrument including a pointer to point said display board and pointer driving means to drive said pointer.

6. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first see-through portion provided at a position corresponding to said first indicator and having a first transmittance;

a second see-through portion provided at a position corresponding to said second indicator and having a second transmittance; and

a cover provided at said housing.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said display board is vertically spaced away from said reflection board.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said display board is laterally spaced away from said reflection board.

2. A display device, comprising,

a first indicator having a display board and a light source to subject said display board to transmitted illumination;

a second indicator having a light emitting type indicator to project indication light;

a half-mirror to reflect said indication light; and

a housing to store said first and second indicators and said half-mirror, wherein said housing has a light shielding wall provided between said first and second indicators,

said indication light being reflected by said half-mirror to reach the viewer, light from said first indicator reaching the viewer without being passed through said half-mirror.

3. A display device, comprising:

a first indicator having a display board and a light source to subject said display board to transmitted illumination;

a second indicator having a first light emitting type indicator to project first indication light;

a third indicator having a second light emitting type indicator to project second indication light;

a semi-transmitting reflection board to reflect said first indication light and transmit said second indication light; and

a housing to store said first, second and third indicators and said semi-transmitting reflection board.

10. The display device according to claim 3, wherein said housing has a light shielding wall provided between said first indicator and at least one of said second and third indicators.

12. The display device according to claim 3, further comprising a substantially horizontal light shielding wall positioned between said display board and said reflection board for preventing commingling of at least one of the first and second indication lights with light from the light source.

4. A display device, comprising:

a first indicator having a display board and a light source to subject said display board to transmitted illumination;

a second indicator having a first light emitting-type indicator to project first indication light;

a third indicator having a second light emitting type indicator to project second indication light;

a semi-transmitting reflection board to reflect said first indication light and transmit said second indication light; and

a housing to store said first, second and third indicators and said semi-transmitting reflection board,

said first indication light being reflected by said semi-transmitting reflection board to reach the viewer, said second indication light being passed through said semi-transmitting reflection board to reach the viewer, light from said first indicator reaching the viewer without being passed through said semi-transmitting reflection board.

11. The display device according to claim 4, wherein said housing has a light shielding wall provided between said first indicator and at least one of said second and third indicators.

13. The display device according to claim 4, further comprising a substantially horizontal light shielding wall positioned between said display board and said reflection board for preventing commingling of at least one of the first and second indication lights with light from the light source.

9. A display device projecting indication light upon a reflection board to indicate a virtual image, comprising:

a first indicator having a display board and a light source to subject said display board to transmitted illumination, said display board being peripherally spaced away from said reflection board so as to prevent overlap between said display board and reflection board with respect to the line of sight of a viewer;

a second indicator having a light emitting type indicator to project said indication light;

said reflection board to reflect said indication light; and

a housing storing said first and second indicators and said reflection board, said display device further comprising a substantially horizontal light shielding wall positioned between said display board and said reflection board for preventing commingling of the indication light with light from the light source.