Head-up display apparatus

• US 7,508,356 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kanamori, Naohito, Hatanaka, Yayoi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PREMAL R
• Application Number:
  US11/232,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 359/630, 359/631, 359/633
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/023 for extending or folding an optical path, e.g. delay lines
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A head-up display apparatus includes an image display device for projecting at least two separate images, a mirror for reflecting the images, and an image screen for receiving and displaying the images. Each of the images expansively travels along optical path from the image display device to the image screen on a front windshield of a vehicle. Lengths of the optical paths of the at least two images from the image display device to the image screens are respectively different.

Claims

1. A head-up display apparatus disposed in a space adjacent to an instrument panel on a vehicle comprising:

a display device for projecting an image; and

a first image screen for receiving and displaying the image;

a second image screen for receiving and displaying the image;

wherein the display device includes;

an image display portion for displaying a first image and a second image in one window;

a first reflecting mirror for reflectively redirecting the first image at an opposing position of the image display portion,

a second reflecting mirror for reflectively redirecting the second image at an opposing position of the image display portion;

a first relay mirror and a second relay mirror for reflectively redirecting the first image from the first reflecting mirror to the first image screen; and

a third relay mirror and a fourth relay mirror for reflectively redirecting the second image from the second reflecting mirror to the second image screen,

wherein the first image travels from the image display portion to the first image screen in a first optical path,

wherein the second image travels from the image display portion to the second image screen in a second optical path,

wherein the first optical path and the second optical path are different in lengths

wherein second optical path is longer than the first optical path,

wherein the image received and displayed on the image screen is perceived by an occupant of a driver'"'"'s seat as the image being projected on a virtual plane at a distance from a driver'"'"'s seat,

wherein the first image is perceive at a first distance L from the driver'"'"'s seat,

wherein the second image is perceive at a second distance L′

from the driver'"'"'s seat, and

wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

2. The head-up display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first reflecting mirror and the second reflecting mirror are connected by a connecting portion, and

both of an angle between the first reflecting mirror and the connecting portion and an angle between the second reflecting mirror and the connecting portion are obtuse.

3. The head-up display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the fourth relay mirror has a greater magnifying power than the second relay mirror.

4. The head-up display apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first distance L and the second distance L′

are respectively represented by following two equations,

L=Kws(a+K₁L₁)

L′

=Kws(b+K₂L₂)

where Kws is a magnifying power of the windshield,

L₁ is a length of the first optical path from the image display portion to the second relay mirror,

K₁ is a magnifying power of the second relay mirror,

L₂ is a length of the second optical path from the image display portion to the fourth relay mirror,

K₂ is a magnifying power of the fourth relay mirror,

a is a distance from the second relay mirror to the windshield, and

b is a distance from the fourth relay mirror to the windshield.