Head-up display apparatus

• US 7,623,294 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2005
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Harada, Takeshi, Kageyama, Hideaki, Furuya, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Stultz; Jessica T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sahle; Mahidere S
• Application Number:
  US11/242,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20060077497A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 359/13, 359/630, 359/632
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A head-up display apparatus includes a display unit outputting display light, a mirror for reflecting the display light toward an eye point, a mirror holder to be turned up/down for receiving and holding the mirror, a holder top cover extending toward the eye point when the mirror holder is turned up, and a holder rear cover so as to be placed at an opposite side of the eye point when the mirror holder is turned up. The holder rear cover has a surface shape to become in the same outline as that of the instrument panel when the holder rear cover covers totally an opening provided at the instrument panel in case that the mirror holder is turned down. The holder rear cover is continued to the holder top cover with an acute angle.

Claims

1. A head-up display apparatus comprising:

a display unit, to be installed in an opening in an instrument panel of a vehicle, outputting predetermined display light;

a mirror for reflecting said display light toward a predetermined eye point;

a mirror holder to be turned up/down, being mounted through a shaft on the instrument panel for receiving and holding the mirror;

a holder top cover at a top portion of the mirror holder, extending toward the eye point when the mirror holder turns up; and

a holder rear cover at a rear portion of the mirror holder, being continued to, and integrally formed with, the holder top cover so as to be placed at an opposite side of he eye point when the mirror holder is turned up,

wherein the holder rear cover has a surface shape to become in a same outline as that of the instrument panel when the holder rear cover covers totally the opening provided at the instrument panel, and hides the holder top cover, when the mirror holder is turned down forwardly, and the holder rear cover is continued to the holder top cover with an acute angle, the holder rear cover alone covering the opening in the panel so as to hide the holder top cover when closed.

2. The head-up display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holder rear cover is made of the same material and the same color as that of the instrument panel.

3. The head-up display apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mirror holder is turned up so as to overlap the holder top cover on an upper limited line predetermined base on an upper position of the eye point.