Display unit

• US 9,417,448 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Takasu, Katsutoshi, Masuda, Akira, Iwamoto, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Neill, Gary
• Application Number:
  US14/326,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20150015963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 359630-632, 359/637, 359/639, 359/640, 345/7, 345/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

When a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide a sight line from an HUD display area to a second display area occurs, a first guide light is displayed, and then a second guide light is displayed.

Claims

1. A display unit comprising:

a first device having a first display area;

a second device having a second display area, the second device is different and spaced apart from the first device;

a controller configured to selectively control a display content of the first display area formed in the first device and a display content of the second display area formed in the second device;

a first light source connected to the controller and configured to display a first guide light, the first guide light is located on a guide line that extends from the first display area to the second display area, and the first guide light is located between the first display area and the second display area; and

a second light source connected to the controller and configured to display a second guide light, the second guide light is located on the guide line that extends from the first display area to the second display area, and the second guide light is located between the first guide light and the second display area, wherein

the controller, when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide a sight line from the first display area to the second display area has occurred, causes the first light source to display the first guide light, and thereafter, causes the second light source to display the second guide light such that a guide pattern extends from the first display area to the second display area along the guide line.

2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein

the first device is a reflecting plate of a head-up display device, and

the second device is a display section of a meter unit.

3. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein

the head-up display device includes a projector configured to project display light including a display image onto the reflecting plate, and a first light source configured to project emitted light onto the reflecting plate,

the display light from the projector is reflected by the reflecting plate in a viewing direction to define the first display area on the reflecting plate, and

the emitted light from the first light source is reflected by the reflecting plate in the viewing direction, causing the first guide light to be displayed on the reflecting plate.

4. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein

the meter unit includes a second light source that displays the second guide light.

5. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further capable of controlling a display content of a third display area formed in a third device that is different from the first device or the second device,

the display unit further comprises:

a third light source connected to the controller and configured to display a third guide light between the first display area and the third display area in the viewing direction; and

a fourth light source connected to the controller and configured to display a fourth guide light between the third guide light and the third display area in the viewing direction, and

the controller, when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the second display area has occurred, causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light, and when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the third display area has occurred, causes the third light source to display the third guide light and then causes the fourth light source to display the fourth guide light.

6. The display unit according to claim 5, wherein

the first device is a reflecting plate of a head-up display device, the second device is a first display section of a meter unit, and the third device is a second display section of the meter unit.

7. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein

the controller, when receiving a warning display signal as the signal, displays a warning annunciation element for annunciating a warning on the first display area and a detail describing element for describing a detail of the warning on the second display area, and

the controller causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light.

8. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

the meter unit includes a second light source that displays the second guide light.

9. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein

the controller is further capable of controlling a display content of a third display area formed in a third device that is different from the first device or the second device,

the display unit further comprises:

a third light source connected to the controller and configured to display a third guide light between the first display area and the third display area in the viewing direction; and

a fourth light source connected to the controller and configured to display a fourth guide light between the third guide light and the third display area in the viewing direction, and

the controller, when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the second display area has occurred, causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light, and when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the third display area has occurred, causes the third light source to display the third guide light and then causes the fourth light source to display the fourth guide light.

10. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

the controller is further capable of controlling a display content of a third display area formed in a third device that is different from the first device or the second device,

the display unit further comprises:

a third light source connected to the controller and configured to display a third guide light between the first display area and the third display area in the viewing direction; and

a fourth light source connected to the controller and configured to display a fourth guide light between the third guide light and the third display area in the viewing direction, and

the controller, when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the second display area has occurred, causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light, and when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the third display area has occurred, causes the third light source to display the third guide light and then causes the fourth light source to display the fourth guide light.

11. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is further capable of controlling a display content of a third display area formed in a third device that is different from the first device or the second device,

the display unit further comprises:

a third light source connected to the controller and configured to display a third guide light between the first display area and the third display area in the viewing direction; and

a fourth light source connected to the controller and configured to display a fourth guide light between the third guide light and the third display area in the viewing direction, and

the controller, when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the second display area has occurred, causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light, and when receiving a signal indicating that an event involving a need to guide the sight line from the first display area to the third display area has occurred, causes the third light source to display the third guide light and then causes the fourth light source to display the fourth guide light.

12. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein

the controller, when receiving a warning display signal as the signal, displays a warning annunciation element for annunciating a warning on the first display area and a detail describing element for describing a detail of the warning on the second display area, and

the controller causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light.

13. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein

the controller, when receiving a warning display signal as the signal, displays a warning annunciation element for annunciating a warning on the first display area and a detail describing element for describing a detail of the warning on the second display area, and

the controller causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light.

14. The display unit according to claim 4, wherein

the controller, when receiving a warning display signal as the signal, displays a warning annunciation element for annunciating a warning on the first display area and a detail describing element for describing a detail of the warning on the second display area, and

the controller causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light.

15. The display unit according to claim 5, wherein

the controller, when receiving a warning display signal as the signal, displays a warning annunciation element for annunciating a warning on the first display area and a detail describing element for describing a detail of the warning on the second display area, and

the controller causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light.

16. The display unit according to claim 6, wherein

the controller, when receiving a warning display signal as the signal, displays a warning annunciation element for annunciating a warning on the first display area and a detail describing element for describing a detail of the warning on the second display area, and

the controller causes the first light source to display the first guide light and then causes the second light source to display the second guide light.