Display apparatus for vehicle

• US 9,442,289 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Original Assignee: JVC Kenwood Corporation
• Inventors: Kaneno, Isao, Mukouyama, Tatsuya, Nishima, Ryo, Tanaka, Yuji, Sato, Tatsuya, Tohda, Motoshi, Kawamura, Kouichi, Aboshi, Kazutaka, Kobayashi, Manabu
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US14/579,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20150103408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 359/618
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/013 comprising a combiner of particular shape, e.g. curvature
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0147 comprising a device modifying the resolution of the displayed image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0181 Adaptation to the pilot/driver
• 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

An display apparatus, for a vehicle, according to one embodiment includes a substrate housing portion, an optical unit, a turning member, and a plate-like attachment plate. The substrate housing portion contains a circuit substrate for outputting an image signal of an image to be displaced. The optical unit generates an image based on the image signal outputted from the circuit substrate and projects the generated image. The combiner is provided at one end of the optical unit, and the image is projected onto the combiner. The turning member connects the optical unit to the substrate housing portion in a freely rotatable manner. The plate-like attachment plate is used to mount the substrate housing portion to a rear-view mirror such that the optical unit is freely rotatable without coming into contact with the rear-view mirror inside a vehicle.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a substrate housing portion that contains a circuit substrate for outputting an image signal of an image to be displaced;

an optical unit that generates an image based on the image signal outputted from the circuit substrate, the optical unit including a projection unit that projects the generated image by light emitted from a light source;

a combiner onto which the image is projected, the combiner being provided at one end of the optical unit;

a turning member that connects the optical unit to the substrate housing portion in a freely rotatable manner; and

a plate-like attachment plate with which to mount the substrate housing portion to a rear-view mirror such that the optical unit is freely rotatable by the turning member without coming into contact with the rear-view mirror inside a vehicle.

2. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the substrate housing portion has a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface disposed counter to the first attachment surface, and

wherein the optical unit is freely rotatable without coming into contact with the rear-view mirror, regardless of whether the first attachment surface of the substrate housing portion is mounted on the attachment plate or the second attachment surface thereof is mounted on the attachment plate.

3. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation lock mechanism that controls a rotatable range such that the turning member turns within a predetermined range of angles.

4. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rotating of the turning member changes a position where an image displayed as a virtual image by the combiner is recognized.

5. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit includes an optical portion that generates an image based on the image signal outputted from the circuit substrate and projects an image display light of the generated image, and

wherein, when the substrate housing portion is mounted to the rear-view mirror by using the attachment plate, the optical portion is designed on such a basis that an angle formed between a reference surface of the optical unit and a mirror surface of the rear-view mirror is a reference angle.

6. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the reference surface of the optical unit is a plane parallel to a plane including an optical axis inside the optical unit.

7. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of holding portions that are so fixed as to hold the rear-view mirror,

wherein each of the pair of holding portions has a long-hole position adjustment groove on an upper surface thereof,

wherein the attachment plate has a pair of projections,

the attachment plate is placed in such a manner as to lie across the respective upper surfaces of the pair of holding portions, and

the substrate housing portion and the optical unit are mounted such that the pair of projections are engaged respectively with the pair of position adjustment grooves of the pair of holding portions, and

wherein the attachment plate slides along a longitudinal direction of the position adjustment groove so that positions of the substrate housing portion and the optical unit are adjustable.

8. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a wiring through which the image signal is supplied from the circuit substrate of the substrate housing portion to the optical unit,

the substrate housing portion having an optical unit side opening through which the wiring provided in a casing is permitted to pass, and

the optical unit including:

an optical unit side opening through which the wiring provided in the casing is permitted to pass;

a space where the wiring is movable when the optical unit turns relative to the optical unit;

a heatsink that radiates heat generated by the light source; and

an optical system placement unit that houses optical components including the light source,

wherein the space and the heatsink are placed on a substrate housing portion side of the optical system placement unit.

9. The display apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a turning portion that moves the combiner to a first position, where the combiner is in use, and a second position, where the combiner is stored, the second position being such that a projection surface of the combiner faces a casing surface of the optical unit,

wherein the optical unit has the projection unit on a first side opposite to a second side, where the combiner is mounted, with the casing surface located between the first side and the second side,

wherein the projection unit is of a shape such that the projection unit protrudes from a plane formed by the casing surface, and

wherein, when the combiner is moved, by the turning portion, to the second position of the combiner where the combiner is stored, an end of the combiner farthest from a turning center of the turning portion is on a turning portion side than the projection unit.