DISPLAY DEVICE FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100188204A1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Aikawa, Masami, Kohno, Atsushi, Kawana, Yuta, Matsutani, Kiyoshi, Okada, Reiko
• Application Number:
  US12/664,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20100188204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/457.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/152 Displays
• 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: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066

Abstract

A display device for vehicles has a screen 2 that is composed of a soft material and is mounted on a surface of a panel 6 installed in front of a seat; a projection unit 1 that is mounted at the back of the panel and generates projection light to be projected onto the screen to form an image, reflection components 3₁-3₂ for reflecting the projection light generated by the projection unit, and a light-guiding component 4 for having the reflection components reflect the projection light a plurality of times to guide it to the screen.

Claims

1. A display device for vehicles comprising:

a screen that is composed of a soft material and is mounted on a surface of a panel in front of a seat;

a projection unit that is mounted at the back of the panel, and generates projection light projected onto the screen to form an image; and

a light-guiding component that includes a reflection component for reflecting the projection light generated by the projection unit, and guides the projection light by reflecting it a plurality of times with the reflection component.

2. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein

the light-guiding component has its shape and a position of the reflection component established in a manner to avoid a position of an air bag placed at the back of the panel.

3. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein

the screen is curved and installed in a manner to have a curved surface conforming to a shape of the panel.

4. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein

the light-guiding component has its shape and a position of the reflection component established in a manner to bend an optical path of the projection light generated by the projection unit in three-dimensional directions.

5. The display device for vehicles according to claim 2, wherein

the screen has a split on its prescribed position so that the screen is broken when pressure higher than a prescribed value is applied from the back of the panel.

6. The display device for vehicles according to claim 2, wherein

the screen is mounted on the panel in a manner that the screen is disconnected when pressure higher than a prescribed value is applied from the back of the panel.

7. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising on the surface of the screen:

a deflection filter for making it difficult to view the image on the screen from a direction of a driver'"'"'s seat

8. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein

the light-guiding component has its shape and a position of the reflection component established in a manner to avoid a position of a glove box formed at the back of the panel.

9. The display device for vehicles according to claim 2, further comprising:

an air bag action deciding section for making a decision as to whether the air bag operates or not, wherein

the projection unit stops generating the projection light if the air bag action deciding section makes a decision that the air bag operates.

10. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electric seat operating section for operating an electric seat; and

a display adjusting section for controlling alteration of a zoom magnification by the projection unit or alteration of a position and angle of the reflection component in response to the operation by the electric seat operating section.

11. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising:

an illuminance sensor for detecting illuminance; and

a clock for measuring time, wherein

the projection unit adjusts luminance of the projection light in response to at least one of the illuminance detected by the illuminance sensor or the time measured by the clock.

12. The display device for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle state acquiring section for acquiring a state of a vehicle;

a seat belt wearing detecting section for making a decision of wearing a seat belt or not; and

an occupant detecting section for detecting whether an occupant is seated or not, wherein

the projection unit generates or stops the projection light in response to at least one of presence or absence of a seated occupant detected by the occupant detecting section, presence or absence of wearing the seat belt detected by the seat belt wearing detecting section, or a state as to whether the vehicle is running or stopped acquired by the vehicle state acquiring section.