Rearview mirror head-up display

• US 5,037,182 A
• Filed: 09/12/1990
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Miller, Larry D., Groves, Doyle J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/580,971
• Time in Patent Office: 328 Days
• Field of Search: 350/174, 350/601, 350/600
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• 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 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

A self contained interior rearview mirror unit for a vehicle provides a head-up display image of vehicle information at a distance in front of the vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture facing rearward of the operator;

display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a primary virtual image of the display source viewable through the aperture by the operator appearing at a distance in front of the operator; and

a partially reflective combiner element mounted in the aperture of said housing so as to combine the projected primary virtual image with a reflected image of a view rearward of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the display source includes a vacuum fluorescent display.

3. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the projecting means includes first and second lenses, the first lens a negative lens projecting a reduced size virtual image of the displayed information and the second lens a positive lens projecting the primary image which is a projection of the reduced size image.

4. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein the first lens is a plano-concave lens and the second lens is a plano-convex lens.

5. The apparatus in claim 1 also including a fold mirror along the optical path between the display source and the partially reflective combiner element.

6. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the partially reflective combiner element includes an interior rearview mirror comprising a partially mirrored portion allowing the projected primary image to be seen through the partially mirrored portion.

7. The apparatus in claim 6 wherein the interior rearview mirror is positionable for day and night viewing by movement of a lever and wherein the lever movement does not affect viewing of the projected primary image.

8. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a rounded rear portion whereby the vehicle operator'"'"'s vision of scenery forward of the vehicle is not significantly impaired.

9. A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture facing rearward of the operator and having a rounded rear portion whereby the vehicle operator'"'"'s vision of scenery forward of the vehicle is not significantly impaired;

display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a primary virtual image of the display source viewable through the aperture by the operator, the projecting means including first and second lenses, the first lens a plano-concave lens projecting a reduced size virtual image of the displayed information and the second lens a plano-convex lens projecting, at a distance behind the second lens, the primary virtual image which is a virtual image of the reduced size virtual image, the display apparatus also including a fold mirror along the optical path between the display source and the second lens; and

an interior rearview mirror mounted in the aperture of the housing, containing a partially mirrored portion allowing the primary virtual image to be seen through the partially mirrored portion, combining the projected virtual image with a reflected image of a view rearward of the vehicle, and positionable for day and night viewing by movement of a lever wherein the lever movement does not affect viewing of the projected image.

10. A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing containing an interior rearview mirror mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture;

display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a virtual image of the display source along an optical path through the aperture; and

a partially reflective combiner element mounted to the housing and combining the projected virtual image with a view forward of the vehicle.

11. A head-up display for a vehicle comprising:

means for displaying information to be projected;

means for projecting the information to be viewed as an image along an optical path; and

means for combining the image with separate visual information such that a vehicle operator can view the image without having to significantly adjust eye focus, the displaying means, projecting means, and combining means all packaged within a self-contained interior rearview mirror unit.