Indication display unit for vehicles

• US 5,204,666 A
• Filed: 08/30/1991
• Issued: 04/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Iino, Tadashi, Aoki, Kunimitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US07/752,935
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 340/705, 340/980, 359/13, 359/14, 358/103, 358/104, 358/250, 358/93, 350/174
• US Class Current: 345/9
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/67 Foldable or movable displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

An indication display unit for vehicles of this invention is provided with a head-up display (HUD), an indication projector, a display device located at the ceiling of the vehicle, and a reflector forwardly located relative to a driver'"'"'s seat. The indication display unit of this invention further includes a shifting mechanism for the reflector so that when the vehicle speed decreases lower than a predetermined low speed limit, the reflector can be completely shifted away from the driver'"'"'s visual field. The shifting of the reflector can be accomplished by having the reflector shift in a vertical direction or just outside, but near the driver'"'"'s visual field, in a horizontal direction.

Claims

1. An indication display unit for vehicles enabling a driver to sight an indicating image comprising:

an image projector device including a display device for projecting an indicating image;

a reflecting means located forwardly of a driver seat for reflecting said indicating image; and

a location shifting means having a mechanism for completely shifting said reflecting means in one of a vertical motion and a transversal motion in accordance with a vehicle velocity, wherein said reflecting means includes a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being located above a dashboard level and a second portion being located below the dashboard level when said reflecting means is in use.

2. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflecting means can be stored inside a dashboard.

3. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 2, wherein said reflecting means has a rotatable lid disposed along the longer side edge of an opening arranged on said dashboard activated to be shut by said mechanism when said reflecting means is stored inside said dashboard.

4. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflecting means can be shifted along an elongate slit running on said dashboard.

5. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 4, wherein a reflecting angle α

at the position P of said reflecting means is automatically changed to a reflecting angle β

when the position of said reflecting means is shifted to another position Q by a shifting motor and an angle controlling motor contained in said shifting mechanism according to a predetermined value.

6. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflecting means can be shifted along a curve slit running in approximate parallel with the windshield.

7. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 5, wherein said location shifting means mechanism contains an elongate rail below said elongate slit.

8. An indication display unit for vehicles as claimed in claim 6, wherein said location shifting means mechanism contains an arcuated rail below said elongate slit.

9. An indication display unit for vehicles enabling a driver to sight an indication image comprising:

an image projector device including a display device for projecting an indicating image;

a reflecting means located forwardly of a driver seat for reflecting said indicating image; and

a location shifting means having a mechanism for completely shifting said reflecting means in one of a vertical motion and a transversal motion in accordance with a vehicle velocity, wherein said reflecting means, when shifted, still functions by reflecting said indicating image from said image projector, wherein said reflecting means includes a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being located above a dashboard level and a second portion being located below the dashboard level when said reflecting means is in use.