Vehicle display device and light guide plate thereof

• US 7,187,270 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Katayama, Mutsumi, Kushida, Kazumitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/716,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20040135679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/901, 340/908, 340/432, 345/7, 345/8, 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/633, 359/636, 359/629, 701/201, 701/208, 701/210, 116/28.R, 362/511
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/22 electronic, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings

Abstract

Disclosed are a vehicle display device providing excellent visibility and does not obstruct a sight ahead of a driver, regardless of a frame, a seating position and the like of the driver. The device comprises a transparent light guide plate having first and second major surfaces, and an other side that can be seen therethrough from the first major surface. The light guide plate stands in such a position that the first major surface thereof faces a driver in a sight ahead of the driver. At the same time, the light guide plate is tilted rearward while an entrance end plane thereof comes at the bottom and an emission end plane thereof comes at the top. Luminous elements are placed on the entrance end plane of the light guide plate. In the light guide plate, a distance from the entrance end plane to the emission end plane is sufficiently long relative to a plate thickness. The emission end plane of the light guide plate may include a plurality of planes having different inclination angles or may be frosted. On the first major surface of the light guide plate, a groove may be formed in a direction perpendicular to a light guide direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle display device which is mounted on a vehicle and displays vehicle information using light emission, comprising:

a transparent light guide plate having a first major surface and a second major surface, and through which another side can be seen from the first major surface, said light guide plate being in such a position that the first major surface thereof faces a driver in front of a sight line of the driver and that the light guide plate tilts rearward toward the driver while a light entrance end plane thereof is oriented at the bottom and a light emission end plane thereof is oriented at the top; and

at least one luminous element disposed at the entrance end plane of the light guide plate.

2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the emission end plane of the light guide plate includes a plurality of planes having different inclination angles with reference to front and rear directions.

3. The vehicle display device according to claim 1 wherein the emission end plane of the light guide plate is frosted.

4. The vehicle display device according to claim 1 wherein a groove is formed in the first major surface of the light guide plate in a width direction of the light guide plate and perpendicular to a light guide direction.

5. The vehicle display device according to claim 1 wherein a distance from the entrance end plane to the emission end plane of the light guide plate is sufficiently long with reference to a distance between the first and second major surfaces thereof wherein a direct light beam and a light beam reflected a plurality of times within the light guide plate in a plate width direction are emitted from the emission end plane.

6. The vehicle display device according to claim 1 comprising:

a display panel which represents an image by utilizing differences in light transmittance; and

a projection light source which projects the image on the display panel onto the first major surface of the light guide plate.

7. The vehicle display device of claim 6 wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal panel that represents a dynamically changing image.

8. The vehicle display device of claim 6 wherein the display panel comprises a screen wherein a predetermined stationary image is represented.

9. A light guide plate of a vehicle display device, comprising a first major surface facing generally toward an intended viewer, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, an entrance end plane through which light enters, and an emission end plane that emits the light, wherein the emission end plane of the light guide plate includes a plurality of planes having different inclination angles.

12. The light guide plate of the vehicle display device according to claim 9 wherein a distance from the entrance end plane to the emission end plane of the light guide plate is sufficiently long with reference to a distance between the first and second major surfaces thereof wherein a direct light beam and a light beam reflected a plurality of times within the light guide plate in a plate width direction arc emitted from the emission end plane.

10. A light guide plate of a vehicle display device, comprising a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, an entrance end plane through which light enters, and an emission end plane that emits the light, wherein an emission end plane is frosted.

11. A light guide plate of a vehicle display device, comprising a first major surface facing generally toward an intended viewer, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, an entrance end plane through which light enters, and an emission end plane that emits the light, wherein a groove is formed in the first major surface of the light guide plate in a width direction of the light guide plate and perpendicular to a light guide direction.