Display apparatus for vehicle

• US 7,369,044 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Matsuo, Yoshiharu, Ono, Shunsuke, Matsumura, Takeshi, Yokota, Hiroyuki, Muramatsu, Masahiro, Saotome, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/051,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 340/461, 340/462, 340/451, 345/7, 345/23, 345/29, 345/156, 345/644
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6985 with only part of pointer being visible
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/155 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/336 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/6985 with only part of pointer being visible
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• 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

Abstract

A display apparatus for a vehicle includes display screen having a plurality of display areas such as a tachometer display area, a speedometer display area, and an auxiliary display area. The display apparatus for a vehicle further includes a CPU for controlling images displayed on the display screen. A display partition member is mounted on a part of the display screen.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a display screen having a plurality of display areas on which data indicating various conditions of the vehicle are displayed;

a controller for controlling images displayed on the display screen; and

a partition member mounted on a part of the display areas,

wherein the partition member is a ring member having an opening at its center, and wherein a lens is mounted at the center opening of the partition member.

2. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the display areas include a meter display area on which a dial plate image indicating a measured value representing one aspect of a vehicle driving condition is displayed;

and an auxiliary display area on which information other than the measured value is displayed,

wherein the partition member is mounted on a part of the meter display area.

3. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the partition member is made of a transparent material formed to have a lens effect.

4. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3,

wherein the transparent material is a plastic material.

5. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein both sides of the partition member are metallized.

6. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the controller so controls as to normally extend a pointer image for indicating the measured value from the meter display area to the auxiliary display area, and as to shorten the pointer image when the information other than the measured value is displayed on the auxiliary display area.

7. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2,

wherein images displayed on the auxiliary display area are graduated.

8. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller controls to compensate a distortion caused by aberration of the lens, of an image on the display screen viewed through the lens.

9. The display apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the partition member is made of an opaque plastic material, or a metal.