Display apparatus for use in vehicle

• US 9,802,485 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2015
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Masuda, Hiroshi, Furuya, Yoshiyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US14/886,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20160039287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/20 Optical features of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/23 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/149 Input by detecting viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/20 Optical features of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/23 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• 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 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/013 comprising a combiner of particular shape, e.g. curvature
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a display apparatus for use in a vehicle that prevents reduction in driver visibility and adds no constrains to vehicle interior design. The display apparatus includes an indicator unit and a reflection receiving surface. The indicator unit includes a housing, an indicator accommodated in the housing, and a face glass sheet attached to the housing in such a manner that the indicator is visible. The reflection receiving surface receives light traveling from an eye range and reflecting off the face glass sheet. the face glass sheet is formed into a cross-sectional concavity depressed toward the indicator. The concavity provides a curved surface that reflects the light from the eye range to the reflection receiving surface. The reflection receiving surface is a back surface of a vehicle structure placed at a position at which there is space between the reflection receiving surface and the face glass sheet.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for use in a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an indicator unit including a housing, an indicator accommodated in the housing, and a face glass sheet attached to the housing in such a manner that the indicator is visible; and

a reflection receiving surface configured to receive light traveling from an eye range and reflecting off the face glass sheet, wherein

the face glass sheet is formed into a cross-sectional concavity depressed toward the indicator, the concavity providing a curved surface that reflects the light from the eye range to the reflection receiving surface, wherein

the reflection receiving surface is a back surface of a vehicle structure placed at a position at which there is space between the reflection receiving surface and the face glass sheet and at which the reflection receiving surface is close to the face glass sheet and is invisible to a driver in a driver seat, and wherein

the indicator unit is fixed to an instrument panel in a vehicle in such a manner that the face glass sheet penetrates the instrument panel in a vertical direction and upper and lower portions of the curved surface protruding from the instrument panel both reflect the light from the eye range to the reflection receiving surface.

2. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle structure is one of a register, a reinforcement, an instrument panel belt line, and a support device for the indicator unit.

3. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the reflection receiving surface is at a position in the vertical direction approximately in a middle of the face glass sheet in the vertical direction.

4. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an ambient lighting unit is placed on the reflection receiving surface.

5. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein an ambient lighting unit is placed on the reflection receiving surface.

6. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein an ambient lighting unit is placed on the reflection receiving surface.

7. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one of a head-up display indicator and an external viewing indicator is attached to a windshield side of the indicator unit.

8. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein one of a head-up display indicator and an external viewing indicator is attached to a windshield side of the indicator unit.

9. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein one of a head-up display indicator and an external viewing indicator is attached to a windshield side of the indicator unit.

10. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein one of a head-up display indicator and an external viewing indicator is attached to a windshield side of the indicator unit.

11. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein one of a head-up display indicator and an external viewing indicator is attached to a windshield side of the indicator unit.

12. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein one of a head-up display indicator and an external viewing indicator is attached to a windshield side of the indicator unit.

13. The display apparatus for use in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a reflection receiving surface overlaps a portion of the face glass sheet.