Vehicular display system

A display system is provided, such display system including a display with a generally horizontal display surface, and a reflecting element with an opaque reflective surface configured to reflect an image presented by the display for viewing by the vehicle occupant. The display system is configured to be mounted adjacent the front console, typically with the display embedded in the front console and the reflecting element mounted above the display at an angle relative thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a vehicle 10 is shown, such vehicle being configured with a vehicular display system 12 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Display system 12 is mounted on the vehicle's front console 14 , preferably for viewing by a driver in a peripheral region of the driver's field of view. As indicated, the vehicle includes a chassis 16 with a windshield 16 a through which a driver views the vehicle path (e.g. road), the chassis defining a vehicle interior. An interior area forward of front seats 18 serves as a front passenger area where the driver and front seat passenger are seated. The interior area between front seats 18 and rear seats 20 serves as a rear passenger area where rear seat passengers are seated, as shown. The vehicle also may be equipped with various video sources, including, for example, cameras 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , an onboard vehicle processor 70 , and/or a vehicle navigation system 80 . It will be appreciated that other sources of data and/or video, such as a cell phone, a satellite receiver, etc. also may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. These sources provide images for presentation by the video display system under direction of a video control module 50 ( FIG. 4 ). Front console 14 takes the form of a vehicle dashboard such as that found below a vehicle windshield, such dashboard being configured to extend into the front passenger area to provide an upper dash surface 14 a . A front dash surface 14 b includes instrumentation viewable by the driver to enhance vehicle operation. The upper dash surface typically is generally horizontal, providing a suitable mounting structure for vehicular display system 12 , as will now be described. In accordance with the present invention, display system 12 includes a display 30 mounted adjacent the front console of the vehicle, typically in an orientation facing other than rearwardly in the vehicle. More typically, display 30 is a direct view display mounted on the dashboard in an upwardly-facing orientation. In a vehicle having a dashboard such as that shown here, the display may be embedded in the dashboard in a generally horizontal orientation so as to minimize interference with components already present in the dashboard. As shown, the depicted display includes a base 32 , and a generally planar display surface 34 , which presents a real image focused on the display surface such that it may be reflected for viewing by a vehicle occupant. Base 32 is configured for mounting to the vehicle dashboard, typically via conventional fasteners such as screws. In one embodiment, the base is embedded in the dashboard ( FIGS. 1, 2 , 4 and 5 ) in front of the driver of the vehicle. However, a display may similarly be mounted in front of the front seat passenger of the vehicle ( FIG. 3 ). As indicated, such an embedded display may include a display housing contoured to mimic a contour of the dashboard, thereby accommodating seamless storage of the reflective element in the vehicle dashboard as best shown in FIG. 5 . Alternatively, the base may be mounted on the upper surface of the dashboard ( FIG. 6 ). In any event, the display surface faces other than rearwardly, and more typically, faces in an upward direction. The display also may employ upright side walls (not shown) to shield the display surface from ambient light, and thus enhance viewability of the display. Display 30 takes the form of a flat panel display (FPD), typically a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other flat panel technology display. The display may be of virtually any size, but preferably is intended for viewing by a front seat occupant, and thus employs a display screen which is on the order of approximately 4-inches to 8-inches, measured diagonally. The screen may be color or black-and-white, depending on the particular use to which the screen is to be put. To save space, various electrical components may be separated from the display screen, such components typically including video control circuitry (e.g. a central processing unit (CPU), multiplexors (MUX), on-screen display controls, and/or video/audio amplifiers), power supplies, etc. Extending upwardly from display 30 is a reflecting element 40 configured to reflect the real image focused on the display for viewing by the vehicle occupant. As indicated, the reflecting element includes a housing 42 , and a generally planar, opaque reflective surface 44 . The reflecting element also may include a visor 46 and side walls (not shown) configured to reduce glare on reflective surface 44 and to shield the reflective surface from ambient light. These features also may serve to prevent light from display 30 from appearing on the vehicle windshield when it is dark outside the vehicle. Reflecting element 40 typically takes the form of a mirror (glass, polished metal, or otherwise) positionable relative display 30 to reflect the image on the display surface for viewing of the image on the reflective surface. The reflecting element thus typically is positioned between the dashboard and the windshield at an acute angle relative to the display surface, and in close proximity thereto. In the present embodiment, the reflecting element is secured to the display via a hinge 36 , the reflecting element thus being pivotal between a stowed orientation ( FIG. 5 ) wherein the reflective surface is generally parallel with the display surface, and a deployed orientation ( FIG. 4 ) wherein the reflective surface extends upwardly from the dashboard at an acute angle &ggr; 0 relative to the display surface to reflect the image presented by the display for viewing by the vehicle occupant. The angle &ggr; typically is chosen such that the reflecting path, shown in FIG. 2 , reflects a focused image presented on display surface 34 off opaque reflecting surface 44 to the eye of driver D. It will be appreciated that the reflecting element typically is further adjustable to accommodate viewing angles for occupants in differing operator positions. Furthermore, the display itself may be pivotally mounted to the dashboard (e.g. via a hinge) to accommodate further adjustment of the display system. Such a pivotal display may prove useful in maintaining an optimal relative angle between display surface 34 and reflective surface 44 , even when the display is at a non-optimal angle relative to the dashboard. Importantly, it will be noted from FIG. 2 that a vehicle occupant (such as driver D) has a central field of view along line-of-sight LS, where line-of-sight LS is selected to be a view of the vehicle path (approaching an imaginary line parallel to the vehicle path). The central field of view is denoted by an angle &agr;, between lines CF 1 , CF 2 . Typically, the central field of view corresponds to the image formed in the fovea, parafovea, and perifovea regions of the driver's eye, and thus has an angular diameter of approximately 19 degrees. It will be appreciated that the central field of view is the field of view within which a driver views the vehicle path, and thus generally should be free of distractions. In addition to the central field of view, the vehicle occupant has a peripheral field of view which extends about the periphery of the central field of view. Typically, the peripheral field of view has an angular diameter of approximately 29 degrees (corresponding to the near periphery region of the eye) surrounding the central field of view. FIG. 2 shows a lower portion of the peripheral field of view at &bgr;, between line CF 2 and line PF 2 . As indicated, this peripheral field of view extends generally between the top edge of the dashboard and the central field of view, an area which typically does not contain any useful information in most vehicle applications. Referring still to FIG. 2 , it will be noted that reflective element 40 is selectively configured to extend upwardly from the dashboard in the peripheral field of view of the vehicle occupant to present a reflected image to the driver. Although the driver may glance down to view the reflected image (much like the driver glances down to view the instrument panel of the dashboard) the reflected image will not significantly detract from view of the vehicle path in the driver's central field of view. As shown in FIG. 3, a driver-oriented vehicular display system 12 may be positioned in front of a driver D. A passenger-oriented vehicular display system 12 ′ similarly may be positioned in front of front seat passenger P. The orientation of the display and reflective element of the display of passenger-oriented vehicular display system make it difficult for the driver to view the presented image of the passenger-oriented vehicular display system. Use of a bi-directional film on the display may further restrict driver view of a passenger-side display. The driver's view of a passenger-side display is indicated generally by dashed line R in FIG. 3 . The present display system thus is useful in displaying entertainment content to the front seat passenger while keeping such content out of view of the driver, as required by law in many areas. Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5 , it will be appreciated that vehicular display system 12 has an associated video control module 50 , which may be spaced from display 30 to conserve space in the vehicle dashboard. Video control module 50 may be configured to accommodate selection of an image source from a plurality of image sources, and may contain video control circuitry (e.g. a central processing unit (CPU), multiplexors (MUX), on-screen display controls, and/or video/audio amplifiers), power supplies, etc. Typically, the video image is processed for inverted presentation on display 30 , so that the image appears in a right-side-up orientation to driver D after it is reflected by reflecting element 40 . As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 7 , the vehicular display system includes multiple image sources. For example, cameras may be provided at various locations on the vehicle to provide the driver with various views, both interior and exterior to the vehicle. In the depicted embodiment, camera 62 is mounted to a center floor console, and is trained on the rear seat passenger area to provide a view of rear seat occupants. It will be appreciated, however, that camera 62 may be mounted to a vehicle seat, the vehicle ceiling, or in virtually any other location within the vehicle. The present embodiment also includes a rear view camera 64 mounted on the rear of the vehicle to provide an external rearward view from the vehicle, and a forward view camera 66 mounted on the front of the vehicle to provide an external forward view from the vehicle. The vehicle also may include side view cameras 68 which take the place of side view mirrors found on many vehicles. As a safety feature, these side view cameras may be linked to the vehicle's turn signal operations, presenting an appropriate view of the vehicle's “blind spot” when a turn signal is activated. Forward view camera 66 may take the form of a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera mounted adjacent the front of the vehicle (or within the vehicle looking forward). FLIR camera 66 is configured to provide an infrared front view from the vehicle, and is especially useful in identifying hazards at night or at other times when visibility is poor. It will be appreciated that the FLIR camera image will change drastically when a live hazard (e.g. an animal) jumps into the road. This should be enough to attract the driver's attention, even where the reflective surface is in a peripheral field of view, causing the driver to look down, and react accordingly. Unlike known Head Up Display (HUD) systems, the proposed FLIR system may be used day or night. An onboard vehicle processor 70 , and a navigation system 80 , also may serve as image sources for the vehicular display system. The onboard vehicle processor 70 may be configured to present an image containing vehicle status information such as vehicle speed, vehicle temperature, external temperature, fuel level, engine temperature, miles per hour, RPMs, fuel economy, etc. Navigation system 80 may be configured to generate an image containing navigation information such as maps, driving directions, weather information, traffic information, etc. Navigation system 80 may include a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver, such that the system is able to present a map of the immediate surroundings of vehicle 10 in its current location. Video control module 50 may be configured to select an image source for presentation on a display, or may be configured to present two or more image sources on a single display simultaneously in a split-screen or overlayed screen format. Similarly, a single video control module may be configured to present different images on different displays in accordance with each occupant's needs. Turning now to FIG. 6 , according to another embodiment of the invention, a display system 12 ″ may be mounted atop front console 14 ″. This embodiment typically is used in after-market installations of display systems. The display system, however, it will be noted, still may be connected to a video control module 50 as described above. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. The foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in this or a later application. Where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.