Head-up display apparatus and mirror unit for the same

Providing a head-up display apparatus capable of receiving a mirror, which projects from a line of an instrument panel when in use, without increasing a receiving section and spoiling a beauty of the instrument panel, and a mirror unit used in the same, a mirror is rotated about an axis perpendicular to a reflecting surface of the mirror so as to project a part of the mirror from the opening when in use, and take in the projected part of the mirror down within the opening when not in use. Thus, the whole mirror can be received in the receiving section only by rotational motion.

The priority application Number Japan Patent Application No. 2004-151760 upon which this patent application is based is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a head-up display apparatus installed in a vehicle and a mirror unit used therefor, especially, a head-up display apparatus, which is installed in an instrument panel and includes a mirror for reflecting an image of a display device toward a windshield, and a mirror unit used for the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A head-up display apparatus, which reflects an image of a display device5installed in an instrument panel1toward a windshield6by a mirror3c1to make a vehicle driver recognize visually as shown inFIG. 2A, is installed in a vehicle.FIG. 2is used for describing a related art, but is not a prior art.

A height of the instrument panel1is set a limit for safety. A space7in the instrument panel1is provided with many members, such as an air duct continuing to an air conditioner, reinforcing parts, wiring harnesses and the like.

The mirror3c1must be placed in the vicinity of the windshield6according to a shape or an angle of the windshield6. In case, by reason of a height limit of the instrument panel1, the mirror3c1must be placed to project a part of the mirror3c1from a line of the instrument panel1when in use.

Preferably, the mirror3c1of the head-up display apparatus is covered and protected from dust when not in use, mainly daytime. Therefore, a member for covering and protecting from dust the mirror3c1when not in use is required. Preferably, moving the whole mirror3c1downward in parallel and pushing the mirror3c1into the instrument panel1, an upper area is covered by a cover. As mentioned above, number of members received in the instrument panel1is increasing, so that there is no space in the instrument panel for pushing the whole mirror3c1into the instrument panel.

Therefore, by reason of height limit of the instrument panel1and increasing members received in the instrument panel1, the mirror3c1is placed at a position when in use, and the mirror3c1must be covered and protected from dust when not in use.

An example of a head-up display apparatus having a mirror reflecting an image of a display device for displaying a predetermined image toward a windshield is disclosed in a patent reference 1; Japan Patent 2002-331855.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects to be Solved

For placing the mirror3c1at a position when in use, and covering and protecting from dust the mirror3c1when not in use, a cover having a shape covering an opening of a receiving section1a, that is, covering the part of the mirror3c1projecting from the line of the instrument panel is required.

If such cover is used, a part of a top surface of the instrument panel1projects when not in use. Thereby, the line of the instrument panel is out of shape and the look thereof becomes bad. A space for receiving the cover with such shape is required when in use.

To overcome the above problem, objects of this invention are to provide a head-up display apparatus capable of receiving the mirror, which projects from the line of the instrument panel when in use, without spoiling a beauty of the instrument panel, and a mirror unit used in the same.

How to Attain the Object of the Present Invention

In order to attain the object of the present invention, a head-up display apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a display device displaying a predetermined image; an optical system reflecting the image toward a windshield; a receiving section being installed in an instrument panel and capable of receiving the display device and the optical system; a panel cover covering an opening of the receiving section; and a control mechanism for the optical system, projecting a part of the optical system from the receiving section to make a car driver sitting on a driver's seat recognize the image when in use, and taking in the projected part of the optical system within the receiving section when not in use to make the car driver ignore the image.

According to above structure, the part of the optical system is projected from the receiving section to make the car driver recognize the image when in use, and the projected part of the optical system is taken within the receiving section when not in use to make the car driver ignore the image. Thus, by disassembling an optical system to disregard making the car driver recognize the image, the receiving section is not increased.

A head-up display apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes a display device displaying a predetermined image; a mirror reflecting the image toward a windshield; a receiving section being installed in an instrument panel for receiving the display device and the mirror; a panel cover covering an opening of the receiving section; and a mirror rotating mechanism for rotating the mirror about an axis perpendicular to a reflecting surface of the mirror so as to project a part of the mirror from the opening of the receiving section when in use, and take in the projected part of the mirror down within the opening when not in use.

According to above structure, the mirror is rotated about the axis perpendicular to the reflecting surface of the mirror so as to project the part of the mirror from the opening of the receiving section when in use, and take in the projected part of the mirror down within the opening when not in use. Thus, the whole mirror can be received in the receiving section only by rotational motion, so that a drive mechanism for receiving the mirror becomes simple. Instead of pushing the whole mirror into the instrument panel, the mirror is received in the instrument panel by rotational motion, so that the receiving section is not increased.

The head-up display apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention is characterised in that the panel cover is formed into a shape of flat plate, and made movable in parallel to the opening interlockingly with rotation of the mirror for covering the opening so as to be in the same plane with the instrument panel when not in use.

According to above structure, the panel cover covers the opening of the receiving section so as to be in the same plane with the instrument panel when not in use. The panel cover is formed into a shape of flat plate, and made movable interlockingly with rotation of the mirror.

The head-up display apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention further includes an eye-range adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting an angle of the mirror corresponding to an eye-range when in use according to a position in height of the eye-range of a car driver sitting on a driver's seat.

According to above structure, the angle of the mirror can be adjusted corresponding to the position in height of the eye-range of the car driver sitting on the driver's seat.

A mirror unit, which is used for a head-up display apparatus having a receiving section to be installed in an instrument panel and capable of receiving a display device for displaying a predetermined image and the mirror for reflecting said image toward a windshield, according to another aspect of the present invention includes; a mirror rotating mechanism for rotating the mirror about an axis perpendicular to a reflecting surface of the mirror; and a fixed unit, on which the mirror rotating mechanism is mounted, being fixed on a inner wall of a receiving section so as to project a part of the mirror from an opening of the receiving section when in use, and take in the projected part of the mirror down within the opening when not in use.

According to above structure, the mirror is rotated about the axis perpendicular to the reflecting surface of the mirror so as to project the part of the mirror from the opening of the receiving section when in use, and take in the projected part of the mirror down within the opening when not in use. The mirror is received in the instrument panel by rotational motion, so that the receiving section is not increased.

The above and other objects and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A head-up display apparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1,2.FIG. 1is a perspective view of the head-up display apparatus.FIG. 2Ais an illustration showing the head-up display apparatus when in use.FIG. 2Bis an illustration showing the head-up display apparatus when not in use.FIG. 1corresponds to the head-up display apparatus when in use.

As shown inFIGS. 1,2A, a receiving section1aof the head-up display apparatus is installed in an instrument panel1of a front area of a vehicle. The receiving section1ais formed into a rectangular box shape and an inner wall of the receiving section1ais plate-like. The instrument panel1is cut off at a top surface of the receiving section into a rectangular shape to form an opening1a2. The instrument panel1of the front area of the vehicle is provided with a combination meter2, in which a speed meter, a tachometer and the like are integrated, facing to a driver sitting on a driver's seat.

A display device5structured with a liquid-crystal display for displaying a predetermined image is mounted in the receiving section1a. A spherical magnifying mirror3c1(called simply by mirror, corresponding to an optical system) is placed on an inner wall1a1of the receiving section1aopposing to a display surface of the display device5so as to face to the display surface. The magnifying mirror3c1is formed spherically according to a shape and positional relation of a windshield6so as to make the image of the display device5give an elect image for the driver. The mirror3c1is placed with a small slant when in use as shown inFIG. 1. A later-described mirror unit3includes the magnifying mirror3c1.

A panel cover4is mounted slidably at the opening1a2of the receiving section1a. The panel cover4has the same color as the instrument panel1, and the same flat shape as the opening1a2. The panel cover4moves interlockingly with rotational motion of the mirror3c1so as to open the opening1a2completely when in use as shown inFIGS. 1,2A and close the opening1a2to be in a plane of the instrument panel1when not in use. The panel cover is the same color as the instrument panel and covers the opening1a2to be in the plane of the instrument panel1when not in use, so that the panel cover does not spoil a beauty of the instrument panel when not in use. The panel cover4is flat and moves slidably interlocking with the rotational motion of the mirror3c1, so that it has effective space factor.

The part of the mirror3c1projects from the opening1a2when in use, as shown inFIGS. 1,2A. In this condition, the image of the display device5is reflected by the slant mirror3c1projecting the part thereof from the opening1a2toward the windshield6and reflected by the windshield6toward an eye-range of the driver. Thereby, the driver can see both a view in front of the vehicle through the windshield6and the image reflected by the windshield6.

The part of the mirror3c1, which projects when in use, moves down into the opening1a2when not in use, and the whole mirror3c1is received in the receiving section1aas shownFIG. 2B. The panel cover4is mounted at the opening1a2so as to be in a plane of the instrument panel1. Displacement of the mirror3c1between when in use and when not in use is according to rotational motion about an axis perpendicular to a reflecting surface of the mirror3c1.4ainFIG. 2Bshows a moving area of the panel cover4.

Structure of the mirror unit3used in the head-up display apparatus of the embodiment according to the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 3A,3B,4A,4B,5A and5B.FIG. 3Ais a front view of the whole mirror unit of the embodiment according to the present invention.FIG. 3Bis a side view of the whole mirror unit.FIG. 4Ais a front view of a fixed unit of the mirror unit inFIG. 3A. 4Bis a side view of the fixed unit of the mirror unit inFIG. 3A.FIG. 5Ais a front view of the fixed unit and a holder unit of the mirror unit inFIG. 3A.FIG. 5Bis a side view of the fixed unit and the holder unit of the mirror unit inFIG. 3A.

The mirror unit3includes a fixed unit3a, a holder unit3band a mirror assembly3cas shown inFIG. 3A. The mirror unit3is mounted so as to make the fixed unit3aaligned along the inner wall1a1of the receiving section1a.

The fixed unit3ais plate-like as shown inFIGS. 3A,3B,4A,4B,5A and5B. The fixed unit3aincludes a pin3a1, a fan-shape gear3a2, an arm3a3, a motor gear box3a4and a pinion3a5. The fixed unit3ais mounted so as to make a surface of the fixed unit3a, on which the motor gear box is not mounted, aligned along the inner wall1a1of the receiving section1a.

The pin3a1is the rotation axis of the mirror3c1. The pin3a1is inserted into a hole3b3of the later-described holder unit3b. The fan-shape gear3a2rotates in a predetermined angle about an axis3a21by receiving rotating force of a motor installed in the motor gear box3a4through the pinion3a5. A rotational motion of the fan-shape gear3a2is transmitted through the arm3a3connected by pins3a31,3a32to the holder unit3b.

The holder unit3bis plate-like as shown inFIGS. 3A,3B,5A and5B. The holder unit3bincludes a motor gear box3b1, a bearing unit3b2, and a hole3b3. The motor gear box3b1includes inside thereof a motor and gears for rotating the mirror assembly3cmounted on the holder unit3b. A rotation axis3c3of the mirror assembly3cis provided at the bearing unit3b2. The pin3a1of the fixed unit3ais inserted into the hole3b3so as to rotate the fixed unit3aabout the pin3a1.

The mirror assembly3cincludes a magnifying mirror3c1, a mirror holder3c2and rotation axes3c3,3c4as shown inFIGS. 3A,3B. The magnifying mirror3c1is a spherical concave mirror, and is held by the mirror holder3c2. The mirror holder3c2is a frame structure having a rectangular opening slightly smaller than an external shape of the magnifying mirror3c1. The rotation axis3c3is placed at one short side surface of the mirror holder3c2, and mounted on the bearing unit3b2of the holder unit3b.

The rotation axis3c4is placed at the other short side surface of the mirror holder3c2, and inserted into the motor gear box3b1mounted on the holder unit3b. Thereby, the mirror assembly3ccan rotate with a predetermined angle by receiving the rotating force from the motor gear box3b1. Therefore, an angle of the mirror assembly3ccan be adjusted corresponding to an eye-range of each driver. The pin3a1, the fan-shape gear3a2, the arm3a3correspond to the mirror rotating mechanism. The motor gear box3a4and the pinion3a5correspond to the control mechanism for the optical system. The motor gear box3b1, bearing unit3b2, rotation axes3c3and3c4correspond to the eye-range adjust mechanism.

Actions of the mirror unit3are described with reference toFIGS. 6A and 6B.FIG. 6Ais a front view showing actions of the fixed unit and the holding unit of the mirror unit3.FIG. 6Bis a front view showing actions of the whole mirror unit3. InFIGS. 6A,6B, a solid line shows a condition when not in use and a dotted line shows a condition when in use.

In the condition when not in use shown with a solid line, when a predetermined operation of switching to shift to the condition when in use is acted, the motor in the motor gear box3a4rotates correspondingly, and the rotating force is transmitted through the pinion3a5to the fan-shape gear3a2. The fan-shape gear3a2rotates about the axis3a21to be in the condition when in use shown by3a2′. According to the rotational motion of the fan-shape gear3a2, the arm3a3pushes the holding unit3bupward inFIG. 6A. Thereby, the holding unit3brotates about the axis3a1to be in the condition when in use shown by3b′. As a result, the mirror assembly3cmounted on the holder unit3bmoves to the condition when in use shown by3c′.

Oppositely, in the condition when in use shown with the dotted line inFIGS. 6A and 6B, when a predetermined operation of switching to shift to the condition when not in use is acted, the motor in the motor gear box3a4rotates in a reverse direction, the mirror assembly3c′ moves to be in the condition when not in use shown by3c, according to actions opposed to above.3b1′ and3b2′ inFIGS. 6A,6B show the motor gear box3b1and the bearing unit3b2in the condition when not in use.

Actions of the mirror unit3mounted in the receiving section1aare described with reference toFIGS. 7A,7B,7C and7D.FIGS. 7A-7Dare illustrations showing actions of the mirror unit3of the embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 7A, the mirror assembly3cwhen in use is secured in a condition that the part of the mirror3c1projects from the opening1a2. The mirror unit3is in the condition shown with the dotted line inFIG. 6B. In the condition, the panel cover4is received below the instrument panel1to open the opening1a2completely.

In this condition, when the predetermined operation of switching to shift to the condition when not in use is acted, the part of the mirror3c1, which projects when in used, moves into the opening1a2, and the whole mirror3c1is received in the receiving section1aas shown inFIG. 7B. The detailed actions of the mirror unit3is explained above with reference toFIGS. 6A and 6B. The mirror unit3is shown with the solid line inFIG. 6B.

Thereafter, the panel cover4guided by a slide groove4bmoves forward to close the opening1a2gradually as shown inFIGS. 7B and 7C, and moves upward. Finally, the panel cover4is placed to cover the opening1a2completely in the condition when not in use as shown inFIG. 7D. When the panel cover4is placed to cover the opening1a2, the panel cover is in the plane of the instrument panel1. Rotating force of a motor (not shown) performs the actions of the panel cover4.

Oppositely, in the condition when not in use as shown inFIG. 7D, when the predetermined operation of switching to shift to the condition when in use is acted, the mirror unit3and the panel cover4moves through conditions ofFIGS. 7C and 7Bto a condition shown inFIG. 7Aaccording to reverse actions to the above mentioned actions.

According to the above actions, the panel cover4starts to move after the action of mirror unit3is completed. These actions can be performed simultaneously under a requirement that the action of the panel cover4does not obstruct the rotating action of the mirror unit3.

As mentioned above, according to embodiments of the present invention, since the projected part of the optical system is taken within the receiving section when not in use to make the car driver ignore the image, that is, to disassemble an optical system, the receiving section is not increased. Especially, the whole mirror can be received in the receiving section only by rotational motion, so that the drive mechanism for receiving the mirror becomes simple. Instead of pushing the whole mirror into the instrument panel, the mirror is received in the instrument panel by rotational motion, so that the receiving section for receiving the whole mirror3c1in the instrument panel is not increased. Thereby, the panel cover, apart of which projects at a top surface of the instrument panel1, is not required and the look thereof does not become bad.

In the mirror rotating mechanism and the eye-range adjust mechanism as shown in embodiment, many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and such modifications are included in the present invention.