# US 10,481,395 B2 · Single LCD for cluster and HUD > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,481,395 B2 - Document ID: US10481395B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/653,149 - Filed: 2017-07-18 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-20 - Assignees: Pananasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America - Applicants: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America - Inventors: Thomas Barron - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481395B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)} - G02B 27/01: Head-up displays - G02F 1/1347: Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells - G02B 2027/0123: {comprising devices increasing the field of view} - G02B 2027/0147: {comprising a device modifying the resolution of the displayed image} - G02B 2027/0165: {associated with a head-down display} - G02B 2027/0187: {slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye} - G02B 2027/0192: {Supplementary details} - G02F 1/133626: {providing two modes of illumination, e.g. day-night} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract A combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a substantially planar liquid crystal display having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first area of the liquid crystal display is viewable as an instrument cluster display by a human viewer who is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side. A backlight is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side. The backlight is aligned with a second area of the liquid crystal display such that a light field is emitted by the backlight through the second area. Head up display optics are positioned to receive the light field. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising: a substantially planar liquid crystal display including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first area of the liquid crystal display being viewable as an instrument cluster display by a human viewer who is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side; a backlight disposed closer to the first side than to the second side, the backlight being aligned with a second area of the liquid crystal display such that a light field is emitted by the backlight through the second area; and head up display optics positioned to receive the light field. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a planar front vertical polarizer oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal display being viewable through the front vertical polarizer as an instrument cluster display by the human viewer, the backlight being attached to the planar front vertical polarizer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a planar rear horizontal polarizer oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display, the light field passing through the rear horizontal polarizer between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a planar backlight film oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display and disposed closer to the second side than to the first side of the liquid crystal display, the backlight film being configured to illuminate the liquid crystal display as an instrument cluster. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement of claim 4 wherein the backlight film includes a notch through which the light field passes between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a substantially planar display housing oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display and disposed closer to the second side than to the first side of the liquid crystal display. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement of claim 6 wherein the display housing includes a notch through which the light field passes between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 8 A method of providing a head up display and an instrument cluster in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: providing a substantially planar liquid crystal display including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first area of the liquid crystal display being viewable as an instrument cluster display by a human viewer who is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side; providing a backlight disposed closer to the first side than to the second side, the backlight being aligned with a second area of the liquid crystal display; emitting a light field from the backlight through the second area; and placing head up display optics in position to receive the light field. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising: providing a planar front vertical polarizer oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal display being viewable through the front vertical polarizer as an instrument cluster display by the human viewer; and attaching the backlight to the planar front vertical polarizer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a planar rear horizontal polarizer oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display, the light field passing through the rear horizontal polarizer between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising: providing a planar backlight film oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display and disposed closer to the second side than to the first side of the liquid crystal display; and using the backlight film to illuminate the liquid crystal display as an instrument cluster. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the backlight film includes a notch through which the light field passes between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further comprising providing a substantially planar display housing oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display and disposed closer to the second side than to the first side of the liquid crystal display. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein the display housing includes a notch through which the light field passes between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 15 A motor vehicle, comprising: a substantially planar liquid crystal display including a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first area of the liquid crystal display being viewable as an instrument cluster display by a human viewer who is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side; a backlight disposed closer to the first side than to the second side, the backlight being configured to emit a light field through the second area; head up display optics positioned to receive the light field after the light field has passed through the second area; and a windshield positioned to receive a first reflection of the light field from the head up display optics and provide a second reflection of the light field, the second reflection of the light field being visible to the human viewer as a virtual image. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The motor vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a planar front vertical polarizer oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display, the liquid crystal display being viewable through the front vertical polarizer as an instrument cluster display by the human viewer, the backlight being attached to the planar front vertical polarizer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The motor vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a planar rear horizontal polarizer oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display, the light field passing through the rear horizontal polarizer between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The motor vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a planar backlight film oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display and disposed closer to the second side than to the first side of the liquid crystal display, the backlight film being configured to illuminate the liquid crystal display as an instrument cluster. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The motor vehicle of claim 18 wherein the backlight film includes a notch through which the light field passes between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The motor vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a substantially planar display housing oriented parallel to the liquid crystal display and disposed closer to the second side than to the first side of the liquid crystal display. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The motor vehicle of claim 20 wherein the display housing includes a notch through which the light field passes between the second area of the liquid crystal display and the head up display optics.