# US 10,766,363 B2 · Surface panel, display unit, on-vehicle display device, and instrument panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,363 B2 - Document ID: US10766363B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/434,677 - Filed: 2017-02-16 - Published: 2017-06-08 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-12 - Assignees: Yazaki Corporation - Applicants: Yazaki Corporation - Inventors: Masahiro Takamatsu; Tai Inoue; Masahide Nagata; Takayuki Ogawa; Gosei Sato; Takao Kanai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766363B2 ## CPC - G02B 27/0018: {with means for preventing ghost images (anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11)} - B60K 35/22: Display screens - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)} - B60K 35/213: {Virtual instruments} - B60K 35/425: {Anti-reflection arrangements} - B60K 37/20: Dashboard panels - B60K 2360/1523: Matrix displays - B60K 2360/164: Infotainment - B60K 2360/166: Navigation - B60K 2360/332: Light emitting diodes - B60K 2360/334: Projection means - B60K 2360/339: Translucent dashboard skins - B60K 2360/693: Cover plate features - B60Y 2400/92: Driver displays - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A surface panel is attached to an instrument panel so as to cover a display surface of a display unit disposed on the instrument panel of a vehicle. When the display unit is turned on, light L from the display unit is projected toward the driver's seat side via a thin hole formed in the surface panel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surface panel which is installed so as to cover a display surface of a display portion or portions provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle, wherein: plural small apertures are formed through the surface panel and are open to both an outside of the surface panel and an inside of the surface panel; wherein axial lines of the small apertures are inclined at acute angles through a thickness of the surface panel so as to be directed to the driver or passenger seat side, wherein at least a first one of the plural small apertures is arranged at a first one of the acute angles through the thickness of the surface panel, wherein at least a second one of the plural small apertures is arranged at a second one of the acute angles through the thickness of the surface panel, and wherein the first one of the acute angles is different than a second one of the acute angles. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surface panel according to claim 1, wherein inclination angles of the small apertures are set at such values that an image of the display unit is not projected onto a full area or a prescribed region, included in a field of view of the driver or passenger, of a windshield. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surface panel according to claim 2, wherein the small apertures each comprise ones of first openings, facing into the instrument panel, and second openings, facing away from the instrument panel, and wherein the small apertures are arranged such that lines, through edges of respective ones of the first openings and second openings do not intersect the full area or the prescribed region of the windshield. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The surface panel according to claim 2, wherein the inclination angles of the small apertures with respect to the thickness direction of the surface panel are small on the driver or passenger seat side and large on the windshield side. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A display unit comprising: the surface panel according to claim 1; and the display portion or portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The display unit according to claim 5, wherein: the display portion is housed in a recess that is formed in the instrument panel; and an inner wall of the recess serves as a visor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The display unit according to claim 6, wherein: plural recesses are formed in such a manner that lines of recesses are arranged like stairs from the driver or passenger seat side to the windshield side; light sources of the respective display portions are arranged in rows; and the rows of light sources are provided in the respective stairs of the plural recesses. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The display unit according to claim 5, wherein the display portions are plural point light sources that are arranged in a base that is laid on a surface of the instrument panel so as to conform to it. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The display unit according to claim 5, wherein the surface panel constitutes part of the instrument panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) An instrument panel comprising the display unit according to claim 5. ### Claim 11 An on-vehicle display device incorporated in a body surface of an instrument panel of a vehicle, comprising: a base which displays an image parallel with the body surface; and a surface panel which covers a surface of the base and guides the image displayed by the base to a driver or passenger-seat-side part of a vehicle compartment, wherein the surface panel comprises plural small apertures formed through the surface panel and open to both an outside of the surface panel and an inside of the surface panel, wherein axial lines of the small apertures are inclined at acute angles through a thickness of the surface panel, wherein at least a first one of the plural small apertures is arranged at a first one of the acute angles through the thickness of the surface panel, wherein at least a second one of the plural small apertures is arranged at a second one of the acute angles through the thickness of the surface panel, and wherein the first one of the acute angles is different than a second one of the acute angles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The on-vehicle display device according to claim 11, wherein the on-vehicle display device is incorporated in a driver-seat-side portion of the body surface of the instrument panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The on-vehicle display device according to claim 11, wherein the on-vehicle display device is incorporated in a front-passenger-seat-side portion of the body surface of the instrument panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The on-vehicle display device according to claim 11, wherein a surface of the surface panel is visually recognized as part of the instrument panel when no image is displayed. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) An instrument panel comprising the on-vehicle display device according to claim 11. ### Claim 16 An on-vehicle display device incorporated in a body surface of an instrument panel of a vehicle, comprising: a base which displays an image parallel with the body surface; and a surface panel which covers a surface of the base and guides the image displayed by the base to a driver or passenger-seat-side part of a vehicle compartment, wherein the on-vehicle display device is incorporated so as to extend from a driver or passenger-seat-side portion of the instrument panel to a front end of a windshield, wherein the surface panel comprises plural small apertures formed through the surface panel and open to both an outside of the surface panel and an inside of the surface panel, wherein axial lines of the small apertures are inclined at acute angles through a thickness of the surface panel, wherein at least a first one of the plural small apertures is arranged at a first one of the acute angles through the thickness of the surface panel, wherein at least a second one of the plural small apertures is arranged at a second one of the acute angles through the thickness of the surface panel, and wherein the first one of the acute angles is different than a second one of the acute angles. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The on-vehicle display device according to claim 16, wherein the base is formed like stairs on the body surface of the instrument panel so as to conform to it. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The on-vehicle display device according to claim 16, wherein the on-vehicle display device is incorporated in a driver-seat-side portion of the body surface of the instrument panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The on-vehicle display device according to claim 16, wherein the on-vehicle display device is incorporated in a front-passenger-seat-side portion of the body surface of the instrument panel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The on-vehicle display device according to claim 16, wherein the on-vehicle display device is incorporated in such a manner that the body surface and a surface of the surface panel are a same surface of the instrument panel. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) An instrument panel comprising the on-vehicle display device according to claim 16. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The surface panel according to claim 1, wherein the acute angles of the plural small apertures align with acute angles of a mount base of the instrument panel.