US 2017/0246956 A1Published application

Vehicle information display systems

AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

InventorJonathan C. Hall

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A vehicle information display system and an instrument panel assembly configured to project vehicle information onto the windshield or on a meter panel is provided. The information display system and the instrument panel assembly utilizes a single electronic display to either display vehicle information on the meter panel or to project vehicle information onto the windshield so as to reduce the number of components needed to perform both functions, and thus reduce packaging space. The electronic display and a first panel are rotatably mounted to the first display opening so as to alternatively cover the first display opening, wherein in a first mode of operation the electronic display is disposed within the first display opening and in a second mode of operation the first panel is disposed within the opening and the vehicle information is projected onto the windshield.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle information display system configured to generate a heads up display on a windshield and provide a vehicle information on a meter panel of an instrument panel assembly, the meter panel having a first display opening, the vehicle information display system comprising:

an electronic display configured to visually display the vehicle information through the first display opening in a first mode of operation;
a first panel that displays indicia through the first display opening in a second mode of operation;
a first drive system configured to position the electronic display and the first panel between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation;
and
a heads up display unit configured to project a visual display of the vehicle information displayed by the electronic display onto the windshield, wherein in the first mode of operation, the first drive system positions the electronic display so as to be visible through the first display opening and positions the first panel so as to be removed from the first display opening and in a second mode of operation, the first drive system positions the first panel so as to be visible through the first display opening and the electronic display is positioned in communication with the heads up display unit so as to display the vehicle information onto the windshield.

2 more elements

An instrument panel assembly configured to generate a heads up display on a windshield, the instrument panel assembly comprising:

a panel housing having an first display opening;
an electronic display configured to visually display vehicle information, the display rotatably mounted to the first display opening;
a first panel, the first panel mounted to the first display opening;
a first drive system, the first drive system configured to position the electronic display and the first panel;
and
a heads up display unit, the heads up display unit configured to project a visual display of the vehicle information displayed by the electronic display onto the windshield, the heads up display unit includes a first mirror, a second mirror, a lens and a light source, wherein the light source is configured to project the vehicle information onto the first mirror, and the second mirror is configured to receive a reflection form the first mirror and project the reflection on to the lens, the lens projecting and enlarging the vehicle information onto the windshield, wherein in a first mode of operation, the first drive system positions the electronic display so as to cover the first display opening and positions the first panel so as to be behind the electronic display and in a second mode of operation the first drive system positions the first panel so as to cover the display and the electronic display is positioned in communication with the heads up display unit so as to display the vehicle information onto the windshield.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/055,548Filed 27 Feb 2016
Published: 31 Aug 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

G02B 27/0101
Head-up displays: characterised by optical features
B60K 35/10
Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles: input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle,…
B60K 35/22
Using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays: display screens
B60K 35/23
Using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays: head-up displays [HUD]