# US 2024/0201492 A1 · Vehicle

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- Number: US 2024/0201492 A1
- Document ID: US20240201492A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/595,494
- Filed: 2024-03-05
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-22
- Assignees: Maxell, Ltd.
- Applicants: Maxell, Ltd.
- Inventors: Go HORIUCHI; Akio MISAWA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240201492A1

## CPC

- G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)}
- B60K 35/22: Display screens
- B60K 35/23: Head-up displays [HUD] (optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01)
- B60K 35/415: {Glare prevention}
- B60K 35/50: Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence)
- B60K 35/81: for controlling displays
- B60R 11/0235: {of flat type, e.g. LCD}
- G02B 27/0149: {characterised by mechanical features (G02B27/0176 takes precedence)}
- G02F 1/0045: {Liquid crystals characterised by their physical properties}
- G02F 1/133603: {with LEDs}
- G03B 21/16: Cooling; Preventing overheating
- G03B 21/2033: {LED or laser light sources}
- G03B 21/28: Reflectors in projection beam {(in illumination beam G03B21/2066)}
- G03B 21/62: Translucent screens
- H05K 7/14: Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
- H05K 7/20: Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
- B60R 2011/0005: {Dashboard}
- B60R 2011/0042: {characterised by mounting means}
- G02F 1/133385: {with cooling means, e.g. fans}
- G02F 2203/01: transmissive
- 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
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

A vehicle includes a windshield, a display panel, a virtual image optical system forming an optical path of an image light emitted from the display panel onto the windshield, an outer housing, and a control circuit to control the display panel. The outer housing includes an outer case accommodating the virtual image optical system and having the image display panel attached thereto, an upper cover from which the image light is emitted, and a bottom cover covering a bottom portion of the outer case and having fins on an outer surface thereof. The bottom cover accommodates the display panel and the bottom surface of the outer case when fixed to the outer case and the display panel to isolate them from an external space of the outer housing. A heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air is between the control circuit and the bottom cover.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle for displaying a virtual image to a driver, the vehicle comprising:
a windshield;
an image display device that includes a backlight and a liquid crystal panel;
a virtual image optical system that forms an optical path of an image light emitted from the liquid crystal panel by being reflected by the windshield or a projecting target; and
an outer housing that accommodates the image display device and the virtual image optical system, wherein the outer housing includes:
an outer case, to which the image display device is to be mounted, that accommodates the virtual image optical system;
an upper cover that covers an upper portion, through which the image light is emitted, of the outer case;
a bottom cover that covers a bottom portion of the outer case,
wherein the bottom cover includes:
in a state of being fixed to the outer case, accommodate a bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device to isolate the bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device from an external space of the outer housing; and
fins on an outer surface thereof;
a control circuit configured to control the image display device; and
a main substrate equipped with the control circuit, wherein
the outer case includes, on a surface facing the bottom cover, a substrate holding surface for holding the main substrate, and
a heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air is between the control circuit on the main substrate held by the substrate holding surface and the bottom cover.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a recess that is recessed toward the control circuit is on a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the bottom cover.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the recess extends to the control circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the bottom cover includes an inclined surface that extends from a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the bottom cover towards a first side of the outer case.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the fins are on the inclined surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the heat conductive portion is between a surface of the bottom cover, which faces the control circuit, and the main substrate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the fins are triangular plates.

### Claim 8

A vehicle for displaying a virtual image to a driver, the vehicle comprising:
a windshield;
an image display device that includes a backlight and a liquid crystal panel;
a virtual image optical system that forms an optical path of an image light emitted from the liquid crystal panel by being reflected by the windshield or a projecting target; and
an outer housing that accommodates the image display device and the virtual image optical system, wherein the outer housing includes:
an outer case, to which the image display device is to be mounted, that accommodates the virtual image optical system;
an upper cover that covers an upper portion, through which the image light is emitted, of the outer case;
a bottom cover that covers a bottom portion of the outer case, the bottom cover including
in a state of being fixed to the outer case, accommodate a bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device so as to isolate the bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device from an external space of the outer housing; and
fins on an outer surface thereof, wherein
the image display device is mounted to the outer case in a manner that the liquid crystal panel is exposed to an inner space of the outer case and the backlight is exposed to an outside of the outer case, and
the fins are formed on an outer surface of a surface, which faces the backlight, of the bottom cover;
a control circuit configured to control the image display device; and
a main substrate equipped with the control circuit, wherein
the outer case includes, on a surface facing the bottom cover, a substrate holding surface for holding the main substrate, and
a heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air between the control circuit on the main substrate held by the substrate holding surface and the bottom cover.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein a recess that is recessed toward the control circuit is formed on a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the bottom cover.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the recess extends to the control circuit.

### Claim 11

A vehicle for displaying a virtual image to a driver, the vehicle comprising:
a windshield;
a display panel;
a virtual image optical system that forms a virtual image based on an image light emitted from the display panel by being reflected by the windshield or a projecting target;
an outer housing that accommodates the display panel and the virtual image optical system, wherein the outer housing includes:
an outer case, to which the display panel is to be mounted;
a first cover including an opening through which the image light is emitted; and
a second cover, wherein the second cover includes fins on an outer surface thereof;
a control circuit configured to control the display panel and a main substrate equipped with the control circuit;
a substrate holding surface for holding the main substrate on a surface facing the second cover; and
a heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air between the control circuit on the main substrate held by the substrate holding surface and the second cover.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the heat conductive portion is between a surface of the second cover, which faces the control circuit, and the main substrate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising a backlight for the display panel, wherein
the display panel is exposed to an inner space of the outer case,
the backlight is exposed to an outside of the outer case, and
the fins are on an outer surface of a surface, which faces the backlight, of the second cover.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a recess that is recessed toward the control circuit is on a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the recess extends to the control circuit.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the second cover includes an inclined surface that extends from a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover towards the outer case.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle according to claim 16, the fins are on the inclined surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the fins are triangular plates.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the second cover includes a first inclined surface that extends from a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover towards a first side of the outer case and a second inclined surface that extends from the surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover towards a second side of the outer case.