Switching system for automotive vehicle including a reflector positioned below a sight line of a driver

Abstract

A switch system for an automotive vehicle enables the driver to properly operate various devices mounted on the vehicle without reducing or limiting the driver's field of view to any practical extent. In one form, the switch system includes a plurality of switches for operating various devices mounted on the vehicle; a switch selection detector for detecting which one of the switches is selected by a driver; a display for displaying the result of a driver's switch selection detected by the switch selection detector as well as the operating conditions of the devices as a result of the driver's switch selection; and a reflector in the form of a half mirror provided at a location above a dash board for reflecting the contents of the display so that the driver can watch the displayed contents of the display as reflected on the reflector. In another form, the reflector is omitted and the display is provided at a location above a dash board and below the driver's sight line through a front windshield so as not to reduce the driver's forward viewing field through the windshield so that the driver can watch the displayed contents of the display while watching the road ahead.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.