Automotive instrument panel apparatus

In a vehicle having a steering column with a steering wheel mounted thereon and a front windshield, an operating condition display comprising:

• an image source for projecting an image of information indicating vehicle operating conditions toward the windshield, said image source being mounted outside a line of sight of a driver through the windshield;
• and
• a reflection plate positioned between the windshield and steering wheel to intercept and reflect the entire projected image of information over the steering wheel to the driver's line of sight;
• wherein said steering column telescopes and further including a linkage between said reflection plate and said steering column arranged so as to maintain the reflection of the entire projected image over the steering wheel.

In a vehicle having a steering column with a steering wheel mounted thereon and a front windshield, an instrument panel display comprising:

• an image source for projecting an image of an instrument panel indicating at least one vehicle operating condition toward the windshield, said image source being mounted on said steering column outside a line of sight of a driver through the windshield,
• a reflection plate positioned between the windshield and steering wheel to intercept and reflect the entire projected image over the steering wheel to the driver's line of sight, said steering column being capable of at least one of pivotable and telescoping movement;
• and
• a linkage between said reflection plate and said steering column to move said reflection plate as said steering column moves so as to maintain the reflection of the entire projected image over the steering wheel.

In a vehicle having a steering column with a steering wheel mounted thereon and a front windshield, an instrument panel display comprising:

• an image source for projecting an image of an instrument panel indicating at least one vehicle operating condition toward the windshield, said image source being mounted on a ceiling of the vehicle and outside a line of sight of a driver through the windshield,
• a reflection plate positioned between the windshield and steering wheel to intercept and reflect the entire projected image over the steering wheel to the driver's line of sight, said steering column being capable of at least one of pivotable and telescoping movement;
• and
• a linkage between said reflection plate and said steering column to move said reflection plate as said steering column moves so as to maintain the reflection of the entire projected image over the steering wheel.