Rearview mirror head-up display

Claim 2

A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising: a housing mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture facing rearward of the operator; display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a primary virtual image of the display source viewable through the aperture by the operator appearing at a distance in front of the operator; and a partially reflective combiner element mounted in the aperture of said housing so as to combine the projected primary virtual image with a reflected image of a view rearward of the vehicle.

Claim 3

The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the display source includes a vacuum fluorescent display.

Claim 4

The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the projecting means includes first and second lenses, the first lens a negative lens projecting a reduced size virtual image of the displayed information and the second lens a positive lens projecting the primary image which is a projection of the reduced size image.

Claim 5

The apparatus in claim 3 wherein the first lens is a plano-concave lens and the second lens is a plano-convex lens.

Claim 6

The apparatus in claim 1 also including a fold mirror along the optical path between the display source and the partially reflective combiner element.

Claim 7

The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the partially reflective combiner element includes an interior rearview mirror comprising a partially mirrored portion allowing the projected primary image to be seen through the partially mirrored portion.

Claim 8

The apparatus in claim 6 wherein the interior rearview mirror is positionable for day and night viewing by movement of a lever and wherein the lever movement does not affect viewing of the projected primary image.

Claim 9

The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a rounded rear portion whereby the vehicle operator's vision of scenery forward of the vehicle is not significantly impaired.

Claim 10

A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising: a housing mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture facing rearward of the operator and having a rounded rear portion whereby the vehicle operator's vision of scenery forward of the vehicle is not significantly impaired; display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a primary virtual image of the display source viewable through the aperture by the operator, the projecting means including first and second lenses, the first lens a plano-concave lens projecting a reduced size virtual image of the displayed information and the second lens a plano-convex lens projecting, at a distance behind the second lens, the primary virtual image which is a virtual image of the reduced size virtual image, the display apparatus also including a fold mirror along the optical path between the display source and the second lens; and an interior rearview mirror mounted in the aperture of the housing, containing a partially mirrored portion allowing the primary virtual image to be seen through the partially mirrored portion, combining the projected virtual image with a reflected image of a view rearward of the vehicle, and positionable for day and night viewing by movement of a lever wherein the lever movement does not affect viewing of the projected image.

Claim 11

A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising: a housing mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture facing rearward of the operator and having a rounded rear portion whereby the vehicle operator's vision of scenery forward of the vehicle is not significantly impaired; display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a primary virtual image of the display source viewable through the aperture by the operator, the projecting means including first and second lenses, the first lens a plano-concave lens projecting a reduced size virtual image of the displayed information and the second lens a plano-convex lens projecting, at a distance behind the second lens, the primary virtual image which is a virtual image of the reduced size virtual image, the display apparatus also including a fold mirror along the optical path between the display source and the second lens; and an interior rearview mirror mounted in the aperture of the housing, containing a partially mirrored portion allowing the primary virtual image to be seen through the partially mirrored portion, combining the projected virtual image with a reflected image of a view rearward of the vehicle, and positionable for day and night viewing by movement of a lever wherein the lever movement does not affect viewing of the projected image.

Claim 12

A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising: a housing containing an interior rearview mirror mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture; display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a virtual image of the display source along an optical path through the aperture; and a partially reflective combiner element mounted to the housing and combining the projected virtual image with a view forward of the vehicle.

Claim 13

A viewing apparatus for the operator of a motor vehicle comprising: a housing containing an interior rearview mirror mounted within the vehicle forward of the operator defining a cavity having an aperture; display apparatus mounted in said cavity and including a display source and projecting means for projecting a virtual image of the display source along an optical path through the aperture; and a partially reflective combiner element mounted to the housing and combining the projected virtual image with a view forward of the vehicle.

Claim 14

A head-up display for a vehicle comprising: means for displaying information to be projected; means for projecting the information to be viewed as an image along an optical path; and means for combining the image with separate visual information such that a vehicle operator can view the image without having to significantly adjust eye focus, the displaying means, projecting means, and combining means all packaged within a self-contained interior rearview mirror unit.

Claim 15

A head-up display for a vehicle comprising: means for displaying information to be projected; means for projecting the information to be viewed as an image along an optical path; and means for combining the image with separate visual information such that a vehicle operator can view the image without having to significantly adjust eye focus, the displaying means, projecting means, and combining means all packaged within a self-contained interior rearview mirror unit.