US5059956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indication display unit for vehicles
Assignee: Yazaki Corp
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Filing: 1989-09-05
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2009-09-05
Abstract
Abstract An indication display unit for vehicles according to the present invention includes a reflecting member having a reflecting surface directed to a driver's seat, and an indicating device having an indicating surface directed to the reflecting surface of the reflecting member. Information concerning driving operation of the vehicle indicated on the indicating surface is projected directly or indirectly through a reflecting mirror to the reflecting member so as to be visually observed by the driver by way of the reflection thereon. The invention also includes a drive mechanism for shifting the position of the reflecting member in upward or downward to adjust the height thereof and a solenoid for pivotally shifting the reflecting mirror, when it is used, in response to the movement of the reflecting member for reflecting the information in the most effective angle toward the driver in accordance with the vehicle speed. The present invention provides an effect of indirect visual observation of the image indicated by the indicator always in a preferable state.
Inventors
- 👤 Tadashi Iino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/50; B60K35/53; B60K35/10; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/215; B60K35/22; B60K35/23; B60K35/231; B60K35/233; B60K35/60; B60K35/80; B60K35/81; B60K37/00; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/20; B60K2360/33; B60K2360/334
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle comprising: an indicating means provided on a steering column for indicating driving information of the vehicle; a reflecting means provided at a dashboard for reflecting information indicated by said indicating means from a surface of said indicating means to a driver, said reflecting means including a first shaft protruding from at least one lateral end thereof and a second shaft provided at an upper portion; and a drive mechanism for shifting a position of said reflecting means in an upward and downward direction to adjust a height thereof for reflecting said information at an effective angle toward the driver in accordance with a vehicle speed, said drive mechanism includes a drive motor that rotates in accordance with the vehicle speed, a male threaded rod that transmits the rotation of the motor, and an elevation means having a female threaded portion to be engaged with said male threaded rod, a hole to be engaged with said first shaft of said reflecting means, and a guide means formed with a guide slot having an open upper end, said second shaft to be engaged with said guide slot of said guide means when said drive mechanism moves said reflecting means in said downward direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle comprising: an indicating means provided on a steering column for indicating driving information of the vehicle; a reflecting means provided at a dashboard for reflecting information indicated by said indicating means from a surface of said indicating means to a driver, said reflecting means including a first shaft protruding from at least one lateral end thereof and a second shaft provided at an upper portion; and a drive mechanism for shifting a position of said reflecting means in an upward and downward direction to adjust a height thereof for reflecting said information at an effective angle toward the driver in accordance with a vehicle speed, said drive mechanism includes a drive motor that rotates in accordance with the vehicle speed, a male threaded rod that transmits the rotation of the motor, and an elevation means having a female threaded portion to be engaged with said male threaded rod, a hole to be engaged with said first shaft of said reflecting means, and a guide means formed with a guide slot having an open upper end, said second shaft to be engaged with said guide slot of said guide means when said drive mechanism moves said reflecting means in said downward direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism is provided at a dashboard side.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 2 further comprises; a manual switch for manually adjusting the height of said reflecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
243 words
An indication display unit for vehicle comprising: an indicating means for indicating driving information of the vehicle; a first reflecting means, provided at a dashboard, for reflecting information indicated by said indicating means from a surface of said indicating means to a driver, said first reflecting means includes a first shaft protruding from at least one lateral end thereof and a second shaft provided at an upper portion; a drive mechanism for shifting a position of said first reflecting means in an upward and downward direction to adjust a height thereof for reflecting said information at an effective angle toward the driver in accordance with a vehicle speed, said drive mechanism includes a drive motor that rotates in accordance with the vehicle speed, a male threaded rod that transmits the rotation of the motor, and an elevation means having a female threaded portion to be engaged with said male threaded rod, a hole to be engaged with said first shaft of said first reflecting means, and a guide means formed with a guide slot having an open upper end, said second shaft to be engaged with said guide slot of said guide means when said drive mechanism moves said first reflecting means in said downward direction; and a second reflecting means having surface face toward the surface of said indicating means and a surface of said first reflecting means, wherein information indicated by said indicating means is reflected toward said first reflecting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
243 words
An indication display unit for vehicle comprising: an indicating means for indicating driving information of the vehicle; a first reflecting means, provided at a dashboard, for reflecting information indicated by said indicating means from a surface of said indicating means to a driver, said first reflecting means includes a first shaft protruding from at least one lateral end thereof and a second shaft provided at an upper portion; a drive mechanism for shifting a position of said first reflecting means in an upward and downward direction to adjust a height thereof for reflecting said information at an effective angle toward the driver in accordance with a vehicle speed, said drive mechanism includes a drive motor that rotates in accordance with the vehicle speed, a male threaded rod that transmits the rotation of the motor, and an elevation means having a female threaded portion to be engaged with said male threaded rod, a hole to be engaged with said first shaft of said first reflecting means, and a guide means formed with a guide slot having an open upper end, said second shaft to be engaged with said guide slot of said guide means when said drive mechanism moves said first reflecting means in said downward direction; and a second reflecting means having surface face toward the surface of said indicating means and a surface of said first reflecting means, wherein information indicated by said indicating means is reflected toward said first reflecting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said indicating means is provided at a dashboard side, whereas said second reflecting means is provided at a hand column side.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5 further comprises; a manual switch for manually adjusting the height of said first reflecting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein said motor is connected to a CPU which is further connected to a vehicle speed sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 4, wherein said drive mechanism can be switched from an automatic drive mode to a manual drive mode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR2227589A1
Cited
JPS60142143A
Cited
JPS60203545A
Cited
US4635033A
Cited
JPS62137236A
Cited
US4831366A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |