US5760931A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image display unit
Assignee: Denso Corp
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Filing: 1993-12-13
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Granted: 1998-06-02
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Expires: 2013-12-13
Abstract
Abstract PCT No. PCT/JP93/01805 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 13, 1994 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 13, 1994 PCT Filed Dec. 13, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO94/14098 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 23, 1994A heads-up display unit provided with a display device serving as display image forming means which displays a display image. A hologram serves as a reflecting means, and reflects the display light emitted from the display device, causing reflection of the display image on the interior surface of a vehicle's windshield. A display image is formed outside the windshield towards the front of the vehicle. A concave mirror having a different focal length in different directions is recorded in the hologram serving as a reflecting means so as to offset distortion of the display image caused by curvatures of the windshield. This construction makes it possible to cause the windshield to display a display image free from distortion.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiki Saburi
- 👤 Yasuhiro Mizutani
- 👤 Naoyuki Kawazoe
- 👤 Yoshiaki Fukatsu
- 👤 Satoshi Koike
- 👤 Teiyuu Kimura
- 👤 Shunichi Ogawa
- 👤 Takekazu Terui
- 👤 Hiroshi Ando
- 👤 Masahiro Higuchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/0101; G02B27/0103; G02B27/0149; G02B2027/0105; G02B2027/0107; G02B2027/0109; G02B2027/0112; G02B2027/0116; G02B2027/0154; G02B2027/0192; G02B2027/0194; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/22; G03H1/2202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An image display unit comprising: image forming means for forming a display image; reflecting means for reflecting light emitted from said image forming means; and display means for forming said display image from light emitted from said image forming means and reflected by said reflecting means, said display means having a first curvature in a first direction and a second curvature in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, said first curvature being smaller than said second curvature, wherein said reflecting means is provided between said image forming means and said display means, and has optical characteristics of a concave mirror with a curvature being larger than zero in any direction, said reflecting means having a third curvature in a third direction optically parallel to said first direction and a fourth curvature in a fourth direction optically parallel to said second direction, said third curvature of said reflecting means being larger than said fourth curvature thereof so as to offset distortion of said display image caused by said first and said second curvatures of said display means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An image display unit comprising: image forming means for forming a display image; reflecting means for reflecting light emitted from said image forming means; and display means for forming said display image from light emitted from said image forming means and reflected by said reflecting means, said display means having a first curvature in a first direction and a second curvature in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, said first curvature being smaller than said second curvature, wherein said reflecting means is provided between said image forming means and said display means, and has optical characteristics of a concave mirror with a curvature being larger than zero in any direction, said reflecting means having a third curvature in a third direction optically parallel to said first direction and a fourth curvature in a fourth direction optically parallel to said second direction, said third curvature of said reflecting means being larger than said fourth curvature thereof so as to offset distortion of said display image caused by said first and said second curvatures of said display means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, wherein said reflecting means is a hologram having recorded therein said optical characteristics of said concave mirror.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, wherein said concave mirror is a toroidal concave mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, wherein said display means and said reflecting means together have optical reflecting characteristics of a spherical concave mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, wherein: said reflecting means has a plurality of portions, each having a corresponding optical path length between said image forming means and said reflecting means, and a corresponding focal length in accordance with said optical path length, so that light reflected by said reflecting means has a plurality of focal points.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image display unit according to claim 5, wherein said reflecting means is a hologram having said plurality of portions with said plurality of focal points recorded therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, wherein: said reflecting means has a diffraction function for reflecting only a particular wavelength of said light emitted from said image forming means, said diffraction function being such that when a maximum wavelength at which a diffraction efficiency of said reflecting means has a maximum value η m is λ 0 , and when a half-value wavelength at which said diffraction efficiency has a value of one-half said maximum value η m is λ 0 ±Δλ h , a variation of an angle between an incident ray and an emitted ray of said reflecting means is less than 0.33° when light of said image display varies in wavelength Δλ n between said maximum wavelength λ 0 and said half-value wavelength λ 0 ±Δλ h .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, wherein said display means comprises a windshield.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, wherein said display means includes a hologram having an enlarging function for enlarging said display image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
An image display unit according to claim 1, further comprising an angle adjusting mechanism, on which said reflecting means is disposed, for adjusting an attachment angle of said reflecting means with respect to said display means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image display unit comprising: image forming means for forming a display image; reflecting means for reflecting light emitted by said image forming means; and display means for forming said display image from light emitted by said image forming means and reflected by said reflecting means, wherein said reflecting means is provided between said image forming means and said display means, and has a plurality of portions, each having a corresponding optical path length between said image forming means and said reflecting means, and a corresponding focal length in accordance with said optical path length, so that light reflected by said reflecting means has a plurality of focal points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
An image display unit comprising: image forming means for forming a display image; reflecting means for reflecting light emitted by said image forming means; and display means for forming said display image from light emitted by said image forming means and reflected by said reflecting means, wherein said reflecting means is provided between said image forming means and said display means, and has a plurality of portions, each having a corresponding optical path length between said image forming means and said reflecting means, and a corresponding focal length in accordance with said optical path length, so that light reflected by said reflecting means has a plurality of focal points.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image display unit according to claim 11, wherein said reflecting means includes a hologram having said plurality of portions with said plurality of focal points recorded therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
An image display unit according to claim 11, wherein: said reflecting means has a diffraction function for reflecting only a particular wavelength of said light emitted from said image forming means, said diffraction function being such that when a maximum wavelength at which a diffraction efficiency of said reflecting means has a maximum value η m is λ 0 , and when a half-value wavelength at which said diffraction efficiency has a value of one-half said maximum value η m is λ 0 ±Δλ h , a variation of an angle between an incident ray and an emitted ray of said reflecting means is less than 0.33° when light of said image display varies in wavelength Δλ h between said maximum wavelength λ 0 and said half-value wavelength λ 0 ±Δλ h .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image display unit according to claim 11, wherein said display means comprises a windshield.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image display unit according to claim 11, wherein said display means includes a hologram having an enlarging function for enlarging said display image.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for displaying an image comprising: a display device which generates said image; and an optical element that receives light of said image from said display device and projects said light from said optical element, said optical element having a plurality of portions, each having a corresponding optical path length between said display device and said optical element, and a corresponding focal length in accordance with said optical path length, so that said light projected from said optical element has a plurality of focal points.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for displaying an image comprising: a display device which generates said image; and an optical element that receives light of said image from said display device and projects said light from said optical element, said optical element having a plurality of portions, each having a corresponding optical path length between said display device and said optical element, and a corresponding focal length in accordance with said optical path length, so that said light projected from said optical element has a plurality of focal points.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
126 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said optical element has a diffraction function for reflecting only a particular wavelength of said light emitted from said display device, said diffraction function being such that when a maximum wavelength at which a diffraction efficiency has a maximum value η m is λ 0 , and when a half-value wavelength at which said diffraction efficiency has a value of one-half said maximum value η m is λ 0 ±Δλ h , a variation of an angle between an incident ray and an emitted ray of said optical element is less than 0.33° when said light of said image varies in wavelength Δλ h between said maximum wavelength λ 0 and said half-value wavelength λ 0 ±Δλ h .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said optical element includes a hologram having said plurality of portions with said plurality of focal points recorded therein, respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said hologram has optical characteristics of a mirror.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a windshield on which said optical element projects said light.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |