Patent · US Expired

Display apparatus for automobiles

US4973942A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
4References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 1990
Grant dateNov 27, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60Q3/14
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A display apparatus used in automobiles has an indicating device mounted in the steering column to display the car running condition information and a reflecting plate installed in the dashboard to form a virtual image of displayed information at a point on the far side of the reflection surface from the driver. To make it more easy for the driver to see the displayed information, the apparatus incorporates a magnifying cylindrical lens which is installed between the indicating device and the reflection plate in such a way that the display surface of the indicating device is within the focal length of the lens. The virtual image of the displayed information is thus magnified by the lens and formed farther away from the driver's viewing point, making the displayed information more easily recognizable. Another feature of the apparatus is that the cylindrical lens can also be moved to a desired position to magnify the displayed information to any desired size for the driver.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.