Display apparatus for vehicle

Claim 2

A display apparatus for a vehicle, having a display device (103) for displaying information and an optical system for projecting a display image of said display device (103) on a front glass of said vehicle, said optical system having a focus (F) near which said display device (103) is disposed, characterized by light intercepting means (32, 322; 62, 103c) for preventing external light entering through said optical system from the outside from being received by said display device (103) through said optical system when the external light has an intensity higher than a predetermined level or when the display device is in an inoperative condition.

Claim 3

A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light intercepting means (32, 322; 62, 103c) includes light detecting means (36, 56) for detecting an intensity of external light entering through said optical system from the outside, a light intercepting member (32, 322; 62, 103c) mounted for displacement between a first position in which it prevents external light from being received by said display device (103) through said optical system and a second position in which it does not intercept such external light, and a driving source (34) for shifting said light intercepting member (32, 322; 62, 103c) from said first to said second position and vice versa, whereby said light intercepting member (32, 322; 62, 103c) is shifted to said first position when external light entering through said optical system from the outside has an intensity higher than the predetermined level.

Claim 4

A display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said light detecting means (36,56) includes a half mirror (30) disposed in an inclined relationship by a predetermined angle between said optical system and said display device (103), and a light detecting element (36) for receiving external light entering through said optical system and reflected by said half mirror (30) and for producing an electric signal in accordance with an intensity of the external light received.

Claim 5

A display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said light intercepting means includes a shutter plate (32, 322) located between said optical system and said display device (103) for displacement between a first position in which it interrupts a path of light between said optical system and said display device (103) and a second position in which it does not interrupt the light path.

Claim 6

A display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said light intercepting means includes a reflecting mirror (62, 103c) located between said optical system and said display device (103) for displacement between a first position in which an optical axis of said optical system is not directed toward said display device (103) and a second position in which the optical axis of said optical system is directed toward said display device (103).

Claim 7

A display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said driving source (34) includes a first driving source (341, 641) for exerting a resilient urging force in a direction to hold said light intercepting member (32, 322; 62, 103c) to said first position, and a second driving source (342, 642) for displacing said light intercepting member (32, 322; 62, 103c) from said first to said second position against the resilient urging force of said first driving source (341, 641).

Claim 8

A display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first driving source (341,641) includes a spring.

Claim 9

A display apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said second driving source (342, 642) includes a solenoid.

Claim 10

A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display device (103) is a display element of the light transmissive type including a liquid crystal display cell (103a) and a light source (103b) for irradiating light to the back of said liquid crystal display cell (103a), and further comprising a thermally protective means for preventing the temperature of said liquid crystal display cell (103a)from being raised by heat generated by said light source (103b).

Claim 11

A display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said thermally protective means includes a temperature detecting element (42) for detecting the temperature of said liquid crystal display cell (103a), and a ventilating means (38, 38'; 40, 52, 101a, 101b) operable in response to detection of a temperature higher than a predetermined level by said temperature detecting element (42) for effecting ventilation around said light source (103b).

Claim 12

A display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said thermally protective means includes a member located between said light source (103b) and said display device (103) for reflecting a heat ray and for transmitting a visible ray therethrough.

Claim 13

A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display device (103) is constituted from a liquid crystal display element including a liquid crystal display cell (103a), a light source (103b) and a reflecting mirror (62, 103c) located between said light source (103b) and said liquid crystal display cell (103a) for reflecting light from said light source (103b) to direct the light to the back of said liquid crystal display cell (103a), and further comprising a thermally protective means for preventing the temperature of said liquid crystal display cell (103a) from being raised by heat generated by said light source (103b), said thermally protective means including a member (103d) located between said light source (103b) and said reflecting mirror (62, 103c) for reflecting a heat ray from said light source (103b) and for transmitting a visible ray therethrough.

Claim 14

A display apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said display device (103) further includes an integrally formed holder (103e) for supporting and relatively positioning said reflecting mirror (62,103c) and said member (103d) thereon.