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US5400045A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Indication display unit for a vehicle

Assignee: Yazaki Corp
•
Filing: 1992-12-21
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Granted: 1995-03-21
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Expires: 2012-12-21
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed an indication display unit for a vehicle which comprises a plurality of indicators including those for remote display as well, and a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces and mounted on a dashboard. By use of the indication display unit described above, respective images indicated on the plurality of indicators are reflected on the plurality of reflective surfaces as to be visibly observed forwardly of the reflecting plate by a driver without interference with the driver's visual field.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kunimitsu Aoki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 14:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/0101; B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/22; B60K37/00; B60K37/20; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/20; B60K2360/33; B60K2360/334; G02B2027/0123; G02B27/0149; G02B2027/0165; G02B5/00; G02B5/08

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 263 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of indicators; and a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces being vertically arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and having adjoining ends thereof connected to each other, and said reflecting plate being mounted on a dashboard between a windshield of said vehicle and a driver, each of the reflective surfaces being planar, wherein respective images indicated on a respective one of said plurality of indicators are separately reflected on a corresponding one of said plurality of reflective surfaces so that each image can be separately and directly observed forwardly of said reflecting plate by a driver at an angle of reflection different from another angle of reflection of another image, wherein said plurality of indicators comprise one of: (a) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has an image directed to a front of said vehicle and into a first reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and at least one indicator which is located at said dashboard of said vehicle and has another image directed substantially upwards and into a second reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and (b) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has said image directed to said front of said vehicle and into at least one of first and second reflective surfaces of said reflecting plate to thereby allow said driver to observe said image and said another image forwardly of said reflecting plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 263 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of indicators; and a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces being vertically arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and having adjoining ends thereof connected to each other, and said reflecting plate being mounted on a dashboard between a windshield of said vehicle and a driver, each of the reflective surfaces being planar, wherein respective images indicated on a respective one of said plurality of indicators are separately reflected on a corresponding one of said plurality of reflective surfaces so that each image can be separately and directly observed forwardly of said reflecting plate by a driver at an angle of reflection different from another angle of reflection of another image, wherein said plurality of indicators comprise one of: (a) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has an image directed to a front of said vehicle and into a first reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and at least one indicator which is located at said dashboard of said vehicle and has another image directed substantially upwards and into a second reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and (b) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has said image directed to said front of said vehicle and into at least one of first and second reflective surfaces of said reflecting plate to thereby allow said driver to observe said image and said another image forwardly of said reflecting plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reflecting plate is bent in a substantially L shape configuring upper and lower reflective surfaces thereon; one of which being inclined upwardly, while the other being inclined downwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 265 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of indicators for remote display; and a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces being vertically arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and having adjoining ends thereof connected to each other, and said reflecting plate being mounted on a dashboard between a windshield of said vehicle and a driver, each of reflective surfaces being planar, wherein respective images indicated on a respective one of said plurality of indicators are separately reflected on a corresponding one of said plurality of reflective surfaces so that each image can be separately and directly observed forwardly of said reflecting plate by a driver at an angle of reflection different from another angle of reflection of another image, wherein said plurality of indicators comprise one of: (a) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has an image directed to a front of said vehicle and into a first reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and at least one indicator which is located at said dashboard of said vehicle and has another image directed substantially upwards and into a second reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and (b) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has said image directed to said front of said vehicle and into at least one of first and second reflective surfaces of said reflecting plate to thereby allow said driver to observe said image and said another image forwardly of said reflecting plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 265 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle, comprising: a plurality of indicators for remote display; and a reflecting plate formed with a plurality of reflective surfaces, said reflective surfaces being vertically arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to each other and having adjoining ends thereof connected to each other, and said reflecting plate being mounted on a dashboard between a windshield of said vehicle and a driver, each of reflective surfaces being planar, wherein respective images indicated on a respective one of said plurality of indicators are separately reflected on a corresponding one of said plurality of reflective surfaces so that each image can be separately and directly observed forwardly of said reflecting plate by a driver at an angle of reflection different from another angle of reflection of another image, wherein said plurality of indicators comprise one of: (a) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has an image directed to a front of said vehicle and into a first reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and at least one indicator which is located at said dashboard of said vehicle and has another image directed substantially upwards and into a second reflective surface of said reflecting plate, and (b) at least one indicator which is located at a ceiling of said vehicle and has said image directed to said front of said vehicle and into at least one of first and second reflective surfaces of said reflecting plate to thereby allow said driver to observe said image and said another image forwardly of said reflecting plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
An indication display unit for a vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein positions of said plurality of indicators for remote display can be determined according to inclination angles of each of said plurality of reflecting surfaces.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US4099841A Cited
US4636782A Cited
US4697879A Cited
US4711544A Cited
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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) 1998-03-20 1998-09-19 1999-03-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-03-20 2002-09-19 2003-03-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-03-20 2006-09-19 2007-03-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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