IP Library Granted Patent US 11,181,738
Granted Patent B2
US 11,181,738 · App. 16/680,839 · Granted Nov 23, 2021

Rotationally adjustable head up display

Inventors: Edo Omanovic (Livonia, MI); Patrick M. O'Connell (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
G02B27/0101G03B21/145B60K35/00B60K2370/1529
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,181,738
App. No.
16/680,839
Granted
Nov 23, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A head up display mirror holder arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a picture generation unit producing a light field. A mirror reflects the light field such that the light field is visible to the driver as a virtual image. A mirror holder has two opposite ends and an activation feature. The two opposite ends are aligned along a rotational axis of the mirror. The mirror holder retains the mirror. Each of two bushings is coupled to a respective opposite end of the mirror holder. A calibration switch has minimum proximity to the activation feature of the mirror holder.

Claims (51)

1. A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

a first body including:

a picture generation unit configured to produce a light field that is reflected off of a windshield of the motor vehicle such that the light field is visible to a human driver of the motor vehicle as a virtual image; and

either:

a pair of arcuate recesses; or

a pair of projections; and

a second body configured to be fixed to a frame of the motor vehicle, the second body including either:

a pair of arcuate recesses each positioned and sized to receive a respective projection of the first body; or

a pair of projections each positioned and sized to be received in a respective arcuate recess of the first body.

2. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first body includes the pair of arcuate slots, the slots being disposed on opposite sides of the picture generation unit.

3. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first body includes the pair of projections, the projections being disposed on opposite sides of the picture generation unit.

4. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the arcuate recesses comprise arcuate through-slots.

5. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the arcuate recesses comprise arcuate grooves in either a face of the first body or a face of the second body.

6. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the projections comprise pins.

7. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second body includes a window sized and positioned to enable the light field to pass therethrough.

8. A head up display method for a motor vehicle, said method comprising:

using a picture generation unit to produce a light field that is reflected off of a windshield of the motor vehicle such that the light field is visible to a human driver of the motor vehicle as a virtual image;

providing a first body including:

the picture generation unit; and

either:

a pair of arcuate recesses; or

a pair of projections; and

fixing a second body to a frame of the motor vehicle, the second body including either:

a pair of arcuate recesses if the first body includes the projections; or

a pair of projections if the first body includes the recesses;

mating the first body and the second body together such that each of the projections is received in a respective said arcuate recess;

rotating the first body relative to the second body until the virtual image is in a desired rotational position; and

fixing the first body relative to the frame of the motor vehicle after the rotating step.

9. The head up display method of claim 8 wherein the first body includes the pair of arcuate slots, the slots being disposed on opposite sides of the picture generation unit.

10. The head up display method of claim 8 wherein the first body includes the pair of projections, the projections being disposed on opposite sides of the picture generation unit.

11. The head up display method of claim 8 wherein the arcuate recesses comprise arcuate through-slots.

12. The head up display method of claim 8 wherein the arcuate recesses comprise arcuate grooves in either a face of the first body or a face of the second body.

13. The head up display method of claim 8 wherein the projections comprise pins.

14. The head up display method of claim 8 wherein the second body includes a window, the method further comprising emitting the light field through the window before the light field is reflected by the windshield.

15. The head up display method of claim 8 wherein the first body is fixed relative to the frame of the motor vehicle by screwing the first body to the second body.

16. A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

at least one mirror;

a windshield;

a first body including:

a picture generation unit configured to produce a light field that is reflected off of the at least one mirror and the windshield such that the light field is visible to a human driver of the motor vehicle as a virtual image; and

either:

a pair of arcuate recesses; or

a pair of projections; and

a second body configured to be fixed to a frame of the motor vehicle, the second body including a window configured to allow the light field to pass through the window before the light field is reflected by the at least one mirror, the second body further including either:

a pair of arcuate recesses each positioned and sized to receive a respective projection of the first body; or

a pair of projections each positioned and sized to be received in a respective arcuate recess of the first body.

17. The head up display arrangement of claim 16 wherein the first body includes the pair of arcuate slots, the slots being disposed on opposite sides of the picture generation unit.

18. The head up display arrangement of claim 16 wherein the first body includes the pair of projections, the projections being disposed on opposite sides of the picture generation unit.

19. The head up display arrangement of claim 16 wherein the arcuate recesses comprise arcuate through-slots.

20. The head up display arrangement of claim 16 wherein the arcuate recesses comprise arcuate grooves in either a face of the first body or a face of the second body.

21. The head up display arrangement of claim 16 wherein the projections comprise pins.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 72222 FRAME 267. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC.
Reel/Frame 072930/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 072222/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: OMANOVIC, EDO; O'CONNELL, PATRICK M.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF AMERICA, DIVISION OF PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
Reel/Frame 050981/0330 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62760969 · Nov 14, 2018
Related Publication 20200150434A1 · May 14, 2020