IP Library Granted Patent US 12,044,849
Granted Patent B2
US 12,044,849 · App. 18/076,858 · Granted Jul 23, 2024

Heads up display housing

Inventors: Patrick O'Connell (Novi, MI); Edo Omanovic (Shelby Township, MI)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
G02B27/0149G02B27/0101G02B2027/0159
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,044,849
App. No.
18/076,858
Granted
Jul 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example device includes a heads up display (HUD) to guide light towards a user in a vehicle. The device includes a HUD housing with a base plane and a stationary mirror mount on the HUD base. The device includes an adjustable mirror mount on the HUD base and an attachment slot disposed in the HUD housing, the attachment slot to accept a mounting tab. The attachment slot is shaped to accept either one of a predominantly vertical mounting tab and a predominantly horizontal mounting tab. The predominantly vertical mounting tab includes a first portion that projects horizontally from a sidewall of the HUD. The first portion includes a first end inserted into the attachment slot and a second end opposite the first end. A second portion is coupled perpendicularly to the second end of the first portion. The second end extends parallel to the sidewall of the HUD.

Claims (39)

1. A heads up display (HUD) device to guide light towards a user in a vehicle, the HUD device comprising:

a (HUD) housing with a base plane;

a stationary mirror mount on the HUD base;

an adjustable mirror mount on the HUD base; and

an attachment slot disposed in the HUD housing, the attachment slot to accept a mounting tab, wherein the attachment slot is shaped to accept either one of a predominantly vertical mounting tab and a predominantly horizontal mounting tab, wherein the predominantly vertical mounting tab comprises:

a first portion that projects horizontally from a sidewall of the HUD, wherein the first portion comprises a first end inserted into the attachment slot and a second end opposite the first end; and

a second portion coupled perpendicularly to the second end of the first portion, wherein the second end extends parallel to the sidewall of the HUD.

2. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the attachment slot is located to be offset from the stationary mirror mount and the adjustable mirror mount such that a normal line drawn from the HUD housing at any edge of the attachment slot would not intersect with the stationary mirror mount or the adjustable mirror mount.

3. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the stationary mirror mount comprises at least one of a protrusion on a surface of the HUD housing and a recession that recedes from the surface of the HUD housing.

4. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable mirror mount comprises at least one of a protrusion on a surface of the HUD housing and a recession that recedes from the surface of the HUD housing.

5. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the stationary mirror mount is a protrusion with a conic shaped end the smaller end of the conic shaped end being distal to the HUD housing.

6. The HUD device of claim 1 , comprising:

an attachment side of the HUD housing, wherein the attachment side is on a side of the HUD base with the attachment slot; and

a below-region of the HUD housing defined by a region opposite the attachment side relative to the HUD base.

7. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the second portion that extends parallel to the sidewall of the HUD below the base plane of the HUD base, wherein the second portion is longer than the first portion.

8. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal mounting tab comprises a first portion that projects horizontally from the sidewall of the HUD and the first portion does not cross the base plane of the HUD base.

9. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the predominantly horizontal mounting tab comprises a fastener opening with a fastener direction for a fastener to be inserted into the mounting tab through the fastener opening, wherein the fastener direction is closer to perpendicular rather than parallel when compared to a normal line drawn from the HUD housing at any edge of the attachment slot.

10. The HUD device of claim 1 , wherein the predominantly vertical mounting tab comprises a fastener opening with a fastener direction for a fastener to be inserted into the mounting tab through the fastener opening, wherein the fastener direction is closer to parallel rather than perpendicular when compared to a normal line drawn from the HUD housing at any edge of the attachment slot.

11. A system for use in a vehicle to guide light towards a user comprising:

a heads up display (HUD) housing with a HUD base;

a stationary mirror mount on the HUD base the HUD housing;

a stationary mirror mounted on the stationary mirror mount;

an adjustable mirror mount on the HUD base in the HUD housing;

an adjustable mirror mounted on the adjustable mirror mount;

an attachment slot in the HUD housing, the attachment slot to accept a mounting tab, wherein the attachment slot is shaped to accept either one of a predominantly vertical mounting tab or a predominantly horizontal mounting tab; and

either the predominantly vertical mounting tab or the predominantly horizontal mounting tab, wherein the predominantly vertical mounting tab comprises:

a first portion that projects horizontally from a sidewall of the HUD, wherein the first portion comprises a first end inserted into the attachment slot and a second end opposite the first end; and

a second portion coupled perpendicularly to the second end of the first portion, wherein the second end extends parallel to the sidewall of the HUD.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the attachment slot is located to be offset from the stationary mirror mount and the adjustable mirror mount such that a normal line drawn from the HUD housing at any edge of the attachment slot would not intersect with the stationary mirror mount or the adjustable mirror mount.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the stationary mirror mount comprises at least one of a protrusion on a surface of the HUD housing and a recession that recedes from the surface of the HUD housing.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the adjustable mirror mount comprises at least one of a protrusion on a surface of the HUD housing and a recession that recedes from the surface of the HUD housing.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the stationary mirror mount is a protrusion with a conic shaped end the smaller end of the conic shaped end being distal to the HUD housing.

16. The system of claim 11 , comprising:

an attachment side of the HUD housing, wherein the attachment side is on a side of the HUD base with the attachment slot; and

a below-region of the HUD housing defined by a region opposite the attachment side relative to the HUD base.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second portion that extends parallel to the sidewall of the HUD below a base plane of the HUD base, wherein the second portion is longer than the first portion.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the horizontal mounting tab comprises a first portion that projects horizontally from the sidewall of the HUD and the first portion does not cross a base plane of the HUD base.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the predominantly horizontal mounting tab comprises a fastener opening with a fastener direction for a fastener to be inserted into the mounting tab through the fastener opening, wherein the fastener direction is closer to perpendicular rather than parallel when compared to a normal line drawn from the HUD housing at any edge of the attachment slot.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the predominantly vertical mounting tab comprises a fastener opening with a fastener direction for a fastener to be inserted into the mounting tab through the fastener opening, wherein the fastener direction is closer to parallel rather than perpendicular when compared to a normal line drawn from the HUD housing at any edge of the attachment slot.

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 Dec 22, 2023
From: O'CONNELL, PATRICK; OMANOVIC, EDO
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF AMERICA, DIVISION OF PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
Reel/Frame 065941/0600 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16919636 · Jul 2, 2020
Provisional Application 62870406 · Jul 3, 2019
Related Publication 20230095389A1 · Mar 30, 2023