IP Library Granted Patent US 12,259,549
Granted Patent B2
US 12,259,549 · App. 18/595,494 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Vehicle including a virtual image optical system in a housing having heat dissipation

Inventors: Go Horiuchi (Kyoto, JP); Akio Misawa (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
G02B27/0101B60K35/00B60R11/0235G02F1/0045G02F1/133603B60R2011/0005B60R2011/0042
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,259,549
App. No.
18/595,494
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a windshield, a display panel, a virtual image optical system forming an optical path of an image light emitted from the display panel onto the windshield, an outer housing, and a control circuit to control the display panel. The outer housing includes an outer case accommodating the virtual image optical system and having the image display panel attached thereto, an upper cover from which the image light is emitted, and a bottom cover covering a bottom portion of the outer case and having fins on an outer surface thereof. The bottom cover accommodates the display panel and the bottom surface of the outer case when fixed to the outer case and the display panel to isolate them from an external space of the outer housing. A heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air is between the control circuit and the bottom cover.

Claims (61)

1. A vehicle for displaying a virtual image to a driver, the vehicle comprising:

a windshield;

an image display device that includes a backlight and a liquid crystal panel;

a virtual image optical system that forms an optical path of an image light emitted from the liquid crystal panel by being reflected by the windshield or a projecting target; and

an outer housing that accommodates the image display device and the virtual image optical system, wherein the outer housing includes:

an outer case, to which the image display device is to be mounted, that accommodates the virtual image optical system;

an upper cover that covers an upper portion, through which the image light is emitted, of the outer case;

a bottom cover that covers a bottom portion of the outer case,

wherein the bottom cover includes:

in a state of being fixed to the outer case, accommodate a bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device to isolate the bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device from an external space of the outer housing; and

fins on an outer surface thereof;

a control circuit configured to control the image display device; and

a main substrate equipped with the control circuit, wherein

the outer case includes, on a surface facing the bottom cover, a substrate holding surface for holding the main substrate, and

a heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air is between the control circuit on the main substrate held by the substrate holding surface and the bottom cover.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a recess that is recessed toward the control circuit is on a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the bottom cover.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the recess extends to the control circuit.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom cover includes an inclined surface that extends from a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the bottom cover towards a first side of the outer case.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the fins are on the inclined surface.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the heat conductive portion is between a surface of the bottom cover, which faces the control circuit, and the main substrate.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the fins are triangular plates.

8. A vehicle for displaying a virtual image to a driver, the vehicle comprising:

a windshield;

an image display device that includes a backlight and a liquid crystal panel;

a virtual image optical system that forms an optical path of an image light emitted from the liquid crystal panel by being reflected by the windshield or a projecting target; and

an outer housing that accommodates the image display device and the virtual image optical system, wherein the outer housing includes:

an outer case, to which the image display device is to be mounted, that accommodates the virtual image optical system;

an upper cover that covers an upper portion, through which the image light is emitted, of the outer case;

a bottom cover that covers a bottom portion of the outer case, the bottom cover including

in a state of being fixed to the outer case, accommodate a bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device so as to isolate the bottom surface of the outer case and the image display device from an external space of the outer housing; and

fins on an outer surface thereof, wherein

the image display device is mounted to the outer case in a manner that the liquid crystal panel is exposed to an inner space of the outer case and the backlight is exposed to an outside of the outer case, and

the fins are formed on an outer surface of a surface, which faces the backlight, of the bottom cover;

a control circuit configured to control the image display device; and

a main substrate equipped with the control circuit, wherein

the outer case includes, on a surface facing the bottom cover, a substrate holding surface for holding the main substrate, and

a heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air between the control circuit on the main substrate held by the substrate holding surface and the bottom cover.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein a recess that is recessed toward the control circuit is formed on a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the bottom cover.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the recess extends to the control circuit.

11. A vehicle for displaying a virtual image to a driver, the vehicle comprising:

a windshield;

a display panel;

a virtual image optical system that forms a virtual image based on an image light emitted from the display panel by being reflected by the windshield or a projecting target;

an outer housing that accommodates the display panel and the virtual image optical system, wherein the outer housing includes:

an outer case, to which the display panel is to be mounted;

a first cover including an opening through which the image light is emitted; and

a second cover, wherein the second cover includes fins on an outer surface thereof;

a control circuit configured to control the display panel and a main substrate equipped with the control circuit;

a substrate holding surface for holding the main substrate on a surface facing the second cover; and

a heat conductive portion having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air between the control circuit on the main substrate held by the substrate holding surface and the second cover.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the heat conductive portion is between a surface of the second cover, which faces the control circuit, and the main substrate.

13. The vehicle according to claim 11 , further comprising a backlight for the display panel, wherein

the display panel is exposed to an inner space of the outer case,

the backlight is exposed to an outside of the outer case, and

the fins are on an outer surface of a surface, which faces the backlight, of the second cover.

14. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein a recess that is recessed toward the control circuit is on a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14 , wherein the recess extends to the control circuit.

16. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the second cover includes an inclined surface that extends from a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover towards the outer case.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16 , the fins are on the inclined surface.

18. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the fins are triangular plates.

19. The vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the second cover includes a first inclined surface that extends from a surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover towards a first side of the outer case and a second inclined surface that extends from the surface, which faces the control circuit, of the second cover towards a second side of the outer case.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-030786 · Feb 22, 2019 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17428994
Related Publication 20240201492A1 · Jun 20, 2024
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Cited By (1)
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