IP Library Granted Patent US 12,466,259
Granted Patent B2
US 12,466,259 · App. 18/719,299 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Head up display apparatus

Inventor: Nozomu Shimoda (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
B60K35/23B60K35/22B60K35/232B60K35/28B60K35/50B60K35/81B60K35/90B60K35/10B60K35/60B60K35/70B60K2360/177B60K2360/1876B60K2360/195B60K2360/23B60K2360/31B60K2360/741
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,466,259
App. No.
18/719,299
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A head up display apparatus capable of suppressing discomfort to a user caused by an operating noise while preventing damage by sunlight is provided. Further, it contributes to “Goal 3 : Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages” in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, a video light projector 6 includes a drive mechanism 14 and projects video light emitted from a video display 11 to a display region 8 , thereby making the projected video light visually recognized as a virtual image. A controller judges whether or not a door unlock signal which is one of information related to a transportation is received, and judges whether or not to cause the video display 11 to start displaying the video by operating the drive mechanism 14 in the video light projector 6 based on a display start condition when the door unlock signal is received.

Claims (48)

1 . A head up display apparatus installed in a transportation, the head up display apparatus comprising:

an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information related to the transportation;

a video display configured to display a video and emit video light of the displayed video;

a video light projector including a drive mechanism and configured to project the video light emitted from the video display to a display region, thereby making the projected video light visually recognized as a virtual image; and

a controller configured to control the video display and the video light projector based on the information related to the transportation acquired by the information acquisition unit,

wherein the controller judges whether or not a door unlock signal which is one of the information related to the transportation is received, and judges whether or not to cause the video display to start displaying the video by operating the drive mechanism in the video light projector based on a display start condition when the door unlock signal is received, and

wherein the controller executes the judgment as to whether or not the door unlock signal is received in a state where a user is outside the transportation, and executes the judgment based on the display start condition in a state where the user is inside the transportation.

2 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the video light projector is controlled to a non-projection mode in which it does not project the video light to the display region or a projection mode in which it projects the video light to the display region, and

wherein the controller causes the video light projector to transition from the non-projection mode to the projection mode by operating the drive mechanism when the door unlock signal is received.

3 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the video light projector includes:

a mirror configured to reflect the video light toward the display region; and

the drive mechanism configured to adjust an angle of the mirror, and

wherein the controller controls an installation angle of the mirror via the drive mechanism, thereby causing the video light projector to transition between the non-projection mode in which it does not project the video light and the projection mode in which it projects the video light.

4 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the controller causes the video display to start displaying the video when the transition to the projection mode is completed and an ignition-on signal which is one of the information related to the transportation is received as the display start condition.

5 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the controller causes the video display to start displaying the video when the transition to the projection mode is completed and seating of a driver in a driver's seat of the transportation is detected or a side mirror open signal of the transportation is received as the display start condition.

6 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the controller causes the video display to end displaying the video when the video display is displaying the video and an ignition-off signal which is one of the information related to the transportation is received.

7 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the controller causes the video display to end displaying the video when the video display is displaying the video and a predetermined display continuation time has elapsed after the video display starts displaying the video.

8 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the controller causes the video light projector to transition from the projection mode to the non-projection mode by operating the drive mechanism when the video light projector is controlled to the projection mode and a predetermined time has elapsed after causing the video display to end displaying the video.

9 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein the controller causes the video light projector to transition from the projection mode to the non-projection mode by operating the drive mechanism when the video light projector is controlled to the projection mode and an ignition-off signal which is one of the information related to the transportation is received.

10 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a temperature detector configured to detect a temperature of the video display,

wherein the controller causes the video light projector to transition from the projection mode to the non-projection mode by operating the drive mechanism when the video light projector is controlled to the projection mode and the temperature detected by the temperature detector reaches a predetermined temperature.

11 . The head up display apparatus according to claim 10 ,

wherein the drive mechanism is configured so as to be able to set multiple operating speeds, and

wherein the controller operates the drive mechanism at a high speed when causing the video light projector to transition from the projection mode to the non-projection mode due to the predetermined temperature.

12 . A head up display apparatus installed in a transportation, the head up display apparatus comprising:

an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information related to the transportation;

a video display configured to display a video and emit video light of the displayed video;

a video light projector including a drive mechanism and configured to project the video light emitted from the video display to a display region, thereby making the projected video light visually recognized as a virtual image; and

a controller configured to control the video display and the video light projector based on the information related to the transportation acquired by the information acquisition unit,

wherein the video light projector is controlled to a non-projection mode in which it does not project the video light to the display region or a projection mode in which it projects the video light to the display region,

wherein the controller judges whether or not a door unlock signal which is one of the information related to the transportation is received, and judges whether or not to cause the video display to start displaying the video by operating the drive mechanism in the video light projector based on a display start condition when the door unlock signal is received, and

wherein the controller causes the video light projector to transition to the non-projection mode by operating the drive mechanism when the display start condition is not satisfied within a predetermined time after the video light projector starts transitioning from the non-projection mode to the projection mode.

13 . A head up display apparatus installed in a transportation, the head up display apparatus comprising:

an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information related to the transportation;

a video display configured to display a video and emit video light of the displayed video;

a video light projector including a drive mechanism and configured to project the video light emitted from the video display to a display region, thereby making the projected video light visually recognized as a virtual image; and

a controller configured to control the video display and the video light projector based on the information related to the transportation acquired by the information acquisition unit,

wherein, in a series of controls including an operation control of the drive mechanism in the video light projector and a start control of the display of the video in the video display executed by the controller, two judgments including a first judgment executed in a state where a user is outside the transportation and a second judgment executed in a state where the user is inside the transportation are used, and

wherein a judgment as to whether or not a door unlock signal is received is executed by the first judgement in a state where the user is outside the transportation, and a judgment based on a display start condition is executed by the second judgement in a state where the user is inside the transportation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2024
From: SHIMODA, NOZOMU
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 067713/0322 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-205707 · Dec 20, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250128601A1 · Apr 24, 2025
References Cited (18)
US 10479319B1 · Wengreen · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20120169760A1 · Mochizuki · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20150015963A1 · Takasu · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160288705A1 · Henon · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170154554A1 · Tanaka · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180017793A1 · Sasaki · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200294431A1 · Nakajima · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210104212A1 · Horihata · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210188159A1 · Fukutaka · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220107201A1 · Yagyu et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20240071231A1 · Nohara · 2024 [cited by examiner]
JP 2010078623A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013237320A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016046650A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017206180A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018097252A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2021006805A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report of PCT/JP2022/042233 dated Jan. 17, 2023. [cited by applicant]