IP Library Granted Patent US 12,645,089
Granted Patent B2
US 12,645,089 · App. 18/391,202 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Optical device

Inventors: Norihiro Imamura (Osaka, JP); Kenji Nagatomi (Osaka, JP); Michihiro Yamagata (Osaka, JP); Keiichi Matsuzaki (Kyoto, JP); Hirofumi Hoshida (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
G02B27/14B60K35/10B60K35/22B60K35/50B60R1/04B60R2001/1253
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,645,089
App. No.
18/391,202
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A display apparatus includes a housing and at least one mirror. The housing can be detachably mounted on a display and includes an entrance that allows light emitted from the display to enter the interior of the housing with the housing mounted on the display and an exit that allows the light having entered the interior of the housing through the entrance to exit to the exterior of the housing. The at least one mirror reflects the light having entered the interior of the housing through the entrance to the exit.

Claims (34)

1 . An optical device comprising:

a housing detachably mountable on a display and including an entrance that allows light emitted from the display to enter an interior of the housing with the housing mounted on the display and an exit that allows the light having entered the interior of the housing through the entrance to exit to an exterior of the housing; and

at least one mirror that reflects the light having entered the interior of the housing through the entrance to the exit, wherein

the at least one mirror includes a half mirror, a first mirror, and a second mirror, and

the light having entered the interior of the housing through the entrance is reflected by the half mirror, reflected by the first mirror after being reflected by the half mirror, reflected by the second mirror after being reflected by the first mirror and transmitted through the half mirror, and reflected by the half mirror after being reflected by the second mirror to exit to the exterior of the housing through the exit.

2 . The optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a convex lens disposed on an optical path extending from the entrance to the at least one mirror, wherein

the convex lens shrinks an image having entered the interior of the housing through the entrance, and

the at least one mirror enlarges an image shrunk by the convex lens.

3 . The optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a rearview mirror removably attached to the exit or a liquid crystal mirror attached to the exit.

4 . The optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a light-transmitting cover disposed at the entrance to face the display with the housing mounted on the display.

5 . The optical device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

an optical film affixed to the light-transmitting cover.

6 . The optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a position adjuster for adjusting a position of the housing relative to the display with the housing mounted on the display.

7 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the display includes a switch for operating the display, and

the optical device further comprises:

an operation portion for operating the switch with the housing mounted on the display.

8 . The optical device according to claim 7 , wherein

the operation portion includes a first member that can be pushed in a depth direction of the housing and a second member that moves in an intersecting direction intersecting the depth direction to push the switch when the first member is pushed in the depth direction with the housing mounted on the display, and

the second member can move in the intersecting direction with the housing dismounted from the display.

9 . The optical device according to claim 1 , wherein

the display includes an optical sensor that detects light outside the display, and

the optical device further comprises:

a light guide that guides light to the optical sensor with the housing mounted on the display.

10 . The optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a rubber component having a ring shape and disposed around a perimeter of the entrance to abut on the display with the housing mounted on the display.

11 . The optical device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

in a periphery of the entrance, (i) an upper guide disposed at a position corresponding to an upper part of the display when the display is viewed from a front, (ii) a lower guide disposed at a position corresponding to a lower part of the display when the display is viewed from the front, (iii) a left guide disposed at a position corresponding to a left part of the display when the display is viewed from the front, and (iv) a right guide disposed at a position corresponding to a right part of the display when the display is viewed from the front, wherein

at least one of the upper guide or the lower guide is movable in a direction in which the upper guide and the lower guide are aligned, and

at least one of the left guide or the right guide is movable in a direction in which the left guide and the right guide are aligned.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 068328/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2024
From: IMAMURA, NORIHIRO; NAGATOMI, KENJI; YAMAGATA, MICHIHIRO; MATSUZAKI, KEIICHI; HOSHIDA, HIROFUMI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 067955/0900 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2021-109063 · Jun 30, 2021 · national
JP 2021-196548 · Dec 2, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2022000943 · Jan 13, 2022
Related Publication 20240126094A1 · Apr 18, 2024
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