Composite operational display unit for vehicle instrument panel

Details Composite operational display unit for vehicle instrument panel Composite operational display unit for vehicle instrument panel

2000-06-15

2001-12-25

Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2736)

Communications: electrical

Visual indication

C340S815470, C340S815490, C340S461000, C340S458000, C340S980000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06333697

ABSTRACT:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application relates to and claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 11-200676 filed on Jul. 14, 1999, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to displays, and particularly to a composite operational display unit of a vehicle instrument panel having plural operational displays.
2. Related Art
JP-A-10-91076 discloses a composite operational display unit having a first operational display and a second operational display. The second operational display is a transparent electroluminescent (EL) display and is disposed at a front side of the first operational display. However, in addition to the first and second operational displays, the composite operational display unit needs to have two drive circuits for respectively driving the first and second operational displays, while a mounting space of the composite operational display unit in a vehicle has been demanded to be reduced. Therefore, it is required to improve an efficiency in attachment and replacement of the first and second operational displays and the drive circuits in the display unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a composite operational display unit in which an efficiency in attachment and replacement of plural operational displays and drive units is improved.
According to the present invention, a composite operational display unit has a first operational display and a second operational display disposed at a front side of the first operational display. An annular holding panel having a rear opening is attached to the second operational display from a front side of the second operational display so that the second operational display is disposed opposite the rear opening. A drive unit which drives the second operational display is mounted on an outer surface of the holding panel. The first operational display is visible through the second operational display. Since the drive unit is mounted on the outer surface of the holding panel, the drive unit is readily attached to the display unit simultaneously when the holding panel is attached to the display unit. Therefore, an efficiency in attachment and replacement of the drive unit is improved.
Preferably, the holding panel has a front end forming a front opening, and the front end is formed to extend obliquely with respect to the rear opening so that the holding panel has a larger-width portion having a larger width in a front-rear direction. The drive unit is mounted on an outer surface of the larger-width portion. As a result, the drive unit is efficiently attached to the display unit while making good use of a shape of the holding panel. Therefore, a mounting space of the display unit is restricted from largely increasing.
More preferably, the second operational display is attached to the holding panel, and the drive unit is mounted to the outer surface of the holding panel, before the holding panel is attached to a casing which accommodates the first and second operational displays therein. As a result, the drive unit and the second operational display are readily attached to the casing simultaneously when the holding panel is attached to the casing. Therefore, an efficiency in attachment and replacement of the drive unit and the second operational display is improved.


REFERENCES:
patent: 19732156 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 19757545 (1998-06-01), None
patent: 2266375 (1993-10-01), None
patent: 10-91076 (1998-04-01), None

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