A backlight unit for a vehicular component is disclosed. In particular, the vehicle component is for displaying vehicular information. The backlight unit comprises a screen divided into an array of segments and a transparent plate for directing light rays through the screen. Each segment of the array of segments is capable to operate between a mode for permitting light rays to pass through, allowing light rays passing through the transparent plate and the screen, and a mode for blocking light rays from passing through blocking light rays from passing through the screen.

A sound output and text display device for a vehicle, including: an output unit that, in a case in which sound to be output inside the vehicle has been decided, outputs the sound inside the vehicle; and a display unit that displays text corresponding to the sound on a windshield in accordance with a state of use of the vehicle.

A liquid crystal display device with high visibility and a backlight device for implementing the liquid crystal display device are provided. A backlight device (100) for irradiating light to a back surface of a liquid crystal panel (19) in a liquid crystal display device 101 includes: light sources (45); a substrate (51); and a plate-like optical member (29) through which a part of light emitted by the light sources (45) is transmitted. The optical member (29) includes: first region (A11) and two or more second regions (A21), wherein in the first region (A11), the light transmittance increases as separating from a mounting position of one light source (45), and in the second regions (A21), the light transmittance increases as approaching an outer peripheral portion from a central portion of the optical member (29) in a predetermined direction in places in contact with another adjacent second region (A21).

The present disclosed technology is a generally two-dimensional display and audible alarm to show notification and urgency information from multiple object detection radar sensors on a vehicle. When a particular sensor is reporting to the vehicle's operation and control center, the corresponding light(s) according to a top view of the vehicle in the array may light up, pulse or flash accordingly. In addition, an audible alarm may operate in concert and emphasis with the light(s) display.

Embodiments are disclosed of an apparatus including a housing. A column gear is positioned within the housing and adapted to be coupled to a steering column, and the column gear has a first diameter, rotates about a first axis, and has teeth along its perimeter. A steering wheel gear is positioned within the housing and spaced apart from the column gear and adapted to be coupled to a steering wheel; the steering wheel gear has a second diameter, rotates about a stationary hub having a second axis, and has teeth along its perimeter. A transfer gear is positioned within the housing. The transfer gear rotates about a third axis, has teeth along its perimeter, and is positioned so that the teeth of the transfer gear engage the teeth of the column gear and the teeth of the steering wheel gear.

A light source device includes a plurality of light sources arranged in a matrix, a substrate, and a reflective member. The reflective member includes first walls defining a first region entirely surrounded by the first walls in a plan view, and second walls located on an outer side of the first walls, the second walls defining a second region and a third region each only partially surrounded by the second walls in the plan view such that an area of the second region is equal to or greater than a half of an area of the first region and an area of the third region is less than the half of the area of the first region in the plan view. The light sources are disposed respectively in the first region and in the second region while none of the light sources is disposed in the third region.

A head-up display device has a backlight unit configured to illuminate a liquid crystal panel from a back side. The backlight unit has an optical condenser configured to condense the light emitted from a light source toward the liquid crystal panel, and a microlens array arranged in an optical path between the optical condenser and the liquid crystal panel to diffuse the light condensed by the optical condenser. The microlens array has a light emission face arranged in a position optically conjugated with an eyebox to emit the light incident from the optical condenser.

A surface panel is attached to an instrument panel so as to cover a display surface of a display unit disposed on the instrument panel of a vehicle. When the display unit is turned on, light L from the display unit is projected toward the driver's seat side via a thin hole formed in the surface panel.

A display screen operable on at least a partial area A in two operating modes, free-viewing mode B1, and restricted-viewing modeB2, with the residual display area of the screen outside the area A maintaining a free viewing mode; comprising a first backlight arranged below the residual display area; a second backlight arranged below the area A; a transmissive image generator in front of the backlights; a plate-shaped transparent light guide arranged between the image generator and the backlights that outcouples, through one of its large surfaces, light coupled in through one of its edges; light sources arranged laterally an edge of the light guide, wherein the light guide is transparent to at least 70% of the light emitted by the backlights, and wherein in the B1 mode, the light sources are switched on, and in the B2 mode, the backlights are on and the light sources are off.

A display device and a vehicle head-up display apparatus of the present disclosure include a substrate, light source devices, a transmission-type display panel, and an illumination optical system. The light source devices are disposed on the substrate. The illumination optical system guides illumination light from the light source devices to the display panel. The illumination optical system includes a first reflector, a quarter-wave plate, and a reflective polarizer. The first reflector is disposed at a different position on the substrate than the light source devices. The quarter-wave plate is disposed between the first reflector and the display panel. The reflective polarizer is disposed between the quarter-wave plate and the display panel.