Prius Trivia

HUD???

Why does t he speedometer display have to be reflected at all? Seems to me that it would serve the same purpose if it was a direct view instead of a mirror image. And since they insist on reflect it, Why didn’t they make it a true heads up display (HUD) and have it reflect off of the inside of the windshield?

 

Re: HUD???

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Graz\";p=\"70767)</div>

Ok, how about this for an explanation:

The speedometer and the other instruments displayed on the dash are just plain lights that do not need to have “high resolution†but are sure useful if they are big and bright enough so that every one who drives the car can see them. So, it is a lot cheaper to produce a reduced scale model of the whole set of lights and then just use magnification to show them the way you see them on the dash (you can actually see the image is magnified). The reason for using reflection would be in this case that, if you want to build the speedometer and all other lights very small so they’re cheap and you want to display them satisfactorily big, you would need a very long distance back from the panel to the magnifying glass; they would need to be placed too far behind the dash. That or you would probably need a very powerful magnifying glass that could distort the image and result in additional costs.

Now, you can magnify using mirrors!!! Or you can place the original instrument panel and speedometer deep down into the dash and use a not so expensive and not so powerful magnifying glass, because distance will increase magnification.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius\";p=\"70733)</div>

You don't necessarily have to use two mirrors to obtain a straight image to show. You just arrange the lights in such way that they are a mirror image of the whole panel so once reflected, they become straight.

Does this sound reasonable to anyone?

 

You asked for it, you got it, Toyota!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"70727)</div>

Are you looking for this?

It is designed so that a driver can focus on it easily from the road surface,
Tech Manual says.

Regards,
Ken@Japan

 

So . . I have a "spot" somewhere from perhaps washing my windshield (it dripped) - where the heck or how the heck can I wipe it? (like the guy with the bug) where was his bug?

 

I have a trivia: Of course if you push the power window button down (on the driver side only) it goes down automatically but did you know that if you lift it up it rolls UP automatically too?

I didn't know this until accidently yesterday

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rocco\";p=\"70877)</div>

Put your finger in the well below where you see the display. You will see your finger IN the display. Think of it as a projector in the dash projecting onto the panel where the directional indicators are. If cleaning the window covering the projector housing doesn't work, then the combination meter assy mirror will have to be cleaned.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rocco\";p=\"70879)</div>

Yup, that's why it has a safety to automatically lower the window if it gets jammed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"70727)</div>

This was pointed out to me by someone with eyes not quite as young as mine:

The farther away the actual spedometer is from the driver's eyes, either straight line or reflected distance, the easier it is to change ocular focus from the road to the spedometer and back. Any extra "virtual" distance placed between the driver and the spedometer is an additional ergonomic plus.

Brad

 

interesting point and something i had not thought of either. i just assumed that the overlarge number display was the reason why it was so easy to read the indicator.

 

:idea: TRIVIA - Great Forum Subject...!!!

Have you noticed? - Your rearview mirror is mounded on the windshield with a BALL JOINT at the windshield mount. This allows you to swing the mirror arm side to side, up and down to adjust for your height and tailor the mirror view to your individual taste. At my height (5'11") I have swung the arm as far down as I can which provides a better view out the back window.

 

Here's One*

The knobs for the audio volume and tuning can be pushed in to be flush with the rest of the dash? I just noticed that this morning.


DGStan

* May only apply if you are as clueless as me.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(V8Cobrakid\";p=\"70738)</div>

If you were to place two mirrors at the appropriate locations with the appropriate angles, you could get a clear-shot view into the unit itself! That would be much easier than using a fiber-optic camera.



Sorry, felt the need to be a smart-***.

Brad

 

lol :lolup: :ahole:

lol. ill look. i guess my real interest is to take it apart and study it. i have the feeling with the whole car. I just want to take the whole car apart and study it... but.. i won't.

 

actually, i do know the feeling of fending off my car-crazy friends who all wanted to take the cover off the EV amongst other things just to see what it looked like....

sorry but until it breaks, aint nothing being disassembled on my baby...

 

SAME!!!!!!!

 

Trivia: the steering wheel is somewhat oval instead of circular.

 

rim? *lost*

 

ah.. never took it apart.. i have to resist.. or else i might take the whole car apart.. people would come out in the morning.. and i would be sitting there with this huge pile of parts next to me.. a big grin.. and a hybrid battery in my hands.... " i hold the power "... it would be bad..

same effect if i were given " the One Ring"... i would abuse it.. go invisible.. so on.. so on.