JP2016194555A - Optical system and emission device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical system that enables a viewer to more clearly recognize information with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: An optical system comprises: a projector S that emits emission light L1 and emission light L2 including images to be recognized by a driver D to a windshield glass 10 reflecting the emission light L1 and emission light L2; and a retroreflection part 1 that receives the emission light L1 and emission light L2 reflected on the windshield glass 10 and reflects the emission light L1 and emission light L2 toward the windshield glass 10 so that the emission light L1 and emission light L2 travel on a light path of a line of sight LE from the windshield glass 10 to the position of the eyes EY of the driver D.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present application belongs to the technical field of an optical system and an output device, and more specifically, to the technical field of an optical system that allows a viewer to visually recognize information and the output device included in the optical system.

  In recent years, navigation devices that guide the movement of a vehicle have been widely used, and at the time of the guidance, a map, a situation of an intersection in a traveling direction, and the like are displayed. At this time, the display of the map and the like is generally performed using a display arranged on a center console between the driver's seat and the passenger seat. However, in this case, the driver cannot view the map or the like displayed on the display unless the forward line of sight during driving is shifted. Therefore, in recent years, a configuration in which the map or the like is formed as a virtual image on the line of sight of the driving driver may be used. The following patent document 1 is mentioned as a prior art document regarding the display of the map etc. which used such a virtual image. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the light emitted from the light source unit is divided into reflected light and transmitted light by a half mirror formed on a flat plate, and light emitted from the light source unit by the half mirror. The transmitted light reflects a part of the reflected light reflected by the reflecting member on the surface opposite to the incident surface. With this configuration, the reflected light from the half mirror is incident on the position of the viewer's eyes.

Japanese Patent No. 4928014

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that a half mirror exists in front of the line of sight of the driver who is a viewer, and as a result, the field of view of the driver is hindered. At this time, it may be possible to eliminate the use of the half mirror in order to secure the driver's field of view, but in that case, for example, it is necessary to apply various processes to the light used for projecting the image. There is also a problem that the image quality deteriorates or the entire apparatus becomes complicated.

  Accordingly, the present application has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an example of the problem is an optical system that allows a viewer to visually recognize information more clearly with a simple configuration, and the optical system. It is in providing the output device contained in.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an emitting device that emits information light having information to be viewed by a viewer toward a reflector that reflects the information light, and the reflection Reflecting means for receiving the information light reflected by the body and reflecting the information light toward the reflector so as to travel on a line-of-sight optical path from the reflector toward the position of the viewer's eyes. Prepare.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, an invention according to claim 8 is an emission device included in the optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and emits the information light. A light emitting means; possessing means for causing the emitted information light to own the information; and directing means for directing the information light in which the information is owned toward the reflector.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical system according to an embodiment. It is a side view conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the output device which concerns on an Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the function of the retroreflection part which concerns on an Example. It is a side view conceptual diagram which shows the specific structure of the display apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is a graph which shows the wavelength characteristic of the windshield glass which concerns on an Example. It is a side view conceptual diagram which shows the other example of the specific structure of the display apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the function of the windshield glass which concerns on a 1st modification, (a) is a figure which shows the 1st example of the concept which shows the function of the windshield glass which concerns on a 1st modification, (b) These are figures which show the 2nd example of the concept which shows the function of the windshield glass which concerns on a 1st modification. It is a side view conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus which concerns on each reference example, (a) is a side view conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus which concerns on a 1st reference example, (b) is 2nd reference example. It is a side view conceptual diagram which shows the structure of the display apparatus which concerns.

  Next, the form for implementing this application is demonstrated using FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the optical system according to the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the optical system SS according to the embodiment includes an emission device S and a reflection unit 1.

  In this configuration, the emission device S emits the information light L possessing information to be visually recognized by the viewer D toward the reflector 10 that reflects the information light L.

  Then, the reflecting means 1 receives the information light L reflected by the reflector 10, and information is directed toward the reflector 10 so as to travel on the line-of-sight optical path LE from the reflector 10 toward the position of the eye EY of the viewer D. The light L is reflected.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the optical system SS according to the embodiment, the information light L having information to be visually recognized by the viewer D is emitted toward the reflector 10 and is reflected by the reflector 10. The light L is received and reflected toward the reflector 10 so as to travel on the line of sight optical path LE. Therefore, after the light is emitted from the light emitting device S, the reflection on the reflector 10 is performed twice before traveling on the line-of-sight optical path LE, thereby eliminating the influence of distortion or aberration generated in the information light L due to the reflection on the reflector 10. Therefore, the viewer D can visually recognize information with a simple configuration.

  Next, specific examples corresponding to the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the Example described below is a display device included in a navigation device that guides driving of a vehicle by a driver, and the virtual image in the display device that causes the driver to visually recognize a virtual image such as a map for the guidance. It is an Example at the time of applying an embodiment to display of. This driver corresponds to an example of a “viewer” according to the present application.

  2 is a side view conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the display device according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the emission device according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a retroreflection according to the embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the function of a part. 5 is a conceptual side view showing a specific configuration of the display device according to the embodiment, FIG. 6 is a graph showing the wavelength characteristics of the windshield glass according to the embodiment, and FIG. It is a side view conceptual diagram which shows the other example of the specific structure of the display apparatus which concerns. At this time, in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, each constituent member of the optical system SS corresponding to each constituent member of the example corresponding to each constituent member of the optical system SS according to the embodiment shown in FIG. The same member number is used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display device OP according to the embodiment is disposed in front of a driver seat where a driver D sits in the vehicle according to the embodiment having the roof R and the hood B, for example. And the display apparatus OP which concerns on an Example is comprised by the projector S equivalent to an example of the radiation | emission apparatus S which concerns on embodiment, and the retroreflection part 1 equivalent to an example of the reflection means 1 which concerns on embodiment.

  At this time, the retroreflective portion 1 is formed of a sheet-like retroreflective material, and is disposed, for example, on a part of the upper surface of the dashboard DB of the vehicle according to the embodiment. At this time, as the retroreflective portion 1, the sheet-like retroreflective material may be attached to the part of the dashboard DB, or the part of the dashboard DB itself may be used as the retroreflective material. By being formed, the retroreflective portion 1 may be formed integrally with the dashboard DB. Further, the retroreflective portion 1 may be formed by laying a large number of very small mirrors facing each other in a direction in which the function of the retroreflecting portion 1 described later according to the embodiment can be exhibited.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the emission device S includes a light emitting unit 17, a modulation unit 16, and a lens system 15. In this configuration, the light emitting unit 17 emits emitted light L that is emitted from the emitting device S and corresponds to an example of the information light L according to the embodiment. The modulating unit 16 causes the emitted light L to own the image data or the like by modulating the emitted light L with, for example, image data corresponding to the virtual image visually recognized by the driver D. And the lens system 15 comprises the optical path which concerns on the Example mentioned later by radiate | emitting the emitted light L which owned the said image data etc. toward the windshield glass 10 of a vehicle. The windshield constituted by the windshield glass 10 is generally referred to as “front glass”. The windshield glass 10 corresponds to an example of the reflector 10 according to the embodiment. In addition, the light emitting unit 17 corresponds to an example of “light emitting unit” according to the present application, the modulation unit 16 corresponds to an example of “owning unit” according to the present application, and the lens system 15 corresponds to an “directing unit” according to the present application. It corresponds to an example.

  The projector S as the display device OP according to the embodiment is suspended from the roof R, for example, in a space between the head of the driver D and the roof R of the vehicle, as shown in a side view conceptual diagram in FIG. It is fixed in a manner. The projector S then emits the emitted light L possessing the image data and the like toward the windshield glass 10. Here, in FIG. 2, the outgoing light L is shown as outgoing light L1 and outgoing light L2 corresponding to diffusion accompanying the emission. As shown in FIG. 2, the windshield glass 10 reflects at least a part of the outgoing light L1 and outgoing light L2 emitted from the projector S toward the retroreflective portion 1. As a result, the retroreflecting unit 1 recursively reflects the outgoing light L1 and the outgoing light L2 reflected by the windshield glass 10 toward the windshield glass 10.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the retroreflective member forming the retroreflective portion 1 according to the embodiment is configured so that the outgoing light L incident thereon falls within a preset range including the opposite direction to the incident direction. Reflect in the direction. Here, the retroreflective function itself in the retroreflective portion 1 according to the embodiment is the same as the conventional one. For example, even if the surface shape is uneven as illustrated in FIG. The outgoing light L can be reflected. In addition, since the retroreflection part 1 which concerns on an Example is formed in the upper surface of dashboard DB mentioned above, in the meaning which prevents what is called reflection with respect to the windshield glass 10, the color of itself is black or dark color etc., for example, A color that scatters sunlight is preferred.

  In the retroreflective unit 1 according to the embodiment, the reflected outgoing light L1 and outgoing light L2 are reflected again by the windshield glass 10, and then the line-of-sight optical path LE toward the position of the eye EY of the driver D from the windshield glass 10. The emitted light L1 and the emitted light L2 are recursively reflected so as to travel upward and reach the eye EY.

  As described above, the emitted light L according to the embodiment is modulated by the image data and emitted from the projector S, then reflected by the windshield glass 10 → recursively by the retroreflecting unit 1. Reflection → Rereflection by the windshield glass 10 → Progress along the line of sight optical path LE → Advance the optical path of reaching the eye EY of the driver D. And in order to comprise such an optical path, the attachment position and attachment angle of the projector S which concern on an Example, and the characteristic of the retroreflection in the retroreflection part 1 are each set. At this time, the retroreflective property is not limited to retroreflecting the outgoing light L incident on the retroreflective portion 1 after reflection by the windshield glass 10 only in the direction opposite to the incident direction. The characteristic is that the incident outgoing light L is also reflected in a direction in which the reflection angle is shifted so as to travel on the line-of-sight optical path LE after re-reflection by the glass 10. In other words, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical path of the outgoing light L before being emitted from the projector S and reflected by the windshield glass 10, and reflected by the windshield glass 10 after being reflected by the retroreflecting unit 1. The retroreflective characteristics of the retroreflecting unit 1 are set so that a deviation angle AG corresponding to the line-of-sight optical path LE is formed between the optical path of the emitted light L. At this time, the deviation angle AG is specifically set to about 6 degrees, for example.

  On the other hand, as a characteristic of the windshield glass 10 constituting a part of the display device OP according to the embodiment, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a blue color desirable as a color component of the emitted light L possessing the image data and the like is exemplified. It is preferable that the reflectance at the wavelength, the green wavelength, and the red wavelength is set higher than the reflectances at other wavelengths. At this time, it is needless to say that the windshield glass 10 needs to ensure a wide forward field of view of the driver D during operation. Therefore, the transmittance other than the wavelength corresponding to the color component of the emitted light L is as much as possible. It is preferable to set it high.

  In the display device OP according to the embodiment configured as described above, the emitted light L emitted from the projector S is reflected by the windshield glass 10 → the retroreflective portion 1 → the windshield glass 10 and is on the line of sight optical path LE. To reach the eye EY of driver D. Therefore, an image corresponding to image data and the like owned by the emitted light L is visually recognized by the driver D as a virtual image.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the display device OP according to the embodiment, the emitted light L having image data or the like to be visually recognized by the driver D is emitted toward the windshield glass 10, and is emitted by the windshield glass 10. The reflected outgoing light L is received by the retroreflecting unit 1 and reflected toward the windshield glass 10 so as to travel on the line-of-sight optical path LE. Therefore, after the emission from the emission device S, the reflection on the windshield glass 10 is performed twice before traveling on the line-of-sight optical path LE, so that the influence of distortion or aberration generated in the emission light L due to the reflection on the windshield glass 10. Therefore, it is possible to make the driver D visually recognize a virtual image corresponding to image data or the like more clearly with a simple configuration.

  Further, since the retroreflective portion 1 is formed of a retroreflective material having retroreflectivity with respect to the emitted light L, the display device OP can be configured with a simple and simple configuration.

  Furthermore, since the emission device S and the retroreflecting unit 1 are provided inside the vehicle in which the driver D appears and the windshield glass 10 is also used for reflecting the emitted light L, for example, a conventional half mirror or the like is used. In addition, the display device OP can be realized only by providing the emission device S and the retroreflective portion 1 in the vehicle.

  Furthermore, since the reflectance of the windshield glass 10 with respect to the color component of the emitted light L is higher than the reflectance with respect to other light components, an image corresponding to image data or the like can be clearly seen by the driver D.

  In the display device OP according to the embodiment, the projector S is disposed in the space between the head of the driver D and the roof R. However, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the projector S as the display device OP1 is also provided. In addition, it may be configured to be installed on the dashboard DB between the handle H and the retroreflecting unit 1. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the light path of the outgoing light L1 before being emitted from the projector S and reflected by the windshield glass 10 and again by the windshield glass 10 after being reflected by the retroreflecting unit 1. The retroreflection characteristics in the retroreflecting unit 1 may be set so that a deviation angle AG corresponding to the line-of-sight optical path LE is formed between the reflected light path of the emitted light L1. In this case, the value of the deviation angle AG is preferably set to about 6 degrees, similar to the case illustrated in FIG.

  Further, as the position of the projector S, the projector S may be installed not only in front of the driver D but also in either the left or right side range as illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 5, or FIG. As described above, the position of the projector S can be freely selected as long as the emitted light L re-reflected by the windshield glass 10 travels on the line-of-sight optical path LE.

[Modification]
Next, a plurality of modifications according to the embodiment will be described.

(1) First Modification First, a first modification will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the function of the windshield glass according to the first modification. In FIG. 8, the same components as those of the display device OP according to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same member numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As described in the description of the display device OP according to the above-described example, the windshield glass 10 corresponding to the reflector 10 according to the embodiment reflects as much of the emitted light L as possible, and the front view of the driver D is increased. It is preferable to have a transmittance that does not hinder and further prevent sunlight as external light from reaching the eye EY of the driver D.

  Therefore, it is conceivable that the windshield glass constituting the display device according to the first modification has a structure in which light transmission characteristics and diffusion characteristics, or transmission characteristics and reflection characteristics differ depending on the incident direction of the light. More specifically, for example, the windshield glass may have a so-called louver structure in which light incident in a substantially horizontal direction is transmitted and light incident in a substantially vertical direction is blocked.

  More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, light (sunlight) SN (incident in a substantially vertical downward direction) from the sun SU is blocked and front of the driver D. It is preferable that the external light IN (incident from a substantially horizontal direction) related to the field of view is transmitted.

That is, when sunlight SN to be incident on substantially vertical direction relative to the windshield glass 10 ₁ according to the first modification which has reached to the windshield glass 10 ₁ by passing through the windshield glass 10 ₁ without a structure that reflects in the windshield glass 10 _1, forming the windshield glass 10 _1. In this way, sunlight SN is transmitted through the windshield glass 10 ₁ is reflected by the retroreflecting members 1, further reaches the position of the eye EY of the driver D by being reflected by the windshield glass 10 ₁ There is no longer to do.

In this case, the windshield glass 10 _1, if the structure that transmits light IN incident from the direction of the eye EY, that no hindered forward view of the driver D.

As described above, according to the configuration of the first modification, the transmittance or reflectance of the windshield glass 10 _1, etc. for the light corresponding to the incident angle of light on the windshield glass 10 ₁ are different, by selecting the combined light to be advanced over sight optical path LE on transmittance or reflectance of the windshield glass 10 _1, for example, unnecessary light can be prevented from being advanced over sight optical path LE.

Also, if the driver D has a horizontal line of sight, the windshield glass 10 ₁ it is initially prevents light entering vertically through the light incident in the horizontal direction, without interfering with the field of view, the driver D A virtual image corresponding to image data to be visually recognized can be visually recognized.

(2) Second Modification Next, as a second modification, as a specific configuration of the lens system 15 of the projector S according to the embodiment, the lens system 15 includes a lens system including a so-called MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) mirror. It is good. In this case, since the lens system 15 includes the MEMS type mirror, a virtual image corresponding to image data or the like can be visually recognized by the driver D more clearly.

[Reference example]
Finally, a reference example according to the present application will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the display device according to each reference example. In FIG. 9, the same components as those of the display device OP according to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same member numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the above-described embodiments and modifications, the driver D is configured to visually recognize a virtual image without using a half mirror. In addition to this, the display device has a half mirror together with the retroreflecting unit 1 according to the embodiment. Can also be configured. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the outgoing light L1 and outgoing light L2 from the projector S1 according to the reference example are respectively reflected by the half mirror HM, and then the windshield glass 10 → the retroreflective portion 1 → the windshield glass 10 It may be configured to reflect as follows: (line-of-sight optical path LE) → eye EY. 9A shows a configuration in the case where the optical conjugate point of the projector S1 and the position of the eye EY are matched, and FIG. 9B shows the eye EY with respect to the optical conjugate point of the projector S1. The structure in the case of shifting the position of is shown.

  As illustrated in FIG. 9A, when the optical conjugate point of the projector S1 and the position of the eye EY are matched, the light of the projector S1 is concentrated on the eye EY, so that the driver D displays the brightest virtual image. It can be visually recognized. In addition, since the light from the projector S1 finally reaches the eye EY at a pinpoint, it is not necessary to make the retroreflective unit 1 almost diffusive.

  On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 9B, when the position of the eye EY is shifted with respect to the optical conjugate point of the projector S1, the retroreflecting unit 1 is made diffusive, so that FIG. ), The driver D can visually recognize a virtual image in a wider range than in the case where the optical conjugate point of the projector S1 and the position of the eye EY are matched.

  Even in the configuration of the reference example described above, it is possible to make the driver D clearly see a virtual image corresponding to necessary image data or the like by effectively using the retroreflecting unit 1.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment and each modified example, the case where the driver D visually recognizes a virtual image such as a map has been described. However, for example, the passenger sitting in the passenger seat or the rear seat can visually recognize the virtual image. In some cases, the embodiment can be applied. In this case, for example, when the passenger sitting in the passenger seat visually recognizes the virtual image, the projector S and the retroreflecting unit 1 according to the embodiment are installed at a position in front of the passenger.

1 Reflection means (retroreflective part)
10 Reflector (windshield glass)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Lens system 16 Modulation part 17 Light emission part S Output device (projector)
SS Optical system D Viewer (driver)
DB Dashboard EY Eye LE Gaze optical path L Information light (emitted light)
L1, L2 Emission light OP, OP1 Display device

Claims (10)

An emission device that emits information light possessing information to be viewed by a viewer toward a reflector that reflects the information light; and
Reflecting means for receiving the information light reflected by the reflector and reflecting the information light toward the reflector so as to travel on a line-of-sight optical path from the reflector toward the position of the viewer's eyes. ,
An optical system comprising: The optical system according to claim 1.
The optical system, wherein the reflecting means is formed of a retroreflective material having retroreflectivity with respect to the information light. The optical system according to claim 1 or 2,
The viewer is a vehicle occupant;
The emission device and the reflection means are provided inside the vehicle,
The optical system, wherein the reflector is a windshield glass of the vehicle. The optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
An optical system, wherein an information light path that is an optical path of the information light that travels from the emitting device toward the reflector is different from the line-of-sight optical path. The optical system according to claim 4.
An optical system characterized in that an angle formed by the information optical path and the line-of-sight optical path is within 6 degrees. The optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the reflector is a reflector having a higher reflectivity for the information light than a reflectivity for the other light. The optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
2. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the emitting device is a projector including a MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) type mirror. The optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An optical system characterized in that the transmittance or reflectance of the reflector with respect to the light differs according to the incident angle of the light with respect to the reflector. The optical system according to claim 8.
The viewer has a horizontal line of sight;
The optical system transmits the light incident in a horizontal direction and blocks the light incident in a vertical direction. An emission device included in the optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A light emitting means for emitting the information light;
Possession means for causing the emitted information light to own the information;
Directing means for directing and emitting the information light in which the information is owned to the reflector;
An emission device comprising: