CN115390241A - Head-up display device - Google Patents

Abstract

A head-up display device for projecting a first image beam and a second image beam onto a target device. The head-up display device comprises a display unit, a first optical module and a second optical module. The first optical module receives the first image light beam and the second image light beam from the display unit and transmits the first image light beam and the second image light beam to the second optical module. The first image light beam and the second image light beam are respectively reflected to the outside of the head-up display by the second optical module and then transmitted to the target element to form a first virtual image and a second virtual image. Through the first optical module, the optical path of the first image light beam from the display unit to the position of the first virtual image formed by the first image light beam is larger than the optical path of the second image light beam from the display unit to the position of the second virtual image formed by the second image light beam. The head-up display device can reduce the system volume, reduce the power consumption and further reduce the cost.

Description

Head-up display device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to display devices, and more particularly, to a head-up display device.

Background

In the augmented reality head-up display device for a vehicle, it is generally designed to display images with two different contents. One type of image is that the image can present fixed driving information, such as vehicle speed, oil mass, mileage, speed limit, etc. The other image is to present driving information matched with road conditions, such as left and right turn signs, landmark information, warning signs and the like. The image with the first type of driving information is desirably displayed at a position of a relatively short depth, for example, 2 m, and the image with the second type of driving information is desirably displayed at a position of a relatively long depth, for example, 8 m.

In the current architecture of the augmented reality head-up display device, two image Generation units (PGUs) disposed at different positions are usually used to generate images with different image distances. However, because of the relationship between the two image generating units, the overall architecture has disadvantages of large volume, large power consumption, and high cost.

The background section is only provided to aid in understanding the present disclosure, and thus the disclosure in the background section may include some prior art that does not constitute a part of the knowledge of one skilled in the art. The disclosure in the "background" section is not intended to represent an admission that any of the matter or problems identified in connection with one or more embodiments of the present invention was prior to the filing date of the present application and was recognized by those skilled in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a head-up display device which can reduce the system volume, reduce the power consumption and further reduce the cost.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the technical features disclosed in the present invention.

To achieve one or a part of or all of the above objectives or other objectives, an embodiment of the present invention provides a head-up display device for projecting a first image beam and a second image beam onto a target device. The head-up display device comprises a display unit, a first optical module and a second optical module. The display unit is used for providing a first image light beam and a second image light beam. The first optical module receives the first image light beam and the second image light beam from the display unit and transmits the first image light beam and the second image light beam to the second optical module. The second optical module includes a free-form surface mirror. The free-form surface reflector is used for receiving the first image light beam and the second image light beam from the first optical module. The first image light beam and the second image light beam are respectively reflected to the outside of the head-up display device by the second optical module and then transmitted to the target element to form a first virtual image and a second virtual image. Through the first optical module, the optical path of the first image light beam from the display unit to the position of the first virtual image formed by the first image light beam is larger than the optical path of the second image light beam from the display unit to the position of the second virtual image formed by the second image light beam.

In view of the above, in an embodiment of the invention, the head-up display device is designed to enable a single display unit to generate the first image beam and the second image beam. Therefore, the whole structure of the head-up display device has the advantages of small volume, less power consumption, less cost and the like.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram of two virtual images formed by the heads up display device according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a heads-up display device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a heads up display device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a heads up display device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a heads-up display device according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a heads-up display device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a heads-up display device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The foregoing and other technical and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Directional phrases used in the following embodiments (e.g., upper, lower, left, right, front, rear, etc.) refer only to the direction of the appended figures. Accordingly, the directional terminology used is intended to be in the nature of description rather than of limitation.

Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1B is a schematic diagram of two virtual images formed by the head-up display device according to the first embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 1A and 1B, an embodiment of the invention provides a head-up display apparatus 100 for projecting a first image beam B1 and a second image beam B2 onto a target device T. In the present embodiment, the head-up display device 100 is used in a vehicle such as an automobile, for example. The target element T is, for example, a windshield of a motor vehicle. The first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 are reflected to the eyes E of the viewer (e.g. a driver of a vehicle) by the target device T, so that the viewer can view a first virtual image VM1 and a second virtual image VM2 with different imaging distances and different driving information in front of the target device T.

In the embodiment, the head-up display device 100 includes a display unit 110, a first optical module 120, and a second optical module 130. The display unit 110 is used for providing a first image beam B1 and a second image beam B2. In detail, the display unit 110 has a first effective imaging region R1 and a second effective imaging region R2 which are adjacently disposed. The first and second effective imaging regions R1 and R2 are used for generating a first image beam B1 and a second image beam B2, respectively, and a first virtual image and a second virtual image formed outside the head-up display device 100 present different image contents (e.g., driving information). The first optical module 120 receives the first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 from the display unit 110, and transmits the first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 to the second optical module 130.

In this embodiment, the first optical module 120 includes a first reflective surface 120R1, a second reflective surface 120R2, and a third reflective surface 120R3, which are adjacently disposed. The first image beam B1 from the first effective imaging region R1 of the display unit 110 is sequentially reflected by the second reflective surface 120R2 and the third reflective surface 120R3 of the first optical module 120 to the second optical module 130. The second image beam B2 from the second effective imaging area R2 of the display unit 110 is reflected by the first reflection surface 120R1 of the first optical module 120 to the second optical module 130. The second image beam B2 does not pass through the second reflection surface 120R2 and the third reflection surface 120R3 of the first optical module 120, and the first image beam B1 does not pass through the first reflection surface 120R1 of the first optical module 120.

In the present embodiment, the first reflecting surface 120R1 and the second reflecting surface 120R2 form an obtuse angle θ 1, and the second reflecting surface 120R2 and the third reflecting surface 120R3 form an acute angle θ 2. The first reflection surface 120R1 and the third reflection surface 120R3 are not directly connected, but the first reflection surface 120R1 is connected to the third reflection surface 120R3 through the second reflection surface 120R 2. In this embodiment, one end of the first reflective surface 120R1 is connected to one end of the second reflective surface 120R2, the other opposite end of the second reflective surface 120R2 is connected to one end of the third reflective surface 120R3, and an acute angle θ 2 formed by the second reflective surface 120R2 and the third reflective surface 120R3 faces the display unit 110.

In the present embodiment, the first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 from the first optical module 120 are incident to the second optical module 130 at different angles. The second optical module 130 includes a free-form mirror 132. The free-form surface reflector 132 is configured to receive the first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 from the first optical module 120. The first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 are respectively reflected by the second optical module 130 to the outside of the head-up display device 100, and then transmitted to the target element T to form a first virtual image VM1 and a second virtual image VM2. Through the first optical module 120, the optical path length of the first image light beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the position of the first virtual image VM1 formed by the first image light beam B1 is greater than the optical path length of the second image light beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the position of the second virtual image VM2 formed by the second image light beam B2.

In the present embodiment, the head-up display device 100 further includes a sensor 140 and a controller 150. The sensor 140 is used for sensing the position of the eyes E of the user (driver). The controller 150 includes, for example, a Micro Controller Unit (MCU), a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a microprocessor (microprocessor), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), or other similar devices or combinations thereof, which is not limited in this respect. Further, in an embodiment, the functions of the controller 150 may be implemented as a plurality of program codes. The program codes are stored in a memory and executed by the controller 150. Alternatively, in an embodiment, the functions of the controller 150 may be implemented as one or more circuits. The present invention is not limited to the implementation of the functions of the controller 150 in software or hardware.

In the present embodiment, the controller 150 is electrically connected to the sensor 140, and is coupled to the second optical module 130, and the second optical module 130 has, for example, a driver (not shown) for driving the free-form surface mirror 132. The controller 150 receives the signal from the sensor 140, and controls the driver to adjust the deflection angle of the free-form surface mirror 132 according to the position change of the eye E, so that the first virtual image VM1 and the second virtual image VM2 are clearly displayed.

In view of the above, in an embodiment of the invention, the head-up display device 100 is designed to make the display unit 110 generate the first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2. The optical path of the head-up display device 100 is designed to: the first image light beam B1 is reflected at least twice at the first optical module 120, and the second image light beam B2 is reflected once at the first optical module 120, so that an optical path of the first image light beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the position of the first virtual image VM1 is greater than an optical path of the second image light beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the position of the second virtual image VM2. Therefore, the whole structure of the head-up display device 100 has the advantages of smaller volume, less power consumption, less cost, etc.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a heads-up display device according to a second embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 2, the first optical module 120A of fig. 2 is similar to the first optical module 120 of fig. 1A, and the main differences are as follows. In the present embodiment, the first optical module 120A is a polygonal transparent body, wherein the transparent body is made of glass, for example. The first reflective surface 120R1, the second reflective surface 120R2, and the third reflective surface 120R3 are disposed on three surfaces of the polygonal transparent body. The advantages of the head-up display device according to the second embodiment of the invention are similar to the head-up display device 100 of fig. 1A, and are not repeated herein.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a heads up display device according to a third embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 3, the first optical module 120B of fig. 3 is similar to the first optical module 120 of fig. 1A, and the main differences are as follows. In the present embodiment, the first optical module 120B further includes a polygonal transparent body 122B, wherein the transparent body is made of glass, for example. The first reflective surface 120R1 and the second reflective surface 120R2 are disposed on two surfaces of the polygonal transparent body 122B. The third reflective surface 120R3 is a plane mirror. The first reflection surface 120R1 is connected to the second reflection surface 120R2, the first reflection surface 120R1 is not connected to the third reflection surface 120R3, and the second reflection surface 120R2 is not connected to the third reflection surface 120R3. The advantages of the head-up display device according to the third embodiment of the invention are similar to the head-up display device 100 of fig. 1A, and are not described herein again.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a heads-up display device according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Referring to fig. 4, the first optical module 120C of fig. 4 is similar to the first optical module 120 of fig. 1A, and the main differences are as follows. In this embodiment, the first optical module 120C is a plurality of plane mirrors, and the plane mirrors are separated from each other. That is, the first, second, and third reflection surfaces 120R1, 120R2, and 120R3 are not connected to each other. However, in other embodiments, the mirrors may be connected to each other. The advantages of the head-up display device according to the fourth embodiment of the invention are similar to the head-up display device 100 of fig. 1A, and are not described herein again.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 5, the head-up display device 100D of fig. 5 is similar to the head-up display device 100 of fig. 1A, and the relative positions of the virtual images formed by the head-up display device 100D of fig. 5 are similar to those of the two virtual images of fig. 1B, and the main differences are as follows. In the present embodiment, the first optical module 120D includes a curved mirror 124 and a convex lens 126, and the curved mirror 124 is, for example, configured to have a concave surface facing the display unit 110. The curved mirror 124 may be a free-form mirror.

In detail, in the present embodiment, the first image beam B1 from the first effective imaging area R1 of the display unit 110 is reflected to the second optical module 130 by the curved mirror 124. The second image beam B2 from the second effective imaging area R2 of the display unit 110 passes through the convex lens 126 and then is reflected to the second optical module 130 by the curved mirror 124. The convex lens 126 is not disposed on the transmission path of the first image beam B1.

In the present embodiment, the optical path length of the first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the curved mirror 124 is greater than the optical path length of the second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the curved mirror 124.

In the present embodiment, the curved mirror 124 is not parallel to the display unit 110. The curved mirror 124 is not parallel to the second optical module 130.

In view of the above, in the fifth embodiment of the invention, the head-up display device 100D reduces the optical path length of the second image beam B2 by disposing the convex lens 126, so that the optical path length of the first image beam B1 is greater than the optical path length of the second image beam B2. Therefore, the head-up display device 100D uses fewer optical elements, and the optical path is more compact. Other advantages of the head-up display device 100D are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 shown in fig. 1A, and are not described herein again.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a heads-up display device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The head-up display apparatus of the sixth embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment and the fifth embodiment. Referring to fig. 6, the head-up display device 100E of fig. 6 is similar to the head-up display device 100 of fig. 1A and the head-up display apparatus 100D of fig. 5, and the relative positions of virtual images formed by the head-up display device 100E of fig. 6 are also similar to fig. 1B, with the following main differences. The first optical module 120D of the head-up display apparatus 100D of fig. 5 includes a single curved mirror 124, while in the embodiment, the first optical module 120E includes a first reflective mirror and a second reflective mirror disposed adjacently, and in the embodiment of fig. 6, the second reflective mirror and the first reflective mirror are a curved mirror 124 and a plane mirror 128, respectively. Wherein the curved mirror 124 may be a spherical mirror, an aspherical mirror, or a free-form mirror. The first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 is reflected to the second optical module 130 by the plane mirror 128 to generate a first virtual image with a longer image distance. The second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 is reflected to the second optical module 130 by the curved mirror 124 to generate a second virtual image with a closer image distance. By the arrangement of the curved mirror 124, the optical path of the second image beam B2 is reduced, and the optical path of the first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130 is larger than the optical path of the second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130.

In the present embodiment, the curved mirror 124 is not parallel to the second optical module 130. The curved mirror 124 is a free-form surface mirror. The advantages of the head-up display device 100E are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 shown in fig. 1A, and are not described herein again.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a heads-up display device according to a seventh embodiment of the invention. The head-up display device of the seventh embodiment is a modification of the sixth embodiment. Referring to fig. 7, the head-up display device 100F of fig. 7 is similar to the head-up display device 100E of fig. 6, and the relative positions of the virtual images formed in fig. 7 are similar to those in fig. 1B, which are mainly different from the head-up display device 100E of fig. 6 as follows. In the embodiment, the first optical module 120F includes a first mirror and a second mirror disposed adjacently, and in the embodiment of fig. 7, the second mirror and the first mirror are a curved mirror 124 and a curved mirror 129, respectively, and the curvature of the curved mirror 124 is different from that of the curved mirror 129. The first image beam B1 from the first effective imaging region R1 of the display unit 110 is reflected to the second optical module 130 by the curved mirror 129 to generate a first virtual image with a longer image distance. The second image beam B2 from the second effective imaging region R2 of the display unit 110 is reflected to the second optical module 130 by the curved mirror 124 to generate a second virtual image with a closer image distance. The optical path length of the second image beam B2 is reduced by the arrangement of the curved mirrors 124 and 129 with different curvatures, and the optical path length of the first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130 is greater than the optical path length of the second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130.

In the present embodiment, the curved mirror 124 is not parallel to the second optical module 130. The curved mirror 129 and the curved mirror 124 are free-form surface mirrors. The advantages of the head-up display device 100F are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 of fig. 1A and the head-up display device 100E of fig. 6, and are not described herein again.

In summary, in an embodiment of the invention, the head-up display device is designed such that the display unit generates the first image beam and the second image beam, and the optical path length of the first image beam from the display unit to the position of the first virtual image is greater than the optical path length of the second image beam from the display unit to the position of the second virtual image. Therefore, the whole structure of the head-up display device has the advantages of small volume, less power consumption, less cost and the like.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited thereby, and all the simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the specification of the present invention are still within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it is not necessary for any embodiment or claim of the invention to achieve all of the objects or advantages or features disclosed herein. In addition, the abstract and the title of the specification are only used for assisting the search of patent documents and are not used for limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first", "second", and the like in the description or the claims are used only for naming elements (elements) or distinguishing different embodiments or ranges, and are not used for limiting the upper limit or the lower limit on the number of elements.

List of reference numerals

100. 100D, 100E, 100F head-up display device

110 display unit

120. 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E, 120F a first optical module

120R1 first reflecting surface

120R2 second reflecting surface

120R3 third reflecting surface

122B polygonal transparent body

124. 129 curved mirror

126 convex lens

128 plane mirror

130 second optical module

132 free-form surface mirror

140 sensor

150 controller

B1 first image beam

B2 second image beam

E eye

R1 first effective imaging area

R2-second effective imaging area

T target element

VM1 first virtual image

VM2 second virtual image

Theta 1: obtuse angle

Theta 2 is an acute angle.

Claims (23)

1. A head-up display device for projecting a first image beam and a second image beam onto a target element, the head-up display device comprising a display unit, a first optical module and a second optical module,

the display unit is used for providing the first image light beam and the second image light beam;

the first optical module receives the first image light beam and the second image light beam from the display unit and transmits the first image light beam and the second image light beam to the second optical module; and

the second optical module comprises a free-form surface reflector for receiving the first image light beam and the second image light beam from the first optical module, the first image light beam and the second image light beam are respectively reflected to the outside of the head-up display device by the second optical module and then transmitted to the target element to form a first virtual image and a second virtual image, wherein the optical path of the first image light beam from the display unit to the position of the first virtual image formed by the first image light beam is larger than the optical path of the second image light beam from the display unit to the position of the second virtual image formed by the second image light beam by the first optical module.

2. The heads-up display device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor and a controller, wherein,

the sensor is used for sensing the position of the eyes; and

the controller is electrically connected with the sensor and coupled with the second optical module, receives the signal from the sensor, and adjusts the deflection angle of the free-form surface reflector corresponding to the position change of the eyes, so that the first virtual image and the second virtual image are clearly presented.

3. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the first image beam and the second image beam from the first optical module are incident on the second optical module at different angles.

4. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit has a first effective imaging area and a second effective imaging area which are adjacently disposed to generate the first image beam and the second image beam, respectively, and the first virtual image and the second virtual image formed outside the head-up display device present different image contents.

5. The head-up display device according to claim 4, wherein the first optical module comprises a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface and a third reflective surface which are adjacently arranged.

6. The head-up display device according to claim 5, wherein the first image beam from the display unit is reflected by the second reflective surface and the third reflective surface to the second optical module in sequence, and the second image beam from the display unit is reflected by the first reflective surface to the second optical module.

7. The head-up display device according to claim 5, wherein the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface sandwich an obtuse angle therebetween, and the second reflective surface and the third reflective surface sandwich an acute angle therebetween.

8. The heads-up display device of claim 5 wherein the first reflective surface and the third reflective surface are not directly connected.

9. The head-up display device according to claim 5, wherein the first optical module is a polygonal transparent body, and the first, second, and third reflective surfaces are disposed on three surfaces of the polygonal transparent body.

10. The head-up display device of claim 5, wherein the first optical module further comprises a polygonal light transmissive body, the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface are disposed on two surfaces of the polygonal light transmissive body, and the third reflective surface is a planar mirror.

11. The heads-up display device of claim 5 wherein the first optical module is a plurality of flat mirrors.

12. The heads-up display device of claim 1 wherein the first optical module comprises a curved mirror and a convex lens.

13. The head-up display device of claim 12, wherein the first image beam from the display unit is reflected by the curved mirror to the second optical module, and the second image beam from the display unit passes through the convex lens and is reflected by the curved mirror to the second optical module, wherein the convex lens is not disposed on a transmission path of the first image beam.

14. The heads-up display device of claim 12 wherein the curved mirror is a free-form mirror.

15. The heads-up display device of claim 12 wherein an optical path length of the first image beam from the display unit to the curved mirror is greater than an optical path length of the second image beam from the display unit to the curved mirror.

16. The heads-up display device of claim 12 wherein the curved mirror is non-parallel to the display unit and the curved mirror is non-parallel to the second optical module.

17. The heads-up display device of claim 1 wherein the first optical module includes a first mirror and a second mirror disposed adjacent to each other.

18. The head-up display device of claim 17, wherein the first image beam from the display unit is reflected to the second optical module by the first mirror, and the second image beam from the display unit is reflected to the second optical module by the second mirror.

19. The heads-up display device of claim 18 wherein an optical path of the first image beam from the display unit to the second optical module is greater than an optical path of the second image beam from the display unit to the second optical module.

20. The heads-up display device of claim 17 wherein the second mirror is non-parallel to the second optical module, the second mirror being a curved mirror.

21. The heads-up display device of claim 20 wherein the first mirror is a planar mirror.

22. The heads-up display device of claim 21 wherein the second mirror is a free-form surface mirror.

23. The heads-up display device of claim 20 wherein the first mirror is a free-form surface mirror and the second mirror is a free-form surface mirror.

Images