CN117741978A - Head-up display device and car - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a head-up display device and an automobile, and relates to the technical field of optical display. The head-up display device comprises an image generation unit, a reflecting mirror assembly and a real virtual image switching unit, wherein the real virtual image switching unit is used for controlling the reflecting direction of the reflecting mirror assembly to image light rays emitted by the image generation unit so that the image light rays are reflected to a first target imaging area or a second target imaging area through the reflecting mirror assembly. The head-up display device and the automobile can solve the problem that potential safety hazards exist when the head-up display device in the prior art runs along with the automobile in a short distance.

Description

Head-up display device and car

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of optical display, in particular to a head-up display device and an automobile.

Background

Head up displays (HUDs for short), also known as heads up displays, are commonly used in the field of aviation, head up displays originating from pilots and from flight cabs. The automobile safety display device is used for displaying important driving information such as speed, navigation, steering, oil consumption and the like, so that an automobile driver can concentrate on driving without looking at an instrument panel at low head, safe driving is well guaranteed, and driving experience of the automobile driver is improved.

Most of the head-up displays in the prior art project driving information such as vehicle speed, navigation and the like in front of a windshield through forming a virtual image, so that a driver can acquire related information without looking at an instrument panel, and driving safety is improved. Because the head-up display in the prior art projects the driving information in front of the windshield in the form of a virtual image, when the vehicle is driven in a short distance, the driving information is projected in front of the windshield to influence driving, so that a certain potential safety hazard exists.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a head-up display device and an automobile, which can solve the problem that the head-up display in the prior art has potential safety hazards when the automobile is driven in a short distance.

Embodiments of the present invention are implemented as follows:

in a first aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, a head-up display device is provided, which includes an image generating unit, a mirror assembly, and a real virtual image switching unit, where the real virtual image switching unit is configured to control a reflection direction of an image light beam emitted by the mirror assembly to the image generating unit, so that the image light beam is reflected by the mirror assembly to a first target imaging area or a second target imaging area. The head-up display device can solve the problem that potential safety hazards exist when the head-up display device in the prior art runs along with a car in a short distance.

Optionally, the real virtual image switching unit is disposed between the image generating unit and the reflecting mirror assembly, the real virtual image switching unit includes a polarization switchable device and a polarizer sequentially disposed along a light path, the image light emits first polarized light or second polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device, the polarization directions of the first polarized light and the second polarized light are mutually perpendicular, and the transmission axis of the polarizer and the polarization direction of the first polarized light are mutually perpendicular.

Optionally, the mirror assembly comprises a first mirror and a second mirror; the first polarized light transmitted by the polarized light switchable device is reflected to the second reflecting mirror through the polarizer and then reflected to the first target imaging area through the second reflecting mirror; the second polarized light transmitted by the polarized light switchable device is transmitted through the polarizer and then emitted to the first reflecting mirror, reflected by the first reflecting mirror, transmitted through the polarizer and then emitted to the second reflecting mirror, and reflected by the second reflecting mirror and then emitted to the second target imaging area.

Optionally, the polarization switchable device includes a substrate and a voltage control member, where the voltage control member is configured to apply a bias voltage to the substrate according to a voltage signal, so that the image light beam exits the second polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device.

Optionally, the first polarized light is s polarized light and the second polarized light is p polarized light.

Optionally, the polarization switchable device is a liquid crystal screen.

Optionally, the mirror assembly includes a first mirror and a second mirror, the real virtual image switching unit is in transmission connection with the first mirror, and the real virtual image switching unit is used for controlling the first mirror to rotate to form a first included angle or a second included angle with the second mirror.

Optionally, the image generating unit includes a first image generating unit and a second image generating unit; when the first reflecting mirror rotates to form the first included angle with the second reflecting mirror, the image light rays emitted by the second image generating unit are reflected to the first target imaging area through the second reflecting mirror; when the first reflecting mirror rotates to form the second included angle with the second reflecting mirror, the image light rays emitted by the first image generating unit are reflected to the second reflecting mirror through the first reflecting mirror and then reflected to the second target imaging area through the second reflecting mirror.

Optionally, the first mirror and the second mirror are both free-form surface mirrors.

In a second aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, an automobile is provided, including the above head-up display device. The head-up display device can solve the problem that potential safety hazards exist when the head-up display device in the prior art runs along with a car in a short distance.

The beneficial effects of the embodiment of the invention include:

the head-up display device comprises an image generating unit, a reflecting mirror component and a real virtual image switching unit, wherein the real virtual image switching unit is used for controlling the reflecting direction of the reflecting mirror component to image light rays emitted by the image generating unit so that the image light rays are reflected to a first target imaging area or a second target imaging area through the reflecting mirror component. When the vehicle is driven by the remote distance, the image generating unit can control the image light to be reflected to the first target imaging area of the front windshield through the reflecting mirror component, the image light is continuously reflected by the front windshield, the reflected divergent light is collected by human eyes positioned at the eye boxes, and the reverse extension line of the reflected divergent light forms a virtual image at the virtual image plane. When the vehicle is driven in a short distance, the image generating unit can control the image light to be reflected to the second target imaging area of the front windshield through the reflecting mirror assembly, the image light is continuously reflected by the front windshield, and the reflected converging light is focused on the real image surface to form a real image. Because the real image is formed in the air in the automobile, a driver can acquire driving information, so that the problem that potential safety hazards exist when the head-up display in the prior art runs with the automobile at a short distance is solved, the man-machine interaction can be increased, the auxiliary driving function is enhanced, and the driving experience of the driver is further improved. In summary, the head-up display device provides two working modes (i.e., a virtual image mode and a real image mode), which not only can realize the function of the head-up display in the prior art that the driving information is projected in front of the windshield in a virtual image form, but also can realize the function of the head-up display in the prior art that the driving information is projected in the air in the automobile in a real image form.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings that are needed in the embodiments will be briefly described below, it being understood that the following drawings only illustrate some embodiments of the present invention and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope, and other related drawings may be obtained according to these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic light path diagram of a head-up display device according to an embodiment of the invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic light path diagram of a head-up display device according to another embodiment of the invention.

Icon: 10-an image generation unit; 11-a first image generation unit; 12-a second image generation unit; a 20-real virtual image switching unit; a 21-polarization switchable device; 22-polarizer; 30-a first mirror; 40-a second mirror; 50-front windshield; 60-real image plane; 70-virtual image plane; 80-eye boxes; a-a first position; and B-a second position.

Detailed Description

For the purpose of making the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more apparent, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is apparent that the described embodiments are some embodiments of the present invention, but not all embodiments of the present invention. The components of the embodiments of the present invention generally described and illustrated in the figures herein may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations.

Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, as presented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the invention without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

It should be noted that: like reference numerals and letters denote like items in the following figures, and thus once an item is defined in one figure, no further definition or explanation thereof is necessary in the following figures.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., are directions or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, or are directions or positional relationships conventionally put in use of the inventive product, are merely for convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and are not indicative or implying that the apparatus or element to be referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," and the like are used merely to distinguish between descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

Furthermore, the terms "horizontal," "vertical," and the like do not denote a requirement that the component be absolutely horizontal or overhang, but rather may be slightly inclined. As "horizontal" merely means that its direction is more horizontal than "vertical", and does not mean that the structure must be perfectly horizontal, but may be slightly inclined.

In the description of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless explicitly specified and limited otherwise, the terms "disposed," "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected; can be mechanically or electrically connected; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be connected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention will be understood in specific cases by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring to fig. 1 and fig. 2 in combination, the embodiment of the present application provides a head-up display device, which includes an image generating unit 10, a mirror assembly, and a real virtual image switching unit 20, wherein the real virtual image switching unit 20 is configured to control a reflection direction of an image light beam emitted by the mirror assembly to the image generating unit 10, so that the image light beam is reflected to a first target imaging area or a second target imaging area by the mirror assembly. The head-up display device can solve the problem that potential safety hazards exist when the head-up display device in the prior art runs along with a car in a short distance.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the head-up display device includes an image generating unit 10 and a mirror assembly, where the image generating unit 10 and the mirror assembly are sequentially disposed along an optical path, so that an image light emitted by the image generating unit 10 can exit onto the mirror assembly and then be reflected onto a front windshield 50 of an automobile by the mirror assembly. The head-up display device further includes a real-virtual image switching unit 20, where the real-virtual image switching unit 20 is configured to control a reflecting direction of the image light emitted by the image generating unit 10 by the mirror assembly, so that the image light is reflected to a first target imaging area (when the head-up display device is in a virtual image mode) or a second target imaging area (when the head-up display device is in a real image mode) of the front windshield 50 by the mirror assembly.

In actual use, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the solid line represents the actual light path of the head-up display device in the virtual image mode, and when the head-up display device is driven by a long distance, the image generating unit 10 can control the image light to reflect to the first target imaging area of the front windshield 50 through the mirror assembly, the image light continues to be reflected by the front windshield 50, the reflected divergent light is collected by the human eye located at the eye box 80, and the reverse extension line thereof forms a virtual image at the virtual image plane 70. Because the virtual image is formed in front of the windshield of the automobile, the driver can acquire driving information without looking at the instrument panel, and driving safety is improved.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the dashed line represents the actual light path when the head-up display device is in the real image mode, and when the image generating unit 10 can control the image light to reflect to the second target imaging area of the front windshield 50 through the mirror assembly during the short-distance following driving, the image light continues to be reflected by the front windshield 50, and the reflected converging light is focused at the real image surface 60 to form an enlarged real image. Because the real image is formed in the air in the automobile, a driver can acquire driving information, so that the problem that potential safety hazards exist when the head-up display in the prior art runs with the automobile at a short distance is solved, the man-machine interaction can be increased, the auxiliary driving function is enhanced, and the driving experience of the driver is further improved.

It should be noted that, the image generating unit 10 (Picture Generation Unit, abbreviated as PUG) is configured to generate a specific image containing driving information, and an image light emitted by the specific image is a non-polarized light. Regarding the specific structure of the image generating unit 10, those skilled in the art should be able to make reasonable selections and designs according to the actual situation, and no specific limitation is made here. For example, a specific image may be generated for imaging using a TFT-LCD display technology, a DLP display technology, a MEMS laser projection display technology, or the like in the related art.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, the real virtual image switching unit 20 is disposed between the image generating unit 10 and the mirror assembly, the real virtual image switching unit 20 includes a polarization switchable device 21 and a polarizer 22 sequentially disposed along the optical path, the image light passes through the polarization switchable device 21 and emits first polarized light or second polarized light, the polarization directions of the first polarized light and the second polarized light are perpendicular to each other, and the transmission axis of the polarizer 22 and the polarization direction of the first polarized light are perpendicular to each other.

It should be noted that, the real virtual image switching unit 20 includes the polarization switchable device 21 and the polarizer 22, and since the image light emitted by the image generating unit 10 is unpolarized, the polarization state of the image light emitted by the image generating unit may be changed by the polarization switchable device 21 to adjust the unpolarized image light into light having a certain polarization state (i.e. the first polarized light or the second polarized light), and then the polarized light is further filtered by the polarizer 22, so that a part of the light is reflected and another part of the light is transmitted.

Further, the polarization directions of the first polarized light and the second polarized light are perpendicular to each other, the transmission axis of the polarizer 22 and the polarization direction of the first polarized light are perpendicular to each other, and the transmission axis of the polarizer 22 and the polarization direction of the second polarized light are parallel to each other. In this way, when the image light passes through the polarization switchable device 21 and then emits the first polarized light, the first polarized light is reflected by the polarizer 22 onto the mirror assembly because the transmission axis of the polarizer 22 and the polarization direction of the first polarized light are perpendicular to each other; when the image light passes through the polarization switchable device 21 and emits the second polarized light, the second polarized light is emitted to the mirror assembly through the polarizer 22 because the transmission axis of the polarizer 22 and the polarization direction of the second polarized light are parallel to each other.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the mirror assembly includes a first mirror 30 and a second mirror 40; the first polarized light transmitted by the polarized light switchable device 21 is reflected to the second reflecting mirror 40 by the polarizer 22, and then reflected to the first target imaging area by the second reflecting mirror 40; the second polarized light transmitted by the polarization switchable device 21 is transmitted through the polarizer 22 and then emitted to the first reflector 30, then reflected by the first reflector 30 and emitted to the second reflector 40 after transmitted through the polarizer 22, and then reflected by the second reflector 40 to the second target imaging area.

In the actual use process, as shown in the actual light path of the head-up display device represented by the solid line in fig. 1 when in the virtual image mode, when the vehicle is driven at a long distance, the image light without polarization state can be adjusted to the first polarized light by the polarization switchable device 21, in other words, the image light exits the first polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device 21, the first polarized light transmitted by the polarization switchable device 21 is reflected to the second reflecting mirror 40 by the polarizer 22, and then reflected to the first target imaging area of the front windshield 50 by the second reflecting mirror 40, and then reflected by the front windshield 50, the reflected divergent light is collected by the human eye at the eye box 80, and the reverse extension line thereof forms the virtual image at the virtual image plane 70.

As shown in the actual light path of the head-up display device represented by the dashed line in fig. 1 when in the real image mode, when the vehicle is traveling in a short distance, the image light without polarization state can be adjusted to the second polarized light by the polarization switchable device 21, in other words, the image light exits the second polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device 21, the second polarized light transmitted by the polarization switchable device 21 exits to the first mirror 30 after passing through the polarizer 22, then reflects by the first mirror 30 and exits to the second mirror 40 after passing through the polarizer 22, and then reflects by the second mirror 40 to the second target imaging area of the front windshield 50, and then continues to reflect by the front windshield 50, and the reflected converging light is focused at the real image plane 60 to form a real image.

Optionally, the polarization switchable device 21 includes a substrate and a voltage control member, where the voltage control member is configured to apply a bias voltage to the substrate according to the voltage signal, so that the image light beam emits the second polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device 21. This also means that when the voltage control member does not apply a bias voltage to the substrate, the image light exits the first polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device 21.

The polarization switchable device 21 is a liquid crystal panel, for example. The liquid crystal screen (Liquid Crystal Display, abbreviated as LCD) uses liquid crystal material as basic component, and fills the liquid crystal material between two parallel plates, and by applying bias voltage, the arrangement condition of molecules in the liquid crystal material can be changed, so as to achieve the purposes of shading and transmitting light.

Since the reflectivity of the front windshield 50 is relatively low, and the incident angle of the image light beam entering the front windshield 50 through the mirror assembly is generally 55 ° to 65 °, when the incident angle of the image light beam entering the front windshield 50 through the mirror assembly is 60 °, the reflectivity of the s-polarized light beam is much greater than the reflectivity of the p-polarized light beam, so that the first polarized light beam is preferably s-polarized light beam, and the second polarized light beam is preferably p-polarized light beam, so as to ensure that the virtual image formed by the first polarized light beam is brighter, and the imaging effect is better.

In another embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the mirror assembly includes a first mirror 30 and a second mirror 40, and the real virtual image switching unit 20 is in driving connection with the first mirror 30, and the real virtual image switching unit 20 is used for controlling the first mirror 30 to rotate to form a first included angle or a second included angle with the second mirror 40.

It should be noted that, regarding the specific structure of the real virtual image switching unit 20, those skilled in the art should be able to reasonably select and design according to practical situations, and only the real virtual image switching unit 20 needs to drive the first reflecting mirror 30 to rotate to form the first included angle or the second included angle with the second reflecting mirror 40, which is not limited herein. The real-virtual image switching unit 20 includes a support and a driving member, the first reflecting mirror 30 is rotatably connected to the support, and the driving member is in transmission connection with the first reflecting mirror 30, so that the driving member can drive the first reflecting mirror 30 to rotate relative to the support to form a first included angle or a second included angle with the second reflecting mirror 40.

With continued reference to fig. 2, the image generation unit 10 includes a first image generation unit 11 and a second image generation unit 12; when the first reflecting mirror 30 rotates to form a first included angle with the second reflecting mirror 40, the image light emitted by the second image generating unit 12 is reflected to the first target imaging area by the second reflecting mirror 40; when the first mirror 30 rotates to form a second angle with the second mirror 40, the image light emitted by the first image generating unit 11 is reflected by the first mirror 30 to the second mirror 40, and then reflected by the second mirror 40 to the second target imaging area.

It should be noted that, when the first mirror 30 rotates to form a first angle with the second mirror 40 (i.e., the first mirror 30 is at the first position a), the second image generating unit 12 is disposed corresponding to the second mirror 40, and there is no shielding between the second image generating unit 12 and the second mirror 40, so that the image light emitted by the second image generating unit 12 is emitted to the second mirror 40; when the first mirror 30 rotates to form a second angle with the second mirror 40 (i.e. the first mirror 30 is at the second position B), the first image generating unit 11 is disposed corresponding to the first mirror 30, and no shielding exists between the first image generating unit 11 and the first mirror 30, so that the image light emitted by the first image generating unit 11 is emitted onto the first mirror 30.

In actual use, as shown in the actual light path of the head-up display device represented by the solid line in fig. 2 when in the virtual image mode, when the vehicle is driven for a long distance, the real virtual image switching unit 20 can control the first reflecting mirror 30 to rotate to form a first included angle with the second reflecting mirror 40, at this time, the second image generating unit 12 is turned on, the image light emitted by the second image generating unit 12 is reflected to the first target imaging area of the front windshield 50 through the second reflecting mirror 40, and then is continuously reflected by the front windshield 50, the reflected divergent light is collected by the human eye located at the eye box 80, and the reverse extension line thereof forms a virtual image at the virtual image plane 70.

As shown in the actual light path of the head-up display device represented by the dashed line in fig. 2, when the vehicle is traveling in a short distance, the real virtual image switching unit 20 may control the first mirror 30 to rotate to form a second angle with the second mirror 40, and at this time, the first image generating unit 11 is turned on, the image light emitted by the first image generating unit 11 is reflected by the first mirror 30 to the second mirror 40, reflected by the second mirror 40 to the second target imaging area of the front windshield 50, and then reflected by the front windshield 50, and the reflected converging light is focused on the real image surface 60 to form a real image.

It should be noted that, when the vehicle is driven at a long distance, if the first mirror 30 is detected to be at the first position a, the first mirror 30 should be controlled to be at the first position a and remain stationary, and if the first mirror 30 is detected to be at the second position B, the first mirror 30 should be controlled to rotate from the second position B to the first position a; similarly, when the first mirror 30 is detected to be at the second position B during the short-distance following, the first mirror 30 is controlled to be at the second position B and kept stationary, and when the first mirror 30 is detected to be at the first position a, the first mirror 30 is controlled to be rotated from the first position a to the second position B.

Further, regarding the position detection of the first mirror 30, those skilled in the art should be able to make reasonable selections and designs according to the actual situation, and there is no particular limitation. For example, a person skilled in the art may set position sensors at the first position a and the second position B, respectively.

Optionally, both the first mirror 30 and the second mirror 40 are free-form surfaces to mitigate image distortion that occurs when image light is imaged on the front windshield 50.

The embodiment of the application also provides an automobile comprising the head-up display device. Since the structure and the beneficial effects of the head-up display device have been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments, they will not be described in detail herein.

The above description is only of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention, but various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

In addition, the specific features described in the above embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner, and in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, various possible combinations are not described further.

Claims (10)

1. The head-up display device is characterized by comprising an image generation unit, a reflecting mirror assembly and a real virtual image switching unit, wherein the real virtual image switching unit is used for controlling the reflecting direction of the reflecting mirror assembly to image light rays emitted by the image generation unit so that the image light rays are reflected to a first target imaging area or a second target imaging area through the reflecting mirror assembly.

2. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the real virtual image switching unit is disposed between the image generating unit and the mirror assembly, the real virtual image switching unit includes a polarization switchable device and a polarizer sequentially disposed along an optical path, the image light emits first polarized light or second polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device, a polarization direction of the first polarized light and a polarization direction of the second polarized light are perpendicular to each other, and a transmission axis of the polarizer and a polarization direction of the first polarized light are perpendicular to each other.

3. The heads-up display device of claim 2 wherein the mirror assembly comprises a first mirror and a second mirror;

the first polarized light transmitted by the polarized light switchable device is reflected to the second reflecting mirror through the polarizer and then reflected to the first target imaging area through the second reflecting mirror;

the second polarized light transmitted by the polarized light switchable device is transmitted through the polarizer and then emitted to the first reflecting mirror, reflected by the first reflecting mirror, transmitted through the polarizer and then emitted to the second reflecting mirror, and reflected by the second reflecting mirror and then emitted to the second target imaging area.

4. The heads-up display device of claim 3 wherein the polarization switchable device includes a base and a voltage control for applying a bias voltage to the base in response to a voltage signal to cause the image light to exit the second polarized light after passing through the polarization switchable device.

5. The head-up display device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first polarized light is s-polarized light and the second polarized light is p-polarized light.

6. The head-up display device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the polarization switchable device is a liquid crystal screen.

7. The head-up display device of claim 1, wherein the mirror assembly comprises a first mirror and a second mirror, the real virtual image switching unit is in driving connection with the first mirror, and the real virtual image switching unit is configured to control the first mirror to rotate to form a first included angle or a second included angle with the second mirror.

8. The head-up display device according to claim 7, wherein the image generation unit includes a first image generation unit and a second image generation unit;

when the first reflecting mirror rotates to form the first included angle with the second reflecting mirror, the image light rays emitted by the second image generating unit are reflected to the first target imaging area through the second reflecting mirror;

when the first reflecting mirror rotates to form the second included angle with the second reflecting mirror, the image light rays emitted by the first image generating unit are reflected to the second reflecting mirror through the first reflecting mirror and then reflected to the second target imaging area through the second reflecting mirror.

9. The heads-up display device of claim 3 or 7, wherein the first mirror and the second mirror are free-form surface mirrors.

10. An automobile comprising the head-up display device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.