JP2010032906A - Video display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a more preferable video display device that effectively utilizes rays reflected by a mirror at a second swing angle. <P>SOLUTION: The video display device displays two videos with reversed lighting and includes a light source, a reflection direction switching device, a first imaging optical system, a second imaging optical system, and a control device. The reflection direction switching device includes: (1) a plurality of regularly arranged mirrors and actuators each provided to the corresponding mirror; (2) each mirror can swing between a first swing angle where a beam incident from the light source is reflected to the first imaging optical system and a second swing angle where a beam incident from the light source is reflected to the second imaging optical system; (3) each actuator is mechanically linked to one mirror corresponding to the actuator; and (4) each actuator switches the swing angle of the corresponding mirror between the first swing angle and the second swing angle without being restricted by other actuators. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a video display device that includes a plurality of mirrors whose reflection directions can be individually controlled, and that displays an image by forming an image of light reflected by the mirror group.

Patent Document 1 discloses a video display device. The video display device includes a light source, a reflection direction switching device, an imaging optical system, and a control device. The light source generates light that irradiates the reflection direction switching device. The reflection direction switching device includes a plurality of mirrors and an actuator provided for each mirror. Each mirror has a first swing angle that reflects light incident from the light source toward the imaging optical system, and a second swing angle that reflects light incident from the light source in a direction not incident on the imaging optical system. It can swing between. Each actuator switches the swing angle of the corresponding mirror between the first swing angle and the second swing angle. The control device controls the swing angle of each mirror by controlling each actuator.
When the mirror is at the first swing angle, the mirror reflects the light beam toward the imaging optical system. Therefore, on the imaging plane of the imaging optical system, the position corresponding to the mirror at the first swing angle is the bright portion. When the mirror is at the second swing angle, the reflected light from the mirror does not enter the imaging optical system. Therefore, on the imaging plane of the imaging optical system, the position corresponding to the mirror at the second swing angle is the dark portion. The control device controls the swing angle of each mirror to form an image composed of a bright part and a dark part.

JP 2004-210130 A

  In the video display device described above, the light beam reflected by the mirror at the second swing angle is irradiated to the absorber and absorbed. Therefore, it cannot be said that the light beam reflected by the mirror at the second swing angle is effectively utilized. An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device that effectively utilizes light rays reflected by a mirror at a second swing angle.

The present invention provides an image display device that displays two images with light and darkness reversed. The video display device includes a light source, a reflection direction switching device, a first imaging optical system, a second imaging optical system, and a control device. The light source generates light that irradiates the reflection direction switching device. The reflection direction switching device is configured as follows.
(1) It has a plurality of regularly arranged mirrors and an actuator provided for each mirror.
(2) Each mirror reflects a first swing angle that reflects the light beam incident from the light source toward the first imaging optical system, and a first mirror that reflects the light beam incident from the light source toward the second imaging optical system. It can swing between two swing angles.
(3) Each actuator is mechanically linked to one mirror corresponding to each actuator.
(4) Each actuator switches the swing angle of the corresponding mirror between the first swing angle and the second swing angle without being restricted by other actuators.
The control device is configured as follows.
(1) The actuator corresponding to the mirror that forms an image at a bright position in the image obtained by the first imaging optical system is controlled to switch the swing angle of the corresponding mirror to the first swing angle.
(2) The actuator corresponding to the mirror that forms an image in a dark position in the image obtained by the first imaging optical system is controlled to switch the swing angle of the corresponding mirror to the second swing angle.

In this video display device, the light beam reflected by the mirror at the first swing angle is imaged by the first imaging optical system. The light beam reflected by the mirror at the second swing angle is imaged by the second imaging optical system. Therefore, the first imaging optical system forms an image in which the position corresponding to the mirror at the first swing angle is a bright portion and the position corresponding to the mirror at the second swing angle is a dark portion. On the other hand, the second imaging optical system forms an image in which the position corresponding to the mirror at the first swing angle is a dark portion and the position corresponding to the mirror at the second swing angle is a bright portion. That is, the second imaging optical system forms an image in which the bright part and the dark part are reversed from the image formed by the first imaging optical system. This video display device can simultaneously display two videos in which the bright part and the dark part are inverted.
As described above, this image display device forms an image of the reflected light beam from the mirror at the first swing angle and the reflected light beam from the mirror at the second swing angle by different imaging optical systems. Two images are displayed simultaneously.

The above-described video display device can be used as a vehicle-mounted video display device mounted on a vehicle. In this case, it is preferable that the first imaging optical system forms an image in front of the vehicle and the second imaging optical system forms an image in the vehicle interior.
According to such a configuration, the driver and the pedestrian can be alerted by the image formed in front of the vehicle (for example, the road surface, etc.), and the driver is alerted by the image formed in the passenger compartment. The arousal effect can be further improved.

In the vehicle-mounted image display device described above, the second imaging optical system includes the optical fiber array and the terminal imaging device, and the reflected light of the mirror adjusted to the second swing angle is incident on the incident surface of the optical fiber array. It is preferable to be arranged in a positional relationship where it enters and the terminal imaging device is positioned ahead of the exit surface of the optical fiber array.
According to such a configuration, an image can be easily displayed at an arbitrary position in the vehicle interior.

In the vehicle-mounted video display device described above, the terminal imaging device preferably includes a combiner that superimposes the imaging image on the scenery in front of the vehicle.
According to such a configuration, an image can be displayed in a manner that is easily recognized by the driver.

  According to the image display device of the present invention, two images can be displayed by using the reflected light rays of both the mirror at the first swing angle and the mirror at the second swing angle. Reflected light from both the mirror at the first swing angle and the mirror at the second swing angle is not wasted, and two images can be displayed with high efficiency.

The features of the embodiments described below are listed.
(Feature 1) The reflection direction switching device includes a plurality of regularly arranged mirrors and an actuator provided for each mirror. In addition, various arrangement | positioning can be employ | adopted for arrangement | positioning of a some mirror, such as arranging vertically and horizontally.
(Characteristic 2) Each mirror reflects a light beam incident from the light source toward the first imaging optical system and a light beam incident from the light source toward the second imaging optical system. It can swing between the second swing angles. Note that swinging between the first swing angle and the second swing angle means swinging at least between the first swing angle and the second swing angle, and swinging within a range beyond that. It may be movable.

(First embodiment)
An in-vehicle video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the first embodiment, a configuration in which an in-vehicle video display device is incorporated in a notification system that notifies the driver of the presence of a pedestrian or the like will be described. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a notification system 90 mounted on the host vehicle 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the notification system 90 includes an in-vehicle video display device 10, a camera 12, a car navigation system 13 (hereinafter referred to as a car navigation system 13), a distance measurement device 14, a speed sensor 16, and a steering angle. The sensor 18, the storage device 22, and the arithmetic device 24 are provided.

(Configuration of in-vehicle video display device 10)
First, the configuration of the in-vehicle video display device 10 will be described.
The vehicle-mounted video display device 10 is connected to the arithmetic device 24. The vehicle-mounted image display device 10 displays images on the road surface in front of the host vehicle 100 and in the passenger compartment of the host vehicle 100 in response to a command from the arithmetic device 24.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of the in-vehicle video display device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle-mounted image display device 10 includes a light source 30, a reflector 32, a reflection direction switching device 34, a first imaging optical system 40, and a second imaging optical system 42. .

  The light source 30 is a high pressure mercury lamp. In addition to the high pressure mercury lamp, various light emitting elements such as a halogen lamp and an LED can be used for the light source 30.

  The reflector 32 reflects a part of the light beam emitted from the light source 30 toward the reflection direction switching device 34. Therefore, the reflection direction switching device 34 is irradiated with the direct light from the light source 30 and the reflected light from the reflector 32.

  The reflection direction switching device 34 reflects the light emitted from the light source 30 and the reflector 32 toward the first imaging optical system 40 and the second imaging optical system 42. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the reflection direction switching device 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the reflection direction switching device 34 includes a semiconductor substrate 35 and a plurality of micromechanical structures 36 formed on the semiconductor substrate 35. The micromechanical structures 36 are arranged in a matrix on the semiconductor substrate 35 in the vertical and horizontal directions. A drive circuit 35 d is formed near the edge of the semiconductor substrate 35. Note that FIG. 3 is simplified for the sake of explanation, and in actuality, a larger number of micromechanical structures 36 are formed on the semiconductor substrate 35.

  FIG. 4 shows a plan view in which one micromechanical structure 36 is enlarged. 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the micromechanical structure 36 includes a fixed portion 36a, a torsion beam 36b, and a mirror portion 36c.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an insulating film 35 a is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 35.
The fixing part 36a is erected on the semiconductor substrate 35 (on the insulating film 35a). As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing portion 36 a extends along the square side on the surface of the semiconductor substrate 35.
As shown in FIG. 4, the mirror part 36 c is arranged inside the fixed part 36 a extending along the square side (inside the square). The mirror part 36c is connected to the fixed part 36a by a pair of torsion beams 36b. As shown in FIG. 5, the mirror part 36 c and the torsion beam 36 b are arranged at a position spaced from the semiconductor substrate 35. In other words, the mirror part 36 c and the torsion beam 36 b are supported by the fixed part 36 a and are in a state of floating from the semiconductor substrate 35. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of torsion beams 36b are formed so that the extension lines of both coincide with each other. Further, since the torsion beam 36b has a narrow width, it can be flexibly twisted. Therefore, as shown by the arrow 101 in FIG. 6, the mirror part 36c can swing around the axis connecting the two torsion beams 36b. The upper surface of the mirror part 36c is a mirror surface and reflects light. When the mirror portion 36c swings, the light reflection direction of the mirror portion 36c changes.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mirror portion 36c and the torsion beam 36b have a laminated structure, and one of the layers 36e is formed of a semiconductor containing a large amount of impurities. Therefore, the layer 36e (hereinafter referred to as an electrode layer) has a low electrical resistance. The electrode layer 36e is formed over the entire area of the mirror portion 36c and the torsion beam 36b.
The fixed part 36a is formed of a semiconductor containing a large amount of impurities, and its electric resistance is low. The fixing portion 36a is electrically connected to the electrode layer 36e through a through hole 36f.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a low resistance region 35b formed by impurity implantation is formed in the semiconductor substrate 35 below the fixed portion 36a. The low resistance region 35b is electrically connected to the fixed portion 36a through a through hole 35c formed in the insulating film 35a. The low resistance region 35b extends to a position (not shown) and is electrically connected to the drive circuit 35d there. Therefore, the potential of the electrode layer 36e can be controlled by the drive circuit 35d.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, low resistance regions 35g and 35h (hereinafter referred to as electrodes 35g and 35h) formed by impurity implantation are formed in the semiconductor substrate 35 below the mirror portion 36c. The electrode 35g is disposed at a lower position in FIG. 4 than a line segment connecting the pair of torsion beams 36b. The electrode 35h is arranged at a position above the line segment connecting the pair of torsion beams 36b in FIG. The electrode 35g and the electrode 35h are each extended to a position not shown, and are electrically connected therewith to the drive circuit 35d. Therefore, each potential of the electrode 35g and the electrode 35h can be controlled by the drive circuit 35d.

The mirror part 36c is opposed to each of the electrodes 35g and 35h. When a voltage is applied between the electrode layer 36e and the electrode 35g, an attractive force is generated between them, and the mirror portion 36c swings counterclockwise from the posture of FIG. Further, when a voltage is applied between the electrode layer 36e and the electrode 35h, an attractive force is generated between them, and the mirror portion 36c swings clockwise from the posture of FIG. Therefore, the swing angle of the mirror portion 36c can be controlled by controlling these voltages. That is, the electrode layer 36e and the electrodes 35g and 35h function as an actuator that controls the swing angle of the mirror portion 36c.
The drive circuit 35d controls the attitude of the mirror unit 36c by controlling these voltages. The drive circuit 35d determines that the posture of the mirror unit 36c is swung from the posture of FIG. 6 counterclockwise by a predetermined angle (hereinafter, the swing angle at this time is referred to as a first swing angle) and the posture of FIG. The posture is switched to one of the postures that swing clockwise by a predetermined angle (hereinafter, the swing angle at this time is referred to as a second swing angle).
Each micro mechanical structure 36 shown in FIG. 3 is connected to the drive circuit 35d. The drive circuit 35d can independently control the swing angle of each mirror portion 36c.

  As described above, the reflection direction switching device 34 has a plurality of mirror portions 36c, and the swing angle of each mirror portion 36c is either the first swing angle or the second swing angle. Be controlled. Light rays irradiated from the light source 30 and the reflector 32 to the reflection direction switching device 34 are reflected by the mirror portions 36c. The light beam reflected by the mirror portion 36 c at the first swing angle enters the first imaging optical system 40. The light beam reflected by the mirror portion 36c at the second swing angle enters the second imaging optical system 42.

  The first imaging optical system 40 forms an image of the light beam incident from the reflection direction switching device 34 on the road surface in front of the host vehicle 100. As described above, the light beam reflected by the mirror portion 36c at the first swing angle is incident on the first imaging optical system 40. Accordingly, an image is formed on the road surface in which the position corresponding to the mirror portion 36c at the first swing angle is a bright portion and the position corresponding to the mirror portion 36c at the second swing angle is a dark portion. .

The second imaging optical system 42 includes a start-side imaging lens 42a, an optical fiber array 42b, a termination-side imaging lens 42c, and a combiner 42d.
The start-side imaging lens 42a forms an image of the light ray incident from the reflection direction switching device 34.
The optical fiber array 42b is a bundle of many optical fibers. The incident surface (one end portion) of the optical fiber array 42b is disposed at the imaging position of the start-side imaging lens 42a. The exit surface (the other end) of the optical fiber array 42b is drawn into the passenger compartment of the host vehicle 100. The light beam incident on the incident surface of the optical fiber array 42b is emitted from the emission surface.
The terminal-side imaging lens 42c is disposed at a position facing the exit surface of the optical fiber array 42b. The terminal-side imaging lens 42c forms an image of the light beam emitted from the exit surface of the optical fiber array 42b.
As shown in FIG. 2, the combiner 42 d is installed on the inner surface of the windshield 44 of the host vehicle 100. The combiner 42d is configured by a half mirror (however, it may be configured by a hologram). Therefore, the driver can visually recognize the scenery in front of the host vehicle 100 through the combiner 42d. The combiner 42d is irradiated with light from the terminal-side imaging lens 42c. The combiner 42d reflects the light beam from the terminal-side imaging lens 42c toward the driver. Therefore, the driver can visually recognize the image formed by the terminal-side imaging lens 42 c as a virtual image displayed on the front side of the host vehicle 100 from the windshield 44. As described above, the combiner 42d displays the superimposed image on the scenery in front of the host vehicle 100. That is, the second imaging optical system 42 is a so-called head-up display.
As described above, the light beam reflected by the mirror portion 36c at the second swing angle is incident on the second imaging optical system 42. Therefore, the second imaging optical system 42 can display an image in which the position corresponding to the mirror portion 36c at the second swing angle is a bright portion and the position corresponding to the mirror portion 36c at the first swing angle is a dark portion. Is displayed. That is, the second imaging optical system 42 displays an image in which the bright part and the dark part are reversed from the image displayed on the road surface by the first imaging optical system 40.

As described above, the vehicle-mounted image display device 10 displays an image on the road surface by the reflected light from the mirror unit 36c at the first swing angle, and the reflected light from the mirror unit 36c at the second swing angle. To display the video in the passenger compartment. That is, two images can be displayed by effectively utilizing the reflected light beam from the mirror portion 36c at the first swing angle and the reflected light beam from the mirror portion 36c at the second swing angle. Since the reflected light is not wasted, two images can be displayed with high efficiency. In addition, these images are images in which the bright part and the dark part are inverted, but substantially the same information can be transmitted.
Further, in a method in which one reflected light beam is absorbed by an absorber or the like as in the prior art, heat is generated in the vehicle-mounted image display device 10. According to the vehicle-mounted image display apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, since light is not absorbed in the vehicle-mounted image display apparatus 10, heat generation can be suppressed. Thereby, the reliability and lifetime improvement of the vehicle-mounted image display device 10 are realized.

(Configuration of notification system 90)
Next, parts other than the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 of the notification system 90 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  The camera 12 is installed at a position where the front of the host vehicle 100 can be photographed. The camera 12 captures an image in front of the host vehicle 100 in real time. The camera 12 is connected to the arithmetic device 24. Image data captured by the camera 12 is input to the arithmetic device 24.

  The car navigation system 13 specifies and displays the positional relationship between the host vehicle 100 and surrounding map data using GPS.

  The distance measuring device 14 measures the distance and direction to an object in front of the vehicle. Thereby, the position of the object ahead of the vehicle is specified. In this embodiment, a millimeter wave radar is used for the distance measuring device 14. However, a laser radar or the like can be used for the distance measuring device 14. Also, a system (so-called stereo camera system) that captures images ahead of the vehicle with a plurality of cameras and identifies the position of the object from these images can be used. The distance measuring device 14 is connected to the arithmetic device 24. Data measured by the distance measuring device 14 is input to the arithmetic device 24.

  The speed sensor 16 detects the traveling speed of the host vehicle 100. The speed sensor 16 is connected to the arithmetic device 24. The traveling speed data detected by the speed sensor 16 is input to the arithmetic device 24.

  The steering angle sensor 18 detects the steering angle of the steering wheel of the host vehicle 100. The steering angle sensor 18 is connected to the calculation device 24. The steering angle data detected by the steering angle sensor 18 is input to the arithmetic unit 24.

  The storage device 22 is configured by a memory device such as a ROM or a RAM. The storage device 22 stores various data such as image data to be displayed on the vehicle-mounted video display device 10. Each data stored in the storage device 22 is read by the arithmetic device 24 as necessary.

  The arithmetic device 24 is a microcomputer provided with a CPU and the like. The computing device 24 identifies the situation ahead of the host vehicle 100 based on the data input from the camera 12, the car navigation system 13, the distance measuring device 14, the speed sensor 16, and the steering angle sensor 18. And according to the situation ahead of the specified own vehicle 100, a video is displayed on the vehicle-mounted video display device 10.

(Operation of Notification System 90)
Next, the operation of the notification system 90 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation executed by the arithmetic device 24.

In step S <b> 2, the arithmetic device 24 specifies an attention object existing in front of the host vehicle 100. Note that the attention object is an object that requires the driver's attention during driving. Specifically, caution objects include pedestrians, other vehicles, obstacles, intersections, and the like.
In the process of step S <b> 2, the arithmetic device 24 identifies pedestrians, other vehicles, obstacles on the road surface, and the like from the image data acquired by the camera 12 by shape recognition. These positions are measured by the distance measuring device 14. For pedestrians and other vehicles, the moving speed is calculated based on the past measurement results by the distance measuring device 14. Then, from the calculated moving speed, the traveling speed of the own vehicle 100 detected by the speed sensor 16, and the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor 18, each pedestrian and each other vehicle are near the course of the own vehicle 100. It is determined whether or not there is a possibility of entering. Pedestrians that may enter, other vehicles that may enter, and obstacles on the road surface are identified as objects of caution. In addition, when several pedestrians approach and exist, it is also determined whether those pedestrians are accompanying bodies by whether the moving speed of those pedestrians is equal. A plurality of pedestrians who are accompanying persons are specified as one attention object.
In addition, the arithmetic device 24 specifies an intersection existing on the course of the host vehicle 100 from the map data of the car navigation 13. An intersection is also identified as a target of attention.

In step S4, the arithmetic unit 24 determines whether or not the host vehicle 100 can safely pass each cautionary object.
That is, the arithmetic unit 24 first determines whether or not the number of attention objects specified in step S2 is a predetermined number or more. When the number of attention objects is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the time interval when passing through each attention object is calculated based on the traveling speed of the host vehicle 100 and the position and movement speed of each attention object. When any of the calculated time intervals is shorter than the predetermined interval, the arithmetic unit 24 determines NO in step S4. On the other hand, when all the time intervals are longer than the predetermined time and when the number of attention objects is small, YES is determined in step S4.

  In step S6, the arithmetic unit 24 calculates an appropriate traveling speed of the host vehicle 100 such that the time interval is equal to or greater than a predetermined interval.

In step S8, the arithmetic unit 24 sends a command to the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 so as to display the traveling speed calculated in step S6. Then, the light source 30 is turned on according to the command, and the drive circuit 35d of the reflection direction switching device 34 controls the swing angle of each mirror portion 36c according to the commanded image (the light source 30 has already fallen down). In this case, only the swing angle of each mirror portion 36c is controlled). As a result, the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 displays an appropriate traveling speed on the road surface ahead of the host vehicle 100 and in the passenger compartment.
For example, an image showing an appropriate traveling speed is displayed on the road surface ahead of the host vehicle 100 as shown in FIG. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, an image showing an appropriate traveling speed is displayed in the passenger compartment so as to be superimposed on the scenery in front of the host vehicle 100. The video shown in FIG. 8 and the video shown in FIG. 9 are videos in which the bright part and the dark part are reversed.
Thus, by displaying information on the road surface, the driver can read the information without moving the viewpoint much. In addition, when it is raining or when the road surface is uneven, an image may not be displayed properly on the road surface. In this case, the driver can read information from the video displayed by the combiner 42d. In particular, according to the combiner 42d, a virtual image is displayed in front of the windshield 44, so that the driver can check the image without moving the focus of the eyes too much.

When it determines with YES by step S4, the arithmetic unit 24 judges the presence or absence of navigation information (information which the car navigation system 13 guides a driver) at step S10.
If there is navigation information provided from the car navigation system 13 (YES in step S10), the computing device 24 sends a command to the in-vehicle video display device 10 to display the navigation information (step S12). In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, information such as “20 m ahead left turn” is displayed on the road surface. In addition, a similar image (image in which the bright part and the dark part are reversed) is also displayed in the passenger compartment.
If there is no navigation information provided from the car navigation system 13 (NO in step S10), the arithmetic unit 24 sends a command to the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 to turn off the display (step S14). Thereby, the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 turns off the display (if it is already off, the off state is maintained).

  The arithmetic unit 24 repeatedly executes the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, when attention is required and navigation information is provided, the video is appropriately displayed.

(Second embodiment)
Next, the vehicle-mounted image display device 10 according to the second embodiment will be described. The first imaging optical system 40 of the vehicle-mounted image display device 10 of the second embodiment is used as a headlight of an automobile at night or the like. Therefore, the vehicle-mounted image display apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment is configured such that the first imaging optical system 40 irradiates light over a wide range in front of the host vehicle 100. The vehicle-mounted video display device 10 of the second embodiment is incorporated in a notification system 90 that is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.

  The flowchart of FIG. 11 shows processing executed by the arithmetic device 24 in the notification system 90 of the second embodiment.

  In step S <b> 22, the arithmetic device 24 identifies a person (pedestrian, driver of another vehicle, etc.) existing in front of the host vehicle 100. This specification is performed based on the image data acquired by the camera 12 as in step S2 of FIG. Further, a certain range including the eyes of the specified person is defined on the image data.

In step S24, the arithmetic unit 24 sends a command to the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 to display the video. At this time, the arithmetic unit 24 uses the first imaging optical system 40 to display an image in which the region corresponding to the range (the range including the eye) defined on the image data in step S22 is a dark portion and the other region is a bright portion. Send a command to display.
Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 irradiates light in front of the host vehicle 100. However, no light is irradiated to a range including the human eye (reference number 80 in FIG. 12 indicates a dark part). Therefore, the driver can easily recognize the person by the irradiation of the light beam, and the person can visually recognize the own vehicle 100 without feeling that the light from the own vehicle 100 is dazzling. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a high beam and a low beam separately as in a conventional headlight, and light irradiation over a wide range is possible. This improves safety during night driving.

  The arithmetic device 24 repeatedly executes the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the position of the dark part (the dark part in the first imaging optical system 40) is changed according to the change in the relative position between the host vehicle 100 and the person, and light is appropriately irradiated.

  As described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the vehicle-mounted image display device 10 of the present invention displays the first image by the reflected light from the mirror portion 36c at the first swing angle, The first image, the second image in which the bright portion and the dark portion are inverted are displayed by the light beam reflected by the mirror portion 36c at the second swing angle. One video display device can display two videos. By displaying these two images on the road surface and in the passenger compartment, the safety of the vehicle 100 when traveling can be improved.

  In the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 described above, the electrode 35g and the electrode 35h are formed on the reflection direction switching device 34. The swing angle of the mirror portion 36c is controlled by the applied voltage between the electrode layer 36e and the electrode 35g and the applied voltage between the electrode layer 36e and the electrode 35h. However, only the electrode 35g can be formed, and the swing angle of the mirror portion 36c can be controlled only by the applied voltage between the electrode layer 36e and the electrode 35g. That is, when a voltage is applied between the electrode layer 36e and the electrode 35g, the mirror portion 36c swings. When the voltage is turned off, the mirror portion 36c returns to the original angle (an angle parallel to the semiconductor substrate 35) by the restoring force of the torsion beam 36b. Therefore, the swing angle of the mirror portion 36c can be controlled by the applied voltage between the electrode layer 36e and the electrode 35g. In this case, two images can be displayed by causing the reflected light beam of the oscillating mirror part 36c and the reflected light beam of the non-oscillating mirror part 36c to enter different imaging optical systems. .

  Two on-vehicle video display devices 10 can also be mounted on the vehicle. In this case, an image from the first in-vehicle image display device 10 (an image by the second imaging optical system 42) is incident on one eye of the driver, and an image from the second in-vehicle image display device 10 (first image 2) can be made incident on the other eye of the driver. According to such a configuration, by adjusting the incident angle of the light beam to each eye to an appropriate angle, the position of a predetermined distance in front of the host vehicle 100 with respect to the driver (from the above-described embodiment). Video (virtual image) can be displayed at a remote position. According to such a configuration, the driver can visually recognize the image by the second imaging optical system 42 without moving the focal point of the eyes.

Further, as described above, the video displayed on the road surface may not be displayed well depending on the road surface state. Therefore, the notification system 90 described above displays a test pattern on the road surface before displaying the video, captures the displayed test pattern with the camera 12, and changes the display position of the video according to the captured test pattern. May be.
That is, the test pattern is displayed on the road surface by the in-vehicle video display device 10 immediately before displaying the video of the speed information and the navigation information. As the test pattern, for example, a lattice-shaped image can be used. At the same time that the test pattern is displayed on the road surface, the test pattern displayed on the road surface is photographed by the camera 12. If there is a puddle or unevenness partially on the road surface, the test pattern is not properly displayed on that portion. Therefore, it is possible to specify an area on the road surface where the video cannot be properly displayed from the test pattern photographed by the camera 12. When the area is specified, a command is sent to the vehicle-mounted video display device 10 to display the video of speed information and navigation information in addition to the area. This makes it possible to reliably display necessary information on the road surface.
The test pattern may be displayed blinking at high speed or displayed for a very short time so that it cannot be recognized by a person. In this case, a high-speed camera is adopted as the camera 12, and a test pattern is photographed by the high-speed camera. Moreover, you may display a test pattern by irradiating near infrared rays so that a person cannot recognize. When using near infrared rays, a camera capable of photographing near infrared rays is adopted as the camera 12.

In addition, the optical fiber density of the optical fiber array 42b may be equal between the incident surface and the exit surface, but may be different between the incident surface and the exit surface.
As shown in FIG. 2, the light beam emitted from the optical fiber array 42b is incident obliquely on the combiner 42d through the terminal-side imaging lens 42c. Therefore, if the optical fibers have the same density on the entrance surface and the exit surface, an image extending vertically may be displayed by the combiner 42d. Accordingly, it is possible to correct the extension of the image by making the density of the optical fibers in the direction corresponding to the vertical direction of the combiner 42d different between the incident surface and the exit surface.

  The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the alerting | reporting system 90. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of an in-vehicle video display device 10. FIG. The top view of the reflection direction switching apparatus 34. FIG. FIG. 4 is a top view of the micromechanical structure 36. VV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. VI-VI sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The flowchart which shows the process which the arithmetic unit 24 performs in the alerting | reporting system 90 of 1st Example. The figure which illustrates the image | video displayed on the road surface with the alerting | reporting system 90 of 1st Example. The figure which illustrates the image | video displayed in a vehicle interior by the alerting | reporting system 90 of 1st Example. The figure which illustrates the image | video displayed on the road surface with the alerting | reporting system 90 of 1st Example. The flowchart which shows the process which the arithmetic unit 24 performs in the alerting | reporting system 90 of 2nd Example. Explanatory drawing of the light ray irradiated ahead of the own vehicle 100 in the alerting | reporting system 90 of 2nd Example.

Explanation of symbols

10: In-vehicle image display device 12: Camera 13: Car navigation system 14: Distance measuring device 16: Speed sensor 18: Steering angle sensor 22: Storage device 24: Computing device 30: Light source 32: Reflector 34: Reflection direction switching device 35: Semiconductor Substrate 35g: electrode 35h: electrode 36: micromechanical structure 36a: fixed part 36b: torsion beam 36c: mirror part 36e: electrode layer 40: first imaging optical system 42: second imaging optical system 42a: start end side connection Image lens 42b: Optical fiber array 42c: Terminal-side imaging lens 42d: Combiner 90: Notification system

Claims (4)

It is a device that displays two images with reversed light and dark,
A light source, a reflection direction switching device, a first imaging optical system, a second imaging optical system, and a control device;
The light source generates light that illuminates the reflection direction switching device,
The reflection direction switching device is
(1) It has a plurality of regularly arranged mirrors and an actuator provided for each mirror.
(2) Each mirror reflects a first swing angle that reflects the light beam incident from the light source toward the first imaging optical system, and a first mirror that reflects the light beam incident from the light source toward the second imaging optical system. Can swing between two swing angles,
(3) Each actuator is mechanically linked to one mirror corresponding to each actuator,
(4) Each actuator switches the swing angle of the corresponding mirror between the first swing angle and the second swing angle without being restricted by other actuators,
The control device
(1) The actuator corresponding to the mirror that forms an image at a bright position in the image obtained by the first imaging optical system is controlled to switch the swing angle of the corresponding mirror to the first swing angle.
(2) It is characterized in that an actuator corresponding to a mirror that forms an image at a dark position in an image obtained by the first imaging optical system is controlled to switch the swing angle of the corresponding mirror to the second swing angle. Video display device.   An in-vehicle image display comprising the image display device according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging optical system forms an image in front of the vehicle and the second imaging optical system forms an image in the passenger compartment. apparatus. The second imaging optical system includes an optical fiber array and a terminal imaging device;
The reflected light of the mirror adjusted to the second swing angle is incident on the incident surface of the optical fiber array, and is arranged in a positional relationship in which the terminal imaging device is positioned ahead of the exit surface of the optical fiber array. The vehicle-mounted image display device according to claim 2.   The in-vehicle image display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the terminal image forming apparatus includes a combiner that superimposes the image formed on the scenery in front of the vehicle.

Images