JP2019056885A - Virtual image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a virtual image display device capable of securing a wider area in which information can be displayed at a short distance from a user.SOLUTION: A virtual image display device includes a first liquid crystal display 5 and a second liquid crystal display 6 as means for displaying video, and further includes a concave mirror 7 as a half mirror member that transmits part of video displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 and totally reflects video displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6. An area where a virtual image of the video displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 is displayed includes an area where a virtual image of the video displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6 is displayed. A first image forming distance, which is the distance between a crew member and the virtual image of the video displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5, is made shorter than a second image forming distance, which is the distance between the crew member and the virtual image of the video displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a virtual image display device that displays a virtual image visually recognized by a user.

  Conventionally, various means have been used as information providing means for providing driving information such as route guidance and obstacle warnings to passengers of moving bodies such as vehicles. For example, display on a liquid crystal display installed on a moving body, sound output from a speaker, and the like. In recent years, as one of such information providing means, a head-up display device (hereinafter referred to as HUD) is used in a space different from a position where an image is actually displayed using an illusion of human eyes. There is a virtual image display device for visually recognizing an image.

  Here, in order to provide more effective information by the virtual image display device, the position of the virtual image (more specifically, the distance from the user who visually recognizes the virtual image to the virtual image, hereinafter referred to as the imaging distance) is appropriate. It is important to set For example, in order to display a virtual image of a warning for an obstacle, it is desirable that the virtual image is at a position where the obstacle actually exists. In addition, when displaying a virtual image that guides a right or left turn on a road, it is desirable that the virtual image is present at a point where the right or left turns. On the other hand, it is desirable that the virtual image displaying the vehicle speed, the virtual image of the map image, and the like be as close to the user as possible so as not to be superimposed on the environment. That is, the imaging distance suitable for the virtual image differs for each type of virtual image.

  However, since the image formation distance depends on the distance from the user viewing the virtual image to the image display surface (screen, liquid crystal display, etc.) for displaying the image, it is basically possible to display the virtual image only at the same image formation distance. could not. In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-55847 discloses that a real image display unit is provided in addition to a virtual image display unit so that two images of a real image and a virtual image can be simultaneously viewed at different distances from the user. Proposed technology has been proposed.

JP 2014-55847 A (page 3-5)

  However, the display device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to widen a region where a real image is displayed by the real image display unit (that is, a region where information is displayed at a short distance). That is, in order to widen the area where the real image is displayed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to enlarge the real image display unit and the half mirror that transmits the real image, which leads to an increase in the size of the apparatus. Therefore, there is a problem that information to be displayed at a short distance from the user is limited.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and enables a virtual image to be visually recognized at a plurality of positions at different distances from the user, while information is provided to a position at a short distance from the user. An object of the present invention is to provide a virtual image display device that can secure a wider displayable area.

In order to achieve the above object, a virtual image display device according to the present invention includes a first display area and a second display area that are independently installed as display areas for displaying images, and the first display area and the second display area. A reflection member that reflects the image displayed on the screen and causes the user to visually recognize the virtual image of the image, along an optical path connecting the first display region, the second display region, and the reflection member. Arranged between the first display area and the second display area and the reflecting member, and transmits a part of the image displayed in the first display area and displayed in the second display area. In the first virtual image display area where the half mirror member that reflects all of the video and the virtual image of the video displayed in the first display area are displayed, the virtual image of the video displayed in the second display area is displayed. First The first imaging distance, which is the distance from the user to the virtual image of the video displayed in the first display area, including the virtual image display area, is the distance from the user to the virtual image of the video displayed in the second display area. It is shorter than a certain second imaging distance.
The “optical path” refers to a path through which light output from a light source (such as an LED) used in the display area passes.
Further, the “half mirror” does not necessarily have the same transmittance and reflectance, and may be a member (beam splitter) that transmits a part of incident light and reflects a part thereof.

  According to the virtual image display device according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, a part of the image displayed in the display region for displaying the image for a short distance is arranged by the half mirror member while arranging two independent display regions. Since the user can visually recognize the half mirror member through the half mirror member, the virtual image can be visually recognized at a plurality of positions at different distances from the user, while an area where information can be displayed at a position at a short distance from the user. It becomes possible to ensure widely. Moreover, it becomes possible to overlap a 1st virtual image display area and a 2nd virtual image display area in a user's gaze direction. Therefore, it is possible to express information based on virtual images in two layers (representing a plurality of virtual images at different distances), and it is possible to express more easily and easily than in one layer.

It is the figure which showed the installation aspect to the vehicle of HUD which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the internal structure of HUD which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the optical path formed in HUD. It is a figure explaining the position where a virtual image is generated. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of HUD which concerns on this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the virtual image generation processing program which concerns on this embodiment. It is the figure which showed the video display area of the 1st liquid crystal display. It is the figure which showed an example of the virtual image which can be visually recognized from the passenger | crew of a vehicle in the case of not displaying a virtual image in a long distance. It is the figure which showed an example of the virtual image which can be visually recognized from the passenger | crew of a vehicle in the case of displaying a virtual image in a long distance.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a virtual image display device according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings with regard to an embodiment in which the virtual image display device is embodied in a head-up display device mounted on a vehicle.

  First, the configuration of a head-up display device (hereinafter referred to as HUD) 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an installation mode of the HUD 1 according to the present embodiment on the vehicle 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the HUD 1 is installed inside the dashboard 3 of the vehicle 2 and includes a first liquid crystal display 5 and a second liquid crystal display 6 that display images inside. Then, the video displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 is further reflected on the front window 8 in front of the driver's seat through the concave mirror 7 provided in the HUD 1 as will be described later, and is then occupant 9 of the vehicle 2. It is comprised so that it may visually recognize. The video displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 includes information related to the vehicle 2 and various information used for assisting the driving of the occupant 9. For example, warnings for obstacles (other vehicles and pedestrians), guidance information set by the navigation device, guidance information based on the guidance route (arrows indicating right and left turn directions, etc.), warnings to be displayed on the road surface (attention to rear-end collision, speed limit, etc.) ), Current vehicle speed, information signs, map images, traffic information, news, weather forecast, time, connected smartphone screen, TV program, and the like.

  Further, in the HUD 1 of the present embodiment, when the occupant 9 visually recognizes the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 or the second liquid crystal display 6 by reflecting the front window 8, the position of the front window 8 is displayed on the occupant 9. Instead, the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 or the second liquid crystal display 6 is visually recognized as a virtual image 10 at a position far from the front window 8. The virtual image 10 that can be seen by the occupant 9 is an image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 or the second liquid crystal display 6, but the vertical direction or the horizontal direction may be reversed through the concave mirror 7 or other mirrors. Therefore, it is necessary to display the image on the first liquid crystal display 5 or the second liquid crystal display 6 in consideration of the inversion thereof. In addition, the size is changed through the concave mirror 7.

  Here, regarding the position where the virtual image 10 is generated, more specifically, the distance from the occupant 9 to the virtual image 10 (hereinafter referred to as the imaging distance), the curvature of the concave mirror 7 included in the HUD 1, the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 2. It can be set as appropriate depending on the relative position of the liquid crystal display 6 and the concave mirror 7 or the like. For example, if the curvature of the concave mirror 7 is fixed, the imaging distance is determined by the distance (optical path length) along the optical path from the image display position to the occupant 9 on the first liquid crystal display 5 or the second liquid crystal display 6. Is done.

  And HUD1 which concerns on this embodiment is provided with the two 1st liquid crystal displays 5 and the 2nd liquid crystal display 6 as a display device which displays an image | video. A virtual image 10 based on the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 (hereinafter referred to as the first virtual image 10A) and a virtual image 10 based on the image displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6 (hereinafter referred to as the second virtual image 10B). Can be generated simultaneously. Further, as described later, the optical path length of the optical path connecting the first liquid crystal display 5 to the occupant 9 is different from the optical path length of the optical path connecting the second liquid crystal display 6 to the occupant 9. For example, the optical path length of each optical path is set so that the imaging distance L1 of the first virtual image 10A is 2.5 m and the imaging distance L2 of the second virtual image 10B is 20 m. When visually recognized from the occupant 9, the first virtual image 10A and the second virtual image 10B can be overlapped and visually recognized.

  Further, the HUD 1 of the present embodiment makes it possible to secure the display area of the first virtual image 10A wider than the volume of the apparatus by forming the concave mirror 7 into a half mirror as will be described later. The optical path length of the optical path connecting the display 6 to the occupant 9 can be secured longer than the volume of the apparatus.

  A front camera 11 is installed above the front bumper of the vehicle, behind the rearview mirror, and the like. The front camera 11 is an imaging device configured by a camera using a solid-state imaging device such as a CCD, for example, and is installed with the optical axis direction facing forward in the vehicle traveling direction. Then, by performing image processing on the captured image captured by the front camera 11, the situation of the front environment (that is, the environment in which the virtual image 10 is superimposed) that is visually recognized by the occupant 9 through the front window 8 is detected. Is done. A sensor such as a millimeter wave radar may be used instead of the front camera 11.

  Next, a more specific configuration of the HUD 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of the HUD 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an optical path formed by the HUD 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the HUD 1 basically includes a first liquid crystal display 5, a second liquid crystal display 6, a concave mirror 7, a cover glass 15, a control circuit unit 16, and a CAN interface 17. .

  Here, the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 have a function of displaying a video on a video display surface provided on the front surface by using a backlight as a light source and outputting light from the backlight. A video display device. As the backlight, for example, a CCFL (cold cathode tube) or a white LED is used. In addition to the liquid crystal display, an organic EL display or a combination of a liquid crystal projector and a screen may be used as means for displaying an image. In particular, the first liquid crystal display 5 has a function of changing the brightness of the backlight (that is, the display brightness of the image) for each region.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 are arranged at positions and orientations in which video display surfaces for displaying video are opposed to each other. In addition, the image display surface for displaying an image on the first liquid crystal display 5 is arranged at an angle facing upward from the horizontal direction. On the other hand, an image display surface for displaying an image on the second liquid crystal display 6 is disposed at a position facing the concave mirror 7 in the horizontal direction. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the angle of the front window 8 with respect to the horizontal direction and the angle of the first liquid crystal display 5 with respect to the horizontal direction form the same angle θ in the opposite direction. Thereby, the angle of the virtual image generated by the HUD 1 can be set to the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, the concave mirror 7 is provided between the first liquid crystal display 5 and the front window 8 along the optical path connecting the first liquid crystal display 5 and the front window 8 as shown in FIGS. 6 is arranged between the second liquid crystal display 6 and the front window 8 along the optical path connecting the front window 8 and the front window 8. More specifically, the projection is arranged in front of the upper area of the first liquid crystal display 5 and is particularly projected to enlarge and reflect the image displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6 at the opposite position so as to be visually recognized by the occupant 9. It is a mirror. As the concave mirror 7, a spherical concave mirror, an aspheric concave mirror, or a free-form curved mirror for correcting distortion of a projected image is used.

  Further, the concave mirror 7 is formed by a half mirror, and the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 located on the back side is transmitted and made visible to the occupant 9. Note that not all of the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 is transmitted, but only the image displayed in the area located on the back side of the concave mirror 7 is transmitted, and the transmitted image is not transmitted. At the same time, it is reflected by the front window 8 and visually recognized by the passenger 9.

  The concave mirror 7 is, for example, a half mirror having the same transmittance and reflectance. However, the half mirror is not necessarily required to have the same transmittance and reflectance, and transmits a part of the incident light. Any reflecting member (beam splitter) may be used. For example, the half mirror may have a transmittance of 40%, a reflectance of 60%, a transmittance of 60%, and a reflectance of 40%.

  The size of the concave mirror 7 is appropriately set based on the size of the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6. Specifically, the size is such that only a part of the image incident from the first liquid crystal display 5 can be transmitted and the entire image incident from the second liquid crystal display 6 can be reflected. In order to improve the visibility of the first virtual image 10A generated by the first liquid crystal display 5, the concave mirror 7 is desirably as small as possible. Therefore, the size of the concave mirror 7 is set to the minimum size that can reflect all the images incident from the second liquid crystal display 6.

  Further, the optical path length of the first optical path that passes through the concave mirror 7 from the first liquid crystal display 5 and is reflected by the front window 8 to reach the occupant 9, and the concave mirror 7 is reflected from the second liquid crystal display 6 and further the front window. The optical path length of the second optical path that is reflected by 8 and reaches the occupant 9 is different in length, and the optical path length of the first optical path is shorter. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the position of the first virtual image 10A, which is a virtual image visually recognized by the occupant 9 through the first optical path, is greater than the position of the second virtual image 10B, which is a virtual image visually recognized by the occupant 9 through the second optical path. Is also located in the vicinity. For example, the optical path length is set so that the imaging distance L1 of the first virtual image 10A is 2.5 m and the imaging distance L2 of the second virtual image 10B is 20 m. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, an area where the first virtual image 10A is visually recognized from the occupant 9 (the area where the first virtual image 10A is displayed, hereinafter referred to as the first virtual image display area) and the second virtual image 10B are visually recognized. The region (the region in which the second virtual image 10B is displayed, hereinafter referred to as the second virtual image display region) overlaps in the sight line direction of the occupant 9. In particular, in the present embodiment, by using the concave mirror 7 as a half mirror member, the display area of the first liquid crystal display 5 located on the back side of the concave mirror 7 can be utilized, so that a wide first virtual image display area can be secured. In particular, the first virtual image display area is larger than the second virtual image display area, and the first virtual image display area includes the second virtual image display area. Therefore, it is possible to express information based on a virtual image in two layers on the front and back (representing a plurality of virtual images in a superimposed manner), which makes it easier to see and understand than one layer.

  However, although the first virtual image display area and the second virtual image display area overlap, in the present embodiment, as described later, when displaying the second virtual image 10B, the first virtual image is within a range overlapping with the second virtual image 10B. Since the display area is limited so as not to display 10A, the first virtual image 10A and the second virtual image 10B are basically not overlapped and visually recognized. However, it is also possible to make it visually recognized.

  Also, basically different images are displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6. The first liquid crystal display 5 includes information suitable for displaying in the vicinity of the occupant 9 such as “current vehicle speed”, “shift position”, “intersection enlarged map”, “lane guide”, “eco indicator”, etc. Is displayed. On the other hand, the second liquid crystal display 6 displays “guidance information based on the guidance route (such as an arrow indicating a right / left turn direction)” which is information suitable for being displayed far away from the occupant 9.

  The cover glass 15 is a transmissive plate-like member disposed on the upper surface of the HUD 1. Then, the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 or the second liquid crystal display 6 is reflected or transmitted by the concave mirror 7 and made visible to the occupant 9 through the cover glass 15. Note that a Fresnel lens may be used as the cover glass 15. When a Fresnel lens is used as the cover glass 15, a flat mirror can be used instead of the concave mirror 7.

  The control circuit unit 16 is an electronic control unit that controls the entire HUD 1. Here, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the HUD 1 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control circuit unit 16 includes a CPU 31 as an arithmetic device and a control device, a RAM 32 used as a working memory when the CPU 31 performs various arithmetic processes, a control program, and a virtual image display described later. A ROM 33 in which a processing program (see FIG. 6) and the like are recorded, and an internal storage device such as a flash memory 34 for storing a program read from the ROM 33 are provided. In addition, the control circuit unit 16 is connected to the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 and performs drive control of the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6.

  The CAN (controller area network) interface 17 is an interface for inputting / outputting data to / from CAN, which is a vehicle-mounted network standard that performs multiplex communication between various vehicle-mounted devices and vehicle equipment control devices installed in the vehicle. It is. The HUD 1 is connected to a control device (for example, the navigation device 48, the AV device 49, etc.) of various vehicle-mounted devices and vehicle equipment via the CAN so as to be able to communicate with each other. Thereby, the HUD 1 is configured to be able to display information acquired from the navigation device 48, the AV device 49, and the like.

  Next, a virtual image generation processing program executed by the CPU 31 in the HUD 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the virtual image generation processing program according to this embodiment. Here, the virtual image generation processing program is a program that is executed after an ACC power supply (accessory power supply) of the vehicle is turned on, and generates a virtual image that is visually recognized by the vehicle occupant by the HUD 1. The program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 below is stored in the RAM 32 and ROM 33 provided in the HUD 1 and is executed by the CPU 31.

  First, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1 in the virtual image generation processing program, the CPU 31 is a content to be displayed by the HUD 1 and a target to display the content based on an instruction from the navigation device 48 or the like. A liquid crystal display (first liquid crystal display 5 or second liquid crystal display 6) is set. Here, the content to be displayed by the HUD 1 includes information related to the vehicle 2 and various types of information used for assisting the driving of the occupant 9. For example, warnings for obstacles (other vehicles and pedestrians), guidance information set by the navigation device, guidance information based on the guidance route (arrows indicating right and left turn directions, etc.), warnings to be displayed on the road surface (attention to rear-end collision, speed limit, etc.) ), Current vehicle speed, information signs, map images, traffic information, news, weather forecast, time, connected smartphone screen, TV program, and the like. In particular, in the present embodiment, the contents to be displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 are “current vehicle speed”, “shift position”, “intersection enlarged view”, “lane guidance”, and “eco indicator”. The content to be displayed is “guidance information based on the guidance route (such as an arrow indicating a right / left turn direction)”.

  Next, in S2, the CPU 31 determines whether there is content to be displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6, that is, content to be displayed as the second virtual image 10B generated in the distance. In the present embodiment, the content to be displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6 is “guidance information based on the guidance route (such as an arrow indicating the right / left turn direction)”, so that, for example, the guidance intersection is approaching the vehicle. Is determined to have content to be displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6.

  When it is determined that there is content to be displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6 (S2: YES), that is, when it is determined that both the first virtual image 10A and the second virtual image 10B are displayed, the process proceeds to S5. And migrate. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no content to be displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6 (S2: NO), that is, when it is determined that only the first virtual image 10A is displayed, the process proceeds to S3. .

  In S <b> 3, the CPU 31 sets the display luminance of the image to be twice as high as the other regions in the image display region of the first liquid crystal display 5 in the region displaying the image transmitted through the concave mirror 7. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, among the image display areas of the first liquid crystal display 5, other areas 51 for displaying an image transmitted through the concave mirror 7 (that is, areas located on the back side of the concave mirror 7) The brightness of the backlight is set to double that of the area 52. In the present embodiment, the display brightness of the area 51 is set to twice the display brightness of the area 52, but the display brightness is preferably set according to the transmittance of the concave mirror 7. That is, the lower the transmittance of the concave mirror 7, the lower the visibility of the image displayed in the region 51. Therefore, it is desirable to set the display brightness higher.

  After that, in S4, the CPU 31 sets the video for generating the first virtual image 10A for the entire video display area (including the area 51 and the area 52 in FIG. 7) of the first liquid crystal display 5 in S3. Output in brightness. For example, information images regarding five items of “vehicle speed”, “shift position”, “intersection enlarged view”, “lane guidance”, and “eco-indicator” are output to the first liquid crystal display 5. As a result, a virtual image of the information image is displayed in a display area in the vicinity of the occupant 9 (for example, a driver's visual field 2.5 meters ahead).

Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed by the HUD 1 in S4.
As shown in FIG. 8, a virtual image 61 indicating the current vehicle speed of the vehicle as a first virtual image 10A, a virtual image 62 indicating the current shift position of the vehicle, at a position in the vicinity of the distance (2.5 m) in the traveling direction of the vehicle. A virtual image 63 indicating an enlarged intersection, a virtual image 64 indicating lane guidance, and a virtual image 65 indicating an eco-indicator are generated. Of the image display area of the first liquid crystal display 5, the image displayed in the area 51 that displays the image that passes through the concave mirror 7 is visible through the concave mirror 7, so that it is more visible than the other areas 52. However, since the display brightness of the region 51 is set to be higher than that of the other regions 52 as described above, the virtual images 61 to 65 have the same brightness (the same viewing mode) as a result. Is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to generate a virtual image with good visibility for a wider display area using the area located on the back side of the concave mirror 7.

  On the other hand, in S5, the CPU 31 outputs an image for generating the second virtual image 10B for the entire image display area of the second liquid crystal display 6. For example, an image of “guidance information based on the guidance route (such as an arrow indicating a right / left turn direction)” is output to the second liquid crystal display 6. As a result, a virtual image of the above-described information image is displayed in a distant display area (for example, the visual field area of the driver 20 meters ahead) visible to the occupant 9.

  Further, in S6, the CPU 31 generates the first virtual image 10A for the region (region 52 in FIG. 7) excluding the region displaying the image transmitted through the concave mirror 7 in the image display region of the first liquid crystal display 5. For this purpose, an image for output is output at the brightness set in S3. For example, information images regarding five items of “vehicle speed”, “shift position”, “intersection enlarged view”, “lane guidance”, and “eco-indicator” are output to the first liquid crystal display 5. As a result, a virtual image of the information image is displayed in a display area in the vicinity of the occupant 9 (for example, a driver's visual field 2.5 meters ahead). Since the video display area is smaller than that in S4, some contents are excluded from the display target, the arrangement of the contents is changed, and the display size is reduced.

Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of information displayed by the HUD 1 in S5 and S6.
As shown in FIG. 9, a virtual image 61 indicating the current vehicle speed of the vehicle as a first virtual image 10A, a virtual image 62 indicating the current shift position of the vehicle, at a position in the vicinity of the distance (2.5 m) in the traveling direction of the vehicle. A virtual image 63 indicating an enlarged intersection, a virtual image 64 indicating lane guidance, and a virtual image 65 indicating an eco-indicator are generated. Further, a virtual image 66 indicating the traveling direction at the guidance intersection is generated as a second virtual image 10B at a position in front of a far distance (20 m) in the traveling direction of the vehicle.

  The region where the first virtual image 10A is visually recognized and the region where the second virtual image 10B is visually recognized are simultaneously arranged in the front-rear direction in the line-of-sight direction of the occupant 9. Therefore, it is possible to express information based on a virtual image in two layers, the front and the back (representing a plurality of virtual images at different distances), and an expression that is easier to see and understand than a single layer is possible. In addition, since no image is displayed in the image display area 51 that displays the image transmitted through the concave mirror 7 in the image display area of the first liquid crystal display 5, the display brightness of the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 is corrected. Even if not, the virtual images 61 to 66 are displayed with the same luminance (the same visual aspect).

  As described above in detail, according to the HUD 1 according to the present embodiment, the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 are provided as means for displaying an image, and the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 are further provided. Along the optical path connecting the front window 8 is disposed between the first liquid crystal display 5 and the second liquid crystal display 6 and the front window 8, and transmits a part of the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5, A concave mirror 7 is provided as a half mirror member that reflects all of the image displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6, and a region where a virtual image of the image displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5 is displayed is displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6. Including a region where the virtual image of the displayed video is displayed, from the passenger to the virtual image of the video displayed on the first liquid crystal display 5. Is shorter than the second imaging distance, which is the distance from the occupant to the virtual image of the image displayed on the second liquid crystal display 6, and therefore the distance from the occupant is different. While making it possible to visually recognize virtual images at a plurality of positions, it is possible to secure a wider area in which information can be displayed at positions at a short distance from the occupant. In addition, the region where the first virtual image 10A is displayed and the region where the second virtual image 10B is displayed can be overlapped in the sight line direction of the occupant. Therefore, it is possible to express information based on virtual images in two layers (representing a plurality of virtual images at different distances), and it is possible to express more easily and easily than in one layer.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the present embodiment, the virtual image is generated in front of the front window 8 of the vehicle 2 by the HUD 1, but the virtual image may be generated in front of a window other than the front window 8. Further, the object (reflecting member) for reflecting the image by the HUD 1 may be a visor (combiner) installed around the front window 8 instead of the front window 8 itself.

  In the present embodiment, the HUD 1 is installed on the vehicle 2. However, the HUD 1 may be installed on a moving body other than the vehicle 2. For example, it can be installed on a ship or an aircraft. Moreover, you may install in the ride type attraction installed in an amusement facility. In that case, a virtual image can be generated around the ride so that the rider can visually recognize the virtual image.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, when displaying the 2nd virtual image 10B, it controls so that the 1st virtual image 10A is not displayed in the range which overlaps with the 2nd virtual image 10B (S6), but overlaps with the 2nd virtual image 10B. The first virtual image 10A may be displayed for the range to be displayed. That is, in the image display area of the first liquid crystal display 5 in S6, an area 51 for displaying an image transmitted through the concave mirror 7 may be included in the image display target. In this case, it is desirable to set the display brightness higher in the area 51 than in the other areas 52. Thereby, the area where the first virtual image 10A is visually recognized overlaps with the area where the second virtual image 10B is visually recognized in the sight line direction of the occupant 9. That is, it becomes possible to express information by a virtual image in two layers of the front and back (representing a plurality of virtual images superimposed in front and back).

  Further, in the present embodiment, the processing of the virtual image generation processing program (FIG. 6) is configured to be executed by the CPU 31 of the HUD 1, but the execution subject can be changed as appropriate. For example, it is good also as a structure which the control part of the navigation apparatus 48, vehicle control ECU, and another vehicle equipment perform.

  Moreover, although the embodiment which actualized the virtual image display device according to the present invention has been described above, the virtual image display device can also have the following configuration, and in that case, the following effects can be obtained.

For example, the first configuration is as follows.
A first display area (5) and a second display area (6) installed independently as display areas for displaying an image, and the images displayed in the first display area and the second display area are reflected. The first display area along an optical path connecting the first display area, the second display area, and the reflection member, and a reflection member (8) that causes the user to visually recognize a virtual image of the video image And between the second display area and the reflecting member, and transmits a part of the image displayed in the first display area and reflects all of the image displayed in the second display area. The first virtual image display area in which the half mirror member (7) to be displayed and the virtual image of the video displayed in the first display area are displayed is the second in which the virtual image of the video displayed in the second display area is displayed. Including virtual image display area, The first imaging distance, which is the distance from the user to the virtual image of the video displayed in the first display area, is greater than the second imaging distance, which is the distance from the user to the virtual image of the video displayed in the second display area. Also short.
According to the virtual image display device having the above configuration, the two independent display areas are arranged, and the half mirror member is used for a part of the image displayed in the display area for displaying the short distance image by the half mirror member. Since it allows the user to see through it, it is possible to make the virtual image visible at a plurality of positions at different distances from the user, while ensuring a wider area where information can be displayed at a short distance from the user. Is possible. Moreover, it becomes possible to overlap a 1st virtual image display area and a 2nd virtual image display area in a user's gaze direction. Therefore, it is possible to express information based on a virtual image in two layers (a plurality of virtual images are superimposed in front and back), and an expression that is easier to see and understand than a single layer is possible.

The second configuration is as follows.
Of the first display area (5), the display brightness of the image is higher in the area (51) for displaying the image transmitted through the half mirror member (7) than in the other area (52).
According to the virtual image display device having the above configuration, the visibility of the virtual image of the video displayed in the region that is visible through the half mirror member is generally less visible than the virtual image of the video displayed in the other region. Although there is a possibility, it becomes possible to prevent the visibility of the virtual image generated by increasing the display brightness only in the corresponding region from being lowered.

The third configuration is as follows.
Of the first display area (5), for the area (51) for displaying an image that passes through the half mirror member (7), the display brightness of the image is set according to the transmittance of the half mirror member.
According to the virtual image display device having the above-described configuration, it is possible to set an optimum display luminance corresponding to the transmittance of the half mirror member. Thereby, it is possible to generate a virtual image with uniform quality regardless of which area of the first display area the image is displayed.

The fourth configuration is as follows.
The angle of the reflecting member (8) with respect to the horizontal direction and the angle of the first display area (5) with respect to the horizontal direction are the same in the opposite direction.
According to the virtual image display device having the above-described configuration, the angle of the virtual image visually recognized by the user can be set in the vertical direction, so that it is possible to generate a virtual image that is easy for the user to see.
Expression is possible.

The fifth configuration is as follows.
A first optical path that connects the user through the reflective member (8) from the first display area (5), and a first optical path that connects the user by reflecting the reflective member (8) from the second display area (6). The two optical paths have different lengths.
According to the virtual image display device having the above-described configuration, it is possible to generate two optical paths having different optical path lengths without increasing the size of the device, and it is possible to simultaneously make a virtual image visible at a plurality of positions having different distances from the user. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Head up display apparatus 2 Vehicle 3 Dashboard 5 1st liquid crystal display 6 2nd liquid crystal display 7 Concave mirror 8 Front window 9 Crew 10A 1st virtual image 10B 2nd virtual image 31 CPU
32 RAM
33 ROM
34 Flash memory

Claims (5)

A first display area and a second display area that are independently installed as display areas for displaying images;
A reflecting member that causes the user to visually recognize a virtual image of the image by reflecting the image displayed on the first display region and the second display region and causing the user to visually recognize the image;
It is arranged between the first display area, the second display area and the reflection member along an optical path connecting the first display area and the second display area and the reflection member, and is displayed in the first display area. A half mirror member that transmits part of the image and reflects all of the image displayed in the second display area;
The first virtual image display area where the virtual image of the video displayed in the first display area is displayed includes a second virtual image display area where the virtual image of the video displayed in the second display area is displayed,
The first imaging distance, which is the distance from the user to the virtual image of the video displayed in the first display area, is the second imaging distance, which is the distance from the user to the virtual image of the video displayed in the second display area. Shorter virtual image display device.   2. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein, in the first display area, an image display brightness is higher in an area in which an image transmitted through the half mirror member is displayed than in other areas.   3. The virtual image display device according to claim 2, wherein a display brightness of an image is set in accordance with a transmittance of the half mirror member for an area that displays an image transmitted through the half mirror member in the first display area.   4. The virtual image display device according to claim 1, wherein an angle of the reflecting member with respect to a horizontal direction and an angle of the first display area with respect to the horizontal direction are the same in opposite directions.   The first optical path that connects the user through the reflecting member from the first display area and the second optical path that connects the user by reflecting the reflecting member from the second display area have different lengths. The virtual image display device according to claim 4.

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