JP2020101793A - Head-up display device and helmet - Google Patents

Abstract

To improve visibility of a display image displayed by a HUD device.SOLUTION: A HUD device (3) installed to a helmet (101) includes a projection unit (39) for projecting display light to a combiner (79) positioned in front of the eye of a user wearing a helmet. The projection unit comprises: a light emitter (57) for emitting display light; a housing (61) having a projection opening (63) for allowing the display light emitted from the light emitter to pass therethrough; and a translucent cover member (65) provided so as to cover the projection opening. The cover plate has a smoking color to provide a dimming effect of reducing light transmittance in the thickness direction compared to a colorless transparent plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present disclosure relates to a head-up display device mounted on a helmet and a helmet equipped with the head-up display device.

Conventionally, by mounting a head-up display (Head Up Display) device (hereinafter referred to as “HUD device”) on a helmet worn when driving a motorcycle, a user (driver) wearing the helmet concerned On the other hand, it is known that various kinds of information such as vehicle information such as vehicle speed, map information obtained by a navigation system, and warning information are visually recognized as a virtual image in the front of the field of view to enhance convenience and safety during vehicle operation.

The HUD device mounted on the helmet includes a projection unit that projects display light according to the information to be displayed, and a combiner that reflects the display light projected by the projection unit toward the eyes of the user who is the wearer of the helmet. Prepare The combiner is composed of a half mirror and is arranged at a position within the front view of the user within a window opening provided in the front part of the helmet, and transmits light from the front of the user. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the virtual image (display image) by the display light in a state of being superimposed on the landscape through the combiner. An example of such a HUD device is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP, 2017-030530, A

The projection unit that constitutes the HUD device includes, for example, a light emitter that emits display light, an optical element that guides the display light emitted from the light emitter, and a housing that houses the light emitter and the optical element. Prepare An opening is formed in the housing to allow display light to pass therethrough, and a light-transmitting cover plate is provided so as to cover the opening. As the cover plate, a colorless and transparent clear plate is preferably used in order to avoid dimming the display light projected from the projection unit as much as possible.

In order to project the display light toward the combiner, such a cover plate is arranged with the surface on the side emitting the display light facing the window opening side of the helmet. Therefore, external light entering the inside of the helmet through the window opening may enter the cover plate. The external light incident on the cover plate is reflected on the surface thereof, or is once transmitted through the cover plate and then is reflected inside the projection unit in a direction of being transmitted again through the cover plate. At this time, since the cover plate is colorless and transparent and the surface has a relatively high light reflectance and light transmittance, the reflected external light is efficiently projected to the user's face with a small amount of dimming. Be illuminated.

Then, the external light highly efficiently projected to the face side of the user is irradiated to the combiner or enters the eyes of the user wearing the helmet. When the outside light is applied to the combiner, the outer surface and the inside of the projection unit are reflected in the combiner. Further, when the outside light enters the eyes of the user, the reflection of the outside light may look dazzling. In either case, the visibility of the display image displayed by the HUD device is impaired.

The technique of the present disclosure has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to improve the visibility of a display image displayed by a HUD device.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the technique of the present disclosure, a color having a dimming effect is given to a cover plate provided so as to cover an opening through which the display light of the projection unit passes.

Specifically, the technology of the present disclosure is directed to a HUD device mounted on a helmet.

The HUD device according to the technology of the present disclosure allows a user to visually recognize as a virtual image through a projection target object, which is arranged in front of the eyes of the user wearing a helmet and has both light transmissivity and light reflectivity. A projection unit for projecting display light for forming a display image is provided. The projection unit has a light emitter that emits display light, a housing having an opening through which the display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a light-transmitting property provided so as to cover the opening of the housing. And a cover plate. The cover plate has a color with which the light transmittance in the thickness direction is lower than that in the case where the light transmittance is colorless and transparent, and a light reduction effect is obtained.

According to this configuration, the opening through which the display light of the projection unit passes is covered with the cover plate having a color capable of obtaining the dimming effect. Therefore, the dimming effect of the cover plate reflects the reflection of external light on the surface of the cover plate. The transmittance is low, and the transmittance of external light in the thickness direction of the cover plate is also low. As a result, even if the outside light entering the inside through the window opening of the helmet enters the cover plate, the outside light entering the cover plate is reflected on the surface or the cover plate is moved in the thickness direction. Since the light is dimmed when passing through, the intensity of the external light reflected on the surface of the cover plate and the inside of the projection unit is weakened, and it is possible to suppress the reflection on the outer surface of the projection unit and the internal projection target. The reflection of external light on the surface of the cover plate against the eyes of the user can also be reduced. Thereby, the visibility of the display image displayed by the HUD device can be improved.

In the above HUD device, the color with which the cover plate has the dimming effect may be a smoke color. The term "smoke color" as used herein refers to a dark-colored light-transmitting color such as black, gray, brown, blue, indigo, etc., as observed by smoke.

According to this configuration, since the smoke color is adopted as the color of the cover plate, the above-described light reduction effect can be suitably obtained on the cover plate. Moreover, the display image displayed by the HUD device is displayed in a dark color so that the display image does not become too noticeable when viewed in a state where it overlaps with the landscape through the projection object, and the usability of the HUD device is improved. Can be improved.

In the above HUD device, the light transmittance in the thickness direction of the cover plate is preferably 50% or less.

According to this configuration, the light is transmitted through the cover plate once, and is reflected inside the projection unit in a direction that allows the cover plate to be transmitted again, and even if the light is reflected in the combiner, it is sufficiently darker than the display image displayed by the HUD device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the visibility of the display image from being impaired.

Further, the projection unit may include a concave mirror inside the housing for receiving the display light emitted from the light emitter and reflecting the display light to the opening of the housing.

When the projection unit is equipped with a concave mirror in this way, when external light entering the interior through the window opening of the helmet passes through the cover plate and enters the concave mirror, it is reflected by the concave mirror to emit light. There is a possibility that the display element included in the light emitter may be damaged by heat due to the collected external light, which may be damaged by the collected external light.

On the other hand, in the HUD device according to the technology of the present disclosure, the light transmittance in the thickness direction of the cover plate decreases due to the light reduction effect of coloring the cover plate, so that the light enters the inside through the window opening of the helmet. Even if external light passes through the cover plate and enters the concave mirror, the external light that enters the concave mirror is attenuated when passing through the cover plate, and thus is condensed toward the light emitter. It is possible to prevent the intensity of external light from being weakened and prevent the display element from losing heat and being damaged.

Further, the technology of the present disclosure is directed to a helmet on which a HUD device is mounted.

In the helmet according to the technology of the present disclosure, the HUD device allows the user to form a virtual image over the projection target object, which is located in front of the eyes of the user wearing the helmet and has both light transmissivity and light reflectivity. The projection unit which projects the display light for forming a visible display image is provided. The projection unit has a light emitter that emits display light, a housing having an opening through which the display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a light-transmitting property provided so as to cover the opening of the housing. And a cover plate. The cover plate has a color with a light-reducing effect that makes the light transmittance in the thickness direction lower than that in the case of being colorless and transparent.

According to this configuration, the opening through which the display light of the projection unit passes is covered with the cover plate having a color capable of obtaining the dimming effect. Therefore, the dimming effect of the cover plate reflects the reflection of external light on the surface of the cover plate. The transmittance is low, and the transmittance of external light in the thickness direction of the cover plate is also low. As a result, even if the outside light entering the inside through the window opening of the helmet enters the cover plate, the outside light entering the cover plate is reflected on the surface or the cover plate is moved in the thickness direction. Since the light is dimmed when passing through, the intensity of the external light reflected on the surface of the cover plate and the inside of the projection unit is weakened, and it is possible to suppress the reflection on the outer surface of the projection unit and the internal projection target. The reflection of external light on the surface of the cover plate against the eyes of the user can also be reduced. Thereby, the visibility of the display image displayed by the HUD device can be improved.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the HUD device which concerns on the technique of this indication, and the helmet which mounts it, a user suppresses the external surface of a projection unit and an internal reflection of a projection unit to a projection object, and the reflection of external light on a cover plate, and a user is projected. It is possible to improve the visibility of the display image that is visible as a virtual image through the body.

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an information presentation system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the information presentation system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a front view of a helmet equipped with the HUD device according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a helmet equipped with the HUD device according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of a helmet equipped with the HUD device according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cover plate used in the HUD device according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cover plate used in the HUD device according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, for the sake of convenience, a helmet and a HUD device mounted on the helmet are referred to as "upper" in the direction corresponding to the upper and lower sides of the face of the user wearing the helmet, and "lower" in the lower side. The front side in the direction corresponding to the front and back of the face of the user wearing the helmet is referred to as "front", and the rear side is referred to as "rear", in the direction corresponding to the left and right of the face of the user wearing the helmet. The left side is called "left" and the right side is called "right".

<Configuration of information presentation system>
FIG. 1 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of an information presentation system 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the information presentation system 1. Note that, in FIG. 1, the two-dot chain line arrow indicates the path and traveling direction of the display light. The information presentation system 1 is a system that presents information that contributes to driving assistance to a rider (user) of a motorcycle, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a HUD mounted on a helmet 101 of the motorcycle. The device 3 and the information terminal 5 that provides various information that can be displayed to the HUD device 3 are provided.

− Configuration of information terminal −
As the information terminal 5, a small multifunctional mobile phone called a smartphone is used. The information terminal 5 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 7 that receives radio waves from GPS satellites S to generate positioning information, a wireless communication module 9 that performs wireless communication with the outside, and the information terminal 5 of the information terminal 5. A microcomputer 11 for comprehensively controlling the operation, a display device 13 with a touch panel as an input/output device, and a power supply 15 for supplying electric power required to operate the information terminal 5 are provided.

The GPS receiver 7 includes a GPS antenna (not shown) and the like. The GPS antenna receives GPS signals transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites S launched into the earth's orbit. The GPS receiver 7 acquires information on the current position (for example, latitude, longitude, and altitude) of the information terminal 5 based on the GPS signal received by the GPS antenna. In response to a request from the microcomputer 11, the GPS receiver 7 saves the position information of the information terminal 5 that has been positioned in the memory 21 included in the microcomputer 11 and sequentially updates it.

The wireless communication module 9 includes a network communication unit 17 that communicates with an external network N that is a wide area communication network such as the Internet, and a short-range communication unit 19 that performs short-range wireless communication with the HUD device 3.

The network communication unit 17 has a function of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) such as WiFi (Wireless Fidelity; registered trademark) and a communication function according to a mobile communication standard such as LTE (Long Time Evolution; registered trademark). In response to a request from the microcomputer 11, the network communication unit 17 receives map information from the external network N, road information regarding construction, traffic jam, etc., information on peripheral facilities based on the current position acquired by the GPS receiver 7, The net information such as disaster information is received and temporarily stored in the memory 21 included in the microcomputer 11.

The short-range communication unit 19 has a communication function based on a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark). The short-range communication unit 19 responds to the request from the microcomputer 11 by the position information of the information terminal 5 acquired by the GPS receiver 7, the net information acquired by the network communication unit 17, and various applications described later. Various information including application information acquired by software (hereinafter, referred to as “app”), display items regarding display images displayed by the HUD device 3, and display setting information such as brightness is read from the memory 21 and wirelessly read. It is transmitted to the HUD device 3 by communication.

The microcomputer 11 includes a memory 21 and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 23. The memory 21 temporarily or permanently stores various information including a program for operating the information terminal 5. The memory 21 is typically realized by a combination of a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). Various programs stored in the memory 21 include a mobile OS (Operating System) and a plurality of applications that operate to realize a specific function on the mobile OS.

The plurality of applications include a time application 25, a speed application 27, a navigation application (hereinafter referred to as “navi application”) 29, and a cooperation application 31. The plurality of applications 27, 29, 31 are pre-installed in the information terminal 5 and stored in the memory 21.

The time application 25 is software that acquires the current time. In the time application 25, for example, based on a time stamp acquired by communication with a base station or time information acquired by the GPS receiver 7, further, NITZ (Network Identity and Time Zone) or NTP (Network Time Protocol) is used. The current time is acquired using such time synchronization technology.

The speed application 27 is software that detects the moving speed of the information terminal 5. The speed application 27 detects the moving speed of the information terminal 5 based on the position information of the information terminal 5 acquired by the GPS receiver 7, for example.

The navigation application 29 is software that provides route guidance to a destination set by the user. In the navigation application 29, for example, the destination is based on the map information acquired by the network communication unit 17 or stored in the memory 21 in advance and the position information of the information terminal 5 acquired by the GPS receiver 7. Route guidance to.

The cooperation application 31 is software that cooperates with the HUD device 3 using wireless communication by the short-range communication unit 19 and transmits various information such as application information, net information, and display setting information on the HUD device 3 to the HUD device 3. Is.

With this cooperation application 31, the display setting of the HUD device 3 can be performed. Specifically, as display settings, items to be displayed on the HUD device 3 are set from a plurality of items including the current time, moving speed, and route guidance information (navigation information), and display images displayed by the HUD device 3 are set. You can set the brightness. The display setting information set by the cooperation application 31 is stored in the memory 21.

The CPU 23 is typically realized by an IC (Integrated Circuit), an LSI (Large Scale Integration), an ASIC (Application Specific Integration Circuit), or the like. The CPU 23 performs calculations for processing various data, and controls the operation of the wireless communication module 9 and the display device 13 with a touch panel and the execution of various applications 25, 27, 29, 31.

With the function of the CPU 23, the microcomputer 11 causes the GPS receiver 7 to acquire information on the current position, causes the network communication unit 17 to establish a connection with the external network N, collects net information, and executes the cooperative application 31. By this, the short-range communication unit 19 is caused to establish a connection with the HUD device 3, and application information, net information, and display setting information acquired by various processes according to the execution of various other applications 25, 27, 29 are displayed. It is transmitted to the HUD device 3.

The display device with a touch panel 13 is an electronic device in which a display device that displays an image on the screen 33 of the information terminal 5 and a touch panel that detects a position (touched position) in the screen 33 touched by the user are integrated. Thus, it has both an image output function and a user operation input function. In the information terminal 5, by touching the display device with a touch panel 13, it is possible to execute the various applications 25, 27, 29, 31 and to perform the display setting in the HUD device 3 described above when the cooperative application 31 is executed. It has become.

The power supply 15 is composed of a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery. The power supply 15 is electrically connected to the wireless communication module 9, the microcomputer 11, and the display device 13 with a touch panel via wiring. When the information terminal 5 is turned on by a power switch (not shown), the information terminal 5 supplies power from the power source 15 to the wireless communication module 9, the microcomputer 11 and the display device 13 with a touch panel, so that the information terminal 5 has a predetermined operation according to the user's operation. It is designed to work.

-HUD device configuration-
FIG. 3 is a front view of the helmet 101 equipped with the HUD device 3. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the helmet 101 on which the HUD device 3 is mounted. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a main part of the helmet 101 on which the HUD device 3 is mounted. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of the cover plate 65 used in the HUD device 3.

Note that, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the two-dot chain line arrow indicates the path and the traveling direction of the display light as in FIG. Further, in FIG. 4, the liner 111 in the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105 is not shown for convenience. Further, in FIG. 5, a part of the shell 109, the shield 107 and the liner 111 of the helmet 101 is shown by a chain double-dashed line, and the constituent members of these helmets 101 are shown transparently.

The HUD device 3 is a projection display device that projects visual information in the visual field of a user wearing the helmet 101 (helmet body 105). As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the HUD device 3 includes a wireless communication module 35 that performs wireless communication with the outside, a control unit 37 that controls a display operation in the HUD device 3, and a display light. A projection unit 39 for projecting the image, a combiner unit 41 for allowing the user to visually recognize a display image of the display light projected from the projection unit 39 as a virtual image, and an operation unit for inputting an operation by the user to the HUD device 3. 43 and a power supply 45 that supplies electric power required to operate the HUD device 3.

The helmet 101 on which the HUD device 3 according to this embodiment is mounted is a full-face type helmet, and a helmet body 105 having a window opening 103 formed in the front portion for providing the wearing user with a view, A transparent shield 107 that is replaceably attached to the helmet body 105 and that can open and close the window opening 103 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the helmet main body 105 includes a shell 109 (cap body) that forms an outer shell thereof, a liner 111 that is entirely provided inside the shell 109, and a jaw portion of the helmet main body 105. The mouse cover 115 is provided inside the liner 111 in 113. The shell 109 is made of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) resin, FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastics), or the like, and plays a role of dispersing impact energy from the outside. The liner 111 is made of expanded polystyrene or the like and functions as a buffer that absorbs impact energy. The mouse cover 115 is made of ABS resin or FRP and holds the liner 111 and protects the liner 111, and plays a role of giving a design property to the upper surface of the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105.

The shield 107 is rotatably attached to the left and right sides of the window opening 103 of the helmet body 105 (shell 109) using fasteners 117 or the like within a predetermined angle range, and opens and closes the window opening 103 by rotating in the vertical direction. .. The shield 107 is made of a translucent resin such as polycarbonate.

The shield 107 has a function of blocking foreign matters such as dust, wind, and ultraviolet rays that fly into the helmet body 105 through the window opening 103 in a state where the window opening 103 is closed. The shield 107 can be removed by removing the fasteners 117, and the light transmittance of a colorless transparent shield, a colored transparent shield such as a smoke shield, or a mirror shield varies depending on the brightness of the external environment. It can be replaced with various shields.

The wireless communication module 35 has a communication function based on a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth. The wireless communication module 35 receives the net information, application information, and display setting information transmitted from the short-range communication section 19 of the information terminal 5 in response to a request from the microcomputer 53 provided in the control unit 37. , In the memory 49 included in the microcomputer 53. The wireless communication module 35 is provided on the PCB together with the control unit 37, and is incorporated as a PCB module 47 on the left side of the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105.

The control unit 37 controls generation of display light by the light emitting device 57 provided in the projection unit 39. The control unit 37 has a microcomputer 53 including a memory 49 and a CPU 51, and a GDC (Graphics Display Controller) 55 which is an integrated circuit in charge of processing related to image display.

The memory 49 temporarily or permanently stores various information including a program for operating the HUD device 3. The memory 49 also stores net information, application information, and display setting information received by the wireless communication module 35. The memory 49 is typically realized by a combination of RAM and ROM.

The CPU 51 is typically realized by an IC, LSI, ASIC or the like. The CPU 51 performs calculations for processing various data and controls the operations of the wireless communication module 35, the projection unit 39 and the GDC 55.

The GDC 55 generates display image data to be visually recognized by the user via the combiner 79 included in the combiner unit 41 based on the net information, application information, and display setting information stored in the memory 49. The display image data generated by the GDC 55 is image data representing the information of the item set in the display setting of the cooperative application 31 of the information terminal 5. The microcomputer 53 causes the GDC 55 to generate display image data by the function of the CPU 51 and outputs the image signal to the light emitter 57 included in the projection unit 39.

The projection unit 39 is built in on the right side of the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105. This projection unit 39 generates a display light having a pattern corresponding to a display image based on an image signal input from the GDC 55 and emits the light, and a display unit emitted from the light emitter 57. A concave mirror 59 reflecting toward 41, a housing 61 accommodating the light emitter 57 and the concave mirror 59, and a cover plate 65 provided so as to cover a projection opening 63 formed in the housing 61. There is.

The housing 61 is provided in a position from the right rear side to the right front side of the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105 with the projection opening 63 facing upward. The housing 61 is configured by combining a plurality of resin-made housing constituent members (not shown), and a housing space for housing the light emitter 57 and the concave mirror 59 is provided inside. The projection opening 63 is an opening for passing the display light emitted from the light emitting device 57 from the inside (housing space) of the housing 61 to the outside, and has a substantially rectangular shape on the upper surface of the front portion of the housing 61. Has been formed.

The light emitting device 57 is housed in a portion from the middle of the housing 61 to the rear position on the side opposite to the projection opening 63. Although not shown, the light emitter 57 includes a display element including a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a reflective display panel such as LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon), an optical lens such as a convex lens or a concave lens, and a diffusion plate. , TIR (Total Internal Reflection) prisms. The light emitting device 57 generates display light having an intensity of light such that the display image displayed by the HUD device 3 has the brightness level set by the information terminal 5, and directs the generated display light to the concave mirror 59. And emit.

The concave mirror 59 is housed in a position corresponding to the lower side of the projection opening 63 at the front position of the housing 61. The concave mirror 59 has a free-curved reflective surface 67 having no rotational symmetry, and is provided with the reflective surface 67 facing the projection opening 63. The concave mirror 59 reflects the display light received from the light emitter 57 upward toward the projection opening 63 by the reflecting surface 67, and the display image visually recognized by the user is of a size suitable for display during driving. And position it.

In the projection unit 39, the display light emitted from the light emitter 57 and reflected by the concave mirror 59 passes through the projection opening 63, and is projected onto the combiner 79 included in the combiner unit 41 via the cover plate 65. The cover plate 65 is a substantially rectangular plate-shaped member, has translucency, and transmits display light. The cover plate 65 has a smoke color. The smoke color is a dark-colored color such as black, gray, brown, blue, indigo or the like that is observed by smoke, and is a suspended semitransparent color having a light-transmitting property and a light-transmitting property.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cover plate 65 is configured by attaching a smoke film 71, which is a semitransparent dark resin film, to the surface of a colorless and transparent base material 69. The base material 69 and the smoke film 71 are made of, for example, polycarbonate (PC) or methyl polymetallate (PMMA) resin, and the smoke film 71 is made of a dark-colored material. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the cover plate 65 may be composed of a single resin plate 72 made of a dark colored material. Since the cover plate 65 has the smoke color in this way, it is possible to obtain a dimming effect of lowering the light transmittance in the thickness direction as compared with the case of being colorless and transparent.

The light transmittance of the cover plate 65 in the thickness direction is 5% or more and 50% or less. The light transmittance of the cover plate 65 is a value of total light transmittance measured according to JIS K 7361-1 (or JIS K 7375:2008), and is, for example, manufactured by Murakami Color Research Laboratory Co., Ltd. It is possible to perform measurement using a measuring device (high-speed integrating sphere type spectral transmittance measuring device model: DOT-41).

The light transmittance of the cover plate 65 is set in the above range because the user can display the display image displayed by the HUD device 3 when the light transmittance of the cover plate 65 in the thickness direction is less than 5%. When the amount of power of the power source consumed by the light emitting device 57 is increased to make the brightness easily visible, and the light transmittance of the cover plate 65 in the thickness direction exceeds 50%, the light is transmitted through the cover plate 65 once. This is because the light reflected in the direction of passing through the cover plate 65 again inside the projection unit 39 may be reflected in the combiner, and the visibility of the display image displayed by the HUD device 3 may be impaired.

In the projection unit 39, the projection part 73 in which the projection opening 63 of the housing 61 is covered with the cover plate 65 is arranged inside the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105 and outside the mouse cover 115. The mouse cover 115 has a curved shape that follows the shape of the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105. On the right side of the mouse cover 115, a cylindrical optical path portion 119 is provided in such a manner as to bulge forward. The optical path portion 119 is located on the side of the housing 61 that constitutes the projection unit 39 facing the projection opening 63.

The cylinder center axis of the optical path portion 119 extends in the vertical direction. The lower end opening of the optical path portion 119 faces the projection opening 63 of the projection unit 39 via the cover plate 65, and the upper end opening of the optical path portion 119 opens toward the combiner 79 included in the combiner unit 41. The upper and lower openings of the optical path portion 119 are not closed by other members and are open. On the outer side of the mouse cover 115, a liner 111 is provided so as to surround a portion of the projection unit 39 corresponding to above the projection site 73 and the optical path section 119.

Thus, the projection unit 39 is built in the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105 so that the display light projected on the combiner 79 via the cover plate 65 passes through the optical path 119. Then, the cover plate 65 that constitutes the projection part 73 of the projection unit 39 extends from the surface of the jaw 113 of the helmet body 105 (for example, the upper end surface of the mouse cover 115) in the vertical direction in which the display light is projected. It is arranged at a position recessed from the outer surface of the liner 111 provided inside. This makes it difficult for the user to touch the cover plate 65 by hand when handling the helmet 101.

The surface of the cover plate 65 that emits the display light is inclined toward the outside of the helmet body 105. Specifically, the cover plate 65 is provided in an inclined posture in which the surface thereof is inclined forward so as to form an obtuse angle to the front side with respect to the central axis of the tube of the optical path portion 119. As a result, the helmet 101 is worn by reflecting the external light that has entered the helmet 101 and entered the optical path portion 119 toward the back side of the shell 109 that constitutes the jaw 113 on the surface of the cover plate 65. Reflection on the eyes E of the user is suppressed.

The cover plate 65 is arranged at a position with a gap 77 between it and the optical path portion 119 in the vertical direction in which the projection unit 39 projects the display light. The gap 77 is provided corresponding to the entire circumference of the lower end of the optical path portion 119. As a result, even if foreign matter such as dust or water such as rainwater enters the optical path portion 119 through its upper end opening, it can escape to the outside from the gap 77 between the cover plate 65 of the projection unit 39 and the optical path portion 119. It is like this.

The combiner unit 41 supports the combiner 79 that receives the display light reflected by the concave mirror 59 from below and reflects it in a direction visible to the user, and positions the combiner 79 in front of the eyes of the user wearing the helmet 101. And a support mechanism 81.

The combiner 79 is a transparent or semi-transparent plate-like component, and has a free-form semi-transmissive reflection surface 83 (planar shape in the drawing) having no rotational symmetry. The combiner 79 is arranged so as to be located inside the shield 107 in the closed state. The combiner 79 is a projection target having both light transmissivity and light reflectivity, and is composed of a half mirror. The half mirror has a property of reflecting a part of incident light and transmitting a part thereof. An antireflection film called an AR (Anti Reflection) coat made of magnesium fluoride (MgF ₂ ) or the like is provided on the back surface of the combiner 79.

The support mechanism 81 supports the combiner 79 at a position within the front view of the user within the window opening 103 provided in the front portion of the helmet body 105. The combiner 79 is arranged in the front position of the right eye E of the user, and the supporting mechanism 81 arranges the semi-transmissive reflection surface 83 on the face side of the user so that the rear end is located above and the front end is located below. Supported in a forward leaning position.

The support mechanism 81 has a stay 85 extending in the vertical direction. The upper portion of the stay 85 is held by a holder (not shown) built in the forehead portion 121 of the helmet body 105. A combiner 79 is connected to the lower end of the stay 85 via a rotary shaft 87 extending in the left-right direction. The support mechanism 81 is capable of adjusting the orientation of the semi-transmissive reflection surface 83 by rotating the combiner 79 around the rotation axis 87.

The operation unit 43 is provided at a location corresponding to the PCB module 47 of the helmet body 105. Although not shown, the operation unit 43 includes a power switch and an operation switch. The power switch is a push button type switch having a function of switching on and off (turning on and off) the power of the HUD device 3. The operation switch is a push button type switch having a function of switching the display of the HUD device 3 on and off.

The power supply 45 is built in the back of the helmet body 105. The power source 45 is composed of a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery. The power supply 45 is electrically connected to the wireless communication module 35, the control unit 37, and the light emitting device 57. When the HUD device 3 is turned on by the power switch in the operation unit 43, power is supplied from the power source 45 to the wireless communication module 35, the control unit 37, and the light emitter 57, and the operation switch is operated. The display operation is performed according to the switching of the display on and off.

<Operation of information presentation system>
In the information presentation system 1 having the above configuration, when the HUD device 3 is turned on and the cooperative application 31 is executed by the information terminal 5, the HUD device 3 receives net information, application information, and display setting information. .. Then, based on the received net information and application information, the display image data corresponding to the preset item included in the display setting information is generated by the GDC 55. At this time, when the display of the HUD device 3 is in the ON state, the display light corresponding to the data of the display image generated by the GDC 55 is displayed by the light emitter 57 of the projection unit 39 as the display image set by the information terminal 5. Is generated with the light intensity corresponding to the brightness level of. This display light is emitted from the light emitting device 57, is then reflected by the concave mirror 59, is projected from the projection unit 39 to the combiner 79, and is further reflected by the combiner 79 so as to be in the field of view of the user. As a result, the user can visually recognize the display image by the display light as a virtual image in a state of being superimposed on the scenery in the front view through the combiner 79.

According to the HUD device 3 configuring the information presentation system 1 according to this embodiment and the helmet 101 equipped with the HUD device 3, a smoke color having a dimming effect is applied to the projection opening 63 through which the display light of the projection unit 39 passes. Since it is covered with the cover plate 65, the cover plate 65 has a dimming effect to reduce the reflectance of external light on the surface of the cover plate 65, and also the transmittance of external light in the thickness direction of the cover plate 65. Get lower. As a result, even if the external light entering the interior through the window opening 103 of the helmet 101 is incident on the cover plate 65, the external light incident on the cover plate 65 is reflected on the surface or the cover plate 65. Since the light is dimmed when it is transmitted through in the thickness direction, the intensity of the external light reflected on the surface of the cover plate 65 and the inside of the projection unit 39 becomes weaker, and the intensity of the external light to the outside surface of the projection unit 39 and the inside combiner 79 is reduced. It is possible to suppress the reflection of light and to reduce the reflection of external light on the surface of the cover plate 65 with respect to the user's eyes. Thereby, the visibility of the display image displayed by the HUD device 3 can be improved.

As described above, the preferred embodiment has been described as an example of the technique of the present disclosure. However, the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and is also applicable to the embodiment in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are appropriately made. Further, the constituent elements described in the accompanying drawings and the detailed description may include constituent elements that are not essential for solving the problems. Therefore, those non-essential components should not be immediately recognized as being essential, because the non-essential components are described in the accompanying drawings or the detailed description.

For example, the following embodiments may be configured as below.

In the above-described embodiment, the HUD device 3 has been described by exemplifying a configuration in which display light is projected from the projection unit 39 to the combiner 79 provided as a projection target separately from the shield 107 of the helmet 101. The disclosed technology is not limited to this. The HUD device 3 uses the shield 107 of the helmet 101 as a projection target instead of the combiner 79, and projects display light from the projection unit 39 onto the shield 107, thereby superimposing the display light through the shield 107 on the landscape of the front view. In the state, the display image by the display light may be displayed as a virtual image.

In the above embodiment, the color of the cover plate 65 is the smoke color, but the technique of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The smoke color is only an example of a color that can be adopted for the cover plate 65, and the cover plate 65 has a light reflectance with respect to light incident in the thickness direction and a light transmittance in the thickness direction, which are different from those in the case of being colorless and transparent. Any color can be adopted as the color of the cover plate 65 as long as the color has a dimming effect of lowering the value.

In the above embodiment, a smartphone is illustrated as the information terminal 5 that cooperates with the HUD device 3, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The information terminal 5 may be a terminal having a function similar to a smart phone such as a smart watch, a tablet terminal, a PDA (Personal Data Assistant), a function for connecting to the external network N, a GPS receiver 7, and a HUD. Any other portable information terminal may be used as long as it can communicate with the device 3. Further, the HUD device 3 communicates with the motorcycle instead of the information terminal 5 or in addition to the information terminal 5 to receive detection information from various sensors mounted on the motorcycle and form a display image. May be.

In the above-described embodiment, a reflective display panel such as LCOS (Liquid Crystal On Silicon) is illustrated as a display element used for the light emitter 57, but the technique of the present disclosure is not limited to this. As the display element of the light emitter 57, for example, a self-luminous display element such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display panel or a VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) may be used.

In the above embodiment, the projection unit 39 has the concave mirror 59, but the technique of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The projection unit 39 may have a convex mirror or a plane mirror instead of the concave mirror 59.

In the above embodiment, the information presented as a display image to the user by the HUD device 3 is the current time, speed, and route guidance information, but the technique of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The information on the current time, speed, and route guidance is only an example of information that can be presented by the HUD device 3, and may be information that contributes to the driving of a motorcycle other than the HUD device 3 and may be the cooperation application 31 of the information terminal 5. Other information useful for the user, such as information on peripheral facilities in the traveling area, may be set as an item to be displayed on the HUD device 3.

In the above-described embodiment, a full-face type helmet is described as an example of the helmet 101 on which the HUD device 3 is mounted, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The full-face type helmet 101 is only an example of the helmet 101 on which the HUD device 3 is mounted, and any open-face type (jet type) or semi-jet type may be used as long as it has a part that can house a projection unit. It is possible to employ any type of helmet such as (three quarters type) as the helmet 101 on which the HUD device 3 is mounted.

In the above embodiment, the helmet 101 equipped with the HUD device 3 is described as an example of the helmet 101 worn when driving a motorcycle, but the technology of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The HUD device 3 can of course be applied to a motorcycle such as a watercraft or a bicycle, or a helmet worn in other vehicles such as a snowmobile.

As described above, the technique of the present disclosure is useful for a HUD device mounted on a helmet and a helmet equipped with the HUD device.

D... Gap size E... User's eye N... External network S... GPS satellite 1... Information presentation system 3... HUD device 5... Information terminal 7... GPS receiver 9... Wireless communication module 11... Microcomputer 13... Touch panel Display device 15... Power source 17... Network communication unit 19... Short-range communication unit 21... Memory 23... CPU
25... Time application 27... Speed application 29... Navigation application 31... Linkage application 33... Screen 35... Wireless communication module 37... Control unit 39... Projection unit 41... Combiner unit 43... Operation unit 45... Power supply 47... PCB module 49... Memory 51... CPU
53... Microcomputer 55... GDC
57... Light emitting device 59... Concave mirror 61... Housing 63... Projection opening 65... Cover plate 67... Reflecting surface 69... Base material 71... Smoke film 72... Resin plate 73... Projection site 77... Gap 79... Combiner (projector) )
81... Support mechanism 83... Semi-transmissive reflective surface 85... Stay 87... Rotating shaft
101... Helmet 103... Window opening 105... Helmet body 107... Shield 109... Shell 111... Liner 113... Jaw 115... Mouse cover 117... Fastener 119... Optical path 121... Forehead

Claims (5)

A head-up display device mounted on a helmet,
Display light for forming a display image visible to the user as a virtual image through the projection target, with respect to the projection target having both light transmissivity and light reflection located in front of the user wearing the helmet. Equipped with a projection unit to project,
The projection unit includes a light emitter for emitting display light, a housing having an opening for passing the display light emitted from the light emitter, and a light-transmitting member provided to cover the opening of the housing. And a cover plate having
The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate has a color that provides a dimming effect that lowers the light transmittance in the thickness direction as compared with the case of being colorless and transparent. The head-up display device according to claim 1,
The head-up display device is characterized in that the cover plate has a smoke reduction color. The head-up display device according to claim 1,
The head-up display device, wherein the cover plate has a light transmittance of 50% or less in the thickness direction. The head-up display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein the projection unit includes, inside the housing, a concave mirror that receives the display light emitted from the light emitter and reflects the display light to the opening. A helmet equipped with a head-up display device,
The head-up display device is a display object that is visible to the user as a virtual image over the projection target, with respect to the projection target having both light transmittance and light reflection positioned in front of the user wearing the helmet. A projection unit for projecting display light for forming is provided,
The projection unit includes a light emitter that emits display light, a housing having an opening through which the display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a light-transmitting member that is provided to cover the opening of the housing. And a cover plate having
The helmet according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate has a color capable of obtaining a dimming effect that lowers the light transmittance in the thickness direction as compared with the case of being colorless and transparent.

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