JP2021047234A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image display device capable of forming plural images in a depth direction and changing them with time.SOLUTION: An image display device (100) includes: a first image projection part (21) for radiating a first image; a second image projection part (22) for radiating a second image; a first image-forming optical part (101) for forming a first image at a first distance; a second image-forming optical part (102) for forming a second image at a second distance; and a control part (40) for controlling the first image projection part (21) and the second image projection part (22). The control part (40) switches a display state and a non-display state of the first image projection part (21) and the second image projection part (22) with time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly to an image display device that forms an image that changes with time in the depth direction.

Conventionally, as a device for displaying various information in a vehicle, an instrument panel that lights and displays an icon has been used. Further, as the amount of information to be displayed increases, it is also proposed to embed an image display device in the instrument panel or to configure the entire instrument panel with the image display device.

However, since the instrument panel is located below the windshield of the vehicle, it is not preferable for the driver to visually recognize the information displayed on the instrument panel because it is necessary to move the line of sight downward during driving. Therefore, a head-up display (hereinafter referred to as HUD: Head Up Display) has been proposed in which an image is projected on the windshield so that the driver can read the information when he / she visually recognizes the front of the vehicle (for example, Patent Document 1). See). In such a HUD, an optical device for projecting an image onto a wide range of the windshield is required, and it is desired to reduce the size and weight of the optical device.

On the other hand, as an image display device that projects light using a small optical device, a head-mounted HUD in the shape of glasses is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the head-mounted HUD, the light emitted from the light source is directly applied to the viewer's eyes, and the image is projected on the viewer's retina.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-118669 Special Table 2018-528446

However, in the conventional head-mounted HUD, the position where the image can be displayed in the field of view is limited, and it is difficult to display various information for each area. In addition, the distance at which the image is formed in the air is also fixed, and it is not possible to form a plurality of images in the depth direction or to perform a complicated display such as changing the position of the image formed in the air.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image display device capable of forming a plurality of images in the depth direction and changing them over time.

In order to solve the above problems, the image display device of the present invention has a first image projection unit that irradiates the first image, a second image projection unit that irradiates the second image, and a first distance between the first image. A first imaging optical unit that forms an image on the image, a second imaging optical unit that forms an image of the second image at a second distance, and a control unit that controls the first image projection unit and the second image projection unit. The control unit is characterized in that the display state and the non-display state of the first image projection unit and the second image projection unit are switched over time.

In such an image display device of the present invention, the control unit switches between the display state and the non-display state of the first image formed at the first distance and the second image formed at the second distance. It is possible to form a plurality of images at different positions in the depth direction and change the display in the depth direction over time.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the control unit switches one of the first image projection unit and the second image projection unit to the display state and the other to the non-display state.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, it has a driving unit that changes the imaging position of the first image and / or the second image.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the driving unit changes the first distance and / or the second distance.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the driving unit translates the first image and / or the second image at the second distance.

Further, in one aspect of the present invention, the control unit changes the display contents of the first image and / or the second image over time, and synchronizes with the display contents to display the display state and the non-display state. Switch.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can provide an image display device capable of forming a plurality of images in the depth direction and changing them over time.

It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the imaging optical part 10 in the image display device 100 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the structure of the image display device 100 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change of the display state and the non-display state with time of the 1st image A1, the 2nd image A2 and the 3rd image R in 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the change of the image formation position of the 1st image A1, the 2nd image A2 and the 3rd image R in the 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the combination of the time-dependent change of the display state and the non-display state of the 1st image A1, the 2nd image A2 and the 3rd image R and the change of the image formation position in the 3rd Embodiment.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in the drawings shall be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of an imaging optical unit 10 in the image display device 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image display device 100 includes a beam splitter 11, retroreflective portions 12 and 13, a beam splitter 14, an imaging lens 15, a dichroic mirror 16, a half mirror 17, and a first image. It includes a projection unit 21, a second image projection unit 22, and a third image projection unit 23. Although FIG. 1 shows an example in which the retroreflective unit 13 is provided, the retroreflective unit 13 may be omitted and is not always necessary.

In the example of the image display device 100 shown in FIG. 1, the viewer P is the first image A1 and the second image projected from the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23. A2 and the third image R are visually recognized at different distances in the depth direction. In FIG. 1, the direction in which the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R are lined up is the depth direction, the vertical direction orthogonal to the depth direction is the vertical direction, and the direction orthogonal to the depth direction is horizontal. The direction. The two rectangular parallelepipeds shown by broken lines in the figure are auxiliary lines attached to understand the positional relationship of each member, and do not indicate any member, but if necessary, for example, a housing or a light guide body, etc. May be used to hold and accommodate each part and to form an optical path.

The beam splitter 11 is a member that transmits a part of the incident light and reflects a part of the incident light, and a partial reflector having a film for adjusting the reflectance on the surface can be used. The beam splitter 11 is arranged so as to have an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the vertical direction and the lateral direction. Further, the light is arranged so as to be inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the light emitted from the first image projection unit 21 and the second image projection unit 22.

The retroreflective portions 12 and 13 are optical members that reflect the incident light with respect to the incident direction while maintaining the light-collecting property, and use a structure or a prism in which minute glass beads are spread on the surface side of the reflective film. A retroreflective part of the structure can be used. The retroreflective unit 12 is arranged below the beam splitter 14 and has a main surface in the horizontal direction. The retroreflective unit 13 is arranged in the horizontal direction alongside the beam splitters 11 and 14, and the main surface is in the vertical direction.

The beam splitter 14 is a member that transmits a part of the incident light and reflects a part of the incident light, and a partial reflector having a film for adjusting the reflectance on the surface can be used. The beam splitter 14 is arranged so as to be inclined at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the vertical direction and the lateral direction. Further, the light is arranged so as to be inclined by 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis of the light emitted from the first image projection unit 21 and the second image projection unit 22. Further, the beam splitter 14 and the beam splitter 11 are tilted in opposite directions, and are arranged so as to intersect each other at a right angle of 90 degrees in the lateral direction.

Here, any balance can be selected between the light transmittance and the reflectance in the beam splitters 11 and 14. For example, the transmittance is 50% and the reflectance is 50%. Further, an example in which the tilt angles of the beam splitters 11 and 14 are orthogonal to 45 degrees is shown, but from the relationship between the light irradiation direction from the first image projection unit 21 and the second image projection unit 22 and the image formation position of the image. Appropriate angles can be used.

The imaging lens 15 is an optical member for forming an image of light transmitted through the beam splitter 14 at a predetermined position in space. The imaging lens 15 is arranged above the retroreflective section 12 and the beam splitter 14. Although one convex lens is shown as the imaging lens 15 in FIG. 1, a plurality of lens groups may be used, and the arrangement position is not limited to that shown in FIG. Further, a plurality of lens groups may be dispersedly arranged between the members.

The dichroic mirror 16 is an optical member that reflects light of a specific wavelength and transmits light of other wavelengths. The dichroic mirror 16 is arranged above the retroreflective portion 12, the beam splitter 14, and the imaging lens 15, and is arranged so as to be inclined at an angle of 45 degrees in the depth direction. In the example shown in FIG. 1, as the dichroic mirror 16, a dichroic mirror 16 that reflects the wavelength of the light emitted from the first image projection unit 21 and the second image projection unit 22 and transmits other visible light is used.

The half mirror 17 is a member that reflects light incident from one surface and transmits light incident from the other surface. The half mirror 17 is arranged side by side with the dichroic mirror 16 in the depth direction, and is arranged at an angle of 45 degrees in the depth direction.

The first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 are devices that irradiate the light that constitutes the image, respectively, and each of them is an image with respect to a predetermined distance from the eyes of the viewer P. To project. The first image projection unit 21 is arranged laterally alongside the beam splitters 11 and 14 and the retroreflection unit 13, and is laterally oriented with respect to one surface of the beam splitter 11 (the surface opposite to the beam splitter 14). Is radiated with light. The second image projection unit 22 is arranged below the beam splitter 11 and irradiates light in a direction perpendicular to the other surface of the beam splitter 11 (the surface facing the beam splitter 14). The third image projection unit 23 is arranged below the half mirror 17 and irradiates light perpendicularly to the reflecting surface of the half mirror 17.

The configuration of the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 is not limited, and a liquid crystal display device having a backlight, a self-luminous organic EL display device, a light source, and a modulation element are used. It is possible to use the projector device or the like that has been used. The images projected by the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 may be still images or moving images, and the projected images may be the same or different. May be good. Further, each of the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 may include an optical member such as a lens.

In FIG. 1, the dashed line with a small interval, the alternate long and short dash line, and the dashed line with a large interval drawn from each of the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 are each irradiated. It shows the path of the projected light of the image.

As shown in FIG. 1, the light emitted from the first image projection unit 21 passes through the beam splitter 11 and then is incident on the beam splitter 14 and reflected, and is rereflected by the retroreflection unit 12 to be reflected by the beam splitter 14. Re-entering. The light re-entering the beam splitter 14 passes through the beam splitter 14 and the imaging lens 15, is reflected by the dichroic mirror 16, and is imaged as the first image A1 at the first distance. The light imaged as the first image A1 reaches the eyes of the viewer P through the transmission surface of the half mirror 17. Therefore, the viewer P visually recognizes the first image A1 in the air at the first distance in the depth direction.

Further, the light emitted from the second image projection unit 22 is reflected by the beam splitter 11 and then incident on the beam splitter 14 and reflected, and is rereflected by the retroreflective unit 12 and reincidented on the beam splitter 14. The light re-entering the beam splitter 14 passes through the beam splitter 14 and the imaging lens 15, is reflected by the dichroic mirror 16, and is imaged as a second image A2 at a second distance. The light imaged as the second image A2 reaches the eyes of the viewer P through the transmission surface of the half mirror 17. Therefore, the viewer P visually recognizes the second image A2 in the air at a second distance in the depth direction.

Further, the light emitted from the third image projection unit 23 is reflected by the reflecting surface of the half mirror 17 and reaches the eyes of the viewer P. Therefore, the viewer P visually recognizes the third image R in the air at a third distance in the depth direction.

As described above, the viewer P can visually recognize the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R at the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance, which are different positions in the depth direction. At the same time, the viewer P can visually recognize the background that reaches the eyes through the dichroic mirror 16 and the half mirror 17. Therefore, the viewer P visually recognizes the aerial image in which the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R are superimposed on the background.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the image display device 100 according to the present embodiment. The image display device 100 includes an imaging optical unit 10, a projection unit 20, a driving unit 30, and a control unit 40.

The imaging optical unit 10 includes a first imaging optical unit 101, a second imaging optical unit 102, and a third imaging optical unit 103, and the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R are in the air. It is an element that forms an image at a predetermined distance, and each is composed of a combination of a plurality of optical members. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the first imaging optical unit 101 includes an optical member included in the first image projection unit 21, a beam splitter 11, a beam splitter 14, a retroreflective unit 12, an imaging lens 15, and a dichroic mirror 16. It is composed of. The second imaging optical unit 102 includes an optical member included in the second image projection unit 22, a beam splitter 11, a beam splitter 14, a retroreflective unit 12, an imaging lens 15, and a dichroic mirror 16. Further, the third imaging optical unit 103 is composed of an optical member and a half mirror 17 included in the third image projection unit 23.

The projection unit 20 includes a first image projection unit 21, a second image projection unit 22, and a third image projection unit 23, and is an element that irradiates light for forming a plurality of images. The light emitted from the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 is the first imaging optical unit 101, the second imaging optical unit 102, and the third imaging optical unit, respectively. The first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R are imaged at the first distance, the second distance, and the third distance via 103.

The drive unit 30 includes a first drive unit 31, a second drive unit 32, and a third drive unit 33, which are the first image projection unit 21, the first imaging optical unit 101, the second image projection unit 21, and the third, respectively. 2 This is an element that mechanically changes the positions and angles of the imaging optical unit 102, the third image projection unit 23, and the third imaging optical unit 103. The specific configuration of the drive unit 30 is not limited, and known motors and actuators can be used.

The control unit 40 includes an information processing unit 41, an image processing unit 42, and a drive control unit 43, and controls the operation of each unit included in the image display device 100. The information processing unit 41 is a part that processes various information according to a predetermined procedure, and is a computer including a central processing unit (CPU: Central Processing Unit), a memory, an external storage device, and various interfaces. Further, the information processing unit 41 controls the operations of the image processing unit 42 and the drive control unit 43, and synchronizes the processing of the image signal and the control signal.

The image processing unit 42 processes each image information projected by the projection unit 20 and sends an image signal to the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23, respectively. This is the part that irradiates the light that makes up the image. The image processing unit 42 also switches between the display state and the non-display state of the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23, and the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection. Light irradiation from the non-displayed state of the unit 22 and the third image projection unit 23 is stopped.

The drive control unit 43 is a part that controls the operation of the drive unit 30, and transmits a control signal instructing the operation of the first drive unit 31, the second drive unit 32, and the third drive unit 33. The control signal from the drive control unit 43 includes a first drive unit 31, a second drive unit 32, and a third drive unit 33, which are the first image projection unit 21, the first imaging optical unit 101, and the second, respectively. Information on the position and angle of any of the image projection unit 21, the second imaging optical unit 102, the third image projection unit 23, and the third imaging optical unit 103 is included.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing changes in the display state and the non-display state of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R in the present embodiment with time. In FIG. 3, only the relative positional relationship between the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R shown in FIG. 1 is extracted and shown. The display state and the non-display state of each of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R are switched over time, only the second image A2 is displayed in (a), and the first image A2 is displayed in (b). Only the image A1 is displayed, and in (c) only the third image R is displayed.

As for the change with time shown in FIG. 3, the image processing unit 42 sends an image signal to the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23, and displays and hides the image signal. It is executed by switching the state. At this time, the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R may be still images or moving images. Further, the contents of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R projected from the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 are the same but different. You may. When the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R have the same content and the display state is sequentially switched in the depth direction in synchronization with the display content, the viewer P moves the aerial image in the depth direction over time. It can be visually recognized as if it were.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an example in which the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 are provided as the projection unit 20 is shown, but two or more. It suffices to have a plurality of. Further, the configurations of the first imaging optical unit 101, the second imaging optical unit 102, and the third imaging optical unit 103 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 1, and an aerial image is formed at a predetermined distance from the viewer P. A combination of optical members to be imaged can be used. Further, FIG. 3 shows an example in which only one of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R is switched as the display state, but the display state and the non-display state may be switched over time. It may be controlled so that a plurality of aerial images are displayed at the same time.

As described above, in the image display device 100 of the present embodiment, the control unit controls the display state and the non-display state of the first image A1 imaged at the first distance and the second image A2 imaged at the second distance. By switching at 40, it is possible to form a plurality of images at different positions in the depth direction and change the display in the depth direction over time.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The description of the contents overlapping with the first embodiment will be omitted. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing changes in the imaging positions of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R in the present embodiment. After forming the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R in the positional relationship as shown in FIG. 4A as the initial state, the imaging position is changed in the direction of the arrow indicated by Δ in the figure. Therefore, the positional relationship shown in FIG. 4 (b) is adopted. In FIG. 4, the first image A1 is changed so that the imaging position is translated in the horizontal direction, and the second image A2 is changed in the depth direction from the viewer P to the imaging position. Is shown.

When the position of these images is changed, the drive control unit 43 sends a control signal to the first drive unit 31, the second drive unit 32, and the third drive unit 33, and the first drive unit 31, the second drive unit 32, The third drive unit 33 is the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, the third image projection unit 23, the first imaging optical unit 101, the second imaging optical unit 102, and the third imaging optical unit 103. This can be achieved by moving the elements contained in.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, when the imaging position of the first image A1 is changed in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, the first image projection unit 21 is moved in the horizontal direction or the depth direction to and the beam splitter 11. It is possible to change the relative positional relationship. As another example, the imaging lens 15 is moved in the lateral direction or the depth direction to change the relative positional relationship between the imaging lens 15 and the dichroic mirror 16. The image formation position in the lateral direction can be changed in the same manner for the second image A2 and the third image R emitted from the second image projection unit 22 and the third image projection unit 23.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, when the imaging position of the second image A2 is changed in the depth direction, the second image projection unit 22 is moved in the vertical direction to change the distance from the beam splitter 11. Can be mentioned. Other examples include moving the imaging lens 15 in the vertical direction to change the distance between the imaging lens 15 and the dichroic mirror 16, inserting a new lens in the middle of the optical path, and the like. The image formation position in the depth direction can be changed in the same manner for the first image A1 and the third image R emitted from the first image projection unit 21 and the third image projection unit 23.

Also in the image display device 100 of the present embodiment, the control unit 40 switches between the display state and the non-display state of the first image A1 imaged at the first distance and the second image A2 imaged at the second distance. Therefore, it is possible to form a plurality of images at different positions in the depth direction and change the display in the depth direction over time. Further, by changing the imaging positions of the first image A1 and the second image A2 by using the drive unit 30, it is possible to make various expressions using the aerial image.

(Third Embodiment)
Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The description of the contents overlapping with the first embodiment will be omitted. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a combination of changes over time and changes in the imaging position of the displayed and non-displayed states of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R in the present embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the imaging positions of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R are changed by Δt as in the second embodiment, and the display content and the display state / non-display state of each image are switched. To synchronize. The information processing unit 41 records the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R in association with each image formation position and the display content.

The information processing unit 41 monitors the control state of the drive unit 30 by the drive control unit 43, and passes through the first imaging optical unit 101, the second imaging optical unit 102, and the third imaging optical unit 103. Information on the imaging positions of the first image A1, the second image A2, and the third image R is acquired. Next, the information processing unit 41 selects an image corresponding to the acquired imaging position and sends an image signal from the image processing unit 42 to the projection unit 20, and the first image projection unit 21 and the second image projection unit 22. , Of the third image projection unit 23, the one that illuminates the image is set to the display state. Further, among the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23, those in which the image corresponding to the acquired image formation position does not exist are hidden.

In this way, the imaging position and the display content are associated with each other, and the imaging position corresponds to the operation in synchronization with the operations of the first imaging optical unit 101, the second imaging optical unit 102, and the third imaging optical unit 103. By displaying the image, it is possible to display a more three-dimensional aerial image. For example, when the cross section of a three-dimensional object is sequentially displayed in synchronization with changing the image formation position in the depth direction, the viewer P recognizes the time integration of the imaged image, so that the continuous three-dimensional object is visually recognized. be able to. When changing the image formation position in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction, the viewer P exceeds the range that the first image projection unit 21, the second image projection unit 22, and the third image projection unit 23 can describe as one screen. Therefore, an image having a larger area can be visually recognized.

Also in the image display device 100 of the present embodiment, the control unit 40 switches between the display state and the non-display state of the first image A1 imaged at the first distance and the second image A2 imaged at the second distance. Therefore, it is possible to form a plurality of images at different positions in the depth direction and change the display in the depth direction over time. Further, by changing the image formation positions of the first image A1 and the second image A2 using the drive unit 30 and displaying the image corresponding to the image formation position, the expression using the aerial image can be further diversified. Can be done.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and the embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

100 ... Image display device 10 ... Imaging optical unit 101 ... First imaging optical unit 102 ... Second imaging optical unit 103 ... Third imaging optical unit 11, 14 ... Beam splitters 12, 13 ... Retroreflective unit 15 ... Imaging lens 16 ... Dycroic mirror 17 ... Half mirror 20 ... Projection unit 21 ... First image projection unit 22 ... Second image projection unit 23 ... Third image projection unit 30 ... Drive unit 31 ... First drive unit 32 ... Second Drive unit 33 ... Third drive unit 40 ... Control unit 41 ... Information processing unit 42 ... Image processing unit 43 ... Drive control unit

Claims (6)

The first image projection unit that irradiates the first image and
The second image projection unit that irradiates the second image,
A first imaging optical unit that forms an image of the first image at a first distance,
A second imaging optical unit that forms an image of the second image at a second distance,
A control unit that controls the first image projection unit and the second image projection unit is provided.
The control unit is an image display device characterized by switching between a display state and a non-display state of the first image projection unit and the second image projection unit over time. The image display device according to claim 1.
The control unit is an image display device, characterized in that one of the first image projection unit and the second image projection unit switches the other to a non-display state in a display state. The image display device according to claim 1 or 2.
An image display device comprising a driving unit that changes the imaging position of the first image and / or the second image. The image display device according to claim 3.
The drive unit is an image display device characterized in that the first distance and / or the second distance is changed. The image display device according to claim 3 or 4.
The drive unit is an image display device that translates the first image and / or the second image at the second distance. The image display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The control unit changes the display contents of the first image and / or the second image over time, and switches between the display state and the non-display state in synchronization with the display contents. apparatus.

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