JP6875847B2 - In-vehicle display device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle display device that forms a plurality of virtual images in front of a projected member such as windshield glass.

Patent Document 1 describes an invention relating to an information display device used as a head-up display. In this information display device, two transmissive screens are arranged in front of the image projector, and information is imaged on each screen by the image projector. The distances from each screen to the windshield glass as an image forming member are different. The image formed on each screen by the image forming member is reflected by the image forming member and directed to the viewer. As a result, the viewer can see the virtual image formed in front of the image-forming member.

Since the distance between each screen and the image-forming member is different, an image formed on the screen located away from the image-forming member has a virtual image in front of the image-forming member. An image formed on a screen located close to the image-forming member, and a virtual image is formed near the front of the image-forming member. In this way, the viewer, who is the driver, can observe the virtual images formed at different distances in front of the image-forming member, which is the windshield glass. Further, the two screens are arranged so as to be separated by a predetermined distance so that the two formed virtual images do not overlap.

JP-A-2015-34919

However, in the information display device described in Patent Document 1, since the size and position of the two screens are fixed, when the amount of information contained in the image formed on each screen increases, the virtual image is enlarged. Since it is not possible to display each piece of information in a small size, the image becomes difficult for the viewer to see. Therefore, there is a problem that the amount of information contained in the image formed on each screen is restricted.

Therefore, the present invention provides an in-vehicle display device capable of changing the display size of two virtual images formed at different distances from the driver according to the amount of information while ensuring visibility by the viewer. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above problems, the in-vehicle display device of the present invention comprises an image forming unit having a light source, an intermediate image display body that forms an intermediate image with light from the image forming unit, and the intermediate image display body. In an in-vehicle display device having a projection optical system that projects emitted image light onto a member to be projected to form a virtual image, the intermediate image display body has a first intermediate image formed on the same surface. The projection optical system has one display area, a second display area on which a second intermediate image is formed, and a non-display area located between the first display area and the second display area. wherein and the optical path length of the second image light optical path length of the first image light and corresponding to the second intermediate image becomes different from one another corresponding to the first intermediate image, wherein the non-display region in the intermediate image display By changing the position to increase the size of one of the first intermediate image and the second intermediate image and reduce the size of the other, the optical path length of the first image light and the optical path length of the second image light are reduced. While maintaining the relationship, the display sizes of the projected light of the first image light and the projected light of the second image light are changed according to the sizes of the first intermediate image and the second intermediate image, respectively. It is supposed to be.
As a result, the display size of one of the virtual images can be increased without changing the projection distance based on each of the first image light and the second image light. Therefore, since the display size can be increased when the amount of information contained in one of the virtual images increases, it is possible to form a virtual image having a display size corresponding to the amount of information with ensured visibility. Therefore, the information can be displayed in a state that is easy for the driver to see according to the amount of information.

In the in-vehicle display device of the present invention, the projection optical system includes an optical member for making the optical path length of the first image light and the optical path length of the second image light different from each other, and the projected light of the first image light and the first image light. When the display size of the projected light of the two image lights is changed, the relationship between the optical path length of the first image light and the optical path length of the second image light is determined by moving the intermediate image display body and the optical member. It is preferable to maintain it.
As a result, one of the two virtual images based on the first image light and the second image light can be formed in the distance, the other can be projected in the near direction, and the display size does not change the relationship between these projection positions. Can be changed. Therefore, a stable visual state can be maintained even if the display size is changed.

In the in-vehicle display device of the present invention, the optical member is a pair of mirrors having a flat reflecting surface, and the pair of mirrors are sequentially arranged in one optical path of the first image light and the second image light, and the first When the display sizes of the projected light of the image light and the projected light of the second image light are changed, one of the pair of mirrors is moved along the direction of the reflecting surface, so that the optical path of the first image light is changed. It is preferable that the relationship between the length and the optical path length of the second image light is maintained.
As a result, the optical path can be secured without using a large mirror or replacing the mirror with a different size each time the display size is changed, so that the display size can be suppressed while suppressing the increase in the overall size of the device and the number of parts. It is possible to provide an in-vehicle display device capable of changing the above.

In the vehicle-mounted display device of the present invention, it is preferable that the projection optical system includes a projection mirror that is commonly arranged in the optical path of the first image light and the optical path of the second image light.
As a result, the first image light and the second image light can be projected onto the projected member at the same time.

According to the present invention, it is possible to change the display size of two virtual images formed at different distances according to the amount of information while ensuring visibility by the viewer.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the vehicle-mounted display device which concerns on embodiment of this invention is mounted on a vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows the projection operation of the vehicle-mounted display device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the arrangement of a part of the constituent members of the vehicle-mounted display device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the non-display area, the 1st display area, and the 2nd display area in the screen of embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the arrangement of a part of the constituent members of the vehicle-mounted display device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) shows the range of the distant virtual image in the driver's field of view when the intermediate image is formed in the state shown in FIG. 5, and (B) shows the range of the near virtual image in the driver's field of view at that time. , (C) is a diagram showing the relationship between the non-display area, the first display area, and the second display area on the screen at that time. It is a top view which shows the arrangement of a part of the constituent members of the vehicle-mounted display device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. (A) shows the range of the distant virtual image in the driver's field of view when the intermediate image is formed in the state shown in FIG. 7, and (B) shows the range of the near virtual image in the driver's field of view at that time. , (C) is a diagram showing the relationship between the non-display area, the first display area, and the second display area on the screen at that time.

Hereinafter, the in-vehicle display device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the vehicle-mounted display device 10 according to the present embodiment is mounted on an automobile 1 which is an example of a vehicle.
In the automobile 1, a windshield glass 4 is mounted between the bonnet portion 2 and the ceiling portion 3, and the windshield glass 4 separates the vehicle interior space 5 and the external space 6 in front of the vehicle. .. The windshield glass 4 is curved, and the concave surface of the windshield glass 4 is directed to the passenger compartment space 5, and the convex surface of the windshield glass 4 is directed to the front external space 6. The windshield glass 4 functions as a half mirror having a concave curved surface, and an image light is projected from the in-vehicle display device 10 as a projected member, and this image light is reflected toward the driver and the windshield glass 4 A virtual image is formed in front of.

Here, it is also possible to arrange a combiner as a projected member on the vehicle interior side of the windshield glass 4 and project the image light from the vehicle-mounted display device 10 onto the combiner. Since the combiner functions as a semi-reflective surface, the incident image light is reflected toward the driver, and a virtual image corresponding to the image light is formed in front of the windshield glass 4.

The passenger compartment space 5 is provided with a driver's seat 7 in which the driver 20 who is a visible person is seated, and a steering wheel 8 is provided in front of the driver's seat 7. A dashboard 9 is provided in front of the vehicle interior space 5, and the vehicle-mounted display device 10 of the present embodiment is embedded in the dashboard 9. The in-vehicle display device 10 is a so-called head-up display (HUD) device.

FIG. 2 shows a part of the vehicle-mounted display device 10 and the windshield glass 4. Further, FIG. 2 shows a light ray with respect to the center P of the eye box, which is a range corresponding to the line-of-sight position of the driver. FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the image forming unit 11, the screen 12, the first reflection mirror 13, the second reflection mirror 14, and the first projection mirror 15 in the vehicle-mounted display device 10. FIG. 3 shows the image light when two intermediate images corresponding to the distant virtual image 21 and the near virtual image 22 are evenly arranged on the left and right on the transmissive screen 12 as the intermediate image display body. .. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the non-display area A0, the first display area A1, and the second display area A2 on the screen 12, and is near the first display area A1 for displaying the distant virtual image 21. It shows a state in which two intermediate images corresponding to each of the second display areas A2 for displaying the virtual image 22 are evenly arranged on the left and right sides. In FIG. 4, the H direction corresponds to the horizontal direction in the virtual image visually recognized by the driver, and the V direction corresponds to the vertical direction in the virtual image.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vehicle-mounted display device 10 is provided with an image forming unit 11. The image forming unit 11 is a unit that forms an intermediate image on the screen 12, and has, for example, a MEMS mirror and a light source. The MEMS mirror has a MEMS (MICRO ELECTRO MEMSCANICAL SYSTEM) configuration, and has a scanning mirror and a scanning mechanism for rotating the scanning mirror in the X and Y directions. Further, as display light, a light source that emits an R (red) visible light laser and a light source that emits each of G (green) and B (blue) visible light lasers are provided. The light source that emits the laser of each color is switched by the switching element to operate. The image forming unit 11 is driven according to the control data previously stored in the storage circuit corresponding to the intermediate image formed on the screen 12.

Here, as the image forming unit 11, a DLP (Digital Light Processing) (registered trademark) projector using a DMD (Digital Mirror Device) as a scanning mirror may be used. When the DMD is used, the incident light from the light source is reflected by each of the plurality of micromirrors arranged in a matrix to form an intermediate image on the screen 12.

Further, LCOS (trademark, Liquid crystal on silicon) can be used instead of the scanning mirror. As the LCOS, either a transmission type or a reflection type can be used, and an intermediate image is formed on the screen 12 by the transmitted light or the reflected light in the LCOS.
Furthermore, instead of the image forming unit 11 and the screen 12, a self-luminous device such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) or an EL element (electroluminescence element) can be used.

The screen 12 as an intermediate image display body is, for example, a microlens array or a diffuser. The image light emitted from the screen 12 is emitted as diffused light recognizable by the eyebox. Further, it is also possible to provide a fine shape such as a microlens array on the exit surface side of the screen 12.

The intermediate image formed on the screen 12 has a first intermediate image formed in the first display area A1 and a second intermediate image formed in the second display area A2. The first display area A1 and the second display area A2 are divided by the non-display area A0 in the H direction of FIG. The sizes of the first intermediate image (first display area A1) and the second intermediate image (second display area A2) can be enlarged or reduced along the H direction, respectively, and the first display area A1 and the second are the second. Regardless of the enlargement / reduction of the display area A2, the non-display area A0 always exists between them. Therefore, the virtual image formed based on the diffused light emitted from the screen 12 can be recognized by the eyebox in a non-overlapping state. Further, since the first intermediate image (first display area A1) and the second intermediate image (second display area A2) can be enlarged / reduced, the size of the area is increased when the amount of information in one area is large. As a result, the formed image can be made into an appropriate size that can be easily recognized by the driver, so that the visibility of the image can be ensured.

The first reflection mirror 13 and the second reflection mirror 14 are arranged on the vehicle interior space 5 side of the image forming unit 11. The first reflection mirror 13 and the second reflection mirror 14 are flat mirrors, and at least the reflection surface is flat. As shown in FIG. 3, the first reflection mirror 13 is arranged on the optical path of the first image light I1 emitted from the first display area A1 on the screen 12, and the second reflection mirror 14 is the first reflection mirror. It is arranged on the optical path of the reflected light R1 (first image light I1) by 13. Further, the first reflection mirror 13 and the second reflection mirror 14 are arranged at positions that do not hinder the progress of the second image light I2 emitted from the second display area A2 on the screen 12.
Further, the first projection mirror 15 is arranged on the optical path of the light R2 (first image light I1) reflected by the second reflection mirror 14 and the second image light I2 emitted from the second display area A2 on the screen 12. There is. The first projection mirror 15 is a concave mirror having a reflection surface directed toward the first reflection mirror 13 and the second reflection mirror 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second projection mirror 16 is arranged on the optical path of the reflected light from the first projection mirror 15. The second projection mirror 16 is a concave mirror having a reflecting surface on the side of the first projection mirror 15. The first image light and the second image light magnified and reflected by the first projection mirror 15 are further magnified and reflected by the second projection mirror 16 and projected onto the windshield glass 4. The projection optical system is composed of the first projection mirror 15 and the second projection mirror 16.

In the above configuration, the first image light corresponding to the first intermediate image in the first display area A1 is sequentially reflected by the two reflection mirrors 13 and 14 and incident on the first projection mirror 15. On the other hand, the second image light corresponding to the second intermediate image in the second display area A2 is directly incident on the first projection mirror 15 without being incident on the two reflection mirrors 13 and 14. Therefore, the optical path length from the screen 12 to the first projection mirror 15 is longer in the first image light corresponding to the first intermediate image than in the second image light corresponding to the second intermediate image.

The reflected light from the first projection mirror 15 is magnified and reflected by the second projection mirror 16 and projected onto the windshield glass 4. This projected light is reflected on the driver side as a viewer and forms a virtual image in front of the windshield glass 4. Here, as described above, since the optical path lengths of the first image light and the second image light are different from each other, the virtual image formed by projecting these image lights by the second projection mirror 16 is the windshield glass 4. It is formed in different positions in front of. That is, the virtual image corresponding to the first image light is formed as a distant virtual image 21 in the distance, and the virtual image corresponding to the second image light is formed as a near virtual image 22 on the windshield glass 4 side of the distant virtual image 21. .. Here, when viewed from the driver side, the distant virtual image 21 is arranged on the left side in the horizontal direction, and the near virtual image 22 is arranged on the right side.

As shown by the arrows in FIG. 3, the screen 12 is movable in the direction D1 along the exit surface, and the second reflection mirror 14 is movable in the direction D2 along the reflection surface. Further, the image forming unit 11 moves in the above direction D1 together with the screen 12 so that the relative position with respect to the screen 12 is constant. Here, the in-vehicle display device 10 includes a moving mechanism for moving the screen 12 and the second reflection mirror 14, respectively, and positions the screen 12 and the second reflection mirror 14 according to the image information to be displayed on the image forming unit 11. Is controlled.
On the other hand, the position of the first reflection mirror 13 is fixed. Further, even when the screen 12 moves in the direction D1, the size and the spatial position of the non-display area A0 are constant. The position of the non-display area A0 on the screen 12 changes as the screen 12 moves.

FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the image forming unit 11, the screen 12, the first reflection mirror 13, the second reflection mirror 14, and the first projection mirror 15 in the vehicle-mounted display device 10 as in FIG. Has been done. FIG. 5 shows the image light on the screen 12 when the intermediate image corresponding to the distant virtual image 21 has the minimum size and the intermediate image corresponding to the near virtual image 22 has the maximum size. 6 (A) and 6 (B) show the ranges of the distant virtual image 21 and the near virtual image 22 in the driver's field of view 20A when the intermediate image is formed in the state shown in FIG. Is a diagram showing the relationship between the non-display area A0, the first display area A1, and the second display area A2 on the screen 12 at that time. FIG. 6C shows a state in which the screen 12 is viewed from the image forming unit 11 side.

FIG. 7 shows the arrangement of the image forming unit 11, the screen 12, the first reflection mirror 13, the second reflection mirror 14, and the first projection mirror 15 in the vehicle-mounted display device 10 as in FIG. Has been done. FIG. 7 shows the image light on the screen 12 when the intermediate image corresponding to the distant virtual image 21 has the maximum size and the intermediate image corresponding to the near virtual image 22 has the minimum size. 8 (A) and 8 (B) show the ranges of the far virtual image 21 and the near virtual image 22 in the driver's field of view 20A when the intermediate image is formed in the state shown in FIG. 7, respectively, and FIG. 8 (C) shows. Is a diagram showing the relationship between the non-display area A0, the first display area A1, and the second display area A2 on the screen 12 at that time. FIG. 8C shows a state in which the screen 12 is viewed from the image forming unit 11 side.

The position P11 at the left end of the distant virtual image 21 shown by the arrow in FIG. 6 (A) corresponds to the boundary position P21 between the non-display area A0 and the first display area A1 shown in FIG. 6 (C). The image at position P21 is placed at position P11 in the distant virtual image 21. Further, the rightmost position P12 of the near virtual image 22 indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6B corresponds to the boundary position P22 between the non-display area A0 and the second display area A2 shown in FIG. 6C. ..
Similarly, the leftmost position P31 of the distant virtual image 21 indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8A corresponds to the boundary position P41 between the non-display area A0 and the first display area A1 shown in FIG. 8C. Further, the position P32 at the right end of the near virtual image 22 indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8B corresponds to the boundary position P42 between the non-display area A0 and the second display area A2 shown in FIG. 8C. There is.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the image forming unit 11 and the screen 12 are moved along the upward direction D11 in the drawing and the range of the second display area A2 is expanded as shown in FIG. 6C, the first display is displayed. The range of the area A1 becomes smaller. In this state, when the second reflection mirror 14 is moved in the direction D12 facing the upper left of the drawing, the second reflection mirror 14 does not block the progress of the second image light I2 emitted from the second display area A2 of the screen 12. In addition, the first image light I1 emitted from the first display area A1 spread by the screen 12 and reflected by the first reflection mirror 13 can be reflected by the second reflection mirror 14. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the size of the far virtual image 21 corresponding to the first display area A1 is reduced, and the size of the near virtual image 22 corresponding to the second display area A2 is reduced. Can be increased. Here, the direction D11 is a direction parallel to the direction D1 shown in FIG. 3, and the direction D12 is a direction parallel to the direction D2 shown in FIG.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the image forming unit 11 and the screen 12 are moved along the downward direction D21 in the drawing, and the range of the first display area A1 is expanded as shown in FIG. 8C. 2 The range of the display area A2 becomes smaller. In this state, when the second reflection mirror 14 is moved in the downward right direction D22 in the drawing, the second reflection mirror 14 does not block the progress of the second image light I2 emitted from the second display area A2 of the screen 12. Within the range, the first image light I1 emitted from the first display area A1 of the screen 12 and reflected by the first reflection mirror 13 can be reflected by the second reflection mirror 14. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the size of the far virtual image 21 corresponding to the first display area A1 is increased, and the size of the near virtual image 22 corresponding to the second display area A2 is increased. Can be made smaller. Here, the direction D21 is a direction parallel to the direction D1 shown in FIG. 3, and the direction D22 is a direction parallel to the direction D2 shown in FIG.

With such a configuration / action, the display size of one of the virtual images can be increased without changing the positions of the two virtual images 21 and 22 based on the first image light I1 and the second image light I2, respectively. Therefore, since the display size can be increased when the amount of information contained in one of the virtual images is large, it is possible to form a virtual image having a display size corresponding to the amount of information with ensured visibility. Therefore, the information can be displayed in a state that is easy for the driver to see according to the amount of information.

A modified example will be described below.
In the above embodiment, the distant virtual image 21 and the near virtual image 22 are arranged left and right in the horizontal direction, but the arrangement of the screen 12, the two mirrors 13 to 14, and the two projection mirrors 15 to 16 is changed. It can also be arranged vertically.

Further, if the second image light I2 is not prevented from directly incident on the first projection mirror 15 and the first image light I1 can be reflected in order and incident on the first projection mirror 15, the above embodiment Instead of the first reflection mirror 13 and the second reflection mirror 14, for example, two prisms, three or more reflection mirrors, or a combination of prisms and reflection mirrors can be used.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be improved or modified within the purpose of improvement or the idea of the present invention.

As described above, the in-vehicle display device according to the present invention can display two virtual images formed at different distances from the driver according to the amount of information while ensuring visibility by the viewer. It is useful in that it can be changed.

1 Automobile 4 Windshield glass 5 Interior space 7 Driver's seat 9 Dashboard 10 In-vehicle display device 11 Image forming unit 12 Screen 13 1st reflection mirror 14 2nd reflection mirror 15 1st projection mirror 16 2nd projection mirror 20 Driver 20A Driver's field of view 21 Far virtual image 22 Near virtual image A0 Non-display area A1 First display area A2 Second display area D1, D2, D11, D12, D21, D22 Direction I1 First image light I2 Second image light

Claims (4)

An image forming unit having a light source, an intermediate image display body that forms an intermediate image with light from the image forming unit, and a projection that projects image light emitted from the intermediate image display body onto a projected member to form a virtual image. In an in-vehicle display device having an optical system and
The intermediate image display body includes a first display area in which a first intermediate image is formed, a second display area in which a second intermediate image is formed, a first display area, and the second display on the same surface. It has a hidden area located in the middle of the area,
In the projection optical system, a second image light path length corresponding to the second intermediate image and the optical path length of the first image light corresponding to the first intermediate image has become different from each other,
The optical path length of the first image light by changing the position of the non-display region in the intermediate image display body to increase the size of one of the first intermediate image and the second intermediate image and reduce the size of the other. The display size of the projected light of the first image light and the projected light of the second image light is displayed between the first intermediate image and the second intermediate image while maintaining the relationship between the second image light and the optical path length of the second image light. An in-vehicle display device characterized in that it is changed according to the size of the image. The projection optical system includes an optical member for making the optical path length of the first image light and the optical path length of the second image light different from each other.
When the display sizes of the projected light of the first image light and the projected light of the second image light are changed, the optical path of the first image light is moved by moving the intermediate image display body and the optical member. The vehicle-mounted display device according to claim 1, wherein the relationship between the length and the optical path length of the second image light is maintained. The optical member is a pair of mirrors having a flat reflecting surface, and the pair of mirrors are sequentially arranged in one optical path of the first image light and the second image light.
When the display sizes of the projected light of the first image light and the projected light of the second image light are changed, one of the pair of mirrors is moved along the direction of the reflecting surface. The vehicle-mounted display device according to claim 2, wherein the relationship between the optical path length of the first image light and the optical path length of the second image light is maintained. The vehicle-mounted display according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the projection optical system includes a projection mirror that is commonly arranged in the optical path of the first image light and the optical path of the second image light. apparatus.

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