JPH0647027U - Head-up display device with automatic light control function for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] By installing a prism-shaped lens that has directivity toward the information display section above the light receiving section of the optical sensor, the background brightness of the information display section is properly measured, and the information display An object of the present invention is to provide a head-up display device that can be expected to improve the visibility of information display by optimally controlling the brightness.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a head-up display device having a vehicle automatic light control function.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 As a conventional head-up display device having this type of vehicle automatic light control function, there is, for example, one shown in FIGS. This is provided with a main body case 3 having an opening 2 on the upper surface inside an instrument panel 1 installed in front of a driver's seat, and inside the main body case 3, a sub display by a fluorescent display tube is provided. A display unit 4 and a plane mirror 5 for reflecting a display image from the sub-display unit 4 are arranged, and a transparent cover 6 for preventing dust from entering the main body case 3 in the opening 2. The projector 16 provided with is formed. Further, a translucent reflection plate (combiner) 8 as a half mirror is provided on the inner surface of the windshield 7 located above the instrument panel 1, and the display image of the sub-display 4 is transmitted to the plane mirror 5 and the translucent light. The image is displayed by the display 4 together with the scene in front of the vehicle by reflecting the light with the reflective reflector 8.

In addition, the change in the brightness of the background of the display portion does not make it difficult to visually recognize the display itself by the projector 16 such as being too bright and dazzling, being invisible in the dark, and being difficult to see in the evening double image. The brightness of external light is detected using the optical sensor 11 arranged on the upper part of the ment panel 1, and the light is automatically adjusted so as to keep the ratio of the display brightness and the external light constant according to the detected output. Is configured.

Reference numeral 9 is provided inside the instrument panel 1, for example, an analog or digital main display for displaying a vehicle speed engine speed, etc., and 15 is the main display 9 and the sub-display. A display controller for driving the device 4, 17 is a sensor for driving the sub-displays and the main displays 4, 9, 10 is an optical sensor drive circuit, and 12 is a ceiling of the automobile.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in such a conventional head-up display device having an automatic light control function for a vehicle, an optical sensor 11 for automatically adjusting the brightness of the display device according to the external light brightness is installed in the instrument. Due to the space limitation due to the size of the optical sensor 11 on the instrument panel 1, the light receiving surface 11 ′ of the optical sensor is provided in the upward direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the roof 12 of the automobile causes the optical sensor 11 installed in the instrument panel 1 to enter the shade, which causes a decrease in the measured luminance value of the optical sensor 11, which is related to the display device. The display brightness of 4 is dimmed so that the display brightness cannot be optimally controlled and the display becomes difficult to see because it cannot respond to changes in the reflection of the information display background due to external light. There was a point.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and a prism-shaped lens having directivity toward the information display section is provided above the light receiving section of the optical sensor to thereby provide the information display section. The object of the present invention is to provide a head-up display device in which the brightness of the background is properly measured and the brightness of the information display is optimally controlled by this to improve the visibility of the information display.

[0007]

【Example】

 The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The same parts as those of the structure of the present embodiment and the structure of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals as those of the conventional example. Therefore, the description of the same structural parts will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, a prism-shaped lens 14 having a curved reflecting surface 14 ″ is arranged above the light receiving portion of the optical sensor 11 provided above the instrument panel 1 to have a light collecting effect. The optical sensor 11 receives external light in the background direction of the display unit.

As shown in FIG. 4, the light receiving surface 14 ′ of the prism-shaped lens 14 is limited so as to face only toward the information display portion, and only external light from the information display direction is taken in. Reference numeral 14 "denotes a prism type lens reflecting surface for refracting and receiving the light received from the light receiving surface 14 'to the light receiving surface 11' of the optical sensor.

The configuration of this embodiment has been described above. Next, its operation will be described.

In FIG. 3, the display light emitted by the display 4 using the fluorescent display tube passes through the representative optical path b, the optical path is bent by the plane mirror 5, and the representative optical path a. The display light passing through the representative optical path a is incident on a point P on the inner surface of the windshield 7, and the translucent reflection plate 8 can read the display image on the display 4 together with the scene in front of the vehicle. Further, in order not to make it difficult to visually recognize the display image on the display 4, the prism type lens 14 having directivity only in the background direction of the information display section takes in external light in the background direction of the information display section, and the prism type lens 14 is provided. Condensed by the curved reflecting surface 14 ″ of the optical sensor, the optical sensor light receiving portion focuses the light within a short distance to the optical sensor 11, and the optical sensor detects the brightness of the external light. The display controller 15 is driven by the detection signal from 11, and the automatic dimming control of the display device 4 is performed so as to keep the ratio of the display brightness and the external light constant according to the detection output. Since the prism-shaped lens 14 having directivity only in the direction of the information display section is installed above the optical sensor light receiving section 14 'provided in the instrument panel 1, for example, when a car is the sun 16 When the vehicle is running backwards, even if the light sensor 11 is shaded by the roof 13 of the automobile, the prism-shaped lens 14 takes in external light in the direction of the information display section, so that it is detected that the brightness of the information display section is high. The background brightness of the information display section is appropriately adjusted, and the brightness of the display unit 4 is accurately adjusted according to the brightness of the background of the information display section to improve the visibility.

[0012]

As described above, according to the present invention, the information display such as characters and figures is reflected by the windshield 7 of the vehicle or the translucent reflection plate 8 provided in front of the windshield to cause a virtual image in front of the windshield. A projector 16 for projecting a display image is provided in the instrument panel 1, and an optical sensor 11 for automatically adjusting the display brightness of the projector 16 is provided in the instrument panel 1 part so as to overlap with the outside scenery. In the head-up display device having the automatic light control function for displaying the information, the prism type lens 14 having directivity only in the background direction of the information display part is provided above the light receiving part of the optical sensor 11. As a result, when traveling with the sun 16 behind, the optical sensor 1 installed on the instrument panel 1 by the roof 13 of the automobile. Even when 1 is in the shade, the prism-shaped lens 14, which has directivity only in the direction of the information display section, takes in external light in the direction of the information display section, so the background brightness of the information display section is properly detected. As a result, the brightness of the display 4 can be adjusted accurately according to the brightness of the background of the information display unit, and the visibility can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a structural explanatory view of a conventional head-up display device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation of a conventional example.

FIG. 3 is a structural explanatory view of a head-up display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a main part enlarging action of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Instrument panel 2 ... Opening part 3 ... Main body case 4 ... Sub-display 5 ... Plane mirror 6 ... Transparent cover 7 ... Windshield 8 ... Translucent reflector 9 ... Main display 10 ... Optical sensor drive circuit 11 ... Optical Sensor 12 ... Ceiling 14 ... Prism type lens 15 ... Display controller 16 ... Projector 17 ... Sensor

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A projector for projecting a virtual image display image in front of a windshield (7) of a vehicle or a translucent reflection plate (8) provided in front of the windshield to reflect information display such as characters and figures. (16) is provided in the instrument panel (1), and an optical sensor (1) for automatically adjusting the display brightness of the projector is provided.
1) is installed in the instrument panel section, and a light-receiving surface is provided above the light-receiving section of the optical sensor (11) in a head-up display device having an automatic light control function for displaying the information by superimposing it on the outside scenery. A head-up display device having an automatic light control function, which is provided with a prism-shaped lens (14) having directivity in which a light emitting surface is directed toward a light sensor only in a direction of an information display portion.