JPH075923U - Visibility control device with information display function - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A unit part in which a Fresnel lens is sandwiched between liquid crystal units is attached to a part of the glass of an automobile to increase the field of view. (EN) Provided is a visibility control device with an information display function, which displays liquid crystal information for publicity and the like, effectively utilizes a space, and prevents the Fresnel lens from being contaminated to keep the function of introducing transmitted light to a liquid crystal surface. [Structure] A unit portion 17 in which a Fresnel lens 2 is sandwiched between a front surface side liquid crystal unit 3 and a rear surface side liquid crystal unit 4 is attached to a part of a windshield 6 of an automobile, and a negative control output is given to the front surface side liquid crystal unit 3. Introduced
A positive control output is introduced to the back side liquid crystal unit 4 so that information display by liquid crystal can be confirmed from the outside. [Effect] Desired driving information and public information can be externally displayed on the liquid crystal at any time without preparing a special area. In addition, the space can be effectively used and the Fresnel lens can be prevented from being damaged.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a field-of-view control device with an information display function, which is mounted on a glass of a vehicle, in order to expand and reduce the field of view of the vehicle and to have a function of displaying each information and public information in synchronization with it.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 There is a diffusion method using a prism as a means of expanding the field of view, but due to problems in shape and mounting, Fresnel prisms / Fresnel lenses (hereinafter simply referred to as Fresnel lenses) that exhibit a thin prism function are used for some windshields. ing . In addition, it is necessary to inform the outside and the driver of various state changes and abnormalities of the vehicle while the vehicle is running. Various means have been conventionally adopted as means for this purpose.

As conventional techniques having the above-mentioned objects, for example, JP-A-56-17718, JP-A-58-116240 and JP-A-61-158367 can be cited. In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-17718, "Display device for automobile window" has a pattern displayed by liquid crystal on a part or all of the automobile window surface. There is disclosed a display device in which a liquid crystal unit (LCD) in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between polarizing plates is embedded, and when a vehicle exceeds a certain vehicle speed, the vehicle speed is displayed on a liquid crystal to inform a driver. Since this liquid crystal display is displayed only abnormally, it does not obstruct the field of view during normal operation and is characterized by being mounted on the windshield that is most visible to the driver. The "vehicle windshield" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-116240 is provided with a transmissive electrochromic display in a part of the visual field of the windshield. An electrochromic substance is a substance that is reversibly colored when a voltage is applied, and this property is used to add a predetermined voltage to the electrochromic substance when an abnormality occurs while the vehicle is running to display an abnormality. Is. In this case as well, the feature is that it does not interfere with the normal field of view and displays on the windshield as in the above-mentioned known technique. The "illuminator" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-158367 comprises a tubular light source, a linear Fresnel prism and a plane mirror. The linear Fresnel prism and the plane mirror are connected in a V shape, and the V shape is formed. The tubular light source is installed at the opening position of. With the above structure, the brightness of the reflected light is made uniform and the unevenness of the brightness is eliminated.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The "display device" of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-17718 has no means for expanding the field of view by using a Fresnel lens or the like, and the displayed pattern is intended mainly for the driver and does not have an external display function. . The "windshield" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-116240 has no means for expanding the field of view by using a Fresnel lens or the like as in the above-mentioned prior art, and is mainly for the driver. Further, the "illuminator" of JP-A-61-158367 uses a linear Fresnel prism or a tubular light source, but does not have a display function at the time of abnormality.

As described above, a Fresnel lens is sometimes used on the glass of an automobile for the purpose of enlarging the field of view. However, depending on the mounting position or running condition, such as high speed running or night running, the view field is hindered. However, it may cause fear. In addition, it is necessary for the driver to display the status change when the vehicle changes direction or operates the brakes, but it is safer to notify the outside person of the status. desirable. In addition, when the external display function is provided, it is more desirable not only to display only the status change and the occurrence of an abnormality, but also to provide necessary public relations information to external people. Further, it is desirable to eliminate the function of the Fresnel lens except when necessary in order to eliminate the visual field obstruction caused by the Fresnel lens. In addition, if the Fresnel lens removes the visual field obstruction and the above-mentioned information display is used together, and the area with reduced visibility due to the functional removal of the Fresnel lens can be used as a place for providing information, effective use of the place becomes possible. Further, the Fresnel lens has a function of expanding the field of view, but has a defect that it is easily soiled due to the step shape and that it is easily broken due to its thin wall. Therefore, a means to eliminate this drawback is also necessary.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances while solving the above problems, and can selectively exercise the field expansion function of a Fresnel lens and prevent its contamination. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a visibility control device with an information display function, in which external information such as information and publicity when a state change or abnormality of an automobile occurs is provided without providing a special display area.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a device mounted on a glass of an automobile for selectively displaying information such as driving information and public relations and controlling the expansion and contraction of the field of view, which is a Fresnel prism / Fresnel lens. And a front side liquid crystal unit and a back side liquid crystal unit or a transparent glass plate having the same content sandwiching the lens, and a negative and positive control output are added to the front side liquid crystal unit and the back side liquid crystal unit based on an information command. The visual field control device with an information display function is provided with a control device for controlling the visual field. Further, specifically, the device is attached to a part of the inside of the glass of the automobile or a part of the glass surface, and the information command causes the direction change of the automobile, a change in the operating state such as a brake operation, and an abnormality occurrence or an occupant. Is emitted at any time selected by, and the device is provided with a light emitting part and / or a light introducing part for actively introducing light into the device. Is.

[0008]

[Action]

 For example, by installing a Fresnel lens on the lower side of the windshield of an automobile, the field of view immediately before is expanded. On the other hand, the control output is automatically or manually added to the liquid crystal unit when the operation state of the vehicle changes such as direction change or at any time desired by the occupant. In this case, the control output is added to the front side liquid crystal unit negatively and to the back side liquid crystal unit positively. Since these front and back side liquid crystal units are arranged with the Fresnel lens sandwiched therebetween, when the control output is added, the view from the inside of the windshield where the Fresnel lens is mounted is cut off. It On the other hand, the liquid crystal display of the front and back side liquid crystal units is generated in this part, and desired information and public information are displayed and can be confirmed from the outside. Even in this case, the display is diffused by the complicated reflected light from the Fresnel lens or the like, and the brightness can be improved. Further, the lightness of the above-mentioned display can be further improved by providing a light emitting part and / or a light ray introducing part together with this device. Further, since the Fresnel lens is sandwiched between the front surface side liquid crystal unit and the rear surface side liquid crystal unit, contamination is prevented.

[0009]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an automobile cab showing a mounting position of this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control device, FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the control operation of the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining the outline of the field of view expanding action of the Fresnel lens of the present embodiment, and FIG. Sectional views for explaining the information display function of the example, FIGS. 8 to 11 are partial front views for explaining the information display of the present embodiment and the state of external and internal visual field control in that case, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a light emitting part, and FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are cross-sectional views showing an example of a light beam introducing part. Figure 16 shows the Fresnel lens and the liquid crystal unit in the glass. Is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment in which disposed.

The field-of-view control device 1 with an information display function of this embodiment is roughly classified into a Fresnel lens 2, a front surface side liquid crystal unit 3 and a rear surface side liquid crystal unit 4, and a front and rear surface side liquid crystal units 3 and 4 which are controlled. The control device 5 and so on. It should be noted that the present embodiment shows the case where it is mounted on the rear surface side below the windshield 6 of an automobile, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, in the figure, an electric bulb 7 which is one of the light emitting portions for improving the brightness is provided, but it is not an essential element. As will be described later, the control device 5 is provided with a sensing unit 8 for sending changes in operating conditions and information display contents to the control device 5 side, and its control output is transmitted through the LCD controller 9 or the like to the front side liquid crystal unit 3 and the back side. It is added to the side liquid crystal unit 4. The front and back side liquid crystal units 3 and 4 have the same contents, and a known LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) including a liquid crystal capable of displaying various information and public information and a polarizing plate sandwiching the liquid crystal is used. The Fresnel lens 2 and the front and back surface side liquid crystal units 3 and 4 are integrally assembled by an acrylic upper lid 10 and a lower lid 11 to form a unit portion 17, which is connected to the control device 5 side via a lead wire 12. It

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the windshield 6 is attached to the roof panel 13, the wind panel 14 and the side pillars 15 via a rubber molding 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the unit portion 17 of the present apparatus, which is an assembly of the Fresnel lens 2, the front and back surface side liquid crystal units 3 and 4, and the upper and lower lids 10 and 11, is mounted below the front glass 6. It is fixed by an adhesive or the like, and the left and right ends are supported by a holding plate 18 as shown in FIG. The holding plate 18 is fixed to the side pillar 15 side by a bolt 19.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the electric bulb 7 is mounted on the wind panel 14 side via a rubber bush 20, and its tip end side is arranged at a position facing the lower lid 11. The lead wire 21 of the light bulb is connected to an open / close switch (not shown) controlled by the controller 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 5 is composed of a judging section 24, a display setting storage section 25, a character font storage section 26, a liquid crystal display control signal generating section 27, etc., and the storage sections 25, 26. Are stored as ROM. The determination unit 24 receives the input signals from the operation detection unit 22 and the condition selection switch unit 23 to determine the necessary display settings and display characters, and refers to the desired display settings from the display setting storage unit 25 and the character font storage unit 26. The display characters are referred to and input to the liquid crystal display control signal generating unit 27 side.

The LCD controller 9 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the output amplifying section 28 and the output inverting section 29 shown in FIG. The output amplification section 28 amplifies the control output from the control device 5 and introduces the positive control output to the back surface side liquid crystal unit 4, and the output inverting section 29 outputs the control output amplified by the output amplification section 28. It is inverted to the negative and introduced into the front side liquid crystal unit 3.

The sensing unit 8 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to the operation detection unit 22 and the condition selection switch unit 23 of FIG. The operation detecting section 22 detects whether or not there is an operation of a turn signal for turning the vehicle, a brake during braking or the like, and sends an input signal to the control device 5 side. The condition selection switch unit 23 has a function of selecting each condition such as setting of display contents to be displayed on the liquid crystal (display setting), display characters, display timing, manual or automatic switching, and inputting a switch to the control device 5 side. It is a thing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control operation according to the block diagram of FIG. The operation detection unit 22 detects the operation of the turn signal switch and the brake operation due to the stop lamp release (steps 100 and 101). The condition selection switch section 23 determines display settings, display characters, display timing, and manual or automatic (omitted in the flowchart). The determination unit 24 of the control device 5 gives priority to the blinker information (step 102) and determines the display setting, display character, display timing, manual or automatic required for the display. In the control device 5, necessary display setting reference is made from the display setting storage unit 25 based on the judgment information (Step 103), a display character is selected (Step 104), and a necessary character is stored from the character font storage unit 26. The display character font is referred to (step 105). Next, the liquid crystal display control signal generator 27 generates a liquid crystal display control output based on the display setting reference and the character font reference (step 106), and the control output is amplified by the output of the LCD controller 9 (FIG. 1). The data is output to the unit 28 side (step 107). The control output amplified here is introduced to the back side liquid crystal unit 4, and a positive character display is displayed based on the display setting reference (step 108). On the other hand, the control output amplified by the output amplifying section 28 is inverted by the output inverting section 29 (step 109) and introduced into the front side liquid crystal unit 3 to display negative characters (step 110). As described above, the liquid crystal information display such as "turn right" is displayed (step 111).

FIG. 6 shows how the field of view of the unit portion 17 of this embodiment is expanded. When the control output is not added to the front surface side liquid crystal unit 3 and the back surface side liquid crystal unit 4, these front and back surface side liquid crystal units 3 and 4 do not interfere with the passage of light. Therefore, a part of the line of sight 30 from the viewpoint (indicated by EP) inside the automobile is refracted and reflected by the Fresnel lens 2 to widen the field of view. Although not shown, the incident light from the outside lower side enters the EP side, so that the field of view is expanded.

On the other hand, FIG. 7 shows a case where the control output is added to the unit section 17. In this case, the front side liquid crystal unit 3 becomes negative, and as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the portion other than the arrow right (31 in FIG. 7) becomes black. On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 9, the back side liquid crystal unit 4 is black only on the right side of the arrow (32 in FIG. 7), and the other parts are white. Due to the above, when the unit portion 17 is viewed from the driver's seat side inside the automobile as shown in FIG. 10, the arrow right 32 in FIG. 9 and the arrow right 31 in FIG. 8 overlap each other to cut the field of view. That is, the visual field expansion function of the Fresnel lens 2 at the location where the unit portion 17 is disposed is lost, and the visual field at that portion is reduced. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, when the unit portion 17 in this state is viewed from the outside, the display on the right side 31 of the front side liquid crystal unit 3 is clearly displayed and the liquid crystal information is displayed.

FIG. 12 illustrates the function of the Fresnel lens 2 in the unit section 17 in the state shown in FIG. That is, a part of the incident light incident from the outside is refracted by the Fresnel lens 2, and is also reflected and refracted in a complicated manner by the gap 33 between the Fresnel lens 2 and the rear surface side liquid crystal unit 4, the corner portion 34 of the Fresnel lens 2 and the like. . Therefore, the brightness of the liquid crystal information display shown by the arrow 31 on the right side of FIG. 8 is improved, and a clearer display is possible as compared with the case where the Fresnel lens 2 is not used.

Although not shown, since the Fresnel lens 2 functions as a diffusion transmission film as described above, the color tone of the back surface side liquid crystal unit 4 is larger than that of the front surface side liquid crystal unit 3 when viewed from the outside. Also becomes considerably weaker. Further, since there is a spatial distance between the front surface side liquid crystal unit 3 and the back surface side liquid crystal unit 4, a shift occurs between the two except when viewed from the front, and the contrast is emphasized. That is, by interposing the Fresnel lens 2, even if the front and back side liquid crystal units 3 and 4 have the same color tone, different color tones are obtained due to the diffuse transmission effect of the Fresnel lens 2. Further, a spatial shift between the front and back side liquid crystal units 3 and 4 causes a highlight portion to further enhance the contrast. In this embodiment, the front side liquid crystal unit 3 and the back side liquid crystal unit 4 have the same color, but it is also possible to recognize display characters of different colors by changing both colors. Due to the nature of the liquid crystal, it becomes almost colorless and transparent when no voltage is applied, so there is no problem in the field of view during non-control.

In the case of the unit section 17 described above, the case where no special input light is used has been described, but as shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, a light bulb 7 which is one of the light emitting sections is attached as the input light. A method of making the liquid crystal information display more clear is adopted. Further, FIGS. 14 and 15 show a case where a mirror surface 35 and a prism 36 as a light beam introducing portion are additionally provided to improve the brightness of liquid crystal information display.

FIG. 16 shows that the unit portion 17 is mounted between the windshields 6 and 6 separated by the resin plate 37. In this case, the mounting space can be reduced, the size can be reduced, and the same effect as described above can be obtained.

Although the unit portion 17 is attached to the windshield 6 in the above-described embodiment, the invention is not limited to this, and the same applies to the side glass, the rear glass, and the like. Further, although the back surface side liquid crystal unit 4 is adopted as the back surface of the unit portion 17, a transparent glass plate may be used instead of the back surface side liquid crystal unit 4 when the liquid crystal display content is relatively small. That is, in this case, the Fresnel's field of view from the transmissive portion (the portion corresponding to the arrow right 31) of the front side liquid crystal unit 3 does not pass as visual information, so that misidentification of information does not occur.

In the above description, the general structure and configuration of the unit section 17, the control device 5 and the like have been described, but the contents of the present invention are not limited to the above description and do not depart from the gist of the present invention. Various modifications are possible within the range. Further, the liquid crystal display contents are not limited to those described above, and a wide range of displays including public relations and advertisements are displayed.

[0026]

[Effect of device]

 According to the present invention, the following remarkable effects are obtained. 1) By installing a unit part with a Fresnel lens sandwiched between a pair of liquid crystal units in an automobile, the field of view can be expanded, and by inputting positive and negative control outputs to the liquid crystal unit, the arrangement of the unit parts can be improved. A liquid crystal display will be possible at the installed site. That is, desired information can be displayed and public information can be provided without providing a special information display area. 2) The Fresnel lens has the function of expanding the field of view, but it can cause visual errors and fear depending on the driving conditions and timing. Therefore, in the present invention, the field of view expansion function of the Fresnel lens is eliminated, and instead the liquid crystal information is displayed in that area, thereby eliminating the disadvantage of the field of view reduction of the Fresnel lens. 3) The reduction of the field of view of the Fresnel lens and the switching of liquid crystal information display can be arbitrarily performed when desired. 4) Since the Fresnel lens is sandwiched between the liquid crystal units, contamination can be prevented and the function of introducing the transmitted light to the liquid crystal surface of the Fresnel lens can be made permanent. 5) The device is compact and easy to install and can be installed on any glass surface of a car. 6) The brightness of the liquid crystal display can be further improved by additionally providing a light emitting section and a light beam introducing section.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the present embodiment is mounted on a windshield of an automobile.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a control method of this embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the visual field expanding function of the Fresnel lens of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of liquid crystal information display of the unit section of the present embodiment.

8 is a partial front view showing a liquid crystal information display of the front side liquid crystal unit in FIG.

9 is a partial front view showing the liquid crystal information display of the rear liquid crystal unit in FIG.

10 is a front view showing a view from the driver's cab side of the automobile in the state of FIG. 7. FIG.

11 is a front view showing a visual field from the outside in the state of FIG.

12 is a cross-sectional view showing the diffusion effect of the Fresnel lens in the state of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a light bulb of a light emitting portion is attached to the unit portion.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a mirror surface of a light beam introducing portion is attached to the unit portion.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where a prism of a light beam introducing portion is attached to the unit portion.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where the unit portion of the present embodiment is mounted between windshields.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Visibility control device with information display function 2 Fresnel lens 3 Front side liquid crystal unit 4 Back side liquid crystal unit 5 Control device 6 Windshield 7 Light bulb 8 Sensing part 9 LCD controller 10 Upper lid 11 Lower lid 12 Lead wire 13 Roof panel 14 Wind panel 15 Side Pillar 16 Rubber Mold 17 Unit Section 18 Holding Plate 19 Bolt 20 Rubber Bush 21 Lead Wire 22 Operation Detection Section 23 Condition Selection Switch Section 24 Judgment Section 25 Display Setting Storage Section 26 Character Font Storage Section 27 Liquid Crystal Display Control Signal Generation Section 28 Output Amplifying unit 29 Output reversing unit 30 Line of sight 31 Arrow right 32 Arrow right 33 Air gap 34 Corner portion 35 Mirror surface 36 Prism 37 Resin plate

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location B60Q 1/50 Z B60R 1/00 Z 8012-3D G09F 13/04 U 8621-5G

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A device mounted on the glass of an automobile for selectively displaying information such as driving information and public relations and controlling the expansion and contraction of the field of view, and a Fresnel prism / Fresnel lens and the same sandwiching the lens. A front side liquid crystal unit and a back side liquid crystal unit or a transparent glass plate, and a controller for adding negative and positive control outputs to the front side liquid crystal unit and the back side liquid crystal unit based on an information command. Visibility control device with information display function. 2. The visibility control device with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the device is mounted in a part of a glass or a part of a glass surface. 3. The visual field with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the information command is issued at the time of a change in an operation state of the vehicle such as a direction change of the vehicle, a brake operation, or the like, or when an abnormality occurs or at any time selected by an occupant. Control device. 4. The visibility control device with an information display function according to claim 1, wherein the device is provided with a light emitting section and / or a light beam introducing section for positively introducing light into the apparatus.