TWI646354B - Adjustable reflector of head-up display device and head-up display device comprising same - Google Patents

Abstract

The adjustable reflector of the head-up display device includes a base, an adjusting frame, a reflecting element, an elastic member and a control module. The adjusting frame has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end is pivotally connected to the base, and the second end is rotatable relative to the first end. The reflecting element is disposed on the adjusting frame, and is configured to reflect a light beam generated by an image source to a stack of image units of the head-up display device. The elastic member is connected between the adjusting frame and the base to provide an elastic force to drive the second end of the adjusting frame to rotate relative to the first end. The control module includes a flexible transmission element connected to the adjustment frame, and a drive unit for pulling or releasing the flexible transmission element to adjust the included angle between the adjustment frame and the base.

Description

Adjustable reflector of head-up display device and head-up display device containing same

The invention relates to an adjustable reflector of a head-up display device, in particular to an adjustable reflector of a head-up display device which can improve image stability.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional head-up display device. Generally speaking, the conventional head-up display device 100 includes an image source 110, a lens 120, a reflector 130, and an image stack unit 140. The light beam L generated by the image source 110 is refracted by the lens 120 and then reflected by the mirror 130 to the superimposed image unit 140. The light beam L reflected to the superimposed image unit 140 forms a virtual image to provide the driver with relevant information, such as speed information, time information, and navigation information. Since different drivers have different heights and riding positions, in order to make it easier for the driver to see the information displayed by the head-up display device, the reflection angle of the reflector 130 can be adjusted to reflect the light beam L to an appropriate position on the superimposed image unit 140. . For example, when the driver's height is short, the head-up display device 100 can rotate the reflector 130 to further reflect the position of the light beam L on the superimposed image unit from the first position P1 to the lower second position P2. However, the imaging distance of the virtual image on the superimposed unit 140 is related to the travel distance of the light beam L from the lens 120 to the superimposed unit 140. When the position of the light beam L reflected on the superimposed image unit 140 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the traveling distance of the light beam L from the mirror 130 to the superimposed image unit 140 is shortened from a2 to a3, thereby changing the virtual image Imaging distance. Furthermore, when the position of the light beam L reflected on the superimposed image unit 140 is moved from the first position P1 to the second position P2, the incident angle of the light beam L will also change, thereby causing image distortion. Therefore, when the conventional head-up display device 100 adjusts the reflection angle of the reflector 130, the head-up display device 100 has a lower image stability.

The invention provides an adjustable reflector of a head-up display device, which includes a base, an adjustment frame, a reflective element, an elastic member and a control module. The adjusting frame has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end is pivotally connected to the base, and the second end is rotatable relative to the first end. The reflection element is disposed on the adjusting frame, and is configured to reflect a light beam generated by an image source of the head-up display device to a stack of image units of the head-up display device. The elastic member is connected between the adjusting frame and the base to provide an elastic force to drive the second end of the adjusting frame to rotate relative to the first end. The control module includes a flexible transmission element connected to the adjustment frame, and a drive unit for pulling or releasing the flexible transmission element to adjust the included angle between the adjustment frame and the base.

The invention further provides a head-up display device, which includes an image source, a stack of image units, and at least one adjustable reflector. The image source is used to generate a light beam. The superimposed image unit is used for displaying an image according to an incident light beam. The adjustable reflector includes a base, an adjusting frame, a reflecting element, an elastic member and a control module. The adjusting frame has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end is pivotally connected to the base, and the second end is rotatable relative to the first end. The reflecting element is disposed on the adjusting frame, and is configured to reflect the light beam generated by the image source to the superimposed image unit. The elastic member is connected between the adjusting frame and the base to provide an elastic force to drive the second end of the adjusting frame to rotate relative to the first end. The control module includes a flexible transmission element connected to the adjustment frame, and a drive unit for pulling or releasing the flexible transmission element to adjust the included angle between the adjustment frame and the base.

Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 at the same time. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the tunable reflector of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the adjustable reflector of FIG. 2 at another viewing angle. As shown in the figure, the adjustable reflector 10 of the present invention includes a base 11, an adjusting frame 12, a reflecting element 13, an elastic member 14, and a control module 15. The adjusting frame 12 has a first end E1 and a second end E2 opposite to each other. The first end E1 of the adjusting frame 12 is pivotally connected to the base 11, and the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 is rotatable relative to the first end E1. The reflecting element 13 is disposed on the adjusting frame 12. The elastic member 14 is a torsion spring connected between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 for providing an elastic force to drive the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 to rotate in a first direction A (toward the base 11). The control module 15 includes a flexible transmission element 17 and a driving unit 16. The flexible transmission element 17 is connected to the adjusting frame 12. The flexible transmission element 17 may be a rope, a belt or a chain. The flexible transmission element 17 can be bent and not stretched. The driving unit 16 (for example, including a motor and related transmission mechanism) can be used to pull or release the flexible transmission element 17.

According to the above configuration, when the driving unit 16 pulls the flexible transmission element 17, the flexible transmission element 17 will drive the second end E2 of the adjustment frame 12 to rotate in a second direction B (rotate away from the base 11) to increase the adjustment frame. The included angle between 12 and the base 11 further changes the reflection angle of the reflective element 13. On the other hand, when the driving unit 16 releases the flexible transmission element 17, the elastic member 14 drives the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 to rotate in the first direction A (turning toward the base 11) to reduce the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11. The included angle between them further changes the reflection angle of the reflection element 13.

In addition, the combination of the elastic member 14 and the flexible transmission element 17 of the present invention can be used to absorb the vibration of the adjusting frame 12 due to external force, thereby increasing the stability of the adjustable reflector 10. Furthermore, a guide groove 18 may be formed on the first end E1 of the adjusting frame 12, and the flexible transmission element 17 is connected to the adjusting frame 12 through the guiding groove 18. The guide groove 18 can prevent the flexible transmission element 17 from being offset, so as to increase the accuracy when adjusting the adjustable reflector 10.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the tunable reflector of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment of the adjustable reflector 10 a according to the present invention, the elastic member 14 a is a tensile spring for providing an elastic force to drive the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 in the first direction. A turns. Since the operation of the tunable reflector 10a is similar to that of the tunable reflector 10, it will not be described again.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the tunable reflector of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, in the third embodiment of the adjustable reflector 10 b of the present invention, the elastic member 14 b is a torsion spring connected between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 to provide an elastic force to drive the adjusting frame 12. The second end E2 is rotated in the second direction B (rotated away from the base 11). The driving unit 16 is used to pull the flexible transmission element 17 to drive the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 to rotate in the first direction A (rotate toward the base 11).

According to the above configuration, when the driving unit 16 pulls the flexible transmission element 17, the flexible transmission element 17 will drive the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 to rotate toward the base 11 to reduce the angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11, Furthermore, the reflection angle of the reflection element 13 is changed. On the other hand, when the driving unit 16 releases the flexible transmission element 17, the elastic member 14 will drive the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 to rotate away from the base 11 to increase the angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11, thereby changing the reflection. The reflection angle of the element 13.

Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of the tunable reflector of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, in the fourth embodiment of the adjustable reflector 10c of the present invention, the elastic member 14c is a compression spring for providing an elastic force to drive the second end E2 of the adjusting frame 12 in the second direction B Turn. Since the operation of the tunable reflector 10c is similar to that of the tunable reflector 10b, it will not be described again.

In the above embodiment of the adjustable reflector, the reflecting element 13 is a plane mirror, but the invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments of the adjustable reflector of the present invention, the reflective element 13 may also be a curved mirror (such as a concave mirror). The adjustable reflector of the present invention can be provided with appropriate types of reflecting elements according to design requirements.

Please refer to Figure 7. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the head-up display device 200 of the present invention includes an image source 210, a lens 220, an adjustable reflector 10, and an image stack unit 240. The image source 210 is used to generate a light beam L according to related driving information, and the pattern of the light beam corresponds to related driving information, such as speed information, time information, and navigation information. The lens 220 is disposed between the image source 210 and the adjustable reflector 10 to refract the light beam L generated by the image source 210. The tunable reflector 10 is used to reflect the light beam passing through the lens 220 to the superimposed image unit 240. In this embodiment, the reflecting element 13 of the tunable reflector 10 is a flat mirror. After the adjustable reflector 10 reflects the light beam L onto the superimposed image unit 240, the light beam L forms a virtual image on the superimposed image unit 240 to provide the driver with relevant driving information, such as speed information, time information, and navigation information. The virtual image on the superimposed image unit 240 is superimposed on the scene in front of the driver and does not affect the driver's sight.

In addition, the head-up display device 200 of the present invention may further include a gravity sensor 250 for sensing an included angle between the head-up display device 200 and a horizontal plane. The control module 15 may be further configured to adjust an included angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to the sensing result of the gravity sensor 250. For example, when the vehicle is going uphill, the driver's line of sight will be lowered. The control module 15 can adjust the angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to the sensing result of the gravity sensor 250 to reflect the light beam L. The position on the superimposed image unit 240 moves downwards; and when the vehicle goes downhill, the driver's line of sight will deviate upwards, and the control module 15 can adjust between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to the sensing result of the gravity sensor 250 The included angle, so that the position of the light beam L reflected on the superimposed image unit 240 moves upward.

Furthermore, the head-up display device 200 of the present invention may further include an eye-tracking sensor 260 for sensing the relative position between the head-up display device 200 and a user. The control module 15 may be further configured to adjust an included angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to a sensing result of the eye-tracking sensor 260. For example, when the driver's height is high, the control module 15 can adjust the angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to the sensing result of the eye tracking sensor 260, so that the light beam L is reflected to the superimposed image unit. The position on 240 moves up; and when the driver's height is short, the control module 15 can adjust the angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to the sensing result of the eye-tracking sensor 260 to reflect the light beam L Move down to the position on the superimposed image unit 240.

On the other hand, the control module 15 can be electrically connected to a speedometer 270 of a vehicle, and is used to adjust the included angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to the sensing result of the speedometer 270. For example, when the speed of the vehicle is fast, the driver will look at the distance, so the driver's line of sight will be tilted up. The control module 15 can adjust the distance between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 according to the sensing result of the speedometer 270. Angle to make the light beam L reflect to the position on the superimposed image unit 240 to move up; and when the speed of the vehicle is slow, the driver will look close, so the driver ’s line of sight will be lowered, and the control module 15 can The sensing result of the speedometer 270 adjusts the included angle between the adjusting frame 12 and the base 11 so that the light beam L is reflected down to the position on the superimposed image unit 240.

Please refer to Figure 8 and refer to Figure 7 together. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the adjustable reflector of the head-up display device of FIG. 7. For convenience of explanation, some elements of the head-up display device of FIG. 7 are omitted in FIG. 8. When the reflecting element 13 reflects the light beam L to the first position P1 on the superimposed image unit 240, the travel distance of the light beam L from the lens 220 to the superimposed image unit 240 is (a1 + a2). When the head-up display device 200 adjusts the adjustable reflector 10 to reflect the light beam L to the second position P2 on the superimposed image unit 240, the travel distance of the light beam L from the lens 220 to the superimposed image unit 240 is (a1 + a4 + a5). Compared to the conventional beam heading distance (a1 + a3) after the head-up display device 100 rotates the reflector 130, the head-up display device 200 according to the present invention adjusts the beam travel distance (a1 + a4 + a5) closer to the beam travel before adjustment. Distance (a1 + a2). In other words, the imaging distance of the virtual image on the superimposed image unit 240 of the present invention is less affected by the adjustment of the adjustable reflector 10. On the other hand, compared with the incident angle of the light beam of the conventional head-up display device at the second position P2 on the superimposed image unit, the incident angle of the light beam of the head-up display device 200 of the present invention at the second position P2 of the superimposed image unit is closer to the light beam. The incident angle at the first position P1 on the superimposed image unit. In other words, the virtual image on the superimposed image unit 240 of the present invention is less deformed by the incident angle.

Please refer to FIG. 9, which is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the head-up display device 300 uses a curved mirror 230 instead of a lens. The curved mirror 230 is used to reflect the light beam L generated by the image source 210 to the reflection element 13, and the reflection element reflects the light beam L to the superimposed image unit 240 to form a virtual image. Since the operation of the second embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention is similar to that of the first embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention, it will not be described again.

Please refer to FIG. 10, which is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the reflective element 13 of the adjustable reflector 10 of the head-up display device 400 is a concave mirror. Since the concave mirror can directly reflect the light beam L generated by the image source 210 onto the superimposed image unit 240 to form a virtual image, the lens can be omitted. In addition, the distance between the concave mirror 13 and the image source 210 must be kept constant. Therefore, the image source 210 rotates with the adjusting frame 12. For example, the image source 210 may be connected to the adjusting frame 12 to rotate with the adjusting frame 12.

Please refer to Figure 11 and also Figure 10. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of adjusting the adjustable reflector of the head-up display device of FIG. 10. For convenience of explanation, some elements of the head-up display device of FIG. 10 are omitted in FIG. 11. In this embodiment, the imaging distance of the virtual image on the superimposed image unit 240 is related to the travel distance of the light beam L from the reflection element 13 to the superimposed image unit 240. When the reflection element 13 reflects the light beam L to the first position P1 on the superimposed image unit 240, the travel distance of the light beam L from the reflective element 13 to the superimposed image unit 240 is a2. When the head-up display device 300 adjusts the adjustable reflector 10 to reflect the light beam L to the second position P2 on the superimposed image unit 240, the travel distance of the light beam from the reflection element 13 to the superimposed image unit 240 is a6. Compared with the travel distance a3 of the conventional head-up display device after rotating the reflective element, the adjusted travel distance a6 of the head-up display device 400 of the present invention is closer to the travel distance a2 of the light before adjustment. In other words, the imaging distance of the virtual image on the superimposed image unit 240 of the present invention is less affected by the adjustment of the adjustable reflector 10. On the other hand, compared with the incident angle of the light beam of the conventional head-up display device at the second position P2 on the superimposed image unit, the incident angle of the light beam of the head-up display device 400 of the present invention at the second position P2 on the superimposed image unit 240 is closer The incident angle of the light beam at the first position P1 on the superimposed image unit 240. In other words, the virtual image on the superimposed image unit 240 of the present invention has a smaller deformation amplitude due to a change in the incident angle.

In FIGS. 7 to 11, the configuration of the head-up display device of the present invention is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments of the present invention, the installation positions, installation angles, and numbers of the image source 210, the lens 220, the curved mirror 230, the adjustable reflector 10, and the superimposed image unit 240 may be changed according to design requirements. For example, the base of the adjustable reflector 10 can be placed horizontally, and the base of the adjustable reflector 10 can also be placed vertically or obliquely. In addition, the tunable reflectors 10 in FIGS. 7 to 11 may be replaced by tunable reflectors 10a, 10b, and 10c.

Compared with the prior art, when the head-up display device of the present invention adjusts the adjustable reflector, the variation range of the traveling distance of the light beam is smaller, so the variation of the imaging distance of the virtual image on the superimposed image unit is smaller. Furthermore, the amplitude of the incident angle of the light beam on the superimposed image unit is also small, so the distortion of the virtual image on the superimposed image unit is small. Therefore, the adjustable reflector of the present invention can improve the image stability of the head-up display device. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

10, 10a, 10b, 10c‧‧‧ Adjustable reflector

11‧‧‧ base

12‧‧‧ Adjusting frame

13‧‧‧Reflective element

14, 14a, 14b, 14c

15‧‧‧control module

16‧‧‧Drive unit

17‧‧‧ Flexible transmission element

18‧‧‧Guide groove

100‧‧‧Learn head-up display device

110‧‧‧Image Source

120‧‧‧ lens

130‧‧‧Reflective element

140‧‧‧ Overlay unit

200, 300, 400‧‧‧‧ Head-up display device of the present invention

210‧‧‧Image Source

220‧‧‧ lens

240‧‧‧ Overlay unit

250‧‧‧ gravity sensor

260‧‧‧Eye Tracking Sensor

270‧‧‧speed meter

P1‧‧‧First position

P2‧‧‧Second position

A‧‧‧ first direction

B‧‧‧ Second direction

E1‧‧‧The first end of the adjusting frame

E2‧‧‧ second end of the adjusting frame

a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6‧‧‧beam travel distance

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional head-up display device. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the tunable reflector of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the adjustable reflector of FIG. 2 at another viewing angle. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the adjustable reflector of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the tunable reflector of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of the tunable reflector of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the adjustable reflector of the head-up display device of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the head-up display device of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of adjusting the adjustable reflector of the head-up display device of FIG. 10.

Claims (19)

An adjustable reflector of a head-up display device includes: a base; an adjusting frame having a first end opposite to a first end and a second end, the first end is pivotally connected to the base and is not slidable relative to the base, and The second end is rotatable relative to the first end; a reflecting element is disposed on the adjusting frame to reflect a light beam generated by an image source of the head-up display device to a stack of image units of the head-up display device; an elastic member Connected between the adjusting frame and the base to provide an elastic force to drive the second end of the adjusting frame to rotate relative to the first end; and a control module including: a flexible transmission element connected to The adjusting frame; and a driving unit, the driving unit is not slidable relative to the base and is used to pull or release the flexible transmission element to adjust the angle between the adjusting frame and the base. The adjustable reflector according to claim 1, wherein a guide groove is formed at the first end of the adjusting frame, and the flexible transmission element is connected to the adjusting frame via the guiding groove. The adjustable reflector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a torsion spring. The adjustable reflector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a tensile spring. The adjustable reflector according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a compression spring. The tunable reflector according to claim 1, wherein the reflective element is a curved mirror. The tunable reflector according to claim 1, wherein the reflective element is a flat mirror. A head-up display device includes: an image source for generating a light beam; a stack of image units for displaying an image based on an incident light beam; and at least one adjustable reflector including: a base; an adjusting frame having an opposite one A first end and a second end, the first end is pivotally connected to the base and is not slidable relative to the base, and the second end is rotatable relative to the first end; a reflecting element is provided on the adjusting frame, and Reflecting the light beam generated by the image source to the superimposed image unit; an elastic member connected between the adjusting frame and the base for providing an elastic force to drive the second end of the adjusting frame to rotate relative to the first end; A control module includes: a flexible transmission element connected to the adjusting frame; and a driving unit that is not slidable with respect to the base and is used to pull or release the flexible transmission element to adjust the flexible transmission element The angle between the adjusting frame and the base. The head-up display device according to claim 8, wherein a guide groove is formed at the first end of the adjusting frame, and the flexible transmission element is connected to the adjusting frame via the guiding groove. The head-up display device according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member is a torsion spring. The head-up display device according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member is a tension spring. The head-up display device according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member is a compression spring. The head-up display device according to claim 8, wherein the reflective element is a curved mirror. The head-up display device according to claim 8, wherein the reflective element is a flat mirror. The head-up display device according to claim 14, further comprising a curved mirror for reflecting the light beam generated by the image source to the reflecting element. The head-up display device according to claim 14, further comprising a lens disposed between the image source and the reflection element to refract a light beam generated by the image source. The head-up display device according to claim 8, further comprising a gravity sensor for sensing an included angle between the head-up display device and a horizontal plane, and the control module is further configured to detect the The measurement results adjust the included angle between the adjusting frame and the base. The head-up display device according to claim 8, further comprising an eye-tracking sensor for sensing a relative position between the head-up display device and a user, and the control module is further used for detecting the eye-tracking The sensing result of the detector adjusts the included angle between the adjusting frame and the base. The head-up display device according to claim 8, wherein the control module is electrically connected to a speedometer of a vehicle for adjusting an included angle between the adjusting frame and the base according to a sensing result of the speedometer.