Optical path adjustment component, optical system and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of display technology, and provides an optical path adjustment component, an optical system and a vehicle. The optical path adjustment component includes an optical element, a bracket, a permanent magnet, an electromagnet and a controller electrically connected to the electromagnet. One of the permanent magnet and the electromagnet is arranged on the optical element, and the other is arranged on the bracket. The electromagnet is opposite to one magnetic pole of the permanent magnet. The controller is used to control the electromagnet to attract and / or repel the permanent magnet, so that the permanent magnet drives the optical element to move.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of optical technology, and in particular to an optical path adjustment component, an optical system and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Existing optical systems (such as heads-up displays) often include an optical path adjustment component to change the path of light to achieve a better optical effect. An existing optical path adjustment component used in a head-up display connects an optical element (such as a curved mirror) and a gear via a bracket, and uses the gear and motor to adjust the rotation angle of the curved mirror. However, this optical path adjustment component has the following disadvantages: the gear set usually consists of a motor and two gears, which takes up a lot of space and is heavy, making it unfavorable for the design of a light, thin, and small head-up display; the gears have a mechanical backlash phenomenon, which generates noise; the weight of the curved mirror can cause vibration problems, and the vibration reduction design provided by the gears cannot completely overcome the vibration problem. Summary of the Invention

[0003] A first aspect of the present invention provides an optical path adjustment component. The optical path adjustment component includes:

[0004] Optical components and mounts;

[0005] a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, one of the permanent magnet and the electromagnet being disposed on the optical element, the other of the permanent magnet and the electromagnet being disposed on the bracket, and the electromagnet being opposite to one magnetic pole of the permanent magnet; and

[0006] A controller is electrically connected to the electromagnet, and is used to control the electromagnet to attract and / or repel the permanent magnet, so that the permanent magnet drives the optical element to move.

[0007] The optical path adjustment assembly of the first aspect of the present invention drives the movement of the optical element through the non-contact magnetic force between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet. Compared with the conventional gear-driven solution, the gear set is eliminated. When it is applied to the head-up display, it is conducive to the design of a light, thin and small head-up display, and can avoid the noise and vibration problems caused by the gears.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention provides an optical system. The optical system comprises:

[0009] a housing having a receiving cavity;

[0010] an image generating unit, housed in the accommodating cavity and configured to emit image light; and

[0011] The optical path adjustment assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention;

[0012] Wherein, the optical element is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and the optical element is used to reflect the image light;

[0013] The bracket is the shell, or the bracket is accommodated in the accommodating cavity and installed on the shell.

[0014] The optical system of the second aspect of the present invention includes the optical path adjustment component of the first aspect, and therefore, it has at least the same advantages as the optical path adjustment component, which will not be described in detail here.

[0015] A third aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle. The vehicle comprises:

[0016] windshield; and

[0017] The optical system according to the second aspect of the present invention is a head-up display;

[0018] The image light is emitted from the housing to the windshield to form an image.

[0019] The vehicle of the third aspect of the present invention includes the optical system of the second aspect, and therefore, it has at least the same advantages as the optical system, which will not be described in detail here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the state of the gear rotating counterclockwise in the existing optical path adjustment component.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the state of the gear rotating clockwise in the existing optical path adjustment component.

[0022] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an optical path adjustment component in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Front view of the optical components.

[0024] Figure 5A FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the distribution of electromagnets on a bracket in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5B FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the distribution of electromagnets on a bracket in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5C This is a schematic diagram of the distribution of electromagnets on a bracket in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a side view of a bracket and an electromagnet in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7Afor Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a motion state of an optical element of an optical path adjustment component in FIG.

[0029] Figure 7B for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a motion state of an optical element of an optical path adjustment component in FIG.

[0030] Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Description of main component symbols:

[0032] Vehicle 100

[0033] Optical system 110

[0034] Optical path adjustment component 10

[0035] Optical elements 11, 2

[0036] First surface 11a

[0037] Second surface 11b

[0038] Part 111

[0039] Part 2112

[0040] Permanent magnet 12

[0041] Bracket 13

[0042] Electromagnet 14

[0043] Image generation unit 20

[0044] Plane mirror 30

[0045] Housing 40

[0046] Accommodation chamber 40a

[0047] Image light L

[0048] Windshield 120

[0049] Axis C

[0050] First direction D1

[0051] Second direction D2

[0052] Third direction D3

[0053] Eyes

[0054] Gear 1

[0055] Mounting bracket 3 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, the existing optical path adjustment components used in optical systems (such as head-up displays) generally include a gear 1, an optical element 2, a mounting bracket 3 and a motor (not shown). The gear 1, the optical element 2, the mounting bracket 3 and the motor (not shown) can be assembled into the housing of the head-up display, and then the head-up display is placed in the vehicle for system integration of the driver's seat. The optical element 2 is, for example, a curved mirror, which is used to reflect the image light to the windshield. The windshield further reflects the image light to the driver's eyes. The mounting bracket 3 is respectively connected to the gear 1 and the optical element 2. Driven by the motor, the gear 1 drives the mounting bracket 3 to adjust the rotation angle of the optical element 2.

[0057] Specifically, if Figure 1 As shown in Figure 1, when gear 1 rotates counterclockwise, optical element 2 rotates downward. Figure 2 As shown, when gear 1 rotates clockwise, optical element 2 rotates upward. In other words, the up-and-down rotation of optical element 2 is driven by the rotation of gear 1. The rotation of optical element 2 adjusts the angle at which the image light in the head-up display is incident on different drivers.

[0058] However, this approach has the following disadvantages: the gear set is usually composed of a motor and two gears, which takes up a lot of space and is heavy, making it unfavorable for the design of a light, thin, and small head-up display; there is backlash in the gear mechanism, which generates noise; the weight of the curved mirror can cause vibration problems, and the vibration reduction design provided by the gears cannot completely overcome the vibration problem; there are also design and assembly issues as well as cost issues, etc.

[0059] In this regard, an embodiment of the present invention provides an optical path adjustment component, an optical system and a vehicle. The optical path adjustment component includes an optical element, a bracket, a permanent magnet, an electromagnet and a controller. One of the permanent magnet and the electromagnet is provided on the optical element, and the other is provided on the bracket, and the electromagnet is opposite to one pole of the permanent magnet. The controller is electrically connected to the electromagnet and is used to control the electromagnet to attract and / or repel the permanent magnet so that the permanent magnet drives the optical element to move. The optical path adjustment component of the embodiment of the present invention drives the optical element to move through the non-contact magnetic force between the permanent magnet and the electromagnet. Compared with the conventional gear-driven solution, the gear set is eliminated. When it is applied to an optical system such as a head-up display, it is conducive to the design of a light, thin and small head-up display, and can avoid the noise and vibration problems caused by the rotation of the gears. In addition, since it reduces components such as the gear set, the assembly cost and material cost are further reduced.

[0060] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments.

[0061] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of an optical path adjustment component in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 As shown, the optical path adjustment assembly 10 includes an optical element 11, a permanent magnet 12, a bracket 13, and an electromagnet 14. The permanent magnet 12 is disposed on the optical element 11. The electromagnet 14 is disposed on the bracket 13, and the electromagnet 14 is opposite to one pole of the permanent magnet 12.

[0062] The optical path adjustment assembly 10 further includes a controller (not shown) electrically connected to the electromagnet 14. The controller is used to control the electromagnet 14 to attract and / or repel the permanent magnet 12, so that the permanent magnet 12 drives the optical element 11 to move. The controller is, for example, a control motherboard.

[0063] Specifically, the optical element 11 includes a first surface 11a and a second surface 11b opposite to each other, wherein the first surface 11a is an optical surface. In one embodiment, the optical element 11 is a reflector (e.g., a curved reflector), and the first surface 11a is a reflective surface. In other embodiments, the optical element 11 may also be a lens or other optical element.

[0064] like Figure 4 As shown, the optical element 11 has an axis C parallel to the first direction D1. Along the second direction D2, the optical element 11 includes a first portion 111 and a second portion 112 with the axis C located on opposite sides of the axis C. The second direction D2 is perpendicular to the first direction D1.

[0065] like Figure 3 As shown, a plurality of permanent magnets 12 are located on one side of the second surface 11 b of the optical element 11 . Some of the permanent magnets 12 are spaced apart in the first portion 111 , and another portion of the permanent magnets 12 are spaced apart in the second portion 112 .

[0066] Specifically, the permanent magnet 12 is, for example, embedded in one side of the second surface 11b of the optical element 11, or bonded to one side of the second surface 11b of the optical element 11. The permanent magnet 12 can be an alloy permanent magnet material, such as a rare earth permanent magnet material. The permanent magnet 12 can also be a ferrite permanent magnet material, such as a sintered ferrite permanent magnet material, a bonded ferrite permanent magnet material, or an injection-molded ferrite permanent magnet material.

[0067] Multiple electromagnets 14 are spaced apart on the bracket 13 along the third direction D3, forming a stair-like arrangement. Corresponding positions on the bracket 13 along the second direction D2 form a stair-like pattern. The third direction D3 is perpendicular to the first and second directions D1 and D2. When the optical path adjustment assembly 10 is used in a heads-up display (HUD), the bracket 13 can be a housing that houses the HUD's image generation unit, optical elements, and the like, or it can be a separate component from the housing, which is housed within the housing.

[0068] Each permanent magnet 12 corresponds to at least one electromagnet 14. The distance between the permanent magnet 12 and the electromagnet 14 is less than 20 mm to ensure the magnetic force between the electromagnet 14 and the permanent magnet 12 and make the entire optical path adjustment assembly 10 more compact.

[0069] Specifically, the magnetic pole of the permanent magnet 12 located on the first portion 111 facing the electromagnet 14 is the S pole, and the magnetic pole of the permanent magnet 12 located on the second portion 112 facing the electromagnet 14 is the N pole. In other embodiments, the magnetic pole of each permanent magnet 12 facing the electromagnet 14 is the N pole; or the magnetic pole of each permanent magnet 12 facing the electromagnet 14 is the S pole.

[0070] In one embodiment, Figure 5A As shown, some of the electromagnets 14 are circular and arranged in multiple columns along the first direction D1 and in multiple rows along the second direction D2, with one row of electromagnets 14 corresponding to one permanent magnet 12; another part of the electromagnets 14 extend in a bar shape along the first direction D1, with one electromagnet 14 corresponding to one permanent magnet 12.

[0071] In another embodiment, if Figure 5B As shown, all the electromagnets 14 are arranged in an array. The electromagnets 14 are arranged in a plurality of columns along the first direction D1 and in a plurality of rows along the second direction D2 , with one row of electromagnets 14 corresponding to one permanent magnet 12 .

[0072] In another embodiment, Figure 5C As shown, all the electromagnets 14 are arranged at intervals along the second direction D2 , each electromagnet 14 extends into a bar shape along the first direction D1 , and one electromagnet 14 corresponds to one permanent magnet 12 .

[0073] In other embodiments, the number and shape of the permanent magnets 12 and the electromagnets 14 are not limited.

[0074] In another embodiment, if Figure 6 As shown, multiple electromagnets 14 are arranged in a stepped manner. The corresponding positions on the bracket 13 are sloped rather than stepped. That is, the structural variant of the bracket 13 is not limited to Figure 6 and Figure 3In addition, in other embodiments, the electromagnet 14 can be disposed on the optical element 11, and the permanent magnet 12 can be disposed on the bracket 13. As long as the electromagnet 14 and the permanent magnet 12 are disposed relative to each other to generate magnetic force to drive the optical element 11 to move, it is sufficient.

[0075] In the embodiment of the present invention, the controller independently controls the on / off state, current magnitude, and current direction of each electromagnet 14. Driven by the permanent magnet 12, the optical element 11 can rotate along an axis C perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic force between the electromagnet 14 and the permanent magnet 12.

[0076] Specifically, the electromagnet 14 may include an iron core (not shown) and a coil (not shown) surrounding the iron core. The controller can control the direction of the magnetic field formed by the electromagnet 14 by controlling the direction of the current applied to the coil, thereby changing the magnetic polarity of the electromagnet 14 and the direction of the magnetic force between the electromagnet 14 and the permanent magnet 12. In addition, the controller can control the strength of the magnetic field formed by the electromagnet 14 by controlling the magnitude of the current applied to the coil.

[0077] like Figure 3 As shown, if all electromagnets 14 are off, the optical element 11 is in a neutral state (or free state). When some of the electromagnets 14 are turned on under the control of the controller, the state of the optical element 11 changes. When the magnetic poles of the electromagnets 14 facing the permanent magnet 12 are like poles, a repulsive force exists between the permanent magnet 12 and the electromagnets 14. When the magnetic poles of the electromagnets 14 facing the permanent magnet 12 are opposite poles, an attractive force exists between the permanent magnet 12 and the electromagnets 14.

[0078] like Figure 7A As shown, when the electromagnet 14 is turned on, and the magnetic force between the permanent magnet 12 on the first part 111 and the corresponding electromagnet 14 is an attractive force, and the magnetic force between the permanent magnet 12 on the second part 112 and the corresponding electromagnet 14 is a repulsive force, the optical element 11 rotates clockwise around the axis C parallel to the first direction D1.

[0079] like Figure 7B As shown, when the electromagnet 14 is turned on, and the magnetic force between the permanent magnet 12 on the first part 111 and the corresponding electromagnet 14 is a repulsive force, and the magnetic force between the permanent magnet 12 on the second part 112 and the corresponding electromagnet 14 is an attractive force, the optical element 11 rotates counterclockwise around the axis C parallel to the first direction D1.

[0080] Because the controller can independently control the on / off state of each electromagnet 14, as well as the magnitude and direction of the current, the magnitude and direction of the magnetic force between the electromagnet 14 and the corresponding permanent magnet 12 can be independently controlled. This allows the magnetic force between the permanent magnet 12 on the optical element 11 and the electromagnet 14 on the bracket 13 to be controlled as a whole, achieving various permutations, combinations, and subdivisions. For example, from top to bottom (or, in other words, along the second direction D2), the magnetic force states of the six permanent magnets 12 shown in the figure can be as follows: +1+1+1-1-1-1, +1+1+1-1-1-2, +1+1+1-1-1-3, +1+2+3-1-2-3, ..., -3-2-1+1+2+3, etc. A positive sign indicates magnetic attraction, a negative sign indicates magnetic repulsion, and the magnitude of the number indicates the magnitude of the magnetic force, with larger numbers indicating greater magnetic force. Therefore, the rotation of the optical element 11 can be divided into subdivided angles, for example, 3 degrees of rotation can be divided into 100 grids, each grid being 0.01 degrees. In this way, the rotation angle of the optical element 11 can be precisely adjusted.

[0081] The optical path adjustment assembly 10 of the embodiment of the present invention drives the movement of the optical element 11 through the non-contact magnetic force between the permanent magnet 12 and the electromagnet 14. Compared with the conventional gear-driven solution, the gear set is eliminated. When it is applied to optical systems such as head-up displays, it is conducive to the design of light, thin, and small head-up displays, reduces the size of the head-up displays, avoids the noise and vibration problems caused by gears, and further reduces the assembly cost and material cost by eliminating components such as the gear set.

[0082] An embodiment of the present invention further provides an optical system. The optical system includes the aforementioned optical path adjustment assembly 10. The optical path adjustment assembly 10 is used to adjust or change the optical path within the optical system to achieve a better optical effect (such as improving image resolution or image display quality). The optical system may be, for example, a heads-up display. The optical system may also be other display devices or projection devices. The position and configuration of the optical path adjustment assembly 10 within the optical system are not limited.

[0083] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a vehicle. Figure 8 As shown, the vehicle 100 includes a windshield 120 and an optical system 110. In this embodiment, the optical system 110 is a head-up display. Figure 8 Other components of vehicle 100 are omitted. The vehicle is, for example, an automobile. In other embodiments, the head-up display can also be applied to other vehicles, such as airplanes, aerospace vehicles, and ships. Optical system 110 includes an optical path adjustment assembly 10, an image generation unit 20, a plane mirror 30, and a housing 40.

[0084] Figure 8Only the optical element 11 of the optical path adjustment assembly 10 is shown. The housing 40 has a receiving cavity 40 a. The optical path adjustment assembly 10 is entirely located in the receiving cavity 40 a. The bracket 13 is received in the receiving cavity 40 a and mounted on the housing 40 .

[0085] In other embodiments, the housing 40 may be the bracket 13 of the optical path adjustment assembly 10 , without the need to specifically provide a mechanism for installing the electromagnet 14 , thereby reducing the number of mechanisms and assembly processes for the head-up display and miniaturizing the size of the head-up display.

[0086] The image generating unit 20, plane mirror 30, and optical element 11 are all housed within the housing 40a. The image generating unit 20 is configured to emit image light L. The plane mirror 30 is located on the light-emitting side of the image generating unit 20 and is configured to reflect the image light L from the image generating unit 20 toward the optical element 11. The optical element 11 is a curved mirror and is configured to reflect the image light L toward the light outlet of the housing 40. The image light L is emitted from the light outlet of the housing 40 to the windshield 120 and further reflected toward the driver's eye E, forming a virtual image for observation.

[0087] The image generation unit 20 includes, for example, a light source (not shown) for generating light and a display element (not shown) for converting the light emitted by the light source into image light L. The light source is, for example, a light-emitting diode, an organic light-emitting diode, etc. The display element is, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The optical element 11 is, for example, a freeform concave mirror to magnify the image and provide a longer imaging distance. The controller adjusts the rotation angle of the optical element 11 by controlling the magnitude and direction of the magnetic force between the electromagnet 14 and the permanent magnet 12, thereby adjusting the position of the image projected by the head-up display on the windshield 120 to display the image clearly and completely.

[0088] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent replacements of the technical solutions of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical path adjustment component, characterized in that: include: Optics and mounts; A plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of electromagnets, wherein the plurality of permanent magnets are arranged on the optical element, and the plurality of electromagnets are arranged on the bracket at intervals, and a magnetic pole of each of the permanent magnets is opposite to at least one of the electromagnets; as well as A controller, electrically connected to the electromagnet, the controller being used to control the electromagnet to attract and / or repel the permanent magnet, so that the permanent magnet drives the optical element to rotate around an axis; Wherein, the optical element includes a first part and a second part located on opposite sides of the axis, part of the permanent magnets are arranged in the first part at intervals, and the other part of the permanent magnets are arranged in the second part at intervals; the multiple electromagnets are distributed in a stepped manner, and when the multiple electromagnets are all in a closed state, along the end of the first part pointing to the direction of the axis, the distance between the multiple electromagnets relative to the permanent magnets of the first part and the first part gradually increases, and along the end of the second part to the pointing direction, the distance between the multiple electromagnets relative to the permanent magnets of the second part and the second part gradually increases.

2. The optical path adjustment assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The axis is perpendicular to the direction of magnetic force between the electromagnet and the permanent magnet.

3. The optical path adjustment assembly according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the permanent magnets has an N pole opposite to the electromagnet; or each of the permanent magnets has an S pole opposite to the electromagnet; or some of the permanent magnets have an N pole opposite to the electromagnet, and another part of the permanent magnets have an S pole opposite to the electromagnet.

4. The optical path adjustment assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The opening and closing of each electromagnet, the magnitude of the current and the direction of the current are independently controlled by the controller.

5. The optical path adjustment assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: At least some of the electromagnets are arranged into multiple columns along the first direction and into multiple rows along the second direction, and one row of the electromagnets corresponds to one permanent magnet, or at least one of the electromagnets extends into a bar along the first direction, and one electromagnet corresponds to one permanent magnet; the first direction is parallel to the axis, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

6. The optical path adjustment assembly as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The plurality of electromagnets are distributed in a stepped manner along a third direction, and the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

7. An optical system, characterized in that: include: A housing having a receiving cavity; An image generating unit, contained in the accommodating cavity and used for emitting image light; as well as The optical path adjustment assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6; Wherein, the optical element is accommodated in the accommodating cavity, and the optical element is used to reflect the image light; The bracket is the shell, or the bracket is accommodated in the accommodating cavity and installed on the shell.

8. A vehicle, characterized in that: include: windshield; as well as The optical system of claim 7, wherein the optical system is a head-up display; The image light is emitted from the housing to the windshield to form an image.

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