A head-up display module and a vehicle

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a head-up display module and a vehicle. The head-up display module includes: an image generation unit for emitting image light; a beam expander unit located on the propagation path of the image light for expanding the image light to form expanded light; a transmissive-reflective unit for reflecting the expanded light to a spatial light modulation unit to form modulated image light and then transmitting the modulated image light to an image amplification unit. The image amplification unit is used for amplifying the modulated image light to form amplified modulated image light; a reflection unit is located on the propagation path of the amplified modulated image light, reflecting the reflected amplified modulated image light to the imaging unit of the vehicle so that the amplified modulated image light is reflected by the imaging unit in the imaging area of the imaging unit and then incident on the eyebox area. Using a laser light source to emit light can improve the light utilization rate. After the modulated image light is amplified by the image amplification unit and then reflected to the human eye, the human eye can see a virtual image of appropriate size.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of display technology, and in particular, to a head-up display module and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Head Up Display (HUD) technology refers to a reflective optical design that finally projects the light emitted by a Picture Generation Unit (PGU) onto an imaging component (such as an imaging plate or a windshield). Thus, while observing the real environment outside the windshield, the driver can directly see information such as speed and navigation without lowering their head, avoiding distraction caused by the driver looking down at the dashboard or the central control screen during driving, thereby improving the driving safety factor and also bringing a better driving experience.

[0003] As the core component for generating images in HUD, the imaging performance of PGU directly affects the product performance of HUD. In some current HUD products, PGU is mainly implemented based on the following technologies: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Liquid Crystal On Silicon (LCOS), laser beam scanning, etc.

[0004] However, the imaging effect of HUDs implementing PGU using the above technical solutions is poor. For example, problems such as low light utilization rate, high power, dim display brightness, and large dynamic distortion occur, resulting in poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a head-up display module and a vehicle to improve the light utilization rate and enable the human eye to see a virtual image of appropriate size.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a head-up display module for a vehicle, including: an image generation unit, a beam expansion unit, a transmissive and reflective unit, a spatial light modulation unit, an image magnification unit, and a reflection unit;

[0007] The image generation unit is configured to emit image light, and the image generation unit includes at least one color of laser light source;

[0008] The beam expansion unit is located on the propagation path of the image light and is configured to expand the image light to form expanded light;

[0009] The transmissive and reflective unit is located on the propagation path of the beam-expanded light, and is configured to reflect the beam-expanded light to the spatial light modulation unit to form a modulated image light, and then transmit the modulated image light to the image amplification unit. The image amplification unit is configured to amplify the modulated image light to form an amplified modulated image light;

[0010] The reflection unit is located on the propagation path of the amplified modulated image light, and is configured to reflect the amplified modulated image light to the imaging unit of the vehicle, so that the amplified modulated image light is reflected by the imaging unit in the imaging area of the imaging unit and then incident on the eyebox area.

[0011] Optionally, the image generation unit includes a first color laser light source, a second color laser light source, and a third color laser light source; the first color laser light source is configured to emit a first color laser, the second color laser light source is configured to emit a second color laser, and the third color laser light source is configured to emit a third color laser;

[0012] The image generation unit further includes a beam combining sub-unit, which is respectively located on the propagation paths of the first color laser, the second color laser, and the third color laser, and is configured to combine the first color laser, the second color laser, and the third color laser to form the image light.

[0013] Optionally, the transmissive and reflective unit includes a first prism and a second prism;

[0014] The first prism includes a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, the second prism includes a fourth surface, a fifth surface, and a sixth surface, and the second surface and the fifth surface are attached to each other;

[0015] The image light is incident on the first prism through the first surface, reflected by the second surface, and then incident on the spatial light modulation unit through the third surface;

[0016] The modulated image light exits to the image amplification unit through the third surface, the second surface, the fifth surface, and the fourth surface in sequence.

[0017] Optionally, the image amplification unit includes at least two lenses;

[0018] At least two of the lenses include a first lens and a second lens. The first lens is located in the optical path between the transmissive and reflective unit and the second lens, and the clear aperture of the first lens is smaller than the clear aperture of the second lens.

[0019] Optionally, the lens includes a convex lens.

[0020] Optionally, the reflection unit includes a free-form mirror.

[0021] Optionally, the imaging unit includes a transparent substrate.

[0022] Optionally, the spatial light modulation unit includes a plurality of sub-adjustment units arranged in an array;

[0023] Any one of the sub-modulation units is used to modulate the amplitude and / or phase of the light incident thereon.

[0024] Optionally, the head-up display module further includes a collimation sub-unit;

[0025] The collimation sub-unit is located on the propagation path of the expanded light beam and is used to collimate the expanded light beam.

[0026] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a vehicle, including the head-up display module according to any one of the first aspect.

[0027] According to the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the image light beam emitted by the image generation unit is expanded by the expansion unit to form an expanded light beam. The expanded light beam is reflected by the transmissive-reflective unit, and the image light beam is reflected to the spatial light modulation unit for modulation to form a modulated image light beam. The modulated image light beam is then transmitted through the transmissive-reflective unit and forms a primary image in the air. The modulated image light beam is further amplified by the image amplification unit, and then a secondary image can be formed in the air. The secondary image can be used as an image source, and the amplified modulated image light beam is reflected to the imaging unit of the vehicle through the reflection unit, so that the amplified modulated image light beam is reflected in the imaging area of the imaging unit and then incident into the user's field of view. In this way, on the one hand, the light utilization rate can be improved and the display brightness can be increased. On the other hand, through the image amplification unit, the human eye can see a virtual image with a moderate size, and the dynamic distortion can also be reduced by optimizing the lens surface shape in the image amplification unit. Description of the Drawings

[0028] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a head-up display module in the prior art;

[0029] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a head-up display module provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of another head-up display module provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of a spatial light modulation unit provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0032] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It can be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention, rather than limiting the present invention. Additionally, it should be noted that for the sake of description, only the parts related to the present invention rather than all the structures are shown in the drawings.

[0033] Before introducing the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention in detail, the working principle of the head-up display module will be introduced first.

[0034] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a head-up display module in the prior art. As Figure 1 shown, the image light emitted by the image source 100 is reflected by the plane mirror 200 and then incident on the curved mirror 300, and then enters the human eye after being reflected by the curved mirror 300 and the windshield 400 in sequence, that is, the human eye can see the virtual image 500 formed in front of the windshield 400. However, the imaging effect of the PGU HUD implemented by this technical solution is poor. For example, there are problems such as low light utilization rate, high power, dim display brightness, large dynamic distortion, and thus poor user experience.

[0035] In response to the above technical problems, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be elaborated in detail next.

[0036] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of a head-up display module provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 2 shown, the head-up display module includes: an image generation unit 10, a beam expansion unit 70, a transmissive and reflective unit 20, a spatial light modulation unit 30, an image magnification unit 40, and a reflection unit 50; the image generation unit 10 is used to emit image light, and the image generation unit 10 includes a laser light source 11 of at least one color; the beam expansion unit 70 is located on the propagation path of the image light and is used to expand the image light to form expanded light; the transmissive and reflective unit 20 is located on the propagation path of the expanded light and is used to reflect the expanded light to the spatial light modulation unit 30 to form modulated image light and then transmit the modulated image light to the image magnification unit 40. The image magnification unit 40 is used to magnify the modulated image corresponding to the modulated image light to form a magnified image; the reflection unit 50 is located on the propagation path of the magnified image light and is used to reflect the magnified image light to the imaging unit 60, so that the magnified image light is reflected in the imaging area of the imaging unit 60 and then incident on the eyebox area.

[0037] Specifically, the image generation unit 10 includes a laser light source 11 of at least one color, which can emit laser light rays of that color. Exemplarily, the color can be any one of red, blue, or green. The embodiments of the present invention do not specifically limit the color of the laser light source 11 of at least one color. By using a laser light source to emit light rays, the light utilization rate can be improved, thereby increasing the display brightness. Further, the image light rays emitted by the image generation unit 10 first pass through the beam expander unit 70 and are expanded at a specific angle to form expanded light rays. The expanded light rays first undergo reflection through the transmissive-reflective unit 20, that is, the transmission path of the image light rays is changed. The expanded light rays are reflected to the spatial light modulation unit 30 for light modulation. After the image light rays incident on the spatial light modulation unit 30 are modulated by the spatial light modulation unit 30, the light amplitude and / or phase will change. Exemplarily, the light phase can be delayed by 90°, and then the polarization direction will change, forming modulated image light rays. Then, after the modulated image light rays pass through the transmissive-reflective unit 20 for transmission, a primary image P1 can be formed in the air. The modulated image light rays then pass through the image amplification unit 40 for amplification to form amplified modulated image light rays, and the amplified modulated image light rays can form a secondary image P2 in the air. The size of the primary image P1 is smaller than the size of the secondary image P2. The secondary image P2 can be used as an image source. The light rays are reflected to the imaging unit 60 through the reflection unit 50, and then the imaging unit 60 reflects the light rays to the eye box area, that is, the user's field of view, so that the human eye can see a virtual image of appropriate size. Exemplarily, the size of the primary image P1 can be smaller than the physical size of the spatial light modulation unit 30, and the size of the secondary image P2 can be larger than the physical size of the spatial light modulation unit 30.

[0038] Exemplarily, the size of the primary image P1 is small, and the size of the primary image P1 is generally less than 2 cm. The size of the secondary image P2 can be 3 - 5 inches. It should be noted that the size of the secondary image P2 should match the size of the commonly used PGU to ensure normal display.

[0039] A head-up display module provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The image light emitted by the image generation unit is expanded by the beam expansion unit to form expanded light. The expanded light is reflected by the transmissive-reflective unit to reflect the image light to the spatial light modulation unit for modulation to form modulated image light. The modulated image light forms a primary image in the air after passing through the transmissive-reflective unit. The modulated image light is further amplified by the image amplification unit, and then a secondary image can be formed in the air. The secondary image can be used as an image source, and the amplified modulated image light is reflected to the imaging unit of the vehicle through the reflection unit, so that the amplified modulated image light is reflected in the imaging area of the imaging unit and then incident into the user's field of view, enabling the human eye to see a virtual image of appropriate size. In addition, the image generation unit includes a laser light source of at least one color. The light emitted by the laser light source has good collimation and concentrated light energy, which can improve the light utilization rate and thus improve the display brightness. In addition, by optimizing the lens surface type in the image amplification unit, dynamic distortion can be reduced.

[0040] Optionally, Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of another head-up display module provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 3 shown, the image generation unit 10 includes a first-color laser light source 111, a second-color laser light source 112, and a third-color laser light source 113. The first-color laser light source 111 is used to emit first-color laser light, the second-color laser light source 112 is used to emit second-color laser light, and the third-color laser light source 113 is used to emit third-color laser light. The image generation unit 10 further includes a beam combining sub-unit 90, and the beam combining sub-unit 90 is respectively located on the propagation paths of the first-color laser light, the second-color laser light, and the third-color laser light, and is used to combine the first-color laser light, the second-color laser light, and the third-color laser light to form image light.

[0041] Specifically, the first-color laser light source 111, the second-color laser light source 112, and the third-color laser light source 113 can be R, G, and B three-color laser light sources respectively, which are used to emit red, green, and blue three-color laser lights respectively. The three-color laser lights emitted by the first-color laser light source 111, the second-color laser light source 112, and the third-color laser light source 113 are combined by the beam combining sub-unit 90 to form image light. In this way, the light has good collimation, less light loss, and high light energy utilization rate, and thus can ensure the imaging quality.

[0042] Optionally, continue to refer to Figure 3, the transmissive and reflective unit 20 includes a first prism 21 and a second prism 22; the first prism 21 includes a first surface 211, a second surface 212, and a third surface 213, and the second prism includes a fourth surface 221, a fifth surface 222, and a sixth surface 223, and the second surface 212 and the fifth surface 222 are disposed in contact; the image light is incident on the first prism 21 through the first surface 211 and is reflected by the second surface 212 and then is incident on the spatial light modulation unit 30 through the third surface 213; the modulated image light exits to the image magnification unit 40 through the third surface 213, the second surface 212, the fifth surface 222, and the fourth surface 221 in sequence.

[0043] Specifically, the image light emitted by the image generation unit 10 is expanded and then transmitted through the first surface 211 of the first prism 21 to the second surface 212, and the second surface 212 reflects the transmitted light to the spatial light modulation unit 30 for modulation. The spatial light modulation unit 30 modulates the polarization direction of the incident light to form modulated image light, and the modulated image light exits through the third surface 213, the second surface 212, the fifth surface 222, and the fourth surface 221 in sequence, and then a primary image P1 can be formed in the air. On the one hand, the first prism 21 can transmit and reflect the expanded image light, and the first prism 21 and the second prism 22 can transmit the modulated image light, so that the primary image P1 can be formed. On the other hand, the transmissive and reflective unit 20 has a simple and compact structure, which is beneficial to realizing the miniaturized design of the head-up display module.

[0044] Optionally, continue to refer to Figure 3 , the image magnification unit 40 includes at least two lenses; the at least two lenses include a first lens 41 and a second lens 42, and the first lens 41 is located in the optical path between the transmissive and reflective unit 20 and the second lens 42, and the clear aperture of the first lens 41 is smaller than the clear aperture of the second lens 42.

[0045] Specifically, the light emitted from the primary image P1 formed by the modulated image light passes through the first lens 41 and the second lens 42 in sequence for magnification to form a secondary image P2, and the clear aperture of the first lens 41 is smaller than the clear aperture of the second lens 42, which can ensure that the second lens 42 has a stronger light expansion ability than the first lens 41, that is, the second lens 42 can further magnify the light passing through the first lens 41, and then it can ensure that the size of the secondary image P2 is large enough so that after being reflected by the reflection unit 50 and the imaging unit 60, the human eye can see a virtual image of appropriate size.

[0046] It can be understood that since the imaging unit 60 will generate dynamic distortion during the imaging process, the dynamic distortion can be further reduced by optimizing the surface shape of the lenses in the image magnification unit 40, so that the imaging quality is better.

[0047] Exemplarily, the number of lenses may also be two, three, or more. The embodiments of the present invention do not specifically limit the number, position information, etc. of the lenses in the image magnification unit 40, as long as the image magnification effect can be achieved.

[0048] Furthermore, the lens includes a convex lens.

[0049] Specifically, the lens includes a convex lens. On the one hand, it can converge incident light to form an image. On the other hand, due to the magnifying effect of the convex lens, it can further magnify the modulated image light and magnify the primary image into a secondary image.

[0050] Optionally, continue to refer to Figure 3 , the reflection unit 50 includes a free-form mirror 51.

[0051] Furthermore, the reflection unit 50 includes a free-form mirror 51, which can compensate for the image distortion caused by the imaging unit 60 during the imaging process. Exemplarily, by adjusting the radius of curvature of the free-form mirror 51 and the surface shape of the free-form mirror 51, it can ensure that the free-form mirror 51 compensates for the image distortion caused by the imaging unit 60, and thus the distortion in the imaging screen can be eliminated. That is to say, the secondary image P2 is coupled into the HUD as an image source, and the light passing through the correction of the free-form mirror 51 can reduce the dynamic distortion.

[0052] Optionally, continue to refer to Figure 3 , the imaging unit 60 includes a transparent substrate.

[0053] Exemplarily, the imaging unit 60 may be the windshield of a vehicle or other vehicle, that is, the imaging unit 60 may be a transparent substrate, which is used to reflect the magnified modulated image light in the imaging area and then incident it into the eye box area.

[0054] Exemplarily, the transparent substrate may include a transparent glass plate and / or a transparent resin plate or other materials. For example, the transparent substrate may include a single-layer plate structure or a laminated structure of multiple-layer plate structures.

[0055] Optionally, Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a spatial light modulation unit provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As Figure 4 shown, the spatial light modulation unit 30 includes a plurality of sub-adjustment units 31 arranged in an array; any one of the sub-modulation units 31 is used to modulate the amplitude and / or phase of the incident light thereon.

[0056] Specifically, the spatial light modulation unit 30 includes a plurality of sub-adjustment units 31 arranged in an array. The plurality of sub-adjustment units 31 are arranged in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array in space. Each sub-adjustment unit 31 can independently receive the control of an electrical signal and change its own optical properties according to the received electrical signal, so as to modulate the light wave illuminating thereon.

[0057] Exemplarily, the spatial light modulation unit 30 can be an amplitude modulation type or a phase modulation type. Since the phase information can carry more details and has a higher modulation efficiency, a phase-type spatial light modulation unit 30 can be used to adjust the phase information of the incident light to realize holography.

[0058] It should be noted that the working area of the spatial light modulation unit is distributed with pixel points in the micron range, that is, the sub-adjustment units 31 arranged in an array. Each pixel point can provide independent light field modulation. Since each sub-modulation unit 31 can perform phase modulation on the light incident thereon, the phase modulation accuracy is high.

[0059] Optionally, continue to refer to Figure 3 , the head-up display module further includes a collimation sub-unit 80; the collimation sub-unit 80 is located on the propagation path of the expanded light beam and is used to collimate the expanded light beam.

[0060] Specifically, the image light rays emitted by the image generation unit 10 first pass through the beam expansion unit 70 and are expanded at a specific angle to form an expanded light beam. The expanded light beam passes through the collimation sub-unit 80 for collimation. The collimated light rays sequentially pass through the transmissive-reflective unit 20, the spatial light modulation unit 30, the image magnification unit 40, the reflection unit 50, and the imaging unit 60, so that the human eye can see a virtual image. By setting the collimation sub-unit 80 on the propagation path of the image light rays, the focusing effect of the image light rays can be improved, and thus the imaging quality can be guaranteed.

[0061] Based on the same inventive concept, the embodiments of the present invention also provide a vehicle including a head-up display module. Exemplarily, the vehicle can be a vehicle, or a fighter plane or an underwater vehicle, etc. Exemplarily, when the vehicle is a vehicle, the windshield can be reused as the imaging unit to reflect the magnified image light rays to the eyebox area. Therefore, the vehicle provided by the embodiments of the present invention also has the beneficial effects described in the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated here.

[0062] Note that the above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles applied. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, re-adjustments, combinations with each other and substitutions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in more detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Without departing from the concept of the present invention, more other equivalent embodiments can be included, and the scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A head-up display module for a vehicle, characterized in that, Comprising: An image generation unit, a beam expander unit, a transmissive and reflective unit, a spatial light modulation unit, an image amplification unit, and a reflection unit; The image generation unit is configured to emit image light rays, and the image generation unit includes a laser light source of at least one color; The beam expander unit is located on the propagation path of the image light rays and is configured to expand the image light rays to form expanded light rays; The transmissive and reflective unit is located on the propagation path of the expanded light rays and is configured to reflect the expanded light rays to the spatial light modulation unit to form modulated image light rays and then transmit the modulated image light rays to the image amplification unit, and the image amplification unit is configured to amplify the modulated image light rays to form amplified modulated image light rays; The reflection unit is located on the propagation path of the amplified modulated image light rays and is configured to reflect the amplified modulated image light rays to the imaging unit of the vehicle, so that the amplified modulated image light rays are reflected in the imaging area of the imaging unit and then incident on the eyebox area through the imaging unit; Wherein, the transmissive and reflective unit includes a first prism and a second prism; The first prism includes a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, the second prism includes a fourth surface, a fifth surface, and a sixth surface, and the second surface and the fifth surface are attached to each other; The image light rays are incident on the first prism through the first surface, reflected by the second surface, and then incident on the spatial light modulation unit through the third surface; The modulated image light rays are sequentially emitted to the image amplification unit through the third surface, the second surface, the fifth surface, and the fourth surface; Wherein, the image amplification unit includes at least two lenses; At least two of the lenses include a first lens and a second lens, the first lens is located in the optical path between the transmissive and reflective unit and the second lens, and the clear aperture of the first lens is smaller than the clear aperture of the second lens.

2. The head-up display module according to claim 1, characterized in that The image generation unit includes a first-color laser light source, a second-color laser light source, and a third-color laser light source; the first-color laser light source is configured to emit first-color laser light, the second-color laser light source is configured to emit second-color laser light, and the third-color laser light source is configured to emit third-color laser light; The image generation unit further includes a beam combining sub-unit, and the beam combining sub-unit is respectively located on the propagation paths of the first-color laser light, the second-color laser light, and the third-color laser light, and is configured to combine the first-color laser light, the second-color laser light, and the third-color laser light to form the image light rays.

3. The head-up display module according to claim 1, wherein The lens includes a convex lens.

4. The head-up display module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reflection unit includes a free-form mirror.

5. The head-up display module according to claim 1, wherein The imaging unit includes a transparent substrate.

6. The head-up display module according to claim 1, wherein, The spatial light modulation unit includes a plurality of sub-adjustment units arranged in an array; Any one of the sub-modulation units is configured to perform amplitude and / or phase modulation on the light rays incident thereon.

7. The head-up display module according to claim 1, wherein, The image generation unit further includes a collimation sub-unit; The collimation sub-unit is located on the propagation path of the expanded light rays and is configured to collimate the expanded light rays.

8. A vehicle, characterized in that, Comprising the head-up display module according to any one of claims 1-7.

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