Head-up display, head-up display system and vehicle

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a head-up display, a head-up display system and a vehicle, and the head-up display comprises an image source which is used for emitting first imaging light and second imaging light; the first imaging light is reflected by the first curved surface reflection element and the second curved surface reflection element to form a first virtual image; the second imaging light is reflected by the second curved surface reflection element to form a second virtual image, and in an imaging light path of the second virtual image, the second imaging light does not pass through the first curved surface reflection element. According to the invention, visual convergence adjustment conflicts when a user uses the head-up display can be avoided, visual fatigue phenomena of blurring, dizziness and the like of a driver are avoided, and the use experience of the HUD is improved; two layers of virtual images can be formed through one image source, and the cost of HUD equipment can be saved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of display technologies, and particularly to a head-up display, a head-up display system, and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] A HUD (head up display) is also known as a head-up display. By projecting the light emitted from the image source of the HUD onto an imaging window (such as a retrofitted imaging plate or the windshield of a vehicle, etc.), the user can directly see the image without lowering the head or turning the head, which can avoid distractions caused by the driver looking down at the instrument panel during driving, improve the driving safety factor, and also enhance the user's driving experience.

[0003] In the prior art, the imaging screen formed by the HUD is generally a single-layer screen, and the imaging position of the single-layer screen is fixed and usually cannot be adjusted. When in use, the driver needs to switch the line of sight between the single-layer screen at the fixed position of the HUD and the real scenes at different distances (such as real scenes like the road ahead, intersections ahead, the vehicle in front, etc.), which will cause visual convergence adjustment conflicts, and the driver will experience visual fatigue phenomena such as blurring and dizziness, seriously reducing the use experience of the HUD. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a head-up display, a head-up display system, and a vehicle, so as to solve the technical problem that in the prior art, the HUD has a single-layer display screen, and the driver's line of sight needs to switch back and forth between the single-layer screen at a fixed position and real scenes at different positions, which easily causes the driver to experience visual fatigue phenomena such as blurring and dizziness, and the use experience of the HUD is poor.

[0005] To solve the above technical problem, the embodiments of the present disclosure adopt the following technical solutions:

[0006] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a head-up display, including:

[0007] An image source for emitting a first imaging light and a second imaging light;

[0008] A first curved reflection element and a second curved reflection element, the first imaging light forms a first virtual image after being reflected by the first curved reflection element and the second curved reflection element; the second imaging light forms a second virtual image after being reflected by the second curved reflection element, and in the imaging optical path of the second virtual image, the second imaging light does not pass through the first curved reflection element.

[0009] In some embodiments, the head-up display further includes a plane mirror, and the second imaging light forms the second virtual image after being reflected by the plane mirror and the second curved reflection element.

[0010] In some embodiments, the head-up display further includes a transmissive-reflective element that allows light rays with a first optical property to be reflected and allows light rays with a second optical property to be transmitted. The first imaging light rays incident on the transmissive-reflective element have the first optical property, and the second imaging light rays incident on the transmissive-reflective element have the second optical property. The first imaging light rays emitted by the image source are reflected by the transmissive-reflective element, the first curved reflecting element, and the second curved reflecting element and then incident on the imaging window, and after being reflected by the imaging window, the first virtual image is formed. The second imaging light rays emitted by the image source are transmitted through the transmissive-reflective element, incident on the second curved reflecting element, and after being reflected by the second curved reflecting element, the second virtual image is formed.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first curved reflecting element is a convex mirror or a concave mirror.

[0012] In some embodiments, the distance between the image source and the first curved reflecting element is greater than a first preset distance threshold, and the distance between the image source and the second curved reflecting element is greater than a second preset distance threshold.

[0013] In some embodiments, the image source includes a display panel and a beam splitting element. The beam splitting element divides the display panel into a first display area and a second display area. The first display area emits the first imaging light rays, and the second display area emits the second imaging light rays.

[0014] In some embodiments, the display panel further includes a first backlight source and a second backlight source. The first backlight source corresponds to the first display area, and the second backlight source corresponds to the second display area.

[0015] In some embodiments, the head-up display further includes a polarization conversion element. The polarization conversion element is disposed on the exit surface of the first display area and is used to change the polarization characteristic of the light passing through it, so that the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light rays passing through the polarization conversion element and the second imaging light rays emitted by the second display area are different; or,

[0016] The polarization conversion element is disposed on the exit surface of the second display area and is used to change the polarization characteristic of the light passing through it, so that the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light rays emitted by the first display area and the second imaging light rays passing through the polarization conversion element are different.

[0017] In some embodiments, the light rays with the first optical property are P-polarized light, and the light rays with the second optical property are S-polarized light; or, the light rays with the first optical property are S-polarized light, and the light rays with the second optical property are P-polarized light.

[0018] In some embodiments, the image source is a time-sequential polarization image source, which is configured to alternately emit polarized light with different polarization characteristics in sequence. The polarized light includes P-polarized light and S-polarized light.

[0019] In some embodiments, the time-sequential polarization image source includes a time-sequential image source and a time-sequential polarization conversion element. The time-sequential polarization conversion element is disposed on the outgoing side of the time-sequential image source. The time-sequential image source is configured to emit imaging light with different imaging contents in sequence, and the time-sequential polarization conversion element is configured to change the polarization characteristics of the imaging light emitted by the time-sequential image source according to the sequence.

[0020] In some embodiments, the time-sequential image source emits first imaging light at a first moment and second imaging light at a second moment.

[0021] The time-sequential polarization conversion element changes the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light at the first moment according to the sequence, so that the first imaging light and the second imaging light emitted by the time-sequential polarization image source have different polarization characteristics; or,

[0022] The time-sequential polarization conversion element changes the polarization characteristics of the second imaging light at the second moment according to the sequence, so that the first imaging light and the second imaging light emitted by the time-sequential polarization image source have different polarization characteristics.

[0023] In some embodiments, the time-sequential polarization conversion element is an electrically controlled liquid crystal polarization element or a time-sequential movable polarization conversion element.

[0024] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a head-up display system, including an imaging window and the above-mentioned head-up display.

[0025] The embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a vehicle, including the above-mentioned head-up display system.

[0026] The head-up display, head-up display system, and vehicle provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure form a first virtual image after the first imaging light emitted by the image source is reflected by the first curved reflection element and the second curved reflection element by providing two curved reflection elements, namely the first curved reflection element and the second curved reflection element; the second imaging light emitted by the image source does not pass through the first curved reflection element but forms a second virtual image after being reflected by the second curved reflection element. Thus, two layers of virtual image screens can be formed by using the two curved reflection elements, and the two layers of virtual image screens are fused with the real scenes at different positions, improving the fusion effect of the virtual image screens and the real scenes. The user's line of sight does not need to switch back and forth between the single-layer screen at a fixed position and the real scenes at different positions, avoiding the occurrence of visual convergence adjustment conflicts and preventing phenomena such as blurring, dizziness, and other visual fatigue for the driver, greatly improving the use experience of the HUD; in addition, two layers of virtual images can be formed by one image source in the embodiments of the present disclosure, which can save the cost of the HUD device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments recorded in the present disclosure. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0028] Figure 1 is the first structural schematic diagram of the head-up display according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 2 is the second structural schematic diagram of the head-up display according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 3 is the top view structural schematic diagram of the image source according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 4 is the structural schematic diagram of the time-sequential polarization image source according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Reference is made herein to the various aspects and features of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] It should be understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments applied herein. Therefore, the above description should not be regarded as a limitation, but only as an example of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art will think of other modifications within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

[0034] The accompanying drawings, which are included in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the general description of the present disclosure given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0035] These and other features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the preferred forms of the embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0036] It should also be understood that although the present disclosure has been described with reference to some specific examples, those skilled in the art can surely implement many other equivalent forms of the present disclosure, which have the features as described in the claims and thus are all within the scope of protection defined thereby.

[0037] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent in view of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Specific embodiments of the present disclosure are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it should be understood that the embodiments claimed are merely examples of the present disclosure, which can be implemented in various ways. Well-known and / or repetitive functions and structures are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the present disclosure with unnecessary or redundant details. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details claimed herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather are merely a basis and representative basis for the claims to teach those skilled in the art to use the present disclosure in substantially any suitable detailed structure in a variety of ways.

[0039] This specification may use the phrases "in one embodiment", "in another embodiment", "in yet another embodiment", or "in other embodiments", each of which may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments according to the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a head-up display showing an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 3 and Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of an image source of a head-up display showing an embodiment of the present disclosure. As Figures 1 to 4 shown, a first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a head-up display, including:

[0041] An image source 10 for emitting a first imaging light ray 101 and a second imaging light ray 102;

[0042] The first curved surface reflection element 20 and the second curved surface reflection element 30. After the first imaging light ray 101 is reflected by the first curved surface reflection element 20 and the second curved surface reflection element 30, a first virtual image 201 is formed; after the second imaging light ray 102 is reflected by the second curved surface reflection element 30, a second virtual image 202 is formed. In the imaging optical path of the second virtual image 202, the second imaging light ray 102 does not pass through the first curved surface reflection element 20.

[0043] Specifically, the first imaging light ray 101 emitted by the image source 10 is sequentially reflected by two curved surface reflection elements, namely the first curved surface reflection element 20 and the second curved surface reflection element 30, and then enters the imaging window 300 (such as a windshield). The first imaging light ray 101 that enters the imaging window 300 is reflected by the imaging window 300 and reaches the eye box area 400, forming a first virtual image 201; the second imaging light ray 102 is reflected by one curved surface reflection element, the second curved surface reflection element 30, and then enters the imaging window 300. The second imaging light ray 102 that enters the imaging window 300 is reflected by the imaging window 300 and reaches the eye box area 400, forming a second virtual image 202. The first virtual image 201 and the second virtual image 202 are projected in front of the imaging window 300. When the user's eyes are located within the eye box area 400, the user can simultaneously view the first virtual image 201 and the second virtual image 202.

[0044] The eye box area 400 refers to the area where the observer's (such as the driver, passenger, and / or other users) eyes are located and where the virtual image formed by the head-up display can be observed. The eye box area 400 has a certain size. The observer's eyes deviate from the center of the eye box by a certain distance, such as moving up and down, left and right. As long as the observer's eyes are still within the eye box area 400, the virtual image formed can be seen at different positions within the eye box area 400.

[0045] The head-up display provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure forms a first virtual image 201 after the first imaging light 101 emitted by the image source 10 is reflected by the first curved reflection element 20 and the second curved reflection element 30 by providing two curved reflection elements, namely the first curved reflection element 20 and the second curved reflection element 30; the second imaging light 102 emitted by the image source 10 does not pass through the first curved reflection element 20, but forms a second virtual image 202 after being reflected by the second curved reflection element 30. Thus, two layers of virtual image screens can be formed by using the two curved reflection elements, and the two layers of virtual image screens are fused with the real scenes at different positions to improve the fusion effect of the virtual image screen and the real scene. The user's (mainly the driver's) line of sight does not need to switch back and forth between the single-layer screen at a fixed position and the real scenes at different positions, avoiding the occurrence of visual convergence adjustment conflicts and preventing the driver from experiencing visual fatigue phenomena such as blurring and dizziness, greatly improving the use experience of the HUD; in addition, by using the curved reflection element to reflect the imaging light, not only can the virtual image be magnified and a longer imaging distance be provided for the convenience of the user to view, but also the image distortion caused by the imaging window 300 can be compensated to improve the imaging effect. For example, when the windshield has a curved surface shape, the virtual image formed after the imaging light is reflected by the windshield has a certain distortion, and the curved surface shape of the curved reflection element can offset the image distortion caused by the curved surface shape of the windshield; furthermore, in this embodiment, two layers of virtual images can be formed by one image source, which can save the cost of the HUD device.

[0046] In some embodiments, the distance between the first virtual image 201 and the eye box area 400 is different from the distance between the second virtual image 202 and the eye box area 400, that is, the imaging distances (VID, Virtual Image Distance) of the first virtual image 201 and the second virtual image 202 are different. Thus, the two layers of virtual image screens can be fused with the real scenes at different distance positions through augmented reality to improve the fitting effect of the virtual image screens at different layers and the real scenes at different positions. The user's line of sight does not need to switch back and forth between the single-layer virtual image at a fixed position and the real scenes at different positions, effectively avoiding the driver from experiencing visual fatigue phenomena such as blurring and dizziness and improving the use experience of the HUD.

[0047] In other embodiments, the distance between the first virtual image 201 and the eye box area 400 can be the same as the distance between the second virtual image 202 and the eye box area 400, that is, the imaging distances of the first virtual image 201 and the second virtual image 202 can be the same. At this time, the image source 10, the first curved reflection element 20, and the second curved reflection element 30 can be adjusted so that the imaging heights of the first virtual image 201 and the second virtual image 202 are different, and the first virtual image 201 and the second virtual image 202 are respectively fused with the real scenes at different height positions at the same distance position, facilitating the user to observe the virtual image screens fused with the real scenes at different height positions.

[0048] In some embodiments, the imaging contents of the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 are different. Combining the above different imaging distances, first virtual image 201 and second virtual image 202 with different imaging contents and different imaging positions can be formed, improving the richness of the virtual image screen. The imaging contents include vehicle instrument information, navigation information, inspection control information, and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) information, etc. For example, after the first imaging light ray 101 is reflected by the first curved reflecting element 20 and the second curved reflecting element 30 in sequence, the imaging distance of the formed first virtual image 201 is relatively far, and the imaging content corresponding to the first imaging light ray 101 can be a distant view image, such as including ADAS information, POI (Point of Interest) information, augmented reality navigation prompt information (such as AR navigation prompt information, lane departure prompt information, etc.); the imaging distance of the second imaging light ray 102 is relatively close, and the imaging content corresponding to the second imaging light ray 102 can be a close view image, such as including instrument information such as vehicle speed, battery power, and steering, facilitating the driver to obtain driving-related information in real time.

[0049] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 shown, the head-up display further includes a flat mirror 40, and the second imaging light ray 102 forms the second virtual image 202 after being reflected by the flat mirror 40 and the second curved reflecting element 30.

[0050] By disposing the flat mirror 40 between the image source 10 and the second curved reflecting element 30, the imaging optical path of the second virtual image 202 can be folded, reducing the overall volume of the head-up display, facilitating its layout in the vehicle, and improving the space utilization rate of the head-up display, achieving high-quality and long-distance imaging in a limited space. Specifically, the second imaging light ray 102 forms the second virtual image 202 after being reflected by the flat mirror 40 and the second curved reflecting element 30 in sequence.

[0051] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 shown, the head-up display further includes a transmissive-reflective element 50. The transmissive-reflective element 50 allows light rays with a first optical property to be reflected and allows light rays with a second optical property to be transmitted. The first imaging light ray 101 incident on the transmissive-reflective element 50 has the first optical property, and the second imaging light ray 102 incident on the transmissive-reflective element 50 has the second optical property;

[0052] The first imaging light ray 101 emitted by the image source 10 forms a first virtual image 201 after being reflected by the transmissive and reflective element 50, the first curved reflective element 20, and the second curved reflective element 30; the second imaging light ray 102 emitted by the image source 10 is transmitted through the transmissive and reflective element 50, then incident on the second curved reflective element 30, and forms a second virtual image 202 after being reflected by the second curved reflective element 30. Specifically, the image source 10, the transmissive and reflective element 50, and the second curved reflective element 30 are arranged on the same straight optical path, and the first curved reflective element 20 is arranged at a position close to the transmissive and reflective element 50. Both the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted by the image source 10 are incident on the transmissive and reflective element 50. The first imaging light ray 101 is reflected by the transmissive and reflective element 50 and then incident on the first curved reflective element 20. The first imaging light ray 101 incident on the first curved reflective element 20 is reflected by the first curved reflective element 20 and then incident on the second curved reflective element 30. The first imaging light ray 101 reflected by the second curved reflective element 30 is incident on the imaging window 300 to form the first virtual image 201; the second imaging light ray 102 is directly incident on the second curved reflective element 30 after being transmitted through the transmissive and reflective element 50, and is incident on the imaging window 300 after being reflected by the second curved reflective element 30 to form the second virtual image 202. In this embodiment, by providing the transmissive and reflective element 50, the image source 10 can be arranged on the opposite side of the second curved reflective element 30, that is, the transmissive and reflective element 50 is located between the image source 10 and the second curved reflective element 30, so that the second imaging light ray 102 is directly incident on the second curved reflective element 30 after being transmitted through the transmissive and reflective element 50, and the first imaging light ray 101 is incident on the first curved reflective element 20 after passing through a shorter reflection optical path, making full use of the longitudinal space of the head-up display (the space in the vehicle body length direction) and reducing the overall volume of the head-up display.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first curved reflective element 20 is a convex mirror or a concave mirror.

[0054] As Figure 1 shown, the first curved reflective element 20 and the flat mirror 40 are arranged adjacent to each other. The first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted by the image source 10 are respectively incident on the first curved reflective element 20 and the flat mirror 40. The first curved reflective element 20 is a convex mirror protruding towards the second curved reflective element 30 to reflect the first imaging light ray 101 to the second curved reflective element 30, and the second imaging light ray 102 is reflected by the flat mirror 40 to the second curved reflective element 30.

[0055] As Figure 2 shown, the first curved reflective element 20 is a convex mirror located on one side of the image source 10, so as to facilitate the first imaging light ray 101 reflected by the transmissive and reflective element 50 to be reflected by the first curved reflective element 20 and then incident on the second curved reflective element 30.

[0056] In specific implementation, the first curved surface reflecting element 20 may be set as a convex mirror or a concave mirror according to actual needs. The second curved surface reflecting element 30 is preferably a concave mirror.

[0057] It can be understood that the above convex mirror or concave mirror refers to the curved surface shape of the reflecting surface of the reflecting element.

[0058] In some embodiments, the distance between the image source 10 and the first curved surface reflecting element 20 is greater than a first preset distance threshold, and the distance between the image source 10 and the second curved surface reflecting element 30 is greater than a second preset distance threshold.

[0059] When Figure 3 the shown image source 10 is applied in Figure 1 the shown head-up display, the imaging light rays emitted from the two display areas of the image source 10 are respectively incident on the first curved surface reflecting element 20 and the plane mirror 40. At this time, the distance between the image source 10 and the first curved surface reflecting element 20, and the distance between the image source 10 and the second curved surface reflecting element 30 need to be greater than a certain distance threshold to prevent the imaging light rays emitted from the two display areas of the image source 10 from overlapping or interfering. The above first preset distance threshold and second preset distance threshold may be the same or different.

[0060] In some embodiments, as Figure 3 shown, the image source 10 includes a display panel 1 and a beam splitting element 2. The beam splitting element 2 divides the display panel 1 into a first display area 11 and a second display area 12, that is, divides the display area of the display panel 1 into the first display area 11 and the second display area 12. The first display area 11 emits a first imaging light ray 101, and the second display area 12 emits a second imaging light ray 102.

[0061] The beam splitting element 2 can be integrally arranged with the display panel 1. By using the beam splitting element 2 to divide the display panel 1 into different display areas, and by respectively controlling the light emission of different display areas, imaging light rays with different imaging contents can be emitted from different display areas. The different imaging light rays are convenient to control and can effectively distinguish different imaging light rays. The image source 10 may be an LCD liquid crystal display (such as TFT-LCD), an LED display, a DLP (Digital Light Processing) projector, an LBS (Laser Beam Scanning) scanner, etc. The specific type of the image source 10 is not limited in the present disclosure.

[0062] In some embodiments, the display panel 1 further includes a first backlight source and a second backlight source. The first backlight source corresponds to the first display area 11, and the second backlight source corresponds to the second display area 12, which can provide backlight for different display areas, so that the corresponding imaging light rays are emitted from different display areas, and the control of the emission of the imaging light rays is convenient. The backlight source emits light to drive the pixels in the corresponding display area to emit light, so that the corresponding imaging light rays are emitted from the display area. By adjusting the backlight brightness of the backlight source, the brightness of the virtual image formed by the imaging light rays can be adjusted to meet the requirements and improve the user's visual experience.

[0063] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 shown, the head-up display further includes a polarization conversion element 60. The polarization conversion element 60 is disposed on the exit surface of the first display area 11 and is used to change the polarization characteristics of the light passing through it, so that the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray 101 passing through the polarization conversion element 60 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the second display area 11 are different.

[0064] The imaging light rays emitted from the image source 10 have the same polarization characteristics. For example, when the image source 10 emits P-polarized light and the polarization conversion element 60 is disposed on the exit surface of the first display area 11, the first imaging light ray 101 emitted from the first display area 11 can be changed from P-polarized light to S-polarized light. The second display area 12 is not provided with a polarization conversion element 60, and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the second display area 12 remains P-polarized light. In this way, the first imaging light ray 101 passing through the polarization conversion element 60 and the second imaging light ray 102 not passing through the polarization conversion element 60 have different polarization characteristics.

[0065] In some other embodiments, the polarization conversion element 60 is disposed on the exit surface of the second display area 12 and is used to change the polarization characteristics of the light passing through it, so that the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray 101 emitted from the first display area 11 and the second imaging light ray 102 passing through the polarization conversion element 60 are different.

[0066] Similarly, the imaging light rays emitted from the image source 10 have the same polarization characteristics. For example, when the image source 10 emits P-polarized light and the polarization conversion element 60 is disposed on the exit surface of the second display area 12, the second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the second display area 12 can be changed from P-polarized light to S-polarized light. The first display area 11 is not provided with a polarization conversion element 60, and the first imaging light ray 101 emitted from the first display area 11 remains P-polarized light. In this way, the second imaging light ray 102 passing through the polarization conversion element 60 and the first imaging light ray 101 not passing through the polarization conversion element 60 have different polarization characteristics.

[0067] In some embodiments, the light ray with the first optical property is P-polarized light, and the light ray with the second optical property is S-polarized light; alternatively, the light ray with the first optical property is S-polarized light, and the light ray with the second optical property is P-polarized light.

[0068] The imaging light rays emitted from one of the first display area 11 and the second display area 12 are incident on the polarization conversion element 60. The polarization characteristics of the imaging light rays are changed after being processed by the polarization conversion element 60 and then incident on the transmissive-reflective element 50. The imaging light rays emitted from the other display area of the first display area 11 and the second display area 12 do not pass through the deflection conversion element 60, so the polarization characteristics remain unchanged, and are directly incident on the transmissive-reflective element 50. The transmissive-reflective element 50 transmits or reflects the incident first imaging light ray 101 and second imaging light ray 102 with different polarization characteristics (that is, one of the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the image source 10 becomes an imaging light ray with the second polarization characteristic after passing through the polarization conversion element 60 and is incident on the transmissive-reflective element 50; the other light ray does not pass through the polarization conversion element 60 and remains an imaging light ray with the first polarization characteristic and is directly incident on the transmissive-reflective element 50), and then forms a first virtual image 201 and a second virtual image 202 respectively through imaging.

[0069] Exemplarily, the polarization conversion element 60 is arranged on the exit surface of the first display area 11. The first imaging light ray 101 emitted from the first display area 11 is changed from P-polarized light to S-polarized light after passing through the polarization conversion element 60. The second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the second display area 12 of the image source 10 does not pass through the polarization conversion element 60 and remains P-polarized light. At this time, the transmissive-reflective element 50 can be set as an optical element for reflecting S-polarized light and transmitting P-polarized light. The first imaging light ray 101 with S-polarization characteristics after being processed by the polarization conversion element 60 can be reflected by the transmissive-reflective element 50 and then incident on the first curved reflecting element 20, and then incident on the second curved reflecting element 30 after being reflected by the first curved reflecting element 20, and finally form a first virtual image 201; the second imaging light ray 102 with P-polarization characteristics emitted from the second display area 12 does not pass through the polarization conversion element 60, and is directly transmitted through the transmissive-reflective element 50 and then incident on the second curved reflecting element 30, and finally forms a second virtual image 202. Through the cooperation of the polarization conversion element 60 and the transmissive-reflective element 50, a first virtual image 201 and a second virtual image 202 with higher quality can be formed.

[0070] Optionally, the transmissive-reflective element 50 is a polarization transmissive-reflective film disposed on one surface of the transparent substrate. The polarization transmissive-reflective film can be, for example, an S-polarization transmissive-reflective film or a P-polarization transmissive-reflective film. The S-polarization transmissive-reflective film reflects S-polarized light and transmits P-polarized light; the P-polarization transmissive-reflective film reflects P-polarized light and transmits S-polarized light. The polarization transmissive-reflective film is preferably pasted on the surface of the transparent substrate facing the polarization conversion element 60 to ensure a smooth light path and avoid light scattering loss and the like.

[0071] First virtual image 201 Second virtual image 202 First virtual image 201 Second virtual image 202 First virtual image 201

[0072] Second virtual image 202 In the above embodiments, the transmissive-reflective element 50 reflects and transmits light rays with specific polarization characteristics, and its specific structure (reflecting S-polarized light or P-polarized light) can be set according to actual situations. In addition, the polarization conversion element 60 can also change the polarization characteristics of polarized light such as linearly polarized light and circularly polarized light.

[0073] The transmissive-reflective element 50 can also be a wavelength-selective transmissive-reflective element. In this case, the head-up display does not include Figure 2 the polarization conversion element shown in. The transmissive-reflective element 50 is, for example, a transmissive-reflective film that transmits and reflects light with specific wavelength characteristics, and transmits or reflects the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102. In some embodiments, the first imaging light ray 101 emitted from the first display area 11 is in a first band group, and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the second display area 12 is in a second band group. The first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 are directly incident on the wavelength-selective transmissive-reflective element. The wavelength-selective transmissive-reflective element is configured to reflect the imaging light rays of the first band group and transmit the imaging light rays of the second band group, thereby forming two light paths to ensure that the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 are incident on the corresponding curved reflecting elements to form a first virtual image 201 and a second virtual image 202 with better imaging quality. First virtual image 201 Second virtual image 202.

[0074] In some embodiments, the image source 10 is a time-sequential polarization image source, and the time-sequential polarization image source is used to alternately emit polarized light with different polarization characteristics in time sequence, and the polarized light includes P-polarized light and S-polarized light.

[0075] In a specific embodiment, the time-sequential polarization image source can alternately emit a first imaging light ray 101 and a second imaging light ray 102 with different imaging contents in sequence. The first imaging light ray 101 is an S-polarized light, and the second imaging light ray 102 is a P-polarized light. The transmissive and reflective element 50 is an S-polarized transmissive and reflective film, and the S-polarized transmissive and reflective film is used to reflect the S-polarized light and transmit the P-polarized light. At the first moment, the image source 10 emits the first imaging light ray 101. After being reflected by the transmissive and reflective element 50, the first imaging light ray 101 is incident on the first curved reflecting element 20. After being reflected by the first curved reflecting element 20, it is incident on the second curved reflecting element 30, and finally a first virtual image 201 is formed. At the second moment, the image source 10 emits the second imaging light ray 102. After being transmitted by the transmissive and reflective element 50, the second imaging light ray 102 is incident on the second curved reflecting element 30, and finally a second virtual image 202 is formed. In this way, two virtual images with different imaging contents can be formed at two different imaging positions. And because the user sees the two virtual images in a short period of time, according to the principle of persistence of vision, the user will simultaneously perceive the existence of the two virtual images.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 are directly set as light rays with different polarization characteristics. The image source 10 alternately emits different polarized lights according to the time sequence. Then, according to the different polarization characteristics of the polarized lights, the imaging light rays can form the first virtual image 201 and the second virtual image 202 after passing through the corresponding optical elements (including the transmissive and reflective element 50 and the curved reflecting element), and the imaging control is convenient.

[0077] Furthermore, as Figure 4 shown, the time-sequential polarization image source includes a time-sequential image source 3 and a time-sequential polarization conversion element 4. The time-sequential polarization conversion element 4 is disposed on the output side of the time-sequential image source 3. The time-sequential image source 3 is used to emit imaging light rays with different imaging contents in sequence, and the time-sequential polarization conversion element 4 is used to change the polarization characteristics of the imaging light rays emitted by the time-sequential image source 3 according to the time sequence.

[0078] The time-sequential image source 3 and the time-sequential polarization conversion element 4 are connected to the same time-sequential circuit. By controlling the time-sequential circuit, it is possible to control the time-sequential image source 3 to emit imaging light rays with different imaging contents in sequence, and control the time-sequential polarization conversion element 4 to adjust the polarization characteristics of the emitted imaging light rays, so as to obtain the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 with the required polarization characteristics, which is convenient for subsequent formation of different virtual images.

[0079] In some embodiments, the time-sequential image source 3 emits a first imaging light ray 101 at a first moment and a second imaging light ray 102 at a second moment. The time-sequential polarization conversion element 4 changes the polarization characteristic of the first imaging light ray 101 at the first moment according to the time sequence, so that the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted by the time-sequential polarization image source have different polarization characteristics; or,

[0080] The time-sequential polarization conversion element 4 changes the polarization characteristic of the second imaging light ray 102 at the second moment according to the time sequence, so that the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted by the time-sequential polarization image source have different polarization characteristics.

[0081] Wherein, the time-sequential image source 3 can emit imaging light rays with a first polarization characteristic or a second polarization characteristic, that is, the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted by the time-sequential image source 3 at different moments are the same, and the time-sequential image source 3 emits imaging light rays with a single polarization characteristic. For example, the imaging light rays emitted by the time-sequential image source 3 are all S-polarized light or all P-polarized light. The image information carried in the first imaging light ray 101 is different from the image information carried in the second imaging light ray 102 to form virtual images with different contents.

[0082] In some embodiments, the time-sequential image source 3 and the time-sequential polarization conversion element 4 respond to the control of the same time-sequential circuit. For example, at the Nth moment, the time-sequential image source 3 emits the first imaging light ray 101; at the (N + 1)th moment, the time-sequential image source 3 emits the second imaging light ray 102, and so on; N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and the time interval between adjacent moments is the time step of the time-sequential image source 3 for emitting image light rays, for example, the frame interval.

[0083] The sequential polarization conversion element 4 is used to change the polarization characteristics of the imaging light rays emitted by the sequential image source 3 according to the same time sequence. For example, at the Nth moment, the sequential polarization conversion element 4 changes the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray 101 with the first polarization characteristic emitted by the sequential image source 3, and the first imaging light ray 101 emitted from the sequential polarization conversion element 4 has the second polarization characteristic; at the (N + 1)th moment, the sequential image source 3 emits the second imaging light ray 102 with the first polarization characteristic, and the sequential polarization conversion element 4 does not change the polarization characteristics of the second imaging light ray 102, and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the sequential polarization conversion element 4 still has the first polarization characteristic; or, at the Nth moment, the sequential polarization conversion element 4 does not change the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray 101 with the first polarization characteristic emitted by the sequential image source 3, and the first imaging light ray 101 emitted from the sequential polarization conversion element 4 still has the first polarization characteristic; at the (N + 1)th moment, the sequential image source 3 emits the second imaging light ray 102 with the first polarization characteristic, and the sequential polarization conversion element 4 changes the polarization characteristics of the second imaging light ray 102, and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted from the sequential polarization conversion element 4 has the second polarization characteristic.

[0084] In this embodiment, taking the sequential image source 3 emitting S-polarized light and the sequential polarization conversion element 4 changing the polarization characteristics of the second imaging light ray 102 as an example, the operation of the sequential image source 3 and the sequential polarization conversion element 4 is described. When the sequential image source 3 emits the first imaging light ray 101 at the first moment, the sequential polarization conversion element 4 does not change the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray 101 at the first moment, and the first imaging light ray 101 still remains S-polarized light; when the sequential image source 3 emits the second imaging light ray 102 at the second moment, the sequential polarization conversion element 4 changes the polarization characteristics of the second imaging light ray 102 at the second moment, and converts the incident S-polarized light into P-polarized light, so that the image source 10 can alternately emit different polarized lights according to the time sequence, that is, the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray 101 and the second imaging light ray 102 emitted by the sequential polarization image source composed of the sequential image source 3 and the sequential polarization conversion element 4 are different at different moments.

[0085] In this embodiment, the sequential image source 3 emits imaging light rays with a single polarization characteristic, and the polarization characteristics of the emitted imaging light rays are adjusted by the sequential polarization conversion element 4. The emission of imaging light rays with different imaging contents and the adjustment of the polarization characteristics of the imaging light rays can be controlled separately. Compared with the sequential image source 3 directly emitting imaging light rays with different polarization characteristics, the control is convenient (only the sequential polarization conversion element 4 needs to be controlled to adjust the polarization characteristics), and the cost is lower.

[0086] In some embodiments, the sequential polarization conversion element 4 is an electro-controlled liquid crystal polarization element. The electro-controlled liquid crystal polarization element includes a liquid crystal cell, an incident surface, and an exit surface. The liquid crystal cell is sandwiched between the incident surface and the exit surface, and electrodes are respectively disposed on the incident surface and the exit surface. The electrodes can be, but are not limited to, indium tin oxide transparent electrodes. When the electro-controlled liquid crystal polarization element is not powered on, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal cell do not rotate, and the polarization direction of the incident light is not changed and exits from the exit surface. When the electro-controlled liquid crystal polarization element is powered on, the external control voltage module applies a voltage to the electrodes, causing the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal cell to rotate to a predetermined polarization direction. For example, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal cell are rotated to change the polarization direction of the incident light. For example, the incident light is converted from S-polarized light to P-polarized light and exits from the exit surface.

[0087] The sequential polarization conversion element 4 can also be a sequential movable polarization conversion element. At a first moment, the sequential movable polarization conversion element is away from the sequential image source 3, and the imaging light emitted by the sequential image source 3 does not pass through the sequential movable polarization conversion element, so that the polarization characteristics of the imaging light are not changed. At a second moment, the sequential movable polarization conversion element moves to be located in the light-emitting direction of the sequential image source 3, and is used to convert the polarization characteristics of the incident light (i.e., the imaging light emitted by the sequential image source 3) from a first polarization characteristic to a second polarization characteristic.

[0088] A second embodiment of the present disclosure is a head-up display system, including an imaging window 300 and the above-mentioned head-up display.

[0089] A third embodiment of the present disclosure is a vehicle, including the above-mentioned head-up display system. The vehicle includes, but is not limited to, land vehicles such as vehicles, air vehicles such as aircraft, or water or underwater vehicles, etc.

[0090] It should be noted that the head-up display system and the vehicle correspond to the head-up display in the above embodiments. Any optional items in the embodiments of the head-up display are also applicable to the embodiments of the head-up display system and the vehicle, and will not be described in detail here.

[0091] The above description is only the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and the description of the applied technical principles. Those skilled in the art should understand that the scope of disclosure involved in the present disclosure is not limited to the technical solutions formed by the specific combination of the above technical features, but also covers other technical solutions formed by any combination of the above technical features or their equivalent features without departing from the above disclosure concept. For example, the technical solutions formed by mutually replacing the above features with the (but not limited to) technical features having similar functions disclosed in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A head-up display, characterized in that, Comprising: An image source for emitting a first imaging light ray and a second imaging light ray; A first curved surface reflection element and a second curved surface reflection element, the first imaging light ray forms a first virtual image after being reflected by the first curved surface reflection element and the second curved surface reflection element; the second imaging light ray forms a second virtual image after being reflected by the second curved surface reflection element, and in the imaging optical path of the second virtual image, the second imaging light ray does not pass through the first curved surface reflection element.

2. The head-up display according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head-up display further includes a plane mirror, and the second imaging light ray forms the second virtual image after being reflected by the plane mirror and the second curved surface reflection element.

3. The head-up display according to claim 1, characterized in that, The head-up display further includes a transmissive-reflective element, the transmissive-reflective element allows light rays with a first optical characteristic to be reflected and allows light rays with a second optical characteristic to be transmitted, the first imaging light ray incident on the transmissive-reflective element has the first optical characteristic, and the second imaging light ray incident on the transmissive-reflective element has the second optical characteristic; the first imaging light ray emitted by the image source forms the first virtual image after being reflected by the transmissive-reflective element, the first curved surface reflection element, and the second curved surface reflection element; the second imaging light ray emitted by the image source is transmitted through the transmissive-reflective element, then incident on the second curved surface reflection element, and forms the second virtual image after being reflected by the second curved surface reflection element.

4. The head-up display according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first curved surface reflection element is a convex mirror or a concave mirror.

5. The head-up display according to claim 1, characterized in that, The distance between the image source and the first curved surface reflection element is greater than a first preset distance threshold, and the distance between the image source and the second curved surface reflection element is greater than a second preset distance threshold.

6. The head-up display according to claim 2, characterized in that, The image source includes a display panel and a beam splitting element, the beam splitting element divides the display panel into a first display area and a second display area, the first display area emits the first imaging light ray, and the second display area emits the second imaging light ray.

7. The head-up display according to claim 6, characterized in that, The display panel further includes a first backlight source and a second backlight source, the first backlight source corresponds to the first display area, and the second backlight source corresponds to the second display area.

8. The head-up display according to claim 6, characterized in that, The head-up display further includes a polarization conversion element, the polarization conversion element is disposed on the exit surface of the first display area for changing the polarization characteristic of the light passing through it, so that the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray passing through the polarization conversion element and the second imaging light ray emitted by the second display area are different; or, The polarization conversion element is disposed on the exit surface of the second display area for changing the polarization characteristic of the light passing through it, so that the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light ray emitted by the first display area and the second imaging light ray passing through the polarization conversion element are different.

9. The head-up display according to claim 3, characterized in that, The light ray with the first optical characteristic is P-polarized light, and the light ray with the second optical characteristic is S-polarized light; or, the light ray with the first optical characteristic is S-polarized light, and the light ray with the second optical characteristic is P-polarized light.

10. The head-up display according to claim 3, characterized in that, The image source is a time-sequential polarization image source, and the time-sequential polarization image source is used to alternately emit polarized light with different polarization characteristics in time sequence, and the polarized light includes P-polarized light and S-polarized light.

11. The head-up display according to claim 10, characterized in that, The time-sequential polarization image source includes a time-sequential image source and a time-sequential polarization conversion element. The time-sequential polarization conversion element is disposed on the outgoing side of the time-sequential image source. The time-sequential image source is configured to emit imaging light with different imaging contents in sequence, and the time-sequential polarization conversion element is configured to change the polarization characteristics of the imaging light emitted by the time-sequential image source according to the sequence.

12. The head-up display according to claim 11, characterized in that, The time-sequential image source emits first imaging light at a first moment and second imaging light at a second moment. The time-sequential polarization conversion element changes the polarization characteristics of the first imaging light at the first moment according to the sequence, so that the first imaging light and the second imaging light emitted by the time-sequential polarization image source have different polarization characteristics; or The time-sequential polarization conversion element changes the polarization characteristics of the second imaging light at the second moment according to the sequence, so that the first imaging light and the second imaging light emitted by the time-sequential polarization image source have different polarization characteristics.

13. The head-up display according to claim 11, characterized in that, The time-sequential polarization conversion element is an electrically controlled liquid crystal polarization element or a time-sequential movable polarization conversion element.

14. A head-up display system, characterized in that, It includes an imaging window and the head-up display according to any one of claims 1-13.

15. A vehicle, characterized in that, It includes the head-up display according to claim 14.

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