Head-up display for optimizing and / or lowering concave mirror to parking position by means of eccentric having independent drive

Abstract

The invention relates to a projection unit for a field-of-view display device for use in a vehicle, comprising: an imaging unit for generating a light beam having desired display content; a concave mirror provided and configured in the optical path so that the light beam exits the projection unit in a predetermined shape and direction so as to be immediately reflected from a partially transparent reflective sheet provided in the field of view of the user to the eye box of the user, and to present display content in the form of a virtual image behind the reflective sheet for the user; the concave mirror can rotate around a mirror rotating shaft fixedly connected with the concave mirror by a mirror rotating shaft driving device in order to adapt to the position of the eye box, and the mirror rotating shaft is rotatably supported in a primary supporting part; the primary support at least at one end of the mirror axis of rotation is eccentrically mounted in a secondary support, which can be driven by an independently controllable eccentric drive for rotation about an eccentric axis of the secondary support, which is fixed relative to the projection unit. In this way, a translational movement of the mirror axis of rotation and thus of the concave mirror in a direction transverse to the mirror axis of rotation is caused.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a projection unit for a vision display device, which vision display device is also known under the name head-up display (HUD) and can in particular be used in motor vehicles or other land, air or water vehicles. Such a vision display device is configured to generate a virtual image inserted into the user's field of vision by reflection on a vehicle sheet, in particular the front glass, or on a composite sheet specifically provided therefor, which composite sheet is arranged in the user's field of vision. The present invention also relates to such a vision display device and a vehicle equipped with the vision display device. Background Art

[0002] In particular for motor vehicles, it is known to use a head-up display to superimpose display content, such as data on speed limit values or other available navigation and vehicle operation tips, in the form of a virtual image in front of the vehicle on the real environmental image observed by the driver, so that the driver does not need to take his line of sight off the road to read such a display. For this purpose, the HUD includes a reflecting sheet arranged in the driver's field of vision, which is substantially transparent to ambient light incident from the back and is either configured as a section of the front glass or as a composite sheet arranged in front of the front glass on the inside of the vehicle. To generate the display content, the HUD typically includes a projection unit mounted inside the instrument panel below the front glass. Typically, the projection unit includes a display for generating a light beam with the desired display content and suitable imaging and projection optics for shaping and guiding the generated light beam onto the reflecting sheet in such a way that the light beam is reflected from the reflecting sheet to the driver's eyes, and the driver can thus observe a virtual display image of a suitable size and at a suitable distance behind the reflecting sheet. In a typical HUD configuration, the projection optics include a concave mirror, the size of which is linearly determined by the size of the virtual display range and thus also limits the virtual display range.

[0003] The implementation of such a head-up display in a vehicle is very complex, especially due to structural space limitations. An important component of the projection unit of the head-up display is here the transparent top cover sheet (also called top cover glass), which closes the protective housing of the projection unit on the exit side and through which the generated light beam passes. The top cover sheet should be configured such that no direct or indirect reflected light that gets into the HUD optical path is generated by external light, and especially sunlight, reflecting on the top cover sheet and thus reaching the driver's eyes. Therefore, in particular, a specific curved shape of the top cover sheet is generated to deflect interfering reflected light out of the optical path, which shape of the top cover sheet is also called a geometric anti-reflection measure and requires a significant dimension of the top cover sheet in the height direction of the vehicle. Here, when designing the top cover sheet, the influence of the vehicle's structural space, for example, the influence of the vehicle's appearance and packaging allowance, needs to be taken into account. Among the internal HUD components, in particular, the concave mirror poses a limitation in the design of the top cover sheet because for the concave mirror, the top cover sheet needs to observe a predefined minimum spacing in the height direction of the vehicle.

[0004] When the HUD is not in use, the concave mirror is usually in its parked position, in which case the vertical spacing between the top cover sheet and the concave mirror is usually minimal. The parked position is typically achieved by rotating the concave mirror about its axis of rotation, whereby the focus of the concave mirror moves out of the optical path of the HUD in order to prevent light arriving from the outside at the projection unit from being undesirably focused on the light-sensitive and heat-sensitive HUD optics and HUD electronics.

[0005] The size of the concave mirror is additionally also affected by opto-mechanical limitations. Thus, different drivers sit at different positions in the vehicle depending on their body sizes. In order for each driver to obtain an optimized HUD display and eye box position for them, a number of setting possibilities are provided, which can also be achieved by rotating the concave mirror about the aforementioned mirror axis of rotation. Here, for different drivers, the effectively used area of the concave mirror is usually different from each other due to different optical path trajectories up to a specific eye box position. Therefore, in order to cover all possible seating positions, the concave mirror is usually constructed larger than the area required for only one fixedly defined seating position in the vehicle. The optical performance is optimized taking into account the different adjustment possibilities of the concave mirror. This usually results in a compromise because the degree of freedom for optimization is restricted by the fixedly predefined axis of rotation. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative or improved projection unit for a field-of-view display device in terms of installation space, optical performance and / or other aspects, as well as an associated operating method, which are particularly suitable for use in a vehicle.

[0007] This object is achieved by a projection unit according to claim 1 and by a field-of-view display device comprising this projection unit, an associated operating method, a correspondingly configured control unit and a vehicle equipped with this projection unit, as set forth in the independent claims in parallel. Further embodiments are described in the dependent claims. All further features and effects mentioned in the claims and in the subsequent description of the projection unit also apply to the field-of-view display device, the operating method, the control unit and the vehicle, and vice versa accordingly.

[0008] According to a first aspect, a projection unit for a field-of-view display device is provided, which can be used in particular in a vehicle. The field-of-view display device can be configured, for example, as a head-up display (HUD). The vehicle can be a motor vehicle, but can also be any other land, air or water vehicle.

[0009] The projection unit has an imaging unit (also referred to as an image generation unit, PGU) configured to generate a light beam with a desired display content, and in principle any image generation technique can be used for this purpose, which is particularly suitable for use in a vehicle. It can in particular be a display, such as a flat display screen or a waveguide display, but can also be a projector system, such as a DLP projector, or a diffusor screen illuminated or scanned with a light beam, etc.

[0010] In the optical path of the light beam generated by the imaging unit, the projection unit (apart from optional other optical elements for beam shaping and beam deflection) includes a concave mirror which is arranged and configured such that the light beam leaves the projection unit in a predetermined required shape and direction, so as to be reflected from a at least partially transparent reflector sheet disposed in the user's field of view to the user's eyebox, and thus present to the user the display content in the form of a virtual image behind the reflector sheet. The reflector sheet can be constituted, for example, by a section of a vehicle sheet or by an additionally provided combined sheet. The reflector sheet is thus a component of the field-of-view display device described hereinafter, but is not necessarily a component of the projection unit, which can be manufactured and sold, for example, without this reflector sheet when using a vehicle sheet. However, in the case of an additionally provided combined sheet, the combined sheet can also be integrated in the projection unit in a known manner (for example, also movable). The eyebox of the field-of-view display device is herein understood, as is usual, as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional spatial region from which the virtual image can be unrestrictedly seen by the assigned user.

[0011] The concave mirror can be rotated about a mirror axis by a suitable mirror axis drive device in order to adapt the eyebox to different user body sizes and user seating positions, and the mirror axis is configured as a fixed component of the concave mirror or is otherwise fixedly connected to the concave mirror. The mirror axis drive device can be constituted, for example, in the form of an electric motor or other type of actuator, which is directly connected to the mirror axis or connected via a transmission for torque transmission. The mirror axis can be rotatably supported, for example, at each of its two ends in an assigned primary support. If one of the two ends of the mirror axis is supported in a primary support fixed relative to the projection unit, then this one end can be particularly suitable for the mirror axis drive device. However, in other cases, the mirror axis drive device can also be integrated, for example, in a movably mounted primary support.

[0012] Herein, at least at one end of the mirror axis, the assigned primary support is eccentrically supported in an independently rotatable secondary support. In other words, the secondary support (also referred to as an eccentric wheel) can be driven by an eccentric drive device for rotation of the secondary support about an eccentric axis fixed relative to the projection unit / position fixed, and the eccentric drive device can be controlled independently of the mirror axis drive device. The eccentric drive device can include, for example, a driving member for torque transmission to the secondary support, and the driving member rotates about the eccentric axis by a motor decoupled from the mirror axis drive device and engages form-locked into the secondary support. Due to the decoupled drive devices of the mirror axis and the eccentric wheel, for example, the magnitude and / or direction of the applied torque can be changed independently of each other over time.

[0013] If the secondary support is driven for its rotation about the eccentric shaft, the primary support eccentrically supported in the secondary support also rotates about the eccentric shaft. Thereby, an approximately translational movement of the mirror rotation axis and thus an approximately translational movement of the concave mirror in a direction transverse to the mirror rotation axis are generated. The additional degrees of freedom obtained thereby for adjusting the concave mirror can be used to optimize different aspects: the optical properties, size and / or installation in the available structural space of the concave mirror. Some examples of such optimization are illustrated hereinbelow. In particular, the problem mentioned at the beginning can thus be solved:

[0014] The movement of the mirror rotation axis and thus of the concave mirror in a direction transverse to the mirror rotation axis caused by the eccentric drive can be implemented, for example, as a lowering of the concave mirror in the height direction of the vehicle. Thereby, the concave mirror can be lowered significantly deeper for reaching the parking position compared to the conventional position-fixed support of the mirror rotation axis and the structural space conflict with the top cover sheet of the projection unit at the parking position mentioned at the beginning is overcome. However, as an alternative or in addition, this transverse movement of the mirror rotation axis can also be used to optimize the optical properties and / or size of the concave mirror during operation of the projection unit, in particular when adapting the eyebox.

[0015] The specific relationship between the rotation of the secondary support and the resulting translational movement of the concave mirror in a direction transverse to the mirror rotation axis of the concave mirror can be influenced by specifically selectable structural details, such as the radial spacing and angular position of the primary support supported in the secondary support.

[0016] The respective primary supports at one or both ends of the mirror rotation axis can be configured, for example, as ball heads in order to allow the greatest possible mobility of the mirror rotation axis. The primary support supported in the secondary support can be supported in a position-fixed manner in the secondary support, in particular at a fixed point relative to the secondary support, at a predetermined radial spacing from the eccentric shaft, and in particular also fixed. In order to again allow the greatest possible mobility of the mirror rotation axis, the primary support can be supported in the secondary support, in particular, as a sliding support or a rolling support.

[0017] Thus, the concept of the above projection unit is that, in order to adjust the concave mirror, the mirror shaft of the concave mirror, which is fixedly connected to the concave mirror and can be rotated by the mirror shaft drive device, is eccentrically supported in a secondary support member that can rotate independently around another axis (eccentric wheel axis) independent of the mirror shaft, and the secondary support member can be rotated by an eccentric wheel drive device that can be independently controlled. This can be designed to adjust the concave mirror to the parking position mentioned above, and / or can be designed to specifically adjust or adapt the eye box during the movement of the vision display device, for example, during the driving operation of a vehicle. Therefore, in particular, the optical performance of the overall system can be optimized, and / or the structural space requirement of the vision display device can be reduced by minimizing the area of the concave mirror and / or by additional lowering or raising or other lateral movement of the rotatable concave mirror.

[0018] By two drive devices that can be independently controlled from each other, the adjustment movement (rotation) of the concave mirror around its own mirror shaft and around the position-fixed eccentric wheel axis can be selectively performed simultaneously or can be decoupled in time, especially sequentially. This allows, for example, to keep the distance between the concave mirror and the top cover sheet as large as possible during the descent sequence to the parking position of the concave mirror. In addition, thus, the adjustment or descent of the concave mirror from any operating position of the concave mirror to the parking position of the concave mirror can be introduced, which occurs during the operation of the projection unit. As an alternative or supplement, this can also be used with as much flexibility and precision as possible to adapt the position and orientation of the concave mirror to the specific position of the user during operation and perhaps also to the movement of the user during operation during eye box adaptation. Here, the eye box adaptation can be, for example, based on the eye tracking of the user and is thus fully automated.

[0019] Even though the present invention is mainly illustrated here by way of example with a one-sided eccentric support of the mirror shaft (i.e., supported only at one of the two ends of the mirror shaft) and thus the concave mirror is also lowered / raised on one side, an eccentric adjustment at both ends / support points of the mirror shaft is also possible according to the same construction principle and functional principle. This can, for example, allow an even greater reduction in the required area of the concave mirror and / or an even greater freedom of optimization during eye box adaptation and / or an even greater distance between the entire concave mirror and the top cover sheet in the parking position of the concave mirror.

[0020] Both the mirror shaft drive device and the eccentric wheel drive device can, for example, each include their own motor for independent control from each other. As an alternative or supplement to this, the mirror shaft drive device and the eccentric wheel drive device can include a common motor with a coupling device that is configured to alternately control the mirror shaft drive device and the eccentric wheel drive device independently of each other in the case of using a common motor, and the coupling device is controlled.

[0021] In one embodiment, the projection unit further includes a protective housing that protects the above-mentioned components of the projection unit outwardly. The housing includes a transparent top cover sheet that closes the housing on the exit side and transmits the light beam emitted by the projection unit during operation. Here, through a predetermined angular position of the mirror rotation axis, the parking position of the concave mirror can be adjusted. In this parking position, the focus or the optical axis of the concave mirror is outside the optical path set for operating the projection unit. In this embodiment, the mirror rotation axis is supported in the secondary support member such that when the concave mirror is adjusted from the operating position to the parking position of the concave mirror, the rotation that can be generated by the eccentric drive device of the secondary support member causes a translational movement of the mirror rotation axis and thus the concave mirror in a direction away from the top cover sheet. When the projection unit is installed in the instrument panel of a vehicle, this corresponds to a descent (at least one-sided descent, i.e., a descent occurring at one of the ends of the mirror rotation axis) of the mirror rotation axis in the height direction of the vehicle. As a mere example, the suitable position of the primary support member and the suitable position of the driving member of the eccentric drive device in the secondary support member are described in Figure 2 it.

[0022] The mirror rotation axis and the eccentric axis can be arranged, for example, substantially parallel to each other with a predetermined axial spacing therebetween. However, instead, the mirror rotation axis and the eccentric axis can also be arranged inclined to each other, especially with a predetermined minimum spacing therebetween such that the two axes do not intersect. In particular, the orthogonal projections of the eccentric axis and the mirror rotation axis in a plane (the eccentric axis lies in this plane) can form an acute angle (an acute angle that varies during rotation) with each other, which acute angle is significantly less than 90°, and for example is always less than 80°, less than 70°, less than 60°, less than 50°, less than 40°, less than 30° or less than 20°.

[0023] In a specific embodiment, the mirror rotation axis and / or the primary support member and / or the secondary support member of the mirror rotation axis are configured with an automatic axial length adaptation such that the length of the mirror rotation axis automatically adapts to the possibly varying spacing between the primary support members at the two ends of the mirror rotation axis when the secondary support member rotates. For example, for this purpose, a spring mechanism for compensating the length can be provided at one end or both ends of the mirror rotation axis, or the mirror rotation axis can be configured as a telescopic rod that includes at least two rod segments that are coaxially pushed into each other, and these rod segments are in turn pressed apart from each other by a suitable spring mechanism until the corresponding available axial length.

[0024] According to a further aspect, a method for operating the projection unit introduced herein is provided. As already mentioned above, in this operating method, the mirror rotation axis can be driven by the mirror rotation axis drive device and the secondary support can be driven by the eccentric drive device successively and / or simultaneously in order to adjust the concave mirror during the operation of the projection unit, in particular for adapting the eye box position. As an alternative or supplement, as also mentioned above, they can be driven successively and / or simultaneously in order to adjust the concave mirror to its parking position.

[0025] According to a further aspect, a control unit is provided which is configured and arranged to automatically carry out the method.

[0026] According to a further aspect, a field of view display device is provided, in particular for use in a means of transport. The field of view display device, in addition to the projection unit introduced herein, also includes a reflective sheet body, in particular at least partially transparent, arranged in the optical path of the light beam emitted by the projection unit, which reflective sheet body can in particular be configured as a partial surface section of the front glass of the means of transport, or as a partial surface section of another body of the means of transport, or as an additionally provided combined sheet body. Here, the reflective sheet body is arranged and configured in the field of view of the user (for example the driver of the means of transport or another passenger) such that the reflective sheet body reflects the light beam into the eye box predefined for the user, so that the display content can be presented to the user in the form of a virtual image behind the reflective sheet body and the display content is also presented during the operation of the field of view display device. In particular, the field of view display device can also include the above-mentioned control unit.

[0027] According to a further aspect, a means of transport is provided, in particular a motor vehicle or any other land, air or water vehicle. The spatial orientation designations used here, such as "above", "below", "front", "side", "horizontal", "vertical", etc., relate here to the usual Cartesian coordinate system fixed to the means of transport, which has longitudinal, transverse and height directions of the means of transport that are perpendicular to each other.

[0028] The means of transport has a body of the means of transport, in particular a front glass, which at least partially delimits the passenger compartment, and the means of transport is equipped with the above-mentioned field of view display device, the projection unit of which is arranged in the passenger compartment and the reflective sheet body of which is configured as a section of the body of the means of transport or as a combined sheet body arranged in the passenger compartment. For example, the projection unit can be directly mounted below the upper side of the instrument panel of the means of transport such that the light beam of the projection unit is projected onto a front glass arranged above the instrument panel or onto a combined sheet body located in front of the projection unit in the field of view of the driver or other passenger.

[0029] Here, the translational movement of the mirror axis caused by the rotation of the secondary support includes a one-sided or two-sided lowering or raising of the mirror axis in the height direction of the Cartesian coordinate system fixed to the vehicle.

[0030] In one embodiment, the above-mentioned parking position of the concave mirror can be adjusted by a predetermined angular position of the mirror axis in the projection unit. Here, for a predetermined operating angular range of the mirror axis (which is required to adapt the eye box during the operation of the projection unit), it is stipulated that the electromechanical or mechanical fixation of the support of the mirror axis in the primary support is such that this fixation serves to suppress the vibration of the concave mirror caused by the movement of the vehicle during the driving operation of the vehicle. Here, the projection unit is configured to automatically release, i.e., cancel this fixation, in order to adjust the concave mirror to the parking position. Description of the Drawings

[0031] The above aspects of the present invention, as well as their embodiments and specific embodiments, are explained in more detail below with the aid of the examples described in the drawings. The drawings are schematic and should not be understood as being to scale. The drawings are as follows:

[0032] Figure 1 A vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a part of a motor vehicle, which motor vehicle includes a vision display device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 Showing Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an example of the eccentric support of the mirror axis of the concave mirror of the vision display device in a secondary support that can rotate independently of the mirror axis, viewed in the direction of the mirror axis;

[0034] Figure 3a Showing Figure 2 A longitudinal sectional view of the concave mirror and its eccentric support in a rotatable secondary support, viewed in the direction of the mirror axis, in the operating position of the concave mirror; and

[0035] Figure 3b Showing the same longitudinal sectional view as Figure 3a but here in the case of the parking position of the concave mirror, in which the concave mirror descends vertically from the Figure 3a operating position by an independent rotation of the secondary support in addition to rotating about its mirror axis. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0036] All the projection units, the associated operating methods and control units, as well as the different embodiments, variants and specific construction features of the vision display device and the vehicle mentioned in the specification above and in the following claims can be shown in Figures 1 to 3bis implemented in the examples, in particular also as a replacement or supplement to the features shown herein. They are therefore not all repeated again below. The same applies accordingly to the conceptual definitions explained above, as well as to the functions of the individual features shown in Figures 1 to 3b shown.

[0037] Figure 1 A partial view of the vehicle 1 is shown in a vertical longitudinal sectional view. The vehicle has a vision display device 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vision display device 2 is here merely exemplarily configured as a head-up display (HUD). The spatial orientation concepts used in explaining this example and other examples, such as "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "front", "rear", etc., refer to the usual vehicle-fixed Cartesian coordinate system K, which has the longitudinal, transverse, and height directions X, Y, and Z of the vehicle 1 that are perpendicular to each other.

[0038] The vision display device 2 is configured to generate a virtual image V in the user's field of vision. The user is, for example, the driver of the vehicle 1, and the driver is Figure 1 merely represented in the example by the eye box E determined for the driver's eyes in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1. In this example, the eye box E is defined as a two-dimensional spatial range perpendicular to the central beam of the vision display device 2, from which the virtual image V is visible with a specified presentation quality. The vehicle 1 is here merely exemplarily a motor vehicle. The vehicle is Figure 1 merely represented in the example by its front glass 3, the instrument panel 4 extending below the front glass and not described in detail, and the roof 9 extending above the front glass.

[0039] The vision display device 2 includes a projection unit 5, which is in this example arranged below the front glass 3 and inside the instrument panel 4 and is protected from possible interfering influences such as dust and moisture, etc. by the housing 10 facing outwards. The projection unit 5 includes an imaging unit 6 configured to generate a light beam L having a desired display content. The light beam L emitted by the imaging unit 6 is simply represented by the central beam of the vision display device 2 mentioned above, which is generally guided from the center of the imaging unit 6 to the center of the eye box E as usual.

[0040] In the optical path of the generated light beam L, in this example, an optical folding mirror 7 is provided (this folding mirror can also be omitted in the present invention) for additionally folding the optical path, and a concave mirror 8 is arranged opposite to the folding mirror. The concave front side of the concave mirror 8 faces the folding mirror 7 (and faces the imaging unit 6 in the absence of the folding mirror), and this front side forms a free-form surface here for the light beam L to leave the projection unit 5 in a suitable shape and direction by reflecting on this front side, so as to be immediately reflected by the front glass 3 towards the eye box E. The front glass 3 thus serves as the reflection sheet body mentioned here for the vision display device 2.

[0041] The housing 10 of the projection unit 5 is closed towards the front glass 3 by a top cover sheet body 11, which is transparent to the emitted light beam L and in this example is used not only for mechanically protecting the projection unit 5 but also for protecting the projection unit from sunlight reflection and ambient light reflection. Here, the top cover sheet body 11 is slightly deeper than the adjacent upper side O of the instrument panel 4 in this example, and has a concave-curved outer surface in this example for the geometric anti-reflection mentioned above. The latter requires an obvious overall dimension of the top cover sheet body 11 in the height direction Z of the vehicle 1, which is visible in Figure 1 the

[0042] The concave mirror 8 can be rotated about a mirror rotation axis A1 fixedly connected to the concave mirror by an assigned mirror rotation drive device M1 in the form of a first electric motor (see Figures 2 to 3b ) to adapt the position of the eye box E to different user body sizes and user seating positions. Here, through a predetermined angular position of the mirror rotation axis A1, the parking position P of the concave mirror 8 can also be adjusted, at which the focus or the optical axis of the concave mirror 8 is outside the optical path specified for operating the projection unit 5. When the concave mirror 8 is adjusted from its operating position exemplarily described in Figure 1 and 3a to its parking position P schematically described in Figure 1 and 3b , the rotation 12 of the mirror rotation axis A1 is indicated by a rotation arrow in Figure 1 .

[0043] As in Figure 1As can be seen, the concave mirror 8 has its maximum overall dimension in the height direction Z of the vehicle 1 in its parked position P, and thus affects the design of the roof panel 11 located above the concave mirror. For the roof panel, a predetermined minimum spacing from the concave mirror 8 needs to be observed. This in turn has a direct restrictive impact on the appearance of the instrument panel 4 and other technical components of the vehicle 1 in the environment of the vision display device 2. To solve this problem, in this embodiment, the concave mirror 8 does not merely rotate about its mirror axis A1 as in the prior art, but is additionally lowered into the parked position P by a lowering kinematic mechanism in the form of an eccentric that is independently rotatable relative to the mirror axis A1, by an eccentric drive M2 that is independent of the mirror axis drive M1, as schematically described in Figures 2 to 3b as follows.

[0044] Figure 2 An example of the eccentric support of the mirror axis A1 of the concave mirror 8 of the vision display device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a rotatable secondary support 14 (eccentric). In particular, it may, but does not have to, relate to Figure 1 the vision display device 2.

[0045] Here, Figure 2 a cross-sectional view is shown, looking in the direction of the mirror axis A1. The mirror axis extends here merely by way of example parallel at a predetermined radial spacing from the eccentric axis A2. To rotate the secondary support about its eccentric axis A2 by 19, the secondary support 14 is driven by an assigned eccentric drive M2. In this example, the eccentric drive M2 is formed by a second motor provided specifically for this purpose, the motor housing of which is represented by a dashed circular line and is obscured in Figure 2 by the support 17 in which the secondary support 14 is rotatably supported. The support 17 and the eccentric axis A2 are fixed / immovable relative to the projection unit 5 and the housing 10, and are merely schematically represented by a rectangle in Figures 2 to 3b as follows. In this example, the eccentric drive M2 further includes a driving member 18 that engages in a form-fitting manner, in order to transfer the torque from the second motor to the secondary support 14, into an opening 20 formed in the secondary support 14, the position of which is merely described by way of example in Figure 2 and the internal dimensions of which are, for example, only slightly larger than the external dimensions of the driving member 18 in order to allow the driving member 18 to have the necessary mobility in the opening 20 during operation.

[0046] Figure 3a Shows Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional view of the concave mirror 8 and the eccentric support of this concave mirror in the rotatable secondary support 14, looking in the direction of the mirror axis A1 in the operating position of the concave mirror 8. In other words, it can be said that Figure 3aThe concave mirror 8 is displayed from the driver's perspective, i.e., from the viewing direction in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle 1. Figure 3b Shows the same longitudinal sectional view as in Figure 3a after the concave mirror 8 has been adjusted to its parked position P.

[0047] As can be seen in Figure 1 in the operating angle range of the mirror axis A1 for adapting the eye box during the operation of the projection unit 5, the distance between the roof panel 11 and the concave mirror 8 is the largest. In the angle range beyond this operating angle range for adjusting the concave mirror 8 to the parked position P, (in the absence of an additional lowering kinematic mechanism) due to the asymmetric windshield geometry and vehicle geometry from the driver's perspective, especially the right end of the mirror axis A1 in Figure 3a and 3b is too close to the roof panel 11 with the desired anti-reflection geometry described in Figure 1 . Therefore, to solve this problem, it is stipulated in Figure 2 and 3a and 3b: When adjusting the concave mirror 8 to the parked position P, the concave mirror 8 is merely exemplarily lowered unilaterally, i.e., on the aforementioned right end of the mirror axis A1 (bilateral is also possible), in the region of the narrow part relative to the roof panel 11, by the eccentric kinematic mechanism introduced here.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3a in this example, the primary support 15 is configured as a fixed support, and the left end of the mirror axis A1 is rotatably supported in this primary support. The fixation of this fixed support relative to the projection unit 5 or in the housing 10 is represented by a triangular fixing device. Therefore, this support part is especially also suitable for connecting the mechanical mirror axis drive M1; however, this is by no means necessary. The primary support 15 is configured as a ball head, for example, in order to give the opposing support part on the second end of the mirror axis A1 the necessary degrees of freedom of movement. In the case where the opposing support part is configured as a loose support, a primary support 16 (in which the right end of the mirror axis A1 is rotatably supported) can also be configured with a ball head. In this example, the adjustment of the concave mirror 8 for the normal operation of the vision display device 2, that is, for adapting the eye box position, is especially achieved by the two primary supports 15 and 16, and this adjustment can be carried out, for example, during the driving operation of the vehicle 1.

[0049] The primary support 16 is eccentrically implemented in the secondary support 14 in such a way that the primary support is at a predetermined distance from the eccentric shaft A2 in a fixed position in this secondary support (see Figure 2Fixing or supporting, such as sliding support or rolling support.

[0050] The concave mirror 8 can be placed from an arbitrary operating position onto the parking position P of the concave mirror by a combination of a rotation 12 of the mirror axis A1 and a rotation 19 of the secondary support 14 independent of this rotation on an optimally selectable adjustment path. By the rotation of the secondary support, the concave mirror 8 descends in the height direction Z of the vehicle 1, and in this example the distance between the concave mirror 8 and the roof panel 11 is increased by a height amount ΔZ which is related to the specific position of the primary support 16 in the secondary support 14 and the distance of this primary support from the eccentric shaft A2. This descent amount ΔZ is also shown in Figure 3a , 3b . A bilateral descent, i.e. also for the primary support 15 at the other end of the mirror axis A1, can be achieved in a similar manner.

[0051] As an alternative or supplement to the described adjustment of the concave mirror 8 to its parking position P, in a similar manner, the eccentric drive descent or ascent of the concave mirror 8 can also be used for the adjustment of the concave mirror during operation, in particular for adapting the eye box. The independently driven rotation 19 of the secondary support 14 can be used as an additional translational degree of freedom during the adjustment of the concave mirror. This can be used to additionally optimize the optical performance of the vision display device 2 during operation, and / or to better utilize the effective concave mirror area when adapting the eye box, that is to say to reduce the required concave mirror size, and can be used much more, as an alternative or supplement to the above-mentioned descent to the parking position P, by appropriately selecting the geometric parameters of the eccentric support of the mirror axis A1 in the secondary support 14 and the time functions of the two drive devices M1 and M2.

[0052] Depending on the diameter of the support of the mirror axis A1 in the secondary support 14 and on the respective time courses of the independent drive devices M1 and M2, the eccentric drive translational movement of the mirror axis A1 can be specifically adapted to the desired design parameters (such as the optical performance of the vision display device 2, structural space limitations, etc.). Thus, in particular, the concave mirror 8 can descend significantly deeper in the Z direction to reach its parking position P compared to conventional support and adjustment. The independent control of the two drive devices M1 and M2 can be achieved simultaneously or decoupled in time depending on the situation. Thus it is possible to keep the distance from the roof panel 11 as large as possible during the descent sequence.

[0053] List of reference numerals

[0054] 1 vehicle

[0055] 2 vision display device

[0056] 3 front glass

[0057] 4 Instrument panel

[0058] 5 Projection unit

[0059] 6 Imaging unit

[0060] 7 Folding mirror

[0061] 8 Concave mirror

[0062] 9 Roof

[0063] 10 Housing

[0064] 11 Top cover sheet

[0065] 12 Rotation of the mirror rotating shaft

[0066] 14 Secondary support

[0067] 15, 16 Primary supports for the opposite ends of the mirror rotating shaft

[0068] 17 Support seat

[0069] 18 Driving part

[0070] 19 Rotation of the secondary support

[0071] 20 Driving opening

[0072] L Light beam

[0073] O Upper side of the instrument panel

[0074] A1 Mirror rotating shaft

[0075] A2 Eccentric wheel shaft

[0076] E Eyebox

[0077] M1 Driving device of the mirror rotating shaft, i.e., mirror rotating shaft driving device

[0078] M2 Driving device of the secondary support, i.e., eccentric wheel driving device

[0079] P Parking position of the concave mirror

[0080] K Coordinate system fixed to the vehicle

[0081] X, Y, Z Longitudinal, lateral and height directions of the vehicle

[0082] V Virtual image

Claims

1. A projection unit (5) for a vision display device (2), in particular for use in a vehicle (1), the projection unit comprising: An imaging unit (6) configured to generate a light beam (L) with a desired display content; A concave mirror (8) arranged and configured in the optical path of the generated light beam (L) such that the light beam (L) leaves the projection unit (5) in a predetermined shape and direction, so as to be subsequently reflected from a partially transparent reflector sheet disposed in the user's field of view to the user's eye box (E), and thus present the display content to the user in the form of a virtual image (V) behind the reflector sheet; Wherein, in order to adapt the position of the eye box, the concave mirror (8) can be rotated about a mirror rotation axis (A1) fixedly connected to the concave mirror by a mirror rotation axis drive device (M1), and the mirror rotation axis is rotatably supported in the primary support members (15, 16) for this purpose; and Wherein at least the primary support member (16) at one end of the mirror rotation axis (A1) is eccentrically supported in the secondary support member (14), and the secondary support member can be driven by an eccentric drive device (M2) that can be independently controlled in order to rotate (19) about an eccentric axis (A2) of the secondary support member that is fixed relative to the projection unit (5), so as to cause a translational movement of the mirror rotation axis (A1) and thus the concave mirror (8) in a direction transverse to the mirror rotation axis.

2. The projection unit (5) according to claim 1, wherein, Both the mirror rotation axis drive device (M1) and the eccentric drive device (M2) respectively include their own motors for independent control of each other; and / or The mirror rotation axis drive device (M1) and the eccentric drive device (M2) include a common motor with a coupling device configured to alternately and independently control the mirror rotation axis drive device (M1) and the eccentric drive device (M2) when using the common motor.

3. The projection unit (5) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The primary support members (15, 16) at one or both ends of the mirror rotation axis (A1) are configured as ball heads; and / or The primary support member (16) is supported in the secondary support member (14) in a position-fixed manner, in particular at a point fixed to the secondary support member, with a predetermined radial distance from the eccentric axis (A2), in particular slidingly supported or rolling supported.

4. The projection unit (5) according to any one of the above claims, the projection unit further comprising: A housing (10) that protects the projection unit (5) outwardly; And A transparent top cover sheet (11) that closes the housing (10) on the exit side and transmits the light beam (L) emitted by the projection unit (5); Wherein, through a predetermined angular position of the mirror rotation axis (A1), the parking position (P) of the concave mirror (8) can be adjusted, and at this parking position, the focus or the optical axis of the concave mirror (8) is outside the optical path set for operating the projection unit (5); And When adjusting the concave mirror (8) from the operating position to the parking position (P) of the concave mirror, the rotation (19) that can be generated by the eccentric drive (M2) of the secondary support (14) causes a translational movement of the mirror axis of rotation (A1) and thus of the concave mirror (8) in the direction away from the top cover sheet (11).

5. The projection unit (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mirror axis of rotation (A1) and the eccentric axis (A2) are arranged parallel to each other with a predetermined axial spacing from each other; or the mirror axis of rotation (A1) and the eccentric axis (A2) are arranged inclined to each other.

6. The projection unit (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mirror axis of rotation (A1) and / or the primary supports (15, 16) of this mirror axis of rotation and / or the secondary support (14) are configured with an automatic axial length adaptation such that the length of the mirror axis of rotation (A1) automatically adapts to the possibly varying spacing between the primary supports (15, 16) at the two ends of the mirror axis of rotation when the secondary support (14) rotates (19).

7. A method for operating a projection unit (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mirror axis of rotation (A1) is driven by a mirror axis of rotation drive (M1) and the secondary support (14) is driven by an eccentric drive (M2) successively and / or simultaneously in order to adjust the concave mirror (8) during operation of the projection unit (5), in particular for adapting the eye box position; and / or the mirror axis of rotation (A1) is driven by a mirror axis of rotation drive (M1) and the secondary support (14) is driven by an eccentric drive (M2) successively and / or simultaneously in order to adjust the concave mirror (8) to its parking position (P).

8. A control unit, which is configured and arranged to automatically carry out the method according to claim 7.

9. A vision display device (2), in particular for use in a vehicle (1), the vision display device comprising: a projection unit (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 6; a reflecting sheet, which is arranged in the optical path of the light beam (L) emitted by the projection unit (5), in particular the reflecting sheet is at least partially transparent, the reflecting sheet is arranged and configured in the user's field of vision such that the reflecting sheet reflects the light beam (L) to a predetermined eye box (E) for the user, and thus the display content can be presented to the user in the form of a virtual image (V) behind the reflecting sheet; and preferably also comprises a control unit according to claim 8.

10. A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having mutually perpendicular longitudinal, transverse and height directions (X, Y, Z) of a Cartesian coordinate system (K) fixed to the vehicle, the vehicle comprising: a vehicle sheet, in particular a front glass (3), which at least partially delimits the passenger compartment; and The field-of-view display device (2) according to claim 9, wherein the projection unit (5) of the field-of-view display device is arranged in the passenger compartment, in particular inside the instrument panel (4) arranged below the front glass (3) or directly below the upper side (O) of the instrument panel, and the reflector sheet body of the field-of-view display device is configured as a section of the vehicle sheet body or as a combined sheet body arranged in the passenger compartment; Wherein, the translational movement of the mirror rotation axis (A1) caused by the rotation (19) of the secondary support (14) includes a unilateral or bilateral lowering (ΔZ) or raising of the mirror rotation axis in the height direction (Z) of the Cartesian coordinate system (K) fixed to the vehicle.

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