Image generation unit and head-up display system

Abstract

The utility model relates to an image generating unit and a head-up display system, the image generating unit comprises a backlight system and a display system, and the backlight system comprises a backlight assembly comprising a plurality of light sources; the collimation assembly is arranged on the light emitting side of the backlight assembly, comprises collimation pieces arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the light sources and is used for collimating light rays emitted by the light sources; the light beam control assembly is arranged on the side, away from the backlight assembly, of the collimation assembly and used for converging the light rays collimated by the collimation assembly to form a regular light beam band; the light beam converging part is arranged on the side, away from the collimation assembly, of the light beam control assembly and used for converging the multiple regular light beams formed by converging of the light beam control assembly to form a unified light beam; the light beam correcting piece is arranged on the side, away from the light beam control assembly, of the light beam converging piece and located at the position adjacent to the display system, and corrects the main light angle of the emitted light beam to meet the light requirement of the display system. According to the image generation unit and the head-up display system, light rays are uniform, the light emitting angle is appropriate, and the problems of light spot splicing seams and the like can be effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive head-up display technology, and in particular to an image generation unit and a head-up display system. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of intelligent cockpits in automobiles, the application of head-up display (HUD) technology is becoming increasingly widespread. As a comprehensive electronic display device, HUD systems can project vehicle information, such as speed, fuel consumption, engine speed, and navigation, onto the windshield or other display media for the driver to view, providing a better experience and reducing safety hazards caused by drivers looking down or shifting their gaze. To balance cost, the image generation unit of HUD systems often uses liquid crystal display (LCD) modules. This solution requires uniform backlighting and a light emission angle that matches the imaging requirements. However, existing technologies suffer from problems such as excessively large light emission angles leading to a mismatch between the light emission angle and imaging needs, as well as issues like light spot seams, affecting image quality and resulting in a poor driving experience. Utility Model Content

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, the purpose of this invention is to design an image generation unit and a head-up display system that provides uniform light, appropriate light emission angles, and effectively solves problems such as light spot splicing seams.

[0004] The objective of this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0005] Design an image generation unit, including a backlight system and a display system, wherein the backlight system includes:

[0006] Backlight assembly, including several light sources;

[0007] A collimation assembly is disposed on the light-emitting side of the backlight assembly, including collimating elements that correspond one-to-one with the light source, for collimating the light emitted by the light source;

[0008] A beam control component is disposed on the side of the collimation component away from the backlight component, and is used to converge the light rays collimated by the collimation component to form a regular beam band;

[0009] A beam converging component is disposed on the side of the beam control component away from the collimation component, and is used to converge multiple regular beams formed by the beam control component to form a unified beam.

[0010] A beam corrector is disposed on the side of the beam converging component away from the beam control component and adjacent to the display system, and corrects the angle of the main ray of the emitted beam to match the lighting requirements of the display system.

[0011] In this design, the image generation unit uses a collimating component to converge light emitted from the light source, forming collimated light that enters the incident surface of the beam control component. The light exiting the beam control component is emitted at a specific beam angle according to design requirements. Therefore, the light passing through the beam control component forms a regular beam band, which, when illuminating a plane, creates regularly overlapping light spots. A beam converger then converges these beam bands into a unified beam. This unified beam converges at the focal plane of the beam converger to form a single light spot, effectively solving the problem of light spot seams in the image generation unit. A beam corrector is installed after the beam converger to correct and match the angle of the light emitted from it, ensuring it enters the display system at a suitable angle, reducing light loss and improving illumination efficiency.

[0012] Furthermore, the beam control component includes a microlens array located between the collimation component and the beam converger.

[0013] The microlens array receives light rays emitted from the collimating component, therefore the size of the microlens array is larger than the size of the collimating component. The microlens array can be designed as a double-layer microlens array, where both its incident and emitting surfaces are curved, converging the light rays emitted from the microlens array. The focal point of convergence is located between the microlens array and the beam converger.

[0014] Furthermore, the beam control component includes a microlens array, which is stacked on one side of the light-emitting surface of the collimating component or on one side of the incident surface of the beam converging component.

[0015] Microlens arrays can be designed as single-layer arrays, with one side curved and the other flat. The incident surface of the microlens array can be superimposed on the light-emitting surface of the collimating component, with their centers facing each other, forming an integrated design with the collimating component. The curved light-emitting surface of the microlens array converges the emitted light. Alternatively, the microlens array can also be integrated with a beam converger, with the light-emitting surface of the microlens array superimposed on the incident surface of the beam converger, with their centers facing each other. The principle behind both designs is the same: the microlens array converges the emitted light before it illuminates the beam converger.

[0016] Furthermore, the beam control assembly includes two sets of microlens arrays, one set of which is stacked on the light-emitting surface side of the collimator, and the other set of which is stacked on the incident surface side of the beam converging element.

[0017] The microlens array can also be designed as two sets of single-layer microlens arrays, one set of microlens arrays combined with the collimation component to form an integrated design, and the other set of microlens arrays combined with the beam converging component to form an integrated design.

[0018] Furthermore, the microlens array includes a plurality of microlenses, wherein the microlenses are convex lenses or concave lenses.

[0019] One side of a microlens array consists of a tiny array of convex or concave lenses. These tiny lenses can converge light, and the design can be selected according to the actual situation in practical use.

[0020] Furthermore, the backlight system also includes a light-diffusing component, which is located between the beam corrector and the display system.

[0021] The light-diffusing component can use a diffusion film. Through the refraction, reflection and scattering of light in the diffusion film medium, the light is diffused into a uniform surface light source, achieving the effect of optical diffusion. This allows the light to be scattered from the light-emitting surface of the diffusion film, improving the uniformity of the light in the system.

[0022] Furthermore, the backlight system also includes a beam folding member disposed between the beam converging member and the beam correcting member, for reflecting the beam emitted from the beam converging member to the incident surface of the beam correcting member.

[0023] By setting a beam folding component between the beam converging component and the beam straightening component, the direction of the light emitted from the beam converging component is changed, and the light is reflected towards the beam straightening component, thus reducing the longitudinal length of the backlight system. Therefore, the space occupied by the backlight system can be reduced, and the volume of the image generation unit can be reduced.

[0024] Furthermore, the beam folding element is a planar reflector or a freeform surface reflector.

[0025] Depending on the actual scenario, the beam folding component can use either a plane mirror or a freeform surface mirror to reflect the light and change its direction.

[0026] Furthermore, the collimating element is a TIR collimating lens, the TIR collimating lens has a light inlet, and the light source is disposed at the light inlet.

[0027] The TIR collimating lens is cup-shaped and consists of a central small-angle collimating lens surface, an edge large-angle draft transmission surface, an edge total internal reflection lens surface, and a collimating output surface. The light source is positioned at the light inlet of the TIR collimating lens. The small-angle light emitted by the light source passes through the central collimating lens surface and then through the collimating output surface to form collimated light. The large-angle light emitted by the light source passes through the draft transmission surface, undergoes total internal reflection at the edge total internal reflection lens surface, and then is emitted through the collimating output surface to form collimated light.

[0028] A head-up display system is also designed, including the image generation unit described above.

[0029] By using the image generation unit described above, the problem of light spot stitching seams is overcome, resulting in clearer and brighter images in the head-up display system and improving the user experience.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0031] In this design, the image generation unit uses a collimating component to converge light emitted from the light source, forming collimated light that enters the incident surface of the beam control component. The light exiting the beam control component is emitted at a specific beam angle according to design requirements. Therefore, the light passing through the beam control component forms a regular beam band, which, when illuminating a plane, creates regularly overlapping light spots. A beam converger then converges these beam bands into a unified beam. This unified beam converges at the focal plane of the beam converger to form a single light spot, effectively solving the problem of light spot seams in the image generation unit. A beam corrector is installed after the beam converger to correct and match the angle of the light emitted from it, ensuring it enters the display system at a suitable angle, reducing light loss and improving illumination efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 The structure of the image generation unit in one embodiment of this utility model Figure 1 .

[0033] Figure 2 The structure of the image generation unit in one embodiment of this utility model Figure 2 .

[0034] Figure 3 The structure of the image generation unit in one embodiment of this utility model Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the optical path.

[0035] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the assembly position relationship of a set of double-layer microlens arrays according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 5 The assembly position relationship of a single-layer microlens array according to an embodiment of this utility model. Figure 1 .

[0037] Figure 6 The assembly position relationship of a single-layer microlens array according to an embodiment of this utility model. Figure 2 .

[0038] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing the assembly position relationship of two sets of single-layer microlens arrays according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 8 The structure of the image generation unit in one embodiment of this utility model Figure 3 .

[0040] Figure 9 The structure of the image generation unit in one embodiment of this utility model Figure 4 .

[0041] Figure 10 The structure of the image generation unit in one embodiment of this utility model Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the optical path.

[0042] Illustrations: 1. Backlight system; 11. Backlight assembly; 12. Collimation assembly; 13. Beam control assembly; 14. Beam convergent component; 15. Beam folding component; 16. Beam correction component; 17. Beam homogenizing assembly; 111. Light source; 121. Collimation component; 2. Display system. Detailed Implementation

[0043] To facilitate understanding of this invention, a more comprehensive description will be provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. However, this invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Example 1:

[0044] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment provides an image generation unit, including a backlight system 1 and a display system 2. The display system 2 uses an LCD display panel, which is positioned behind the backlight system 1. The position and angle of the LCD display panel are designed according to actual needs, and can be designed to be tilted at a certain angle, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it can also be designed to be parallel to the backlight system, such as... Figure 2As shown. The backlight system 1 includes a backlight assembly 11, a collimation assembly 12, a beam control assembly 13, a beam convergent assembly 14, a beam corrector 16, and a beam homogenizer 17 arranged sequentially. The backlight assembly 11 includes multiple arrayed light sources 111, which are LED light sources, preferably of the Braun type. A collimation component 12 is provided on one side of the light-emitting surface of the backlight assembly 11. The collimation component 12 includes collimating elements 121 that correspond one-to-one with multiple light sources 111, used to collimate the light emitted by the light sources 111. The collimating element 121 adopts a TIR collimating lens. The TIR collimating lens is cup-shaped and consists of a central small-angle collimating lens surface, an edge large-angle draft transmission surface, an edge total reflection lens surface, and a collimating light-emitting surface. The LED light source is set at the light inlet of the TIR collimating lens. The small-angle light emitted by the LED light source passes through the central collimating lens surface and then through the collimating light-emitting surface to form collimated light. The large-angle light emitted by the LED light source passes through the draft transmission surface, is totally reflected by the edge total reflection lens surface, and then is emitted through the collimating light-emitting surface to form collimated light. A beam control component 13 is provided on one side of the light-emitting surface of the collimating component 12. The collimated light from the collimating component 12 enters from the incident surface of the beam control component 13, and the light emitted from the light-emitting surface of the beam control component 13 is emitted at a certain beam angle according to design requirements. Therefore, the light passing through the beam control component 13 forms a regular beam band, which forms a regularly overlapping light spot when it illuminates the plane. A beam converging component 14 is provided on one side of the light-emitting surface of the beam control component 13. The beam converging component 14 can be a condensing lens to converge the beam band passing through it into a unified beam. This unified beam can be converged into a light spot on the focal plane of the beam converging component 14, thus effectively solving the problem of light spot splicing seams in the image generation unit. A beam corrector 16 is provided on one side of the light-emitting surface of the beam converging component 14. The beam corrector 16 can be a field lens to correct and match the angle of the light emitted from the beam corrector 16, so that it can enter the LCD display panel at a suitable angle, reducing light loss and improving illumination efficiency. A light-diffusing component 17 is disposed on one side of the light-emitting surface of the beam corrector 16, and the light-diffusing component 17 is located between the beam corrector 16 and the LCD display panel. The light-diffusing component 17 may be a diffusion film, which diffuses the light into a uniform surface light source through the refraction, reflection and scattering of light in the diffusion film medium, thereby achieving the effect of optical diffusion and scattering the light from the light-emitting surface of the diffusion film, thus improving the uniformity of the light in the system.

[0045] The beam control component 13 can employ a microlens array. One side of the microlens array consists of a tiny array of convex or concave lenses. These tiny lenses can converge light rays. The microlens array receives light rays emitted from the collimating component; therefore, the size of the microlens array is larger than the size of the collimating component. The design can be selected based on actual needs in practical applications. Furthermore, the beam control component 13 can be designed as a single-layer or double-layer microlens array, and it also has various combinations in the backlight system, all of which can form a regular beam pattern from the passing light rays. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the beam control assembly includes a double-layer microlens array, where both its incident and exit surfaces are curved. The microlens array is located between the collimating assembly and the beam converging element, focusing the light rays exiting the array. The focal point of the convergence is located between the microlens array and the beam converging element. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the beam control component 13 includes a single-layer microlens array, i.e., one side is curved and the other side is flat. The incident surface of the microlens array can be superimposed on the light-emitting surface of the collimating component 12, with their centers facing each other, forming an integrated design with the collimating component 12. The light-emitting surface of the microlens array is curved, thereby converging the emitted light. Alternatively, the microlens array can also be integrated with the beam converging component 14, with the light-emitting surface of the microlens array superimposed on the incident surface of the beam converging component 14, with their centers facing each other. The principle of both designs is the same: the microlens array converges the emitted light before it illuminates the beam converging component. Figure 7 As shown, the beam control component 13 includes two sets of single-layer microlens arrays. One set of microlens arrays is integrated with the collimation component 12 to form an integrated design, and the other set of microlens arrays is integrated with the beam converging component 14 to form an integrated design. Example 2:

[0046] like Figures 8 to 10 As shown, in order to reduce the vertical length of the backlight system 1, reduce the space occupied by the backlight system 1, and reduce the volume of the image generation unit, a beam folding member 15 can be designed in the backlight system 1 to change the direction of the light path. In this embodiment, a beam folding member 15 is set between the beam converging member 14 and the beam correcting member 16 to change the direction of the light emitted from the beam converging member 14 and reflect the light towards the beam correcting member 16, thereby reducing the vertical length of the backlight system 1. Depending on the actual scenario, the beam folding member 15 can be selected to use a plane mirror or a freeform surface mirror to reflect the light and change the direction of the light. The other components of the backlight system 1 and the display system 2 are the same as those described in Embodiment 1, and will not be described in detail here. Example 3:

[0047] This embodiment provides a head-up display system, including an image generation unit as described in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. Additionally, the head-up display system also includes other well-known components, such as a housing, support structure, wiring, and a freeform mirror. These components all employ existing technical solutions and will not be described further here.

[0048] By using the image generation unit described above, the light emitted from the light source 111 is converged by the collimating component 12 to form collimated light that enters from the incident surface of the beam control component 13. The light emitted from the exit surface of the beam control component 13 is emitted at a certain beam angle according to design requirements. Therefore, the light passing through the beam control component 13 forms a regular beam band. When this beam band illuminates the plane, it forms a regularly overlapping light spot. The beam converging component 14 converges the beam bands passing through it to form a unified beam. This unified beam can converge to form a light spot on the focal plane of the beam converging component 14, thus effectively solving the problem of light spot splicing seams in the image generation unit. A beam correction component 16 is set after the beam converging component 14 to correct and match the angle of the light emitted from the beam correction component 16, so that it can enter the display system 2 at a suitable angle, reducing light loss, improving illumination efficiency, making the head-up display system image clearer and brighter, and improving the system user experience.

[0049] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that terms such as "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0050] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the inclusion of "first," "second," etc., in a feature may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0051] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An image generation unit, characterized in that, Includes a backlight system and a display system, wherein the backlight system includes: Backlight assembly, including several light sources; A collimation assembly is disposed on the light-emitting side of the backlight assembly, including collimating elements that correspond one-to-one with the light source, for collimating the light emitted by the light source; A beam control component is disposed on the side of the collimation component away from the backlight component, and is used to converge the light rays collimated by the collimation component to form a regular beam band; A beam converging component is disposed on the side of the beam control component away from the collimation component, and is used to converge multiple regular beams formed by the beam control component to form a unified beam. A beam corrector is disposed on the side of the beam converging component away from the beam control component and adjacent to the display system, and corrects the angle of the emitted main beam to match the light requirements of the display system.

2. The image generation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The beam control component includes a microlens array located between the collimation component and the beam converger.

3. The image generation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The beam control component includes a microlens array, which is stacked on one side of the light-emitting surface of the collimating component or on one side of the incident surface of the beam converging component.

4. The image generation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The beam control component includes two sets of microlens arrays, one set of which is stacked on one side of the light-emitting surface of the collimating component, and the other set of which is stacked on one side of the incident surface of the beam converging component.

5. The image generation unit according to any one of claims 2-4, characterized in that, The microlens array includes a plurality of microlenses, wherein the microlenses are convex lenses or concave lenses.

6. The image generation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The backlight system also includes a light-diffusing component, which is located between the beam corrector and the display system.

7. The image generation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The backlight system also includes a beam folding component, which is disposed between the beam converging component and the beam correcting component, and is used to reflect the beam emitted from the beam converging component to the incident surface of the beam correcting component.

8. The image generation unit according to claim 7, characterized in that, The beam folding component is a plane mirror or a freeform surface mirror.

9. The image generation unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collimating element is a TIR collimating lens, which has a light inlet, and the light source is located at the light inlet.

10. A head-up display system, characterized in that, Includes the image generation unit as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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