Image generation unit for head-up display, head-up display, and motor vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an image generation unit (1) for a head-up display, a head-up display, and a motor vehicle having a head-up display. The image generation unit (1) includes: a display module (11) including a display screen (111); a backlight module (12) including a light emitting element; the backlight module (12) is arranged between the display screen (111) and the heat dissipation module (13) and is in heat conduction connection with the heat dissipation module (13); wherein the image generation unit (1) further comprises a display screen frame (14), and the display screen frame (14) surrounds the display screen (111) and is in heat conduction connection with the display screen (111); and the heat conduction structural member (15) is in heat conduction connection with the display screen frame (14) and the heat dissipation module (13).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an image generation unit for a head-up display, a head-up display, and a motor vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] A Head-Up Display (HUD) is an optical display device increasingly used in motor vehicles. Its core function is to project information into the user's field of vision. A HUD mainly consists of two parts: an image generation unit (PGU) and an optical display system. The image generation unit generates the HUD output image, while the optical display system modifies the optical path and magnifies the image. The image generation unit comprises a light source, optical films, and other optical components. The optical display system typically includes curved mirrors to magnify the image generated by the image generation unit.

[0003] In practice, it has been found that external light, such as sunlight, can enter the HUD system. This light is then focused onto the surface of the image generating unit, especially the screen surface, via the optical display system or curved mirrors. Under adverse conditions, such as prolonged exposure to strong light, this can create localized high temperatures and potentially burn out the screen. Utility Model Content

[0004] This disclosure aims to provide an image generation unit for a head-up display, a head-up display, and a motor vehicle, which can reduce the temperature of the surface of the image generation unit, especially the screen surface, even under extremely unfavorable sunlight conditions, thus preventing the screen from burning out.

[0005] This disclosure presents an image generation unit for a head-up display, a head-up display, and a motor vehicle, which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and brings other technical effects by adopting the following technical features.

[0006] An image generation unit for a head-up display, the image generation unit comprising:

[0007] Display module, which includes a display screen;

[0008] A backlight module, which includes light-emitting elements;

[0009] The heat dissipation module and the backlight module are positioned between the display screen and the heat dissipation module and are thermally connected to the heat dissipation module.

[0010] The image generation unit further includes:

[0011] A display frame that surrounds the display screen and is thermally connected to the display screen;

[0012] A thermally conductive structural component is thermally connected to the display screen frame and the heat dissipation module.

[0013] In some embodiments, a plurality of heat-conducting structural members are provided along the circumference of the display frame.

[0014] In some embodiments, the display module further includes a display bracket, and a display bracket groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the display bracket for the heat-conducting structural member to pass through.

[0015] In some embodiments, the backlight module further includes a housing, and a housing groove is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing for the heat-conducting structural member to pass through.

[0016] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting structural member is configured as an L-shaped structure, including a main body extending from the display frame to the heat dissipation module and a bent portion extending on the heat dissipation module.

[0017] In some embodiments, a recess is formed in the heat dissipation module, and the bending portion is arranged in the recess.

[0018] In some embodiments, the heat dissipation module is configured as a finned heat sink.

[0019] In some embodiments, the thermally conductive structure is configured as a heat pipe.

[0020] In some embodiments, the heat-conducting structure is configured as a flattened heat pipe.

[0021] In some embodiments, the display screen is configured as a thin-film transistor display screen.

[0022] On the other hand, this disclosure proposes a head-up display having an image generation unit as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0023] On the other hand, this disclosure proposes a motor vehicle having a head-up display as described above.

[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the features and advantages of the present disclosure can be readily understood. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this disclosure will be briefly described below. The drawings are merely illustrative of some embodiments of this disclosure and are not intended to limit all embodiments of this disclosure to them.

[0026] Figure 1 The head-up display and schematic diagram are shown;

[0027] Figure 2 An external stereoscopic view of the image generation unit of the head-up display is shown;

[0028] Figure 3 An external perspective view of the display module of the image generation unit is shown;

[0029] Figure 4 A rear external perspective view of the display frame of the image generation unit is shown;

[0030] Figure 5 A top front view of the display frame, showing another design for the image generation unit;

[0031] Figure 6 An external perspective view of the housing of the backlight module of the image generation unit is shown;

[0032] Figure 7 An external perspective view of the heat dissipation module of the image generation unit is shown;

[0033] Figure 8 An external perspective view of the thermally conductive structure of the image generation unit is shown.

[0034] List of reference numerals

[0035] I virtual image

[0036] S Sun

[0037] W windshield

[0038] E person's eyes

[0039] H-shaped head-up display

[0040] 1 Image Generation Unit

[0041] 11 Display Module

[0042] 111 display screen

[0043] 112 Display Stand

[0044] 1121 Display Stand Groove

[0045] 12 backlight modules

[0046] 121 housing

[0047] 1211 Housing Groove

[0048] 13 heat dissipation modules

[0049] 131 concave part

[0050] 14 Display Screen Frame

[0051] 15 thermally conductive structural components

[0052] 151 Main Body

[0053] 152 bends Detailed Implementation

[0054] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same components. It should be noted that the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of this disclosure without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0055] Compared to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, feasible embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may have fewer components, other components not shown in the drawings, different components, components arranged differently, or components with different connections, etc. Furthermore, two or more components in the drawings may be implemented in a single component, or a single component shown in the drawings may be implemented as multiple separate components.

[0056] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this patent application specification do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms “an” or “a” and similar terms do not necessarily indicate a quantity limitation. The terms “comprising” or “including” and similar terms mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the element or object listed following the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. The terms “connected” or “linked” and similar terms are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” and “right” are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, which may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.

[0057] Figure 1An exemplary head-up display (HUD) H and its schematic diagram are shown. The HUD H is installed in a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, and schematically depicted parts of the vehicle, such as the front, driver's cabin, steering wheel, and windshield W. The HUD H is mounted below the vehicle's control panel and includes an image generation unit 1 and an optical display system. The image generated by the image generation unit 1 is first projected onto a flat mirror of the optical display system, then reflected onto a curved mirror subsequently arranged, and magnified by the curved mirror before being projected into the user's field of vision. Finally, the user's eye E sees the image I generated by the image generation unit 1 through the vehicle's windshield W. The optical path in this process is... Figure 1 The image is represented by a trapezoidal symbol starting from image generation unit 1 and a triangular symbol representing the human eye E extending to image I. By using a head-up display in a vehicle or motor vehicle, the driver does not need to look down at the instrument panel, thus focusing their attention on the road ahead, thereby achieving a safer human-computer interaction method.

[0058] The optical display system of the head-up display H uses curved mirrors to magnify the image. Simultaneously, external light, such as light emitted from the sun S, is focused after entering the curved mirror and reflected by a flat mirror before reaching the surface of the image generation unit 1, specifically the screen of the image generation unit 1. This optical path... Figure 1 The image is represented by an arrow pointing from the sun (S) to the image generation unit (1). This sunlight illuminates the screen, causing it to heat up and even create localized high temperatures on the screen surface. In the case of a thin-film transistor (TFT) display, the temperature distribution on the screen surface exhibits a trend of high temperature in the geometric center and decreasing towards the edges. Due to the low thermal conductivity of the material, heat in the center of the screen cannot be dissipated quickly enough, causing heat accumulation. Eventually, when the temperature exceeds 105°C, the liquid crystal undergoes a phase transition, leading to screen burn-out. Therefore, reducing the surface temperature of the display and preventing screen burn-out under extreme sunlight conditions is crucial for head-up displays.

[0059] Figure 2 The image generation unit 1 is shown in an external perspective view. The image generation unit 1 may include a display module 11 (such as...). Figure 3 As shown in the figure, it may include a display screen 111 for displaying an image to be projected. The figure also shows wiring connected to the display screen 111 in essentially the same plane, and connecting parts for mounting the image generation unit 1 onto other structures. The image generation unit 1 may also include a backlight module 12. Figure 6 The backlight module 12 is connected to the display module 11 and may include a light-emitting element, which can be installed in... Figure 6The backlight module 12 shown is housed in a casing 121. Light emitted from the light-emitting element projects the image on the display screen 111 outwards. The image generation unit 1 may also include a heat dissipation module 13. Figure 7 The heat dissipation module 13 is connected to the side of the backlight module 12 away from the display screen 111. Figure 6 The backlight module 12 is located between the display screen 111 and the heat dissipation module 13 (located on the lower side of the display screen 111). The heat dissipation module 13 is thermally connected to the backlight module 12, thereby dissipating the heat generated by the image generation unit 1, especially the light-emitting element, during operation.

[0060] According to this disclosure, the image generation unit 1 may further include a display screen frame 14 and a heat-conducting structural component 15. The display screen frame 14 surrounds the display screen 111 and is thermally connected to the display screen 111. The display screen frame may be designed as a metal structure, preferably made of a metal with high mechanical strength and good thermal conductivity, such as an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy. Figure 4 The back side of the display frame 14, i.e., the side closest to the display screen 111, is shown in the figure. As shown, the display frame 14 has a circumferentially extending recess on this side for surrounding and securing the display screen 111. A thermally conductive silicone pad can be placed in the area where the display frame 14 and the display screen 111 meet, so as to quickly and effectively dissipate heat from the display screen 111 to the display frame 14. The thermally conductive structure 15 is thermally connected to the display frame 14 and the heat dissipation module 13, so as to conduct heat originating from the display screen 111 through the display frame 14 to the heat dissipation module 13. This design guides heat from the central area of ​​the screen surface to be evenly distributed across the entire surface of the display screen 111 in a timely manner, reducing the temperature gradient along the width of the display screen 111 and avoiding heat concentration.

[0061] Multiple heat-conducting structural members 15 can be arranged along the circumference of the display frame 14. Providing multiple heat-conducting structural members allows for multiple heat transfer paths, thereby improving efficiency. In the simplest case, the heat-conducting structural members can be directly attached to the outer circumferential surface of the display frame 14. Figure 5 Another design for the display frame 14 is shown. For example... Figure 5 As shown, recesses are provided on two opposing sides of the display frame 14. A total of four heat-conducting structural members 15 can be positioned and fixed in the corresponding recesses to fit their shapes. This improves the stability and reliability of the structure and increases the contact area between the display frame 14 and the heat-conducting structural members 15. The heat-conducting structural members 15 can contact the display frame 14 in the recesses through heat dissipation pads to improve heat transfer. Of course, other arrangements and numbers of the heat-conducting structural members 15 are also conceivable.

[0062] like Figure 3As shown, the display module 11 may further include a display screen bracket 112, which can be used to support the display screen 111, and in particular, cooperates with the display screen frame 14 to fix the display screen 111 between the two. Figure 3 The display bracket 112 shown is configured such that its upper and lower ends are not parallel to each other. Display bracket recesses 1121 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the display bracket 112 for the passage of the heat-conducting structural member 15. The number of display bracket recesses 1121 is the same as the number of heat-conducting structural members 15, and they are aligned with recesses on, for example, the edges of the display frame 14. This design allows for additional heat transfer from the display bracket 112 to the heat-conducting structural member 15. Thermally conductive silicone can be provided in the display bracket recesses 1121 to improve heat transfer.

[0063] Figure 6 The diagram shows the housing 121 of the backlight module 12. The light-emitting elements (not shown) of the backlight module can be arranged inside the housing 121 and thus supported and protected. The light emitted by the light-emitting elements illuminates the display screen 111 of the display module 11, which is connected to the housing 121 of the backlight module 12, projecting the image on the display screen 111 outwards. Housing grooves 1211 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 121 for the passage of the heat-conducting structural members 15. The number of housing grooves 1211 is the same as the number of heat-conducting structural members 15, and they are aligned with the display screen support grooves 1121. Thermally conductive silicone can be placed in the housing grooves 1211 to improve heat transfer. This design realizes a heat conduction path from the display screen 111 to the heat dissipation module 13, and can also additionally transfer heat from the housing 121 of the backlight module 12 to the heat-conducting structural members 15, thereby reducing the operating temperature of the backlight module and extending its service life.

[0064] The heat-conducting structural component 15 can be constructed as an L-shaped structure, including a main body 151 extending from the display frame 14 to the heat dissipation module 13 and a bent portion 152 extending from the heat dissipation module 13, such as... Figure 8 As shown. The main body 151 is designed to ensure thermally conductive contact between the heat-conducting structural component 15 and the display frame 14, display bracket 112, and housing 121. The main body 151 has thermally conductive contact with the display frame 14 at one end. The main body 151 is connected to a bent portion 152 at the other end, which extends on the heat dissipation module 13, thereby further optimizing the distribution and dissipation efficiency of heat on the heat dissipation module. In other words, the bent portion 152 increases the contact area with the heat dissipation module, accelerating heat dissipation. The bent portion 152 can extend on the surface of the heat dissipation module or inside the heat dissipation module, thereby saving structural space for the heat-conducting structural component 15. The bent portion 152 can be of any shape, such as a straight structure or a curved structure.

[0065] The heat dissipation module 13 may have a recess 131, and the bent portion 152 may be arranged in the recess 131, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the recessed portion provides a precise mounting position for the bending portion, ensuring it fits snugly against the surface of the heat dissipation module. This guarantees efficient heat transfer and also contributes to the overall structural stability.

[0066] The heat dissipation module 13 can be configured as a finned heat sink. For example... Figure 7 As shown, the heat dissipation module 13 can be connected to the housing 121 of the backlight module 12 at its upper end, while multiple fins are constructed on its other end. The finned heat sink significantly increases the contact area with the surrounding environment by adding multiple fins to its main structure, thereby accelerating heat dissipation. This design is particularly suitable for devices that require rapid heat dissipation and have high requirements for structural space.

[0067] The heat-conducting structural component 15 can be constructed as a heat pipe. The high thermal conductivity of the heat pipe allows heat from the surface of the display screen 111 to be promptly dissipated through the heat dissipation module, effectively solving the overheating problem of the display screen 111.

[0068] Furthermore, the heat-conducting structural component 15 can be constructed as a flattened heat pipe. Flattening the heat pipe significantly increases the contact area, thereby improving the heat transfer efficiency with the heat dissipation module. At the same time, this design can better adapt to the spatial layout of the head-up display and reduce the overall size.

[0069] The display screen 111 can be configured as a thin-film transistor display screen.

[0070] According to this disclosure, a head-up display is also proposed, which may have an image generation unit 1 as described in this disclosure.

[0071] According to this disclosure, a motor vehicle is also proposed, which may have a head-up display as described in this disclosure.

[0072] The exemplary implementation of the solution proposed in this disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and alterations can be made to the above specific embodiments without departing from the spirit of this disclosure, and various combinations can be made to the various technical features and structures proposed in this disclosure without exceeding the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An image generation unit (1) for a head-up display, characterized in that The image generation unit (1) includes: Display module (11), which includes display screen (111); Backlight module (12), which includes light-emitting elements; A heat dissipation module (13) is provided, wherein the backlight module (12) is disposed between the display screen (111) and the heat dissipation module (13) and is thermally connected to the heat dissipation module (13); The image generation unit (1) further includes: A display frame (14) surrounds the display screen (111) and is thermally connected to the display screen (111); A heat-conducting structural component (15) is thermally connected to the display frame (14) and the heat dissipation module (13).

2. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that Multiple heat-conducting structural components (15) are arranged circumferentially along the display frame (14).

3. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The display module (11) also includes a display screen bracket (112), and a display screen bracket groove (1121) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the display screen bracket (112) for the heat-conducting structure (15) to pass through.

4. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The backlight module (12) also includes a housing (121), and a housing groove (1211) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the housing for the heat-conducting structural component (15) to pass through.

5. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The heat-conducting structural component (15) is constructed in an L-shape, including a main body (151) extending from the display frame (14) to the heat dissipation module (13) and a bent portion (152) extending on the heat dissipation module (13).

6. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that A recess (131) is constructed in the heat dissipation module (13), and the bending portion (152) is arranged in the recess (131).

7. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The heat dissipation module (13) is constructed as a finned heat sink.

8. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The heat-conducting structural component (15) is constructed as a heat pipe.

9. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The heat-conducting structural component (15) is constructed as a flattened heat pipe.

10. The image generation unit (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The display screen (111) is constructed as a thin-film transistor display screen.

11. A head-up display, characterized by The head-up display has an image generation unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A motor vehicle, characterized in that The motor vehicle has a head-up display as described in claim 11.

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