Vehicle display device

Abstract

A vehicle display device comprising: an image display device (3) having an upper display area (30u) and a lower display area (30d); a hood part (7) covering the upper display area from a vehicle front side; a combiner (5) arranged on an eyepoint side with respect to the upper display area; a housing part (6) accommodating the lower display area and having an upward opening (61); a reflection element (4) arranged inside the housing part, facing the combiner via the opening, and reflecting display light (Lt) of the lower display area toward the combiner; a motor (8) adjusting a position of a virtual image based on an image in the lower display area in a vertical image direction by rotating the reflection element; and a control unit (9) controlling the image display device and the motor.The control unit is configured to be capable of setting a relative position of a virtual image (Vi) with respect to the upper display area, when viewed from the eye point (EP), to a predetermined position determined in advance.

Description

Area

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle display device. background

[0002] A vehicle display device including a combiner is known from the prior art. Patent Literature 1 discloses a vehicle display device comprising: a display device main body that emits display light; and a combiner attached to an upper part of the display device main body, the combiner projecting the display light emitted from the display device main body thereon. The combiner in Patent Literature 1 includes a display area onto which the display light is projected and a transparent transmission part disposed on at least one side of this display area. An image display unit that displays an image is disposed on a back side of the transparent transmission part of the combiner. Citation listPatent literature

[0003] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-119286 SummaryTechnical problem

[0004] It is advantageous to improve visibility when displaying a real image and a virtual image using a combiner. For example, when the real image and the virtual image are arranged and displayed side by side in the vertical direction, visibility may be reduced if the relative position of the virtual image with respect to the real image varies depending on the position of an eye.

[0005] In a configuration for displaying the real image and the virtual image using the combiner, it is advantageous that a required height of the combiner can be reduced. For example, the height of the combiner should be increased when the virtual image is to be visually recognized from different positions in a height direction. However, increasing the height of the combiner also increases the size of the device. An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device that can improve visibility.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device that can reduce the required height of the combiner. Solution to the problem

[0007] A vehicle display device according to the present invention comprises an image display device including an upper display portion and a lower display portion for displaying an image, and arranged such that the upper display portion faces an eye point in a vehicle; a hood portion covering the upper display portion from a vehicle front side; a combiner disposed on the eye point side with respect to the upper display portion; a case portion accommodating the lower display portion and having an upwardly facing opening, the opening being positioned on the eye point side with respect to the image display device; a reflection member disposed within the case portion, facing the combiner across the opening, and reflecting display light of the lower display portion toward the combiner;a motor that adjusts a position of a virtual image based on the image in the lower display area in a vertical image direction by rotating the reflection element; and a control unit that controls the image display device and the motor, the control unit being configured to be capable of adjusting a relative position of the virtual image with respect to the upper display area when viewed from the eye point to a predetermined position.

[0008] A vehicle display device according to the present invention comprises an image display device including an upper display portion and a lower display portion for displaying an image, and arranged such that the upper display portion faces an eye point in a vehicle; a hood portion covering the upper display portion from a vehicle front side; a combiner disposed on the eye point side with respect to the upper display portion; a case portion accommodating the lower display portion and having an upwardly facing opening, the opening being positioned on the eye point side with respect to the image display device; a reflection member disposed within the case portion, facing the combiner across the opening, and reflecting display light of the lower display portion toward the combiner;a motor that adjusts a position of a virtual image based on an image in the lower display area in a vertical image direction by rotating the reflection element; and a control unit that controls the image display device and the motor, wherein the control unit positions the reflection element so that a line of sight in a case of viewing the virtual image from the eye point at a first position in a vehicle up-and-down direction of the vehicle intersects with a line of sight in a case of viewing the virtual image from the eye point at a second position in the vehicle up-and-down direction at the combiner. Advantageous effects of the invention

[0009] A control unit of the vehicle display device according to the present invention is configured to be capable of adjusting a relative position of a virtual image with respect to an upper display area when viewed from an eye point to a predetermined position. This vehicle display device has an effect of improving visibility. The control unit of the vehicle display device according to the present invention positions a reflection member so that a line of sight, when a virtual image is viewed from an eye point at a first position in a vehicle upper and lower direction, intersects with a line of sight, when the virtual image is viewed from an eye point at a second position in the vehicle upper and lower direction, at a combiner. This vehicle display device has an effect of reducing the required height of the combiner. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle display device according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an optical path of the display light according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a display image in the first embodiment. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an intersection point of sight lines in the first embodiment. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing images for positioning according to the first embodiment. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing images for positioning according to the first embodiment. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an intersection point of sight lines in a second embodiment. Description of the embodiments

[0010] Hereinafter, a vehicle display device according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments. The components of the following embodiments include a component easily conceived by those skilled in the art or substantially the same component. [First embodiment]

[0011] In the following, a first embodiment is described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 6. The present embodiment relates to a vehicle display device. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle display device according to the first embodiment, Fig. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an optical path of the display light according to the first embodiment, Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display image in the first embodiment, Fig. Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an intersection point of sight lines in the first embodiment, and Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are diagrams illustrating images for positioning according to the first embodiment.

[0012] As in Fig. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 2, an image display device 3, a reflection element 4, a combiner 5, a motor 8, a control unit 9, and a camera 10. The vehicle display device 1 is mounted on a vehicle 100, such as an automobile. The vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment is a measuring device that can cause the combiner 5 to display a virtual image in front of a driver. The exemplary vehicle display device 1 is arranged on an instrument panel 120.

[0013] The vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to display a real image and a virtual image for an eye point EP in the vehicle 100. Specifically, the vehicle display device 1 causes the driver to visually recognize an image displayed on an upper part of the image display device 3 as a real image and causes the driver to visually recognize an image displayed on a lower part of the image display device 3 as a virtual image. The eye point EP is a position of an eye of the driver and is captured by, for example, the camera 10.

[0014] The housing 2 consists of a housing part 6 and a hood part 7. The housing part 6 and the hood part 7 can be integrated with each other or consist of separate parts. The housing part 6 is housed in the dashboard 120. The housing part 6 is box-shaped and has a light-shielding property. The housing part 6 has an opening 61 that opens upward. The opening 61 is arranged at an upper part of the housing part 6. The opening 61 is located on a rear side X2 with respect to the image display device 3, that is, on the side of the eye point EP.

[0015] A transparent cover 62 is provided on the opening 61. The cover 62 closes the opening 61. One shape of the cover 62 is a curved shape that bulges toward an inner side of the housing part 6. The cover 62 is shaped to reflect external light toward a light-shielding wall. For example, the cover 62 reflects external light transmitted through a windshield 110 toward a wall surface of the hood part 7 or in a direction other than the eyepoint.

[0016] In the following description, a front side in a vehicle front and rear direction X is referred to as "front side X1," and the rear side in the vehicle front and rear direction X is referred to as "rear side X2." An upper side in the vehicle up and down direction Z of the vehicle is referred to as "top side Z1," and a lower side in the vehicle up and down direction Z is referred to as "bottom side Z2." A vertical image direction of an image displayed by the vehicle display device 1 corresponds to the vehicle up and down direction Z.

[0017] The image display device 3 is a device that displays an image, for example, a liquid crystal display device such as a thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD). The image display device 3 includes a backlight unit and outputs display light by light from the backlight unit. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the image display device 3 includes an upper display region 30u and a lower display region 30d. The upper display region 30u and the lower display region 30d are light-emitting regions that emit display light. The upper display region 30u is arranged on the upper side Z1 of a display surface 30 of the image display device 3. The lower display region 30d is arranged on the lower side Z2 of the display surface 30.

[0018] The image display device 3 is arranged so that the upper display area 30u is opposite the eye point EP. The image display device 3 is attached to the housing 2 and held by the housing 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the housing part 6 accommodates the lower display area 30d and holds the image display device 3. The image display device 3 is arranged at one end part on the front side X1 of the housing part 6, and the display surface 30 is directed towards the rear side X2.

[0019] The upper display portion 30u protrudes upward from the housing portion 6. The upper display portion 30u is housed in an interior space of the hood portion 7. The hood portion 7 has a light-shielding property and covers the upper display portion 30u from a vehicle front side. The hood portion 7 is shaped to shield the upper display portion 30u from external light.

[0020] As in Fig. 1, the combiner 5 is arranged to cover an inner space 70 of the hood part 7. That is, the combiner 5 is arranged to cover the inner space 70 when viewed from the eye point EP. The upper display area 30u of the image display device 3 is located behind the combiner 5 when viewed from the eye point EP. In other words, the combiner 5 is arranged on the eye point EP side with respect to the upper display area 30u.

[0021] The combiner 5 consists of, for example, a half mirror. The combiner 5 is a reflection element that can transmit light incident from a rear side and reflect light incident from a front side. The combiner 5 includes a reflection surface 5a facing the eye point EP. The reflection surface 5a is located either on the front side of the combiner 5 facing the eye point EP or on the rear side facing a side opposite the eye point EP. The reflection surface 5a is subjected to a coating or the like to reflect light toward the eye point EP. A reflection-suppressing part 5b is arranged on the rear side of the combiner 5. The reflection-suppressing part 5b suppresses the reflection of display light from the upper display area 30u toward the front side X1.The reflection suppressing part 5b may be obtained by a surface treatment for suppressing reflection on the combiner 5 or may be a film attached to the combiner 5.

[0022] As in Fig. 1, the reflection element 4 is arranged within the housing part 6 and via the opening 61 opposite the reflection surface 5a of the combiner 5. The reflection element 4 is arranged at one end portion on the rear side X2 of the housing part 6 and opposite the lower display area 30d. The reflection element 4 is, for example, a plane mirror. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the reflection element 4 reflects the display light Lt output from the lower display area 30d toward the combiner 5. The reflection surface 5a of the combiner 5 reflects the display light Lt from the lower display area 30d toward the eye point EP. A virtual image Vi visually recognized at the eye point EP is formed at a position on the front side X1 with respect to the reflection surface 5a. The virtual image Vi is a virtual image of the lower display area 30d and includes an image displayed in the lower display area 30d.

[0023] The reflection element 4 according to the present embodiment is rotatably supported. A rotation direction of the reflection element 4 is a direction for changing an inclination angle of the reflection element 4 with respect to the upper and lower vehicle direction Z, as indicated by an arrow AR1 in Fig. 1. When the inclination angle of the reflection element 4 is increased, the projection position of an image on the combiner 5 moves upward. Conversely, when the inclination angle of the reflection element 4 is decreased, the projection position of the image on the combiner 5 moves downward. The motor 8 rotates the reflection element 4 to adjust the inclination angle of the reflection element 4 to a desired angle. The motor 8 is, for example, a stepper motor.

[0024] The control unit 9 controls the image display device 3 and the motor 8. The control unit 9 is, for example, a computer including a computing unit, a memory, a communication interface, and the like. The control unit 9 controls the motor 8 and the image display device 3 in accordance with a computer program that has been stored in advance, for example.

[0025] The camera 10 images the driver to determine the position of the eye point EP. The exemplary camera 10 is arranged in the middle (or, for example, left and right) of an upper part of a meter display unit and installed so that it can image the driver. The camera 10 is, for example, mounted on a Fig. 3. The position of the exemplary camera 10 is a middle part in a horizontal image direction GH and an upper part in a vertical image direction GV. The position of the camera 10 can be a Fig. 3. The position of the eye point EP in the upper and lower directions Z of the vehicle is determined by image recognition on an image generated by the camera 10. The camera 10 can calculate the position of the eye point EP in a vehicle width direction. The camera 10 can output coordinate values of the detected eye point EP. Fig. 3 shows an example of the real image Ri and the virtual image Vi to be displayed. The real image Ri is an image displayed in the upper display area 30u of the image display device 3. The virtual image Vi is a virtual image generated by the display light Lt of the lower display area 30d. That is, the virtual image Vi is an image visually recognized with the display light Lt reflected by the reflection member 4 and the combiner 5 to the eye point EP. The virtual image Vi is displayed on the upper side in the vertical image direction GV with respect to the real image Ri. The virtual image Vi includes, for example, a counter image G1 indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle 100. The real image Ri includes, for example, an image that creates a sense of depth and three-dimensionality of a background image G2 and the like.The virtual image Vi mainly displays vehicle information, and the real image Ri displays a perspective background image and the like to enable a display with a sense of floating and a sense of depth.

[0026] The vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment superimposes a part of the real image Ri with a part of the virtual image Vi to be displayed. More specifically, a lower part of the virtual image Vi in the vertical image direction GV is superimposed on an upper part of the real image Ri in the vertical image direction GV. The virtual image Vi includes a superimposed area OL that overlaps the real image Ri. In the Fig. In the display image shown in Figure 3, a relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri is a predetermined position. The relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri is a relative position in the vertical image direction GV. The predetermined position described above is a position where the width of the superimposed area OL takes a predetermined value. The superimposed area OL at the predetermined position may be 1 / 3 of the height of the virtual image Vi or 1 / 3 of the height of the real image Ri.

[0027] When the position of the virtual image Vi is the predetermined position, the relative position of the design of the virtual image Vi with respect to the design of the real image Ri becomes optimal. In Fig. 3 For example, the counter image G1 is positioned on the top with respect to the background image G2, and the counter image G1 does not overlap the background image G2. That is, the background image G2 does not interfere with the counter image G1 and does not obstruct the visibility of the counter image G1. The relative position of the counter image G1 with respect to the background image G2 in the vertical image direction GV is an optimal position, where a sense of depth and a sense of floating can be created.

[0028] As described below, the vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment can make the width of the superimposed area OL constant regardless of the driver's eye position. In other words, the vehicle display device 1 is configured to be able to adjust the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri in the vertical image direction GV to the predetermined position.

[0029] The control unit 9 automatically adjusts the inclination angle of the reflection element 4 to the detected position of the eye point EP, for example. In this case, the control unit 9 drives the motor 8 based on the position of the eye point EP in the upper and lower vehicle directions Z detected by the camera 10. Preferably, the vehicle display device 1 previously stores a table indicating a correspondence relationship between the position of the eye point EP in the upper and lower vehicle directions Z and a target inclination angle of the reflection element 4. The control unit 9 determines the target inclination angle of the reflection element 4 based on the detected position of the eye point EP. The control unit 9 causes the motor 8 to rotate the reflection element 4 so that the inclination angle of the reflection element 4 corresponds to the target inclination angle.For example, the previously saved table is determined to be able to make the setting as follows.

[0030] Fig. Figure 4 shows an upper end position EPu, a middle position EPm, and a lower end position EPd as the positions of the eye point EP. Of the three positions EPu, EPm, and EPd, the upper end position EPu is located on the upper surface Z1 in the upper and lower vehicle directions Z.

[0031] The upper end position EPu is, for example, a position at an upper end of an eye area of the vehicle 100. The lower end position EPd is located at the lowermost side Z2 of the three positions EPu, EPm, and EPd. The lower end position EPd is, for example, a position at the lower end of the eye area. The middle position EPm is a middle position between the upper end position EPu and the lower end position EPd.

[0032] Fig. 4 shows a line of sight VLu corresponding to the upper end position EPu, a line of sight VLm corresponding to the middle position EPm, and a line of sight VLd corresponding to the lower end position EPd. The line of sight VLu is a line of sight for the case where the virtual image Vi is viewed from the eye point EP at the upper end position EPu. In other words, the line of sight VLu is an optical path of the display light Lt traveling from the combiner 5 toward the upper end position EPu. The line of sight VLm is a line of sight for the case where the virtual image Vi is viewed from the eye point EP at the middle position EPm. The line of sight VLd is a line of sight for the case where the virtual image Vi is viewed from the eye point EP at the lower end position EPd.

[0033] The Fig. The sight lines VLu, VLm, and VLd shown in Figure 4 correspond to the same pixel in the lower display area 30d. For example, the sight lines VLu, VLm, and VLd correspond to a center pixel in the lower display area 30d. In this case, the sight line VLu corresponds to an optical path along which the display light Lt of the center pixel moves toward the upper end position EPu. Similarly, the sight line VLm corresponds to an optical path along which the display light Lt of the center pixel moves toward the middle position EPm, and the sight line VLd corresponds to an optical path along which the display light Lt of the center pixel moves toward the lower end position EPd.

[0034] The Fig. 4 intersect at an intersection point XP. The control unit 9 according to the present embodiment controls the motor 8 to position the intersection point XP at the position of the upper display area 30u. In other words, the control unit 9 positions the reflection member 4 so that the sight lines VLu, VLm, and VLd intersect at the position in the upper display area 30u. As a result, the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the upper display area 30u becomes constant when viewed from the eye point EP. That is, when the virtual image Vi is viewed from different positions in the upper and lower vehicle directions Z, the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri becomes the same position in the vertical image direction GV.

[0035] The table enabling the above-described control contains, for example, the target tilt angle of the reflection element 4 for each of the upper end position EPu, the middle position EPm, and the lower end position EPd. The target tilt angle can be calculated by linear interpolation and the like for the eye point EP between the upper end position EPu and the middle position EPm. The target tilt angle can be calculated by linear interpolation or the like for the eye point EP between the middle position EPm and the lower end position EPd. Alternatively, the table may contain the target tilt angle for each of a plurality of positions other than the upper end position EPu, the middle position EPm, and the lower end position EPd. In this case, the target tilt angle can be used at a position closest to the detected position of the eye point EP.

[0036] The intersection point XP may be positioned on a display surface of the upper display area 30u or on an extension line of the display surface of the upper display area 30u. In other words, the intersection point XP may lie on a plane enclosing the display surface of the upper display area 30u.

[0037] The vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the visibility of the image by keeping the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri constant. For example, in a case where the reflection element 4 is fixed, the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri varies depending on the position of the eye. In this case, as described below, the visibility of the display image may be reduced.

[0038] For example, in the case of a driver with a short stature, the position of the virtual image Vi as viewed from the eye point EP becomes a position on the lower side, and the degree of overlap of the virtual image Vi with the real image Ri is increased. In this case, the counter image G1 may overlap the background image G2, and the visibility of the counter image G1 may be reduced. On the other hand, for a driver with a tall stature, the position of the virtual image Vi as viewed from the eye point EP becomes a position on the upper side, and the degree of overlap of the virtual image Vi with the real image Ri is reduced. In this case, the position of the counter image G1 may deviate from an optimal position, and the visibility of the counter image G1 may be reduced. In addition, the counter image G1 is too far from the background image G2, and the balance of the display image is lost.

[0039] In contrast, in the vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment, the position of the virtual image Vi relative to the real image Ri is adjusted to be the optimal position. Thus, the vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the visibility of the display image.

[0040] The control unit 9 can adjust the position of the virtual image Vi in response to the driver's operation input. In this case, the control unit 9 can cause the image display device 3 to display images G3 and G4 for positioning, as shown in Fig. 5. Image G3 is an image included in the virtual image Vi and displayed in the lower display area 30d. Image G4 is an image included in the real image Ri and displayed in the upper display area 30u. The exemplary images G3 and G4 are images with a semicircular shape.

[0041] The control unit 9 prompts the driver to adjust so that the two images G3 and G4 form a circle. The driver adjusts the position of the virtual image Vi in the vertical image direction GV by providing an operation input for an operation element, such as a switch. The control unit 9 rotates the reflection element 4 by driving the motor 8 in response to the driver's operation input. Fig. Figure 6 shows a state where the adjustment of the position of the virtual image Vi is completed. The position of the virtual image Vi as seen from the driver is a regular position, and the two images G3 and G4 form a circle.

[0042] At this point, a line of sight of the driver viewing the virtual image Vi passes through the intersection point XP when viewed from the vehicle width direction. That is, the line of sight of the driver viewing the virtual image Vi intersects with the Fig. 4 in the upper display area 30u. In this way, the control unit 9 can adjust the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the upper display area 30u, when viewed from the eye point EP, to the predetermined position based on the driver's operation. The shape of the positioning images G3 and G4 is not limited to the exemplified semicircle shape. The positioning images G3 and G4 may be images that form, for example, a triangle or a quadrilateral when positioning is performed. Each of the positioning images G3 and G4 may be, for example, a line segment along the horizontal image direction GH. In this case, the images G3 and G4 are displayed so that their positions in the vertical image direction GV coincide with each other when the position of the virtual image Vi is the regular position.

[0043] As described above, the vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the image display device 3, the hood part 7, the combiner 5, the housing part 6, the reflection element 4, the motor 8, and the control unit 9. The image display device 3 includes the upper display portion 30u and the lower display portion 30d for displaying an image. The image display device 3 is arranged so that the upper display portion 30u faces the eye point EP in the vehicle 100. The hood part 7 covers the upper display portion 30u from the vehicle front side. The combiner 5 is arranged on the eye point EP side with respect to the upper display portion 30u. The housing part 6 accommodates the lower display portion 30d and has the opening 61 facing upward. The opening 61 is arranged on the eye point EP side with respect to the image display device 3.

[0044] The reflection element 4 is arranged inside the housing part 6 and faces the combiner 5 via the opening 61. The reflection element 4 reflects the display light Lt of the lower display area 30d toward the combiner 5. The motor 8 adjusts the position of the virtual image Vi based on the image in the lower display area 30d in the vertical image direction GV by rotating the reflection element 4. The control unit 9 controls the image display device 3 and the motor 8.

[0045] The control unit 9 is configured to adjust the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the upper display area 30u, when viewed from the eye point EP, to the predetermined position. The vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment can improve the visibility of the display image by adjusting the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri to the predetermined position.

[0046] When the reflection element 4 is controlled so that the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri does not vary, an optical path area of the display light Lt is reduced. In a case where the reflection element 4 is fixed, the optical path area in the vertical image direction GV needs to be expanded so that the image is not partially cut off regardless of the position of the eye in the vehicle upper and lower directions Z. In contrast, in the vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment, the required optical path area can be narrowed, and the combiner 5 and the cover 62 can be reduced in size. By reducing the size of the combiner 5 and the cover 62, the range of the incident light from the outside is narrowed, and visibility is prevented from being reduced due to the influence of the incident light from the outside.When optical paths are converged in a certain area, a light shielding wall arranged at a bottom of the combiner 5 and its edge structures are reduced in size.

[0047] The control unit 9 according to the present embodiment positions the reflection member 4 so that the lines of sight when viewing the virtual image Vi from different eye points EP intersect at the position on the upper display area 30u. For example, assuming that the upper end position EPu is a first position and the middle position EPm is a second position, the control unit 9 positions the reflection member 4 so that the line of sight VLu from the first position intersects the line of sight VLm from the second position at the position on the upper display area 30u. Thereby, the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri is adjusted to be the predetermined position. The motor control for positioning the reflection member 4 can be performed automatically based on the detected position of the eye point EP or based on a driver operation.

[0048] The first position is not limited to the upper end position EPu, and the second position is not limited to the middle position EPm. The first position is an optional position within a predetermined range in the upper and lower direction Z of the vehicle, and the second position is an optional position within the predetermined range and is a position different from the first position.

[0049] The vehicle display device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a detection unit that detects the position of the eye point EP in the vehicle up-and-down direction Z. The camera 10 is an example of the detection unit. The control unit 9 can cause the reflection element 4 to automatically rotate based on the detected position of the eye point EP. In this case, the driver's operation for adjusting the position of the virtual image Vi is not required. [Second embodiment]

[0050] In the following, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 7. In the second embodiment, an element having the same function as that described in the first embodiment is designated by the same reference numeral, and redundant description will not be repeated. Fig. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an intersection point of lines of sight in the second embodiment. The control unit 9 according to the second embodiment is configured so that the lines of sight intersect at the combiner 5. Fig. Figure 7 shows the lines of sight VLu, VLm, and VLd intersecting at the position of the combiner 5. The position of the intersection point XP is the position of the combiner 5, for example, the position of the reflecting surface 5a.

[0051] The control unit 9 automatically adjusts the inclination angle of the reflection element 4 depending on the detected position of the eye point EP, for example. Preferably, a table indicating a correspondence relationship between the position of the eye point EP in the vehicle up and down direction Z and a target inclination angle of the reflection element 4 is previously stored in the vehicle display device 1. In this case, the control unit 9 can determine the target inclination angle of the reflection element 4 based on the table and the detected position of the eye point EP.

[0052] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the target tilt angle is determined such that the lines of sight viewing the virtual image Vi from the eye points EP intersect at the position on the combiner 5. The control unit 9 can adjust the position of the virtual image Vi in response to an input from the driver. In this case, the control unit 9 can cause positioning images to be displayed in the real image Ri and the virtual image Vi, respectively. The positioning images can be the images shown in Fig.5. The predetermined position of the virtual image Vi is a position where the lines of sight intersect at the position of the combiner 5 for a plurality of eye points EP whose positions are different in the vehicle up and down directions Z. That is, the reflection element 4 is positioned to direct the lines of sight to the same position on the combiner 5 regardless of the position of the eye in the vehicle up and down directions Z.

[0053] When the reflective element 4 is positioned so that the lines of sight intersect at the combiner 5, the indicator light Lt can be reflected toward the eye point EP at the same area of the combiner 5, regardless of the driver's eye position. This can minimize the required height of the combiner 5.

[0054] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 9 positions the reflection element 4 so that the lines of sight when viewing the virtual image Vi from the various eye points EP intersect at the position on the combiner 5. Assuming that the middle position EPm is the first position and the lower end position EPd is the second position, the control unit 9 positions the reflection element 4 so that the line of sight VLm from the first position intersects the line of sight VLd from the second position at the position on the combiner 5. The motor control for positioning the reflection element 4 can be performed automatically based on the detected position of the eye point EP or based on a driver operation. [Modifications of the embodiments]

[0055] The intersection point XP can be set between the upper display area 30u and the combiner 5. For example, in the first embodiment, the intersection point XP can be set to be closer to the side of the combiner 5 than the upper display area 30u when viewed from the eye point EP. Since the intersection point XP is closer to the combiner 5, the required height of the combiner 5 can be reduced. In the second embodiment, the intersection point XP can be set to be closer to the upper display area 30u than to the combiner 5 when viewed from the eye point EP. Since the intersection point XP is closer to the upper display area 30u, a variation range of the relative position of the virtual image Vi with respect to the real image Ri can be reduced. The reflection element 4 is not limited to the plane mirror. The reflection element 4 can be, for example, a magnifying mirror having a concave reflection surface.

[0056] Parts of the contents disclosed in the embodiments and modifications described above may be combined and implemented as appropriate. List of reference symbols 1 VEHICLE DISPLAY DEVICE 2 HOUSINGS 3 IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE 4 REFLECTION ELEMENT 5 COMBINATOR 5a REFLECTIVE SURFACE 5b REFLECTION SUPPRESSING PART 6 HOUSING PART 7 HOOD PART 8 ENGINE 9 CONTROL UNIT 10 CAMERA 30 DISPLAY AREA 30d LOWER DISPLAY AREA 30u UPPER DISPLAY AREA 61 OPENING 62 COVER 100 VEHICLES 110 WINDSHIELD 120 DASHBOARD EP EYE POINT EPu UPPER END POSITION EPm MIDDLE POSITION EPd LOWER END POSITION G1 COUNTER PICTURE G2 WALLPAPER G3, G4 IMAGE (FOR POSITIONING) GH HORIZONTAL IMAGE DIRECTION GV VERTICAL IMAGE DIRECTION Lt INDICATOR LIGHT Ri REAL PICTURE Vi VIRTUAL IMAGE VLu, VLm, VLd LINE OF SIGHT XP INTERSECTION X VEHICLE FRONT AND REAR VIEW X1 FRONT X2 BACK Z VEHICLE UP AND DOWN DIRECTIONS Z1 TOP Z2 BOTTOM QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2013-119286

[0003]

Claims

[1] A vehicle display device comprising: an image display device having an upper display portion and a lower display portion for displaying an image, and arranged such that the upper display portion faces an eye point in a vehicle; a hood part that covers the upper display area from a vehicle front; a combiner arranged on the side of the eye point with respect to the upper display area; a housing part which houses the lower display area and which has an upwardly directed opening, the opening being arranged on the side of the eye point with respect to the image display device; a reflection element arranged inside the housing part, facing the combiner across the opening and reflecting display light of the lower display area towards the combiner; a motor that adjusts a position of a virtual image based on an image in the lower display area in a vertical image direction by rotating the reflection member; and a control unit that controls the image display device and the motor, wherein the control unit is configured to be capable of adjusting a relative position of the virtual image with respect to the upper display area, when viewed from the eye point, to a predetermined position. [2] The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit positions the reflection element so that a line of sight in the case of viewing the virtual image from the eye point at a first position in a vehicle up and down direction intersects a line of sight in the case of viewing the virtual image from the eye point at a second position in the vehicle up and down direction at a position in the upper display area. [3] The vehicle display device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a detection unit that detects the position of the eye point in the vehicle up and down direction recorded, whereby the control unit causes the reflective element to rotate automatically based on the detected position of the eye point. [4] A vehicle display device comprising: an image display device having an upper display portion and a lower display portion for displaying an image, and arranged such that the upper display portion faces an eye point in a vehicle; a hood part that covers the upper display area from a vehicle front; a combiner arranged on the side of the eye point with respect to the upper display area; a housing part which houses the lower display area and which has an upwardly directed opening, the opening being arranged on the side of the eye point with respect to the image display device; a reflection element arranged inside the housing part, facing the combiner across the opening and reflecting display light of the lower display area towards the combiner; a motor that adjusts a position of a virtual image based on an image in the lower display area in a vertical image direction by rotating the reflection member; and a control unit that controls the image display device and the motor, wherein the control unit positions the reflection element such that a line of sight in a case of viewing the virtual image from the eye point at a first position in a vehicle up and down direction intersects with a line of sight in a case of viewing the virtual image from the eye point at a second position in the vehicle up and down direction at the combiner.

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