HEAD-UP DISPLAY

Abstract

A head-up display for a motor vehicle comprises, inside a casing, an image-generating system from which emerge two source light beams, and two projecting optical systems that each project one source light beam toward the exterior so as to form two virtual images in the field of view of a vehicle driver: the head-up display further comprises an occulting part that allows a crossed imaging effect to be eliminated, and that may be motorized and the position of which may be automatically controlled depending on the position of the eyes of the driver of the vehicle.

Description

Description Title of the invention: Head-up display

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of displays.

[0002] It relates more particularly to a head-up display for a motor vehicle.

[0003] For the driver of a motor vehicle, it is particularly convenient to be able to view information relating to the operation of the vehicle, relating to a traffic lane facing the vehicle, or other information, without having to look away from this traffic lane.

[0004] It is known for this purpose to equip the motor vehicle with a so-called "head-up" display, comprising, inside a housing, an image generation system from which a source light beam emerges and an optical projection system adapted to project an image generated by the image generation system towards the outside, via the windshield for example, so as to form a virtual image in the field of vision of a driver of said motor vehicle.

[0005] The virtual image, containing the information to be displayed, is then visually superimposed on the environment facing the vehicle.

[0006] Head-up displays are also known that allow the projection of a double virtual image onto the driver's windshield. In this case, the formation of the double virtual image can be carried out at different projection distances from one or more source light beams combined with several optical projection systems.

[0007] However, in this case, if several imaging paths, each consisting of the association of a source light beam with an optical projection system, are thus created independently, each producing a virtual image respectively, cross-imaging phenomena may occur. These phenomena result from the passage of a portion of one or more source light beams through an optical projection system which is not associated with it or them, thus creating one or more redundant and parasitic images. These cross-imaging phenomena must be avoided.

[0008] In order to remedy this problem, the present invention proposes a head-up display comprising, inside a housing: - an image generation system; - a first optical projection system comprising a first mirror and a second optical projection system comprising a second mirror; the housing comprising an opening closed by a transparent window; characterized in that: - the image generation system is adapted to emit a first source light beam and a second source light beam which are spatially distinct from each other; - the first optical projection system and said second optical projection system are adapted to respectively project said first source light beam and second source light beam outwards through said transparent window, so as to form a first virtual image at a first projection distance and a second virtual image at a second projection distance in the field of vision of a driver of said motor vehicle; - the second optical projection system is adapted to be crossed by a second intermediate light beam coming from the second source light beam; - the first mirror is capable, on the one hand, of intercepting a portion of the second intermediate light beam, and on the other hand, of reflecting said portion into a reflected portion; - the head-up display includes a shielding part interposed between the first mirror and the transparent window, and adapted to stop said reflected portion.

[0009] Advantageously, the first projection distance and the second projection distance are distinct.

[0010] Preferably, the first projection distance is greater than the second projection distance.

[0011] The first projection distance is for example greater than 8 meters.

[0012] The first projection distance is for example less than 15 meters.

[0013] Preferably, the first projection distance is between 8 and 15 meters, and here, between 10 and 12 meters.

[0014] The second projection distance is for example greater than 1 meter.

[0015] The second projection distance is for example less than 5 meters.

[0016] Preferably, the second projection distance is between 1 and 5 meters, and here, between 2 and 3 meters.

[0017] Preferably, the first virtual image is of dimensions greater than the dimensions of the second virtual image.

[0018] In one embodiment, the head-up display further comprises a separation piece disposed between the first source light beam and the second source light beam.

[0019] In this embodiment, the first optical projection system is adapted to be crossed by a first intermediate light beam originating from the first source light beam. The separation part, for its part, stops at least a portion of the first intermediate light beam incident on the second mirror.

[0020] In one embodiment, the occulting part is movable.

[0021] In a first variant of said embodiment, the head-up display further comprises a first control system and the occulting part is driven by a motor. The first control system may then comprise: an acquisition device, adapted to determine the position of the eyes of a driver of the motor vehicle; an electronic processing unit connected to the acquisition device and adapted to calculate a position of the occulting part; a servo-control system adapted to control the movement of the motor to a setpoint relating to the position calculated by the electronic processing unit.

[0022] In this variant, adjustment means are configured to modify the inclination of the second mirror. The electronic processing unit is then also adapted to calculate an optimal inclination of the second mirror. The servo system is also adapted to control the actuation of the adjustment means to a prior setpoint relating to the optimal inclination calculated by the electronic processing unit.

[0023] In a second variant of said embodiment, the head-up display further comprises a second control system, the occulting part is driven by a motor, and the inclination of the second mirror is adjustable (manually). The second control system may comprise: an electronic processing unit adapted to receive information relating to the inclination of the second mirror and to calculate a position of the occulting part; a servo system adapted to servo the movement of the motor to a setpoint relative to the position calculated by the electronic processing unit.

[0024] In a third variant of said embodiment, the inclination of the second mirror is adjustable (manually) and the position of the occulting part is adjustable (manually).

[0025] Furthermore, the blackout part is preferably located at a distance of less than one centimeter from the transparent window.

[0026] For example, the blackout part is located at a distance between 1 mm and 3 mm from the transparent window.

[0027] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive.

[0028] In addition, various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the appended description given with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention and where:

[0029] [Fig. 1] is a schematic view showing the integration of a head-up display according to the invention in a motor vehicle.

[0030] [Fig. 2] is a detail view of one embodiment of the head-up display of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the path of light rays from the image generation system through the head-up display.

[0031] [Fig. 3] is an enlarged view of a separation piece.

[0032] [Fig. 4] is an enlarged view of a shielding piece in two different positions.

[0033] [Fig. 5] is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the system for controlling the movement of the occulting part.

[0034] It should be noted that in these figures the structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

[0035] Figure 1 schematically represents, from the side, a motor vehicle 1, equipped with a head-up display 2 according to the invention. An individual, here the driver 3, is located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0036] The display 2 firstly comprises a housing 14 generally placed under a dashboard 16 of the vehicle 1 and having, here in its upper part close to the dashboard edge 16, an opening closed by a transparent window 15 adapted to allow the passage of the various light beams useful for the operation of the display, as explained below.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the head-up display 2 comprises, inside this housing 14, an image generation system 4 generating two spatially distinct images, a first optical projection system 5a and a second optical projection system 5b, a concealing part 6 and a control system 21 for moving the concealing part.

[0038] The image generation system 4 may consist of a single image generation unit or two image generation units.

[0039] The image generation unit(s) may, for example, be of the liquid crystal display type backlit by a light source. They may also be of the diffusion display type backlit by a light source, equipped at the rear with a scanning system. They may also be of the optical diffuser type backlit by a beam. For example, the beam may come from a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) display. In this case, a particular configuration is a holographic system, where the beam coming from the LCoS display undergoes a Fourier transform before reaching the optical diffuser. The LCoS display may, for example, be backlit by a laser diode.

[0040] The image generation system 4 emits a first source light beam 9a and a second source light beam 9b. The first source light beam 9a and the second source light beam 9b are spatially distinct. However, they may have overlapping areas.

[0041] In the case where the image generation system 4 consists of two separate image generation units, these can be positioned one below the other, in a vertical direction (see Fig. 1). The horizontal direction 12 can be defined as the direction which is substantially parallel to the road on which the vehicle is traveling. In other words, it could be said that the horizontal direction is the direction of the instantaneous speed of the vehicle moving on the road. The vertical direction 13 can then be defined as being perpendicular to the horizontal direction.

[0042] The images generated by the image generation system are generated in accordance with a control signal from the on-board computer (not shown) of the vehicle 1.

[0043] The first projection optical system 5a and the second projection optical system 5b respectively project the first source light beam 9a and the second source light beam 9b outwards via the transparent window 15 of the housing 14 so as to respectively form a first virtual image 10a at a first projection distance and a second virtual image 10b at a second projection distance.

[0044] For example, the first virtual image 10a is located above the second virtual image 10b in the vertical direction 13.

[0045] For example, the first virtual image 10a is of larger dimensions than the second virtual image 10b.

[0046] The light beam coming from the first source light beam 9a and passing through the first optical projection system 5a, then passing through the transparent window 15, will be called the first intermediate light beam 17a. Similarly, the light beam coming from the second source light beam 9b and passing through the second optical projection system 5b, then passing through the transparent window 15, will be called the second intermediate light beam 17b.

[0047] The first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b are projected towards a partially transparent plate 8. The partially transparent plate 8 reflects the first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b towards the driver 3. The latter then sees the virtual image projected by the first source light beam 9a and the virtual image projected by the second source light beam 9b, and formed by reflection on the partially transparent plate 8. The path of the light rays composing the first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b is illustrated in Figure 2.

[0048] Here, the partially transparent blade 8 is the windshield of the vehicle 1. Alternatively, however, the partially transparent blade 8 could be a dedicated combiner, for example located between the windshield of the vehicle and the transparent window 15 of the housing of the head-up display 2.

[0049] In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the first projection optical system 5a comprises a first mirror 7a and the second projection optical system 5b comprises a second mirror 7b.

[0050] The first mirror 7a reflects the first intermediate light beam 17a. This first mirror 7a is convergent so as, after reflection by the windshield 8, to form the first virtual image 10a at a given distance in front of the display 2 (at a given distance from the windshield 8, on the side of the windshield 9 opposite the driver 3), in front of the hood 11 of the vehicle 1. This distance can for example be between 8 meters and 15 meters, and here, between 10 meters and 12 meters.

[0051] Similarly, the second mirror 7b reflects the second intermediate light beam 17b. This second mirror 7b is convergent so as, after reflection by the windshield 8, to form the second virtual image 10b at a given distance in front of the display 2 (at a given distance from the windshield 8, on the side of the windshield 8 opposite the driver 3), in front of the hood 11 of the vehicle 1. This distance can for example be between 1 meter and 5 meters, and here, between 2 meters and 3 meters.

[0052] The first mirror 7a can for example be located below the second mirror 7b in the vertical direction 13 defined previously, so that the first virtual image 10a is visible above the second virtual image 10b.

[0053] Advantageously, the first mirror 7a and the second mirror 7b are curved, for example optimized so as to respectively increase the magnification of the first optical projection system 5a and that of the second optical projection system 5b and / or compensate for the distortions or optical aberrations which could be caused by the reflection on the windshield 8. For example, the first mirror 7a and the second mirror 7b may be of the aspherical type, or of polynomial shape.

[0054] Alternatively, the first optical projection system 5a and the second optical projection system 5b could each comprise one or more plane mirrors arranged in the path of the first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b. These mirrors would make it possible to fold the path, followed by the first 17a, respectively, the second 17b, intermediate light beam between the image generation system 4 and the windshield 8. The distance separating, along this path, the image generation system 4 and the windshield 8, is thereby increased, which would make it possible to adjust the first projection distance and the second projection distance while maintaining a reduced volume for the display 2.

[0055] As illustrated in Figure 2, the first mirror 7a intercepts a portion 18 of the second intermediate light beam 17b and reflects it into a reflected portion 19. This reflected portion 19 could create a redundant virtual image from the second source light beam 9b which can interfere with the field of vision of driver 3. This is the cross-imaging phenomenon mentioned previously.

[0056] As indicated above, the display 2 further comprises a concealing part 6. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the concealing part 6 is interposed between the first mirror 7a and the transparent window 15 of the housing 14, so as to conceal the reflected portion 19. In this way, the formation of a redundant virtual image from the second source light beam 9b is avoided. The concealing part 6 may for example be located under the transparent window 15 of the housing 14, at a distance from the transparent window 15 of less than 1 cm, for example between 1 mm and 3 mm.

[0057] The occulting part 6 is for example rectangular, alternatively it can be possibly modified to avoid the vignetting phenomena of the first virtual image 10a and the second virtual image 10b.

[0058] Advantageously, the occulting part 6 is an optical absorber, such as a matte black plate. This makes it possible to limit any stray light in the field of vision of the driver 3.

[0059] Advantageously, in order to eliminate any parasitic image from the first source light beam 9a or the second source light beam 9b (here from the first source light beam 9a) in the field of vision of the driver 3, which also corresponds to a cross-imaging phenomenon, a separation piece 20 can be arranged between the first source light beam 9a and the second source light beam 9b.

[0060] More precisely, and in the example described here, the separating piece 20 blocks the first source light beam 9a and the second source light beam 9b from each other. The separating piece 20 stops at least a portion of the rays from the first source light beam 9a which might otherwise reach the second optical projection system 5b. This stopped portion therefore does not pass through the second optical projection system 5b and is therefore not projected through it, a fortiori not passing through the transparent window 15 nor being reflected by the windshield 8.

[0061] Thus, thanks to the separating piece 20, a virtual image projected by the first source optical beam 9a through the second projection optical system 5b is therefore at least partly eliminated. In other words, its spatial extent in the field of vision of the driver 3 is reduced.

[0062] The finishing of the separation piece 20 can be carried out in order to limit any vignetting phenomenon of the first virtual image 10a or of the second virtual image 10b, for example by chamfering. Such a separation piece 20 is shown in FIG. 3, in the case where the image generation system comprises a first optical diffuser 21a diffusing the first source light beam 9a and a second optical diffuser 21b diffusing the second source light beam 9b. The coupling of the occultation piece 6 and the separation piece 20 allows total elimination of cross-imaging phenomena in the head-up display 2 according to the invention.

[0063] It should be noted that the orientation and shape of the first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b, which create the virtual image 10a, the virtual image 10b and the possible redundant image from the second source light beam 9b, vary according to the position of the driver's eyes in all the locations where they may be located in a driving situation. All of these locations will be called the eye zone Z (in English "eye box").

[0064] In a driving situation, the eye zone Z can be modeled by a three-dimensional ellipsoid, in order to account for the movements of the eyes front-back along the horizontal direction, up-down along the vertical direction, and left-right in a plane perpendicular to the plane formed by the horizontal 12 and vertical 13 directions.

[0065] In practice, the eye zone Z is considered to be a parallelepiped. For example, the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the eye zone Z can be 120 mm by 120 mm.

[0066] In order to make it possible for the occulting part 6 to eliminate the redundant image from the second source light beam 9b for drivers of different sizes, it is proposed here to adapt the position of the occulting part 6 to the position of the eyes of the driver 3 within the ocular zone Z.

[0067] Thus, advantageously, the occulting part 6 is movable, for example by being driven by a motor (not shown) allowing its movement. This movement can typically be carried out from front to back (in the horizontal direction 12 defined previously) and vice versa, over a range for example of the order of 50 to 60 mm. The position of the occulting part 6 can in this case be controlled by a first control system 21 illustrated schematically in [Fig. 5]

[0068] The first control system comprises an acquisition device 21a, an electronic processing unit 21b connected to the acquisition device 21a, a servo system 21c for controlling the movement of the motor according to a setpoint calculated by the processing unit 21b. The acquisition device 21a is for example a camera.

[0069] The camera 21a records the position of the eyes of the driver 3 in real time. The signal recorded by the camera 21a is received (here continuously) by the electronic processing unit 21b of the first control system 21.

[0070] This calculates the position of the occulting part 6 corresponding to the optimal occultation of the reflected portion 19 by the first mirror 7a, from the orientation and the shape of the first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b reflected via the windshield 8 towards the eyes of the driver 3 in the position recorded by the camera 21a. The calculations can be carried out beforehand for a set of positions of the eyes of the driver 3, for a determined position of the second mirror 7b, and the position of the occulting part for a position of the eyes is then stored in a correspondence table (for example stored in the electronic processing unit 21b).

[0071] The electronic processing unit 21b then generates a command sent to the servo system 21c of the motor. The servo system 21c then triggers the movement of the motor to position the occulting part 6 at the position calculated by the electronic processing unit 21b.

[0072] Thus, the redundant virtual image from the second source light beam 9b is (here continuously) absent from the field of vision of the driver 3, by the use of such an eyetracking system.

[0073] [Fig. 4] shows the occulting part 6 at two different positions 6M and 6H, for eye positions respectively at middle and high heights of the ocular zone Z.

[0074] Advantageously, the second mirror 7b of the second optical projection system 5b is tiltable, for example by the actuation of adjustment means. The adjustment means are for example a motorized system driving the second mirror 7b in rotation. The servo system 21c then also makes it possible to control the actuation of the motorized system driving the second mirror 7b in order to adjust the inclination thereof.

[0075] In this case, following reception of the signal recorded by the camera 21a relating to the position of the eyes of the driver 3, the electronic processing unit 21b calculates an optimal inclination of the second mirror 7b making it possible to optimize the position of the second virtual image 10b as a function of the recorded position of the eyes.

[0076] The electronic processing unit 21b then generates, prior to triggering the movement of the motor driving the moving part 6, a preliminary instruction sent to the servo system 21c. The servo system 21c then triggers the change in inclination of the second mirror 7b by means of the actuation of the motorized system driving the second mirror 7b.

[0077] Then, the electronic processing unit 21b calculates, for the calculated optimal inclination, the optimal position of the moving part 6. This calculation is carried out from the orientation and the shape of the first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b, reflected via the windshield 8 towards the eyes of the driver 3 in the position recorded by the camera 21a. These orientations and shapes are linked to the calculated optimal inclination of the second mirror 7b

[0078] The processing unit 21b then generates an instruction sent to the servo system 21c in order to move the motor driving the occulting part 6 as described previously. The servo system 21c then triggers the movement of the motor driving the occulting part 6.

[0079] Also, the calculations can be carried out beforehand for a set of inclinations of the second mirror 7b. The position of the occulting part 6 is then stored in a correspondence table (for example in the electronic processing unit 21b).

[0080] In a first variant not using an eye tracking system, the position of the occulting part 6 can be controlled by a second control system 22 (not shown) different from the first control system 21. In this case, the occulting part 6 is always driven by a motor allowing its movement. The second mirror 7b of the second optical projection system 5b is, for example, manually tiltable by the driver 3, which allows the latter to optimize the position of the second virtual image 10b according to the position of his eyes.

[0081] The second control system 22 comprises an electronic processing unit 22b receiving information relating to the inclination of the second mirror 7b as well as a servo system 22c making it possible to control the movement of the motor according to a setpoint calculated by the electronic processing unit 22b.

[0082] The electronic processing unit 22b calculates the position of the occulting part 6 corresponding to the optimal occultation of the reflected portion 19 by the first mirror 7a, from the information relating to the inclination of the second mirror 7b and the orientation and shape of the first intermediate light beam 17a and the second intermediate light beam 17b which result therefrom. Here again, the calculations can be carried out beforehand for a set of inclinations of the second mirror 7b and the position of the occulting part for an inclination of the second mirror 7b is then stored in a correspondence table (for example in the electronic processing unit 22b).

[0083] In the same way as with the eye tracking system, the electronic processing unit 22b then generates an instruction sent to the servo system 22c of the motor. The servo system 22c then triggers the movement of the motor to position the occulting part 6 at the position calculated by the electronic processing unit 22b.

[0084] In a second variant using neither an eye tracking system nor a control system, a completely manual solution can be envisaged. The occulting part 6 is always movable back and forth (along the horizontal direction 12), for example by a sliding system. The second mirror 7b of the second optical projection system 5b is, for example, manually tiltable by the driver 3, in order to optimize the position of the second virtual image 10b according to the position of his eyes. The driver 3 then manually moves the occulting part 6 in order to maximize the elimination of the redundant virtual image from the second source light beam 9b.

Claims

Demands

1. Head-up display (2) for a motor vehicle (1) comprising, within a housing (14): - an image generation system (4); - a first optical projection system (5a) comprising a first mirror (7a) and a second optical projection system (5b) comprising a second mirror (7b); the housing (14) having an opening closed by a transparent window (15); characterized in that: - said image generation system (4) is adapted to emit a first light source beam (9a) and a second light source beam (9b) which are spatially distinct from each other; - said first optical projection system (5a) and said second optical projection system (5b) are adapted to project said first source light beam (9a) and second source light beam (9b) respectively outwards through said transparent window (15), so as to form a first virtual image (10a) at a first projection distance and a second virtual image (10b) at a second projection distance in the field of vision of a driver (3) of said motor vehicle (1); - said second optical projection system (5b) is adapted to be traversed by a second intermediate light beam (17b) originating from the second source light beam (9b); - the first mirror (7a) is capable, on the one hand, of intercepting a portion (18) of the second intermediate light beam (17b), and on the other hand, of reflecting said portion (18) into a reflected portion (19); - the head-up display (2) includes an occulting piece (6) interposed between the first mirror (7a) and the transparent window (15), and adapted to stop said reflected portion (19).

2. Head-up display (2) according to claim 1, wherein the first projection distance and the second projection distance are distinct.

3. A head-up display (2) according to claim 2, wherein the first virtual image (10a) has dimensions greater than the dimensions of the second virtual image (10b) and the first projection distance is greater than the second projection distance.

4. A head-up display (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a separator piece (20) disposed between the first light source beam (9a) and the second light source beam (9b).

5. Head-up display (2) according to claim 4, wherein: - said first optical projection system (5a) is adapted to be traversed by a first intermediate light beam (17a) originating from the first source light beam (9a); - the separating piece (20) stops at least a portion of the first intermediate light beam (17a) directed towards the second mirror (7b).

6. Head-up display according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the obscuring piece (6) is movable.

7. Head-up display (2) according to claim 6, further comprising a first control system (21) and in which: the obscuring piece (6) is driven by a motor; said first control system (21) comprises: o an acquisition device (21a) adapted to determine the position of the eyes of a driver (3) of the motor vehicle (1) o an electronic processing unit (21b) connected to the acquisition device (21a) and adapted to calculate a position of the obscuring piece (6) o a servo system (21c) adapted to control the movement of the motor to a setpoint relating to the position calculated by the electronic processing unit (21b)

8. Head-up display according to claim 7, wherein: - adjustment means are configured to modify the inclination of the second mirror (7b); - the electronic processing unit (21b) is further adapted to calculate an optimal inclination of the second mirror (7b); - the control system (21c) is further adapted to control the actuation of said adjustment means to a prior setpoint relating to the optimal inclination calculated by the electronic processing unit (21b).

9. Head-up display (2) according to claim 6, further comprising a second control system (22) and wherein: - the blackout piece (6) is driven by a motor; - the tilt of the second mirror (7b) is manually adjustable; - said second control system (22) comprises: - an electronic processing unit (22b) adapted to receive information relating to the inclination of the second mirror (7b) and to calculate a position of the occulting piece (6); - a servo system (22c) adapted to control the movement of the motor to a setpoint relating to the position calculated by the electronic processing unit (22b).

10. Head-up display (2) according to claim 6, wherein: - the tilt of the second mirror (7b) is manually adjustable; - the position of the blackout piece (6) is manually adjustable.

11. Head-up display (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the obscuring piece is located less than one centimeter from the transparent window (15).