Vehicle display

Abstract

To provide a vehicle display which can realize accessories with excellent appearances or usability.SOLUTION: A vehicle display device 10 according to an embodiment is a display device 10 located in a front bumper 2 of a vehicle 1 to display a spacial image V1. The display device 10 includes: an image emitting light related to the spacial image V1; and a microlens array 13 for transmitting light and forming the spacial image V1 into an image outside the front bumper 2 of the vehicle 1. The spacial image V1 may be an emblem of the vehicle 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a display device mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] On the body of a vehicle such as an automobile, ornaments such as emblems and ornaments are attached to indicate the vehicle name, manufacturer name, etc.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the ornament has a three-dimensional shape and gets clogged with dirt as it travels, there is a problem in maintaining the appearance of the ornament when attaching the ornament. Also, there is a problem in attaching the ornament in terms of preventing the ornament from being deliberately removed and stolen.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle display device capable of realizing an ornament excellent in appearance and usability.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The vehicle display device of the present disclosure is a display device that is disposed inside the vehicle body of the vehicle and displays a virtual image, and includes a display object that emits light related to the virtual image, and a microlens array that transmits light and forms a virtual image outside the vehicle body of the vehicle.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] In the vehicle display device of the present disclosure, it is possible to realize an ornament excellent in appearance and usability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Embodiments of the display device for a vehicle of the present disclosure will be described based on the accompanying drawings. The display device for a vehicle of the present disclosure can be mounted on vehicles such as automobiles, motorcycles, ships, agricultural machines, construction machines, etc.

[0010] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a vehicle 1 on which the display device for a vehicle of the present disclosure is mounted.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle 1 particularly showing the display device 10 disposed within the front bumper 2.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle 1 particularly showing the display device 20 disposed within the bonnet 3.

[0013] In the following description, “front”, “rear”, “upper” and “lower” follow the definitions “Fr.”, “Re.”, “To.”, “Bo.” in FIGS. 1 to 3. Note that the left-right direction is a direction orthogonal to the front-rear, upper-lower directions.

[0014] The vehicle display devices 10 and 20 (hereinafter referred to as "display devices 10 and 20") are arranged inside the vehicle body of the vehicle 1 and display virtual images V1 and V2. In the present embodiment, the display device 10 is arranged inside the vehicle body from an opening 4 formed in the front bumper 2 (hereinafter referred to as "bumper 2") and displays a planar virtual image V1 in front of the bumper 2. The display device 20 is arranged inside the vehicle body from an opening 4 formed in the bonnet 3 and displays a three-dimensional virtual image V2 above the bonnet 3.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 10 includes a display 11, a microlens array 13 (hereinafter referred to as "MLA 13"), a shielding member 15, and a case 17.

[0016] The display 11 includes a liquid crystal display element and a light source substrate. The liquid crystal display element is, for example, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) type liquid crystal display panel formed by enclosing liquid crystal molecules between a pair of glass substrates. The light source substrate is, for example, a substrate mounted with LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for illuminating the liquid crystal display element and is the backlight of the liquid crystal display element. The light source substrate is arranged behind the liquid crystal display element. The display 11 also includes required members such as a light guide plate for spreading the light of the LEDs over the entire surface of the liquid crystal display element, a reflector provided behind the light guide plate, and a diffusion plate provided in front of the light guide plate.

[0017] An image related to the virtual image V1 as the object to be displayed is displayed on the display surface 12 of the display 11. The virtual image V1 is, for example, a two-dimensional image related to the emblem of the vehicle 1. The image may be a still image or a moving image (video). The display position and display angle of the virtual image V1 are determined according to the angle and position of the MLA 13 on the display surface 12. For this reason, the display surface 12 is arranged at an angle and position suitable for the angle and position of the virtual image V1 that the viewer (for example, a person standing in front of the vehicle 1) wants to see.

[0018] The MLA 13 is disposed, for example, to overlap in front of the display surface 12 of the display 11. The MLA 13 transmits the light related to the image displayed on the display surface 12 and forms an aerial image V1 in front of (outside) the bumper 2. The MLA 13 has a plurality of microlenses arranged two-dimensionally. The MLA 13 is disposed at a position separated forward from the display surface 12 by the focal length of the microlenses.

[0019] The shielding member 15 transmits the light transmitted through the MLA 13 and shields the internal structure of the display device 10 such as the MLA 13 from the outside of the vehicle body through the opening 4 of the bumper 2. The shielding member 15 is formed by insert molding a film layer 16 on the inner surface of a molded product made of a transparent synthetic resin. The film layer 16 is a printed film having a color tone that can be visually recognized as being substantially the same as the color tone of the bumper 2 (vehicle body) from the outside of the vehicle body. For example, when the color tone of the bumper 2 is metallic black, the color tone of the film layer 16 is also metallic black. The shielding member 15 may be flush with, recessed from, or protruding from the bumper 2.

[0020] The case 17 has an opening and is, for example, a box-shaped member having black light-shielding properties. The case 17 supports and houses the display 11 and the MLA 13, and the opening 4 is covered by the shielding member 15. The case is fixed in the vehicle body by required means.

[0021] The display device 20 includes a light-emitting three-dimensional object 21, an MLA 23, a shielding member 25, and a case 27.

[0022] The light-emitting three-dimensional object 21 includes a three-dimensional object having a three-dimensional shape and a light source that illuminates the three-dimensional object. The three-dimensional object is, for example, a molded product made of a transparent or translucent acrylic resin or the like and has a shape corresponding to the aerial image V2 to be displayed. The light source is, for example, an LED, which illuminates and emits light from the three-dimensional object uniformly. Similar to the display surface 12, the light-emitting three-dimensional object 21 is disposed at an angle and position suitable for the angle and position of the aerial image V2 to be shown to the viewer.

[0023] Since MLA23 and case 27 are substantially the same as case 17 of MLA13 of the display device 10, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0024] The shielding member 25 transmits the light that passes through MLA23 and shields the internal structure of the display device 20 such as MLA23 from the outside of the vehicle body through the opening 4 of the bonnet 3. The film layer 26 is a printed film having a color tone that is visually recognized as being substantially the same as the color tone of the bonnet 3 (vehicle body). Since the shielding member 25 is substantially the same as the shielding member 15 of the display device 10, a detailed description of the overlapping points will be omitted.

[0025] Next, the operation of the display devices 10 and 20 in the present embodiment will be described.

[0026] The display devices 10 and 20 are connected to, for example, a vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) and operate based on the control of the vehicle ECU.

[0027] When the aerial images V1 and V2 are not being displayed, the openings 4 of the bumper 2 and the bonnet 3 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "vehicle body") are shielded inside by the shielding members 15 and 25, reducing the sense of incongruity in appearance associated with the arrangement of the display devices 10 and 20. In particular, since the color tones of the film layers 16 and 26 are substantially the same as the color tone of the vehicle body, the fact that the display devices 10 and 20 are arranged is not recognized by an observer outside the vehicle.

[0028] Under predetermined conditions, the display devices 10 and 20 start displaying the aerial images V1 and V2. The predetermined conditions are, for example, that the driver of the vehicle 1 or the like receives an instruction to start the operation of the engine, electrical system, etc. of the vehicle 1. Also, when the external illumination is high, the aerial images V1 and V2 cannot be visually recognized even if they are displayed. Therefore, when the external illumination measured by the illumination sensor of the vehicle 1 is below a predetermined value, the aerial images V1 and V2 may be displayed. Also, since it is difficult to visually recognize the aerial images V1 and V2 during driving, the aerial images V1 and V2 may be displayed when the vehicle 1 is stopped or when the transmission is shifted to the parking gear. Furthermore, in order to suppress unnecessary display when there is no viewer who wants to visually recognize the aerial images V1 and V2, when a person is detected in the vicinity such as in front of the vehicle 1, the aerial images V1 and V2 may be displayed for a predetermined time.

[0029] The display device 10 starts displaying an image on the display 11. The light related to the image displayed on the display surface 12 passes through the MLA 13 and the shielding member 15, and forms and displays a two-dimensional aerial image V1 such as an emblem in front of the bumper 2. Also, the display device 20 starts the light emission of the light-emitting three-dimensional object 21. The light emitted from the light-emitting three-dimensional object 21 according to the shape of the three-dimensional object formed into an emblem or the like passes through the MLA 23 and the shielding member 25, and forms and displays an aerial image V2 that three-dimensionally represents an emblem or the like above the bonnet 3.

[0030] Thereby, the display devices 10 and 20 can give a sense of rhythm, novelty, fun, surprise, etc. to the viewer outside the vehicle by a visual effect in which the aerial images V1 and V2 suddenly rise from the locations that were recognized as the vehicle body.

[0031] As described above, there were problems with the appearance and usability of ornaments such as emblems as three-dimensional objects attached to conventional vehicle bodies. In contrast, the display devices 10 and 20 in the present embodiment are different from conventional ornaments that are always physically arranged, and the ornaments cannot get dirty or be stolen. Therefore, the display devices 10 and 20 can solve the problems related to appearance and usability. In addition, in order to attach an ornament to the vehicle body, a structure other than the ornament such as a pedestal for attachment is required. In contrast, the display devices 10 and 20 in the present embodiment do not require such a structure other than the ornament and can display the aerial images V1 and V2 as an alternative to the ornament.

[0032] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

[0033] For example, it is not essential that the film layer of the shielding member has the same color tone as the vehicle body, and it may be appropriately determined according to the appearance required for the vehicle, such as a wood grain tone, a carbon tone, or simply a smoke color.

[0034] The object to be displayed, taking an image or three-dimensional object related to an emblem as an example, may be a symbol, character, etc. indicating a warning to people outside the vehicle, and the content thereof is not limited. Further, the object to be displayed may be a moving image or three-dimensional object. The object to be displayed does not necessarily have to be constant, and may be selected and displayed from various contents (emblems, characters, symbols, characters, etc.) according to conditions. Further, the characters and figures of the vehicle body manufacturing company name and vehicle name may be alternately displayed at predetermined time intervals.

[0035] The display position of the aerial image may be any position on the vehicle body, and may be on the left and right sides or the rear side of the vehicle body.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 1 Vehicle 2 Front Bumper (Bumper, Vehicle Body) 3 Bonnet (Vehicle Body) 4 Opening 10, 20 Display Device for Vehicle (Display Device) 11 Display 12 Display Surface 13, 23 Microlens Array (MLA) 15, 25 Shielding Member 16, 26 Film Layer 17, 27 Case 21 Light-Emitting Three-Dimensional Object V1, V2 Virtual Image

Claims

Claim 1 A display device that is disposed inside a vehicle body of a vehicle and displays a virtual image, comprising: a display object that emits light related to the virtual image; and a microlens array that transmits the light and forms the virtual image outside the vehicle body of the vehicle. A display device for a vehicle. Claim 2 The display device according to claim 1, wherein the virtual image is an emblem of the vehicle. Claim 3 The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display object is an image displayed by a display or a three-dimensional object that emits light. Claim 4 The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a shielding member that transmits the light and shields the microlens array from outside the vehicle body. Claim 5 The display device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the shielding member has a film layer that is visually recognized as having a color tone substantially the same as the color tone of the vehicle body from outside the vehicle body. Claim 6 The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display device is disposed inside a bumper or a bonnet of the vehicle.

Images