On-vehicle display device

Abstract

To provide an on-vehicle display device capable of maintaining producibility of a display color.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle display device 10 comprises a display part 1, a cover panel 2, and a backlight unit 7 that serves as one example of optical means. The display part 1 displays an image. The cover panel 2 covers the display part 1, and makes the image visually recognized in a see-through manner. The optical means applies a specific color to light that represents the image reaching the cover panel 2. The specific color has a complementary relationship with a reflection color of the cover panel 2 in a standard light source.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an in-vehicle display device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes an in-vehicle display device in which the front of a display unit (display) that displays images is covered with a light-transmitting cover panel (screen), and the surface of the cover panel is set to the same wood-grain color and pattern as the mounting portion around the display unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-331132 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of display device, the color and pattern applied to the cover panel may cause the color of the image viewed through the cover panel to differ from the color displayed by the display unit, which may reduce the reproducibility of the displayed color.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide an in-vehicle display device that can maintain the reproducibility of display colors. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the in-vehicle display device according to the present disclosure comprises: a display unit for displaying an image; a cover panel that covers the display unit and allows the image to be seen through the cover panel; an optical means for imparting a specific color to light representing the image reaching the cover panel; The specific color is complementary to the reflected color of the cover panel under a standard light source. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the reproducibility of displayed colors can be maintained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle interior in which an in-vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is installed; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1 according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 4 is an xy chromaticity diagram showing the relationship between a specific color and the reflected color of the cover panel according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] 1, the in-vehicle display device 10 is mounted on a dashboard 13 of a vehicle and displays various information to a user who is a passenger (mainly the driver) of the vehicle. In the following description, an upward direction Ud, a downward direction Dd, a leftward direction Ld, and a rightward direction Rd are defined based on the viewpoint of the user of the in-vehicle display device 10, a forward direction Fd is defined as the direction toward the user, and a backward direction Bd is defined as the direction toward the user.

[0011] The in-vehicle display device 10 includes a display area 11 and an icon lighting unit 12. The display area 11 is an area where various information is displayed. The icon lighting unit 12 is an area where warning icons are illuminated. The display area 11 is rectangular. The icon lighting unit 12 is circular with a smaller area than the display area 11, and is located next to the display area 11 in the vehicle width direction (more precisely, in the left direction Ld as seen from the user). The display area 11 and the icon lighting unit 12 are arranged between the driver's seat and the passenger seat on the dashboard 13. The display area 11 and the icon lighting unit 12 display information by emitting light through a cover panel 2 that has a pattern such as wood grain and a color corresponding to the pattern.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the in-vehicle display device 10 includes a display unit A having a display section 1 and a cover panel 2, a backlight unit 7, an outer case 3, an inner case 31, a circuit board 4, and a control section 60.

[0013] The display unit 1 is a rectangular plate elongated in the left-right directions Ld and Rd. The display unit 1 has a display area 11 on its front surface Fd. For example, the display unit 1 is made of a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal panel. The display unit 1 includes a liquid crystal layer 1a, a pair of glass substrates 1b and 1c on either side of the liquid crystal layer 1a, each having a transparent electrode formed of, for example, ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and a pair of polarizing plates 1d and 1e sandwiching the pair of glass substrates 1b. Red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color filters (not shown) are arranged for each pixel on the surface of the glass substrate 1b facing the liquid crystal layer 1a. The pair of polarizing plates 1d and 1e are arranged so that their transmission axes are substantially perpendicular to each other. The polarizing plate 1d is located on the cover panel 2 side. The polarizing plate 1e is located on the circuit board 4 side. For example, the display unit 1 is a normally black liquid crystal panel.

[0014] The display unit 1 is electrically connected to the circuit board 4, and the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer 1a is controlled by a control unit 60 mounted on the circuit board 4, and the RGB transmittance of each pixel in the display unit 1 is changed, thereby displaying an image in the display area 11 in the desired color and brightness.

[0015] A light-transmitting layer 5 made of a cured optical bonding agent is located between the front surface of the display unit 1 and the rear surface of a light-transmitting substrate 21 (described later) of the cover panel 2. In addition, a backlight unit 7 that illuminates the display unit 1 from behind is provided behind the display unit 1.

[0016] The backlight unit 7 illuminates the display unit 1, which is a liquid crystal panel, from behind. The backlight unit 7 includes a plurality of light sources 7a, an optical sheet positioned between the plurality of light sources 7a and the display unit 1, and a housing that houses these. The plurality of light sources 7a are arranged in a matrix facing the rear surface of the display unit 1. Each light source 7a is made up of an LED (Light Emitting Diode), and emits light under the control of the control unit 60. The light emitted by the backlight unit 7 is set to a specific color, which will be described later.

[0017] The cover panel 2 covers the display unit 1, allowing the image displayed on the display unit 1 to be seen through the cover panel 2. The cover panel 2 constitutes a part of the dashboard 13 of the vehicle (see FIG. 1), and is formed with a color and a pattern. Furthermore, the cover panel 2 may be formed with an uneven shape similar to the texture of the dashboard 13.

[0018] The cover panel 2 is formed so as to cover the opening of the outer case 3 in the forward direction Fd, and is formed as a plate member that is long in the left-right directions Ld and Rd and exposed on the front side of the dashboard 13. The cover panel 2 may be formed in a flat plate shape, or in a curved plate shape that matches the shape of the dashboard 13. When the cover panel 2 is formed in a curved plate shape, it may be curved so as to bulge in the forward direction Fd toward the user in the up-down directions Ud and Dd.

[0019] The cover panel 2 includes a light-transmitting base material 21, a light-shielding layer 22, and a light-transmitting design layer 23. The light-transmitting design layer 23 is laminated on the front surface of the light-transmitting base material 21, and the light-shielding layer 22 is laminated on the rear surface of the light-transmitting base material 21.

[0020] The light-transmitting substrate 21 is a plate-like member made of a light-transmitting material such as acrylic resin (PMMA: Poly Methyl Methacrylate) or soda lime glass. The light transmittance of the light-transmitting substrate 21 can be set arbitrarily depending on the purpose.

[0021] The light-shielding layer 22 is formed so as to hide the internal structure of the in-vehicle display device 10 from the user. The light-shielding layer 22 is an ink layer formed by printing, for example, black ink. The light-shielding layer 22 is not formed on the rear surface of the light-transmitting base material 21 in an area corresponding to the display area 11 (an area corresponding to a facing area 2a described below) and an area corresponding to the icon shape of the icon lighting unit 12, and light is transmitted through these areas.

[0022] The light-transmitting design layer 23 is a light-transmitting layer having a light-transmitting wood grain, metal, fabric, or leather pattern and a color corresponding to the pattern. The pattern and color are formed by applying light-transmitting printing, which is printing that allows light to pass through, to the front surface of the light-transmitting base material 21. The light-transmitting design layer 23 may also be formed on the rear surface of the light-transmitting base material 21. In this case, the light-shielding layer 22 may be formed on the rear surface of the light-transmitting design layer 23. The light-transmitting design layer 23 may also be formed on both the front and rear surfaces of the light-transmitting base material 21.

[0023] When display light representing an image is not emitted from the display area 11, external light (for example, sunlight or streetlight light) is received, and mainly the pattern of the light-transmitting design layer 23 appears to the outside. On the other hand, when display light is emitted from the display area 11, an image appears to be visible through the pattern of the light-transmitting design layer 23, and is visually recognized by the user as the aforementioned visual image. Furthermore, when light is emitted from the light source 41 into the icon-shaped cutout portion of the light-shielding layer 22, the icon appears to be visible through the pattern of the light-transmitting design layer 23.

[0024] The circuit board 4 is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and is located behind the display unit 1. A control unit 60 that controls the operation of the in-vehicle display device 10, a light source 41, and other electronic components are mounted on the circuit board 4. The light source 41 is made of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and emits light under the control of the control unit 60. The control unit 60 may be disposed in any position as long as it is electrically connected to the circuit board 4.

[0025] The outer case 3 is made of light-blocking resin or metal and is formed in a box shape that is open in the forward direction Fd. The outer case 3 houses the display unit 1, an inner case 31, and a circuit board 4. The inner case 31 is made of light-blocking resin or metal and houses the display unit 1 and a light source 41. The inner case 31 is installed between the front surface of the circuit board 4 and the rear surface of the cover panel 2 (more precisely, the light-blocking layer 22 described below). The inner case 31 includes a light guide unit 31a that guides light from the light source 41 to the icon lighting unit 12.

[0026] The control unit 60 includes a function control unit that controls the overall operation of the in-vehicle display device 10 and a display control unit that controls the display of the display unit 1. For example, the function control unit is configured with a microcontroller including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and communicates with various electronic components such as the vehicle's ECU (Electronic Control Unit) via a CAN (Controller Area Network) to monitor various vehicle conditions. For example, the display control unit is configured with a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and generates an image to be displayed on the display unit 1 based on a control signal from the function control unit and image data for drawing stored in a memory (not shown), and outputs a drive signal to the display unit 1. Note that the display control unit and the function control unit may be realized as functions of a control device configured with one or more IC (Integrated Circuit) chips, and their configurations may be arbitrary.

[0027] (Relationship between specific color and reflected color of cover panel 2) Next, we will explain the relationship between the specific color and the reflected color of the cover panel 2. In this embodiment, the color of light that reaches the back surface of the display unit 1 (liquid crystal panel) from the backlight unit 7 (i.e., the emitted color of the backlight unit 7) is set to a specific color that is complementary to the reflected color of the cover panel 2.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2, the cover panel 2 has a facing area 2a facing the display area 11 of the display unit 1. The reflected color of the cover panel 2 is the color of light reflected by the cover panel 2 when a standard light source is applied to the front side (front surface) of the cover panel 2. The standard light source is, for example, CIE (International Commission on Illumination) standard illuminant D65. More specifically, the reflected color of the cover panel 2 is the area-averaged reflected color in the facing area 2a.

[0029] An xy chromaticity diagram in the CIE color system is shown in Figure 3. If the chromaticity coordinates of the reflected color of the cover panel 2 are assumed to be (x1, y1), the chromaticity coordinates (x2, y2) of a specific color, which is the emitted color of the backlight unit 7, are set so that the chromaticity coordinates (x3, y3) of a predetermined achromatic color are located at the midpoint between (x2, y2) and (x1, y1).

[0030] Here, the chromaticity coordinates (x3, y3) of the achromatic color are typically (0.33, 0.33), but can be changed from (0.33, 0.33) to any value that is defined as an achromatic color. Furthermore, the chromaticity coordinates (x3, y3) of the achromatic color do not have to be exactly located at the midpoint between (x2, y2) and (x1, y1) on the xy chromaticity diagram. For example, (x2, y2) and (x1, y1) on the xy chromaticity diagram may be located on opposite sides of the achromatic chromaticity coordinates (x3, y3), and the specific color and the reflected color of the cover panel 2 may be perceived by the human eye as complementary colors.

[0031] The color of light emitted from the backlight unit 7 is adjusted using at least one of the multiple light sources 7a and an optical sheet positioned between the backlight unit 7 and the display unit 1. For example, if the optical sheet is colorless and transparent, the color of light emitted from the multiple light sources 7a is adjusted to a specific color under the control of the control unit 60. Therefore, the multiple light sources 7a may include multiple LEDs that emit different colors. If the optical sheet includes color filters, the color of light emitted from the multiple light sources 7a, transmitted through the color filters, and reaching the display unit 1 is adjusted to a specific color. The color filters are arranged in a shape that overlaps the entire display area 11 of the display unit 1. Even if the optical sheet includes color filters, the multiple light sources 7a may include multiple LEDs that emit different colors. In either configuration, it is sufficient that the light reaching the display unit 1 from the backlight unit 7 is adjusted to a specific color.

[0032] The in-vehicle display device 10 does not impart a specific color to an image displayed by the display unit 1 itself as a liquid crystal panel through drawing control by the control unit 60, but rather imparts a specific color to light representing an image that reaches the cover panel 2 by optical means other than the display unit 1. In other words, the backlight unit 7 is an example of optical means that imparts a specific color to light representing an image that reaches the cover panel 2.

[0033] By using an optical means for imparting a specific color, the color of the image viewed through the cover panel 2 can be made closer to the color of the image actually displayed on the display unit 1, thereby maintaining the reproducibility of the displayed color.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings, and modifications (including the omission of components) can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

[0035] (Variation) The above describes an example of a configuration in which the backlight unit 7 located behind the display unit 1 is the optical means for imparting a specific color. However, this configuration is not limited thereto, and the optical means for imparting a specific color may be realized by an optical member provided at least either behind the display unit 1 or between the display unit 1 and the cover panel 2. For example, the display unit 1 may be an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel, in which case the backlight unit 7 is not necessary. In this case, a color filter may be provided between the display unit 1 as an organic EL panel and the cover panel 2 as the optical means for imparting a specific color. Furthermore, the display unit 1 is not limited to a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel, and a light-transmitting touch panel may be provided between the display unit 1 and the cover panel 2. The touch panel may be colored to function as at least a part of the optical means for imparting a specific color.

[0036] The cover panel 2 may have an uneven shape by applying a embossing process, a hairline process, or the like to the surface of the light-transmitting design layer 23. The light-transmitting design layer 23 may be made of real wood, metal, fabric, leather, or the like, formed to a thickness that allows light to pass through. In the above embodiment, the icon lighting unit 12 may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the light-transmitting layer 5 may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the light-blocking layer 22 of the cover panel 2 may be omitted.

[0037] The above-described in-vehicle display device 10 includes the following additional configurations.

[0038] (Addendum) (Appendix 1) a display unit for displaying an image; a cover panel that covers the display unit and allows the image to be seen through the cover panel; an optical means for imparting a specific color to light representing the image reaching the cover panel; the specific color is complementary to the reflected color of the cover panel under a standard light source; In-vehicle display device.

[0039] (Appendix 2) the display unit is a liquid crystal panel, the optical means is a backlight unit that illuminates the liquid crystal panel from behind, The light emission color of the backlight unit is complementary to the reflection color of the cover panel. 10. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1.

[0040] (Appendix 3) The cover panel forms a part of the dashboard of the vehicle and is formed with a color and a pattern, the display unit displays the image in a display area; the cover panel has an opposing area facing the display area, The reflected color of the cover panel is an area-averaged reflected color in the facing area. 3. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1 or 2.

[0041] (Appendix 4) In an xy chromaticity diagram, the chromaticity coordinates of a predetermined achromatic color are located at the midpoint between the chromaticity coordinates of the specific color and the chromaticity coordinates of the reflected color of the cover panel. 4. The in-vehicle display device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3.

[0042] In the above description, in order to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, descriptions of well-known technical matters have been omitted as appropriate.

[0043] This invention allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain this invention and do not limit the scope of this invention. That is, the scope of this invention is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the invention equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of this invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10…In-vehicle display device A...Display unit 1...Display section 11...display area, 12...icon lighting section, 13...dashboard 2...Cover panel, 2a...Facing area 21...Light-transparent base material 22...Light blocking layer 23...Light-transmitting design layer 3...outer case, 31...inner case, 4...circuit board, 41...light source, 5...light-transmitting layer 60...Control unit 7...backlight unit, 7a...light source

Claims

1. a display unit for displaying an image; a cover panel that covers the display unit and allows the image to be seen through the cover panel; an optical means for imparting a specific color to light representing the image reaching the cover panel; the specific color is complementary to the reflected color of the cover panel under a standard light source; In-vehicle display device.

2. the display unit is a liquid crystal panel, the optical means is a backlight unit that illuminates the liquid crystal panel from behind, The light emission color of the backlight unit is complementary to the reflection color of the cover panel. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1 .

3. The cover panel forms a part of the dashboard of the vehicle and is formed with a color and a pattern, the display unit displays the image in a display area; the cover panel has an opposing area facing the display area, The reflected color of the cover panel is an area-averaged reflected color in the facing area. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In an xy chromaticity diagram, the chromaticity coordinates of a predetermined achromatic color are located at the midpoint between the chromaticity coordinates of the specific color and the chromaticity coordinates of the reflected color of the cover panel. The in-vehicle display device according to claim 1 or 2.

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