Image generating apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image generating apparatus with enhanced heat dissipation.SOLUTION: A light source includes a light-emitting surface that emits light laterally. An optical member emits the light emitted from the light source upward. A housing accommodates the light source and the optical member therein. A heat dissipation member dissipates heat generated from the light source. The heat dissipation member is provided so as to protrude laterally from the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to image generation devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a head-up display (HUD) that projects light that forms an image emitted from a picture generation unit (PGU) onto a windshield using an optical system, and reflects the light from the windshield to superimpose a virtual image on the real space in front of the vehicle. In the image generation unit, a display device, optical members, a light source, a substrate, and a heat sink are arranged in that order from above, and light that forms an image is emitted upward from the display device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 009605 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The heat generated in the light source is transferred to the heat sink via the substrate and then dissipated from the heat sink. However, in the image generating unit described above, a display device, optical components, etc. are located above the heat sink, so the air warmed by the heat dissipated from the heat sink tends to stagnate, and further improvement in heat dissipation is desired.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide an image generating device with improved heat dissipation properties. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An image generating device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: An image generating device mounted on a vehicle and configured to generate a predetermined image, a light source having a light-emitting surface that emits light laterally; an optical member that emits light emitted from the light source upward; a housing that accommodates the light source and the optical member therein; a heat dissipation member that dissipates heat generated from the light source; It is equipped with The heat dissipation member is provided so as to protrude laterally from the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, an image generating device with improved heat dissipation properties can be provided. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a head-up display (HUD) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the side of a vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of an image generating device. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration taken along line III-III in FIG. 2, viewed from the direction of the arrows. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image generating device according to a first modification. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image generating device according to a second modification. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image generating device according to a third modification. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of an image generating device according to a fourth modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, arrow U indicates the upward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow D indicates the downward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow F indicates the forward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow B indicates the backward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow R indicates the rightward direction of the illustrated structure. Arrow L indicates the leftward direction of the illustrated structure. These directions are relative directions set for the image generation device 3 shown in FIG. 1, and the upward direction is the emission direction of image light L1 emitted from the image generation device 3.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a head-up display (HUD) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from the side of a vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the HUD 1 is mounted on a vehicle 100. For example, the HUD 1 is disposed in the dashboard of the vehicle 100. The HUD 1 functions as a visual interface between the vehicle 100 and an occupant of the vehicle 100. Specifically, the HUD 1 is configured to display predetermined information as a virtual image toward the occupant of the vehicle 100 so that the information is superimposed on a real space outside the vehicle 100 (for example, the surrounding environment in front of the vehicle 100). The predetermined information is displayed as a still image or a moving image (video). The HUD 1 is an example of an image display device.

[0011] The HUD 1 comprises an HUD main body 2, an image generation unit (PGU) 3, a plane mirror 4, a concave mirror 5, and a control unit 6. The HUD main body 2 has a housing 2A and an exit window 2B. The image generation unit 3, the plane mirror 4, the concave mirror 5, and the control unit 6 are arranged inside the housing 2A. The exit window 2B is made of a transparent plate that transmits visible light.

[0012] The image generating device 3 is configured to generate a predetermined image for forming a virtual image and emit light L1 (hereinafter referred to as image light) that constitutes the image. The image light L1 emitted from the image generating device 3 is, for example, visible light.

[0013] The plane mirror 4 is disposed on the optical path of the image light L1 emitted from the image generating device 3. The plane mirror 4 is configured to reflect the image light L1 emitted from the image generating device 3 toward the concave mirror 5.

[0014] The concave mirror 5 is disposed on the optical path of the image light L1 emitted from the plane mirror 4. The concave mirror 5 is configured to reflect the image light L1 emitted from the image generation device 3 and reflected by the plane mirror 4, toward the windshield 101. The concave mirror 5 reflects the image light L1 emitted by the image generation device 3 so that the light image emitted and formed by the image generation device 3 is formed on the windshield 101 at a predetermined magnification. The concave mirror 5 may be configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis.

[0015] The control unit 6 is configured to control the operation of each part of the HUD 1. The control unit 6 is connected to a vehicle control unit that controls the driving of the vehicle 100. The control unit 6 controls the operation of each part of the HUD 1 based on vehicle driving information, surrounding environment information, and the like transmitted from the vehicle control unit. The control unit 6 can be realized by one or more processors and memories. Examples of the processor include a CPU, an MPU, and a GPU. Examples of the memory include a ROM and a RAM. In this case, the ROM is an example of a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a computer program that executes processing related to the operation of each part of the HUD 1. A general-purpose microprocessor specifies at least a portion of the computer program stored in the ROM, expands it on the RAM, and executes the above-mentioned processing in cooperation with the RAM.

[0016] In the HUD 1 configured as described above, as illustrated in FIG. 1 , image light L1 emitted from the image generation device 3 is reflected by the plane mirror 4 and the concave mirror 5, and then emitted from the exit window 2B of the HUD main body 2. The image light L1 emitted from the exit window 2B is irradiated onto the windshield 101. A portion of the light irradiated onto the windshield 101 from the exit window 2B is reflected toward the occupant's viewpoint E. As a result, the occupant recognizes the image light L1 emitted from the HUD main body 2 as a virtual image formed at a predetermined distance in front of the windshield 101. In this way, the image generated by the image generation device 3 is superimposed on the real space in front of the vehicle 100 through the windshield 101, and as a result, the occupant can visually recognize a virtual image object O formed by a predetermined image as floating above the road located outside the vehicle 100.

[0017] Next, the configuration of the image generation device 3 will be described with reference to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the image generation device 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration when the cross section along line III-III in Fig. 2 is viewed from the direction of the arrows.

[0018] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the image generating device 3 includes a light source unit 31 , a first lens 32 , a plane mirror 33 , a second lens 34 , a liquid crystal display device 35 , a housing 36 , and a heat sink 37 .

[0019] The light source unit 31 has a light source 311 and a substrate 312. The light source 311 is, for example, an LED light source or a laser light source. The LED light source is, for example, a white LED light source. The laser light source is, for example, an RGB laser light source configured to emit red laser light, green laser light, and blue laser light, respectively. The light source 311 is disposed on the substrate 312. The substrate 312 is, for example, a printed circuit board made of an insulator with electrical circuit wiring printed on or inside the substrate.

[0020] The first lens 32 is configured to emit light emitted from the light source 311 as parallel light. The plane mirror 33 is configured to reflect the parallel light emitted by the first lens 32 toward the second lens 34. The second lens 34 is configured to diffuse the parallel light reflected from the plane mirror 33 within a desired range and emit the diffused light toward the liquid crystal display device 35. The first lens 32, the plane mirror 33, and the second lens 34 are examples of optical components. The plane mirror 33 is an example of a reflecting member.

[0021] The liquid crystal display device 35 is located above the second lens 34. Light emitted from the second lens 34 is incident on the liquid crystal display device 35. The liquid crystal display device 35 includes liquid crystal, a polarizing film, and a drive circuit (not shown). By applying a voltage to the liquid crystal using the drive circuit, the polarizing film is switched between a state in which light is transmitted through the film and a state in which light is not transmitted through the film. The liquid crystal and the polarizing film are divided into a plurality of pixels, and each pixel is switched between a light transmitting and a light non-transmitting state. A predetermined image is generated by transmitting light through some pixels and opaque to light through other pixels. Image light L1 that constitutes the image is emitted from the liquid crystal display device 35.

[0022] The housing 36 has a body 36A and a cover 36B. The cover 36B is disposed on top of the body 36A. In the space surrounded by the body 36A and the cover 36B, a light source unit 31, a first lens 32, a plane mirror 33, and a second lens 34 are disposed. A liquid crystal display device 35 is disposed on the upper surface of the cover 36B. The cover 36B has an opening at a position corresponding to the liquid crystal display device 35, and light emitted from the second lens 34 passes through the opening and enters the liquid crystal display device 35.

[0023] The heat sink 37 is provided so as to protrude laterally (rearward in this example) from the housing 36. In this example, the heat sink 37 is attached to the rear end of the housing 36 so as to cover the rear opening of the housing 36. The board 312 of the light source unit 31 is attached to the side (front in this example) of the heat sink 37 so that light emitted from the light emitting surface of the light source 311 is directed laterally (forward in this example). Heat generated from the light source 311 is transferred to the heat sink 37 via the board 312. The heat sink 37 dissipates the heat transferred from the board 312. The heat sink 37 is an example of a heat dissipation member.

[0024] With this configuration, the heat sink 37 protrudes to the side of the housing 36, so that the air heated by the heat sink 37 can easily escape upward. This improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink 37, and improves the heat dissipation performance of the image generation device 3.

[0025] The housing 36 is formed, for example, from resin. The surface of a portion 36A1 of the body 36A of the housing 36 located above the light source 311 may be painted black. The portion 36A1 is likely to become hot due to the rising air heated by the heat generated by the light source 311. If the portion 36A1 is painted black, it will be easier to dissipate heat to the outside by blackbody radiation. This further improves the heat dissipation performance of the image generation device 3. Note that the surfaces of all portions of the housing 36 may be painted black. A matte black paint may be used as the black paint. Using a matte black paint can prevent stray light inside the housing 2A of the HUD main body 2 from reaching the image generation device 3 and being reflected again by the housing 36.

[0026] 3, the housing 36 may be formed with an air inlet 361 and an air outlet 362. Air flows into the housing 36 from the outside through the air inlet 361. The air circulating inside the housing 36 flows out to the outside through the air outlet 362. In FIG. 3, the air flows at the air inlet 361 and the air outlet 362 are indicated by dashed arrows.

[0027] In this example, the air outlet 362 is provided in a portion of the housing 36 that is located above the light source 311. The air inlet 361 is provided in a portion of the housing 36 that is below the air outlet 362 and farther from the light source unit 31 than the air outlet 362.

[0028] According to this configuration, air convection occurs as the air that flows in through the air inlet 361 flows out through the air outlet 362. Along this convection, the air that has been heated by the light source 311 is more likely to be released to the outside through the air outlet 362. This further improves the heat dissipation performance of the image generation device 3.

[0029] 3, the air inlet 361 and the air outlet 362 may be formed between the body 36A and the cover 36B. With this configuration, it is not necessary to drill holes in the housing 36 to form the air inlet 361 and the air outlet 362.

[0030] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image generation device 3A according to Modification 1. Note that components that are substantially the same as those of the image generation device 3 in Fig. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0031] 4, the cover 36B of the housing 36 has a wall portion 363. The wall portion 363 is disposed between the first lens 32 and the second lens 34. In this example, the wall portion 363 extends downward from the lower surface of the cover 36B. This configuration can prevent stray light from being generated when a portion of the light L10 emitted from the light source 311 and then the first lens 32 is directly incident on the second lens 34.

[0032] The wall portion 363 may be provided on the body 36A instead of the cover 36B.

[0033] 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image generation device 3B according to Modification 2. Components that are substantially the same as those of the image generation device 3 in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0034] 5, the air flow outlet 362 formed in the housing 36 faces downward. In this example, an end 364 of the cover 36B of the housing 36 is configured to cover an upper end 365 of the body 36A. The air flow outlet 362 is formed between the lower end of the end 364 of the cover 36B and the upper end 365 of the body 36A.

[0035] With this configuration, the gap G formed between the cover 36B and the body 36A is covered by the end 364 of the cover 36B, and therefore, compared to the configuration shown in Figure 3, it is possible to prevent some of the light L20 emitted from the light source 311 from leaking to the outside through the air outlet 362.

[0036] Note that the end of cover 36B may be formed to cover the gap between cover 36B and body 36A, even in the area where air inlet 361 is formed. With this configuration, particularly when air inlet 361 is disposed near light source unit 31, it is possible to prevent light emitted from light source 311 from leaking to the outside through air inlet 361.

[0037] 5 has a wall portion 363. However, the configuration of the air outlet 362 according to this modification can also be applied to a cover 36B that does not have a wall portion 363.

[0038] 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an image generation device 3C according to Modification 3. Components that are substantially the same as those of the image generation device 3 in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the image generating device 3C has a light guide 38 instead of the plane mirror 33.

[0040] The first lens 32 is configured to emit light emitted from the light source 311 as parallel light. The light guide 38 is configured to reflect the parallel light emitted by the first lens 32 toward the second lens 34. The second lens 34 is configured to diffuse the parallel light reflected from the light guide 38 within a desired range and emit the diffused light toward the liquid crystal display device 35. The first lens 32, the light guide 38, and the second lens 34 are examples of optical components.

[0041] Even in this configuration, the heat sink 37 protrudes to the side of the housing 36, so the air heated by the heat sink 37 can easily escape upwards. This improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink 37.

[0042] 7 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of an image generation device 3D according to Modification 4. Components that are substantially the same as those of the image generation device 3 in FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanations will be omitted.

[0043] 7, the heat sink 37 is attached to the housing 36 so that a portion of the heat sink 37 is not covered by the housing 36 in top view. For example, the heat sink 37 has a mounting portion 371 and a plurality of heat dissipation fins 372. The mounting portion 371 is disposed inside the housing 36, and the substrate 312 is mounted on the front surface of the mounting portion 371. Note that the mounting portion 371 is indicated by a dashed line in FIG.

[0044] The heat dissipation fins 372 are, for example, plate-shaped members extending rearward from the rear end of the mounting portion 371. The heat dissipation fins 372 are arranged at intervals from one another in the left-right direction. The heat dissipation fins 372 are exposed to the outside of the housing 36.

[0045] Heat generated by the light source 311 is transferred to the mounting portion 371 of the heat sink 37 via the substrate 312. The heat transferred to the mounting portion 371 is transferred from the mounting portion 371 to the plurality of heat dissipation fins 372 and is released from the plurality of heat dissipation fins 372. Because the plurality of heat dissipation fins 372 protrude to the sides of the housing 36, the air heated by the heat sink 37 can easily escape upward.

[0046] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the technical scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by the description of the present embodiments. The present embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of the present invention should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents.

[0047] In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the optical components used are the first lens 32, the plane mirror 33 or the light guide 38, and the second lens 34. However, the optical components may be a prism, a lens, a diffuser, a magnifying glass, a reflecting member, or a combination of two or more components.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment and modifications, the image light L1 emitted from the image generating devices 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D may be configured to be directly incident on the concave mirror 5.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the reflecting member that reflects the image light onto the windshield 101 is the concave mirror 5. However, the reflecting member that reflects the image light onto the windshield 101 may be a plane mirror or the like.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the light emitted from the image generating devices 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D is reflected by the concave mirror 5 and irradiated onto the windshield 101. However, for example, the image light L1 reflected by the concave mirror 5 may be irradiated onto a combiner (not shown) provided inside the windshield 101. The combiner is formed, for example, of a transparent plastic disk. A portion of the light irradiated onto the combiner from the image generating devices 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D of the HUD main body 2 is reflected toward the occupant's viewpoint E, similar to when light is irradiated onto the windshield 101.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the HUD 1 is given as an example of an image display device, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0052] The configurations listed below also form part of this disclosure. Item 1: An image generating device mounted on a vehicle and configured to generate a predetermined image, a light source having a light-emitting surface that emits light laterally; an optical member that emits light emitted from the light source upward; a housing that accommodates the light source and the optical member therein; a heat dissipation member that dissipates heat generated from the light source, The heat dissipation member is provided so as to protrude laterally from the housing. Item 2: Item 2. The image generating device according to item 1, wherein at least a portion of the heat dissipation member is not covered by the housing in a top view. Item 3: 3. The image generating device according to item 1 or 2, wherein the housing is formed with an air inlet through which air flows into the housing from the outside and an air outlet through which air circulating within the housing flows out to the outside. Item 4: The housing has a body and a cover disposed on an upper portion of the body, Item 4. The image production device according to item 3, wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are formed between the body and the cover. Item 5: Item 4. The image production device of item 3, wherein the air flow outlet faces downward. Item 6: The optical member is a lens that emits light emitted from the light source upward; a reflecting member that reflects light emitted from the light source toward the lens; and 6. The image generating device of any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the housing has a wall portion disposed between the lens and the light source. Item 7: 7. The image generating device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein at least a portion of the housing positioned above the light source has a surface painted black. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 HUD 2 HUD main body 2A Housing 2B Exit window 3. Image generation device 3A Image generation device 3B Image generation device 3C image generation device 31 Light source section 311 Light source 312 Substrate 32 First Lens 33 Plane mirror 34 Second Lens 35 Liquid crystal display device 36 Housing 36A Body 36B Cover 361 Air inlet 362 Air outlet 363 Wall 364 End 365 Upper end 37 Heatsink 371 Mounting section 372 Heat dissipation fin 38 Light guide 4 plane mirror 5 concave mirror 6 Control Unit 100 vehicles 101 Windshield

Claims

1. An image generating device mounted on a vehicle and configured to generate a predetermined image, a light source having a light-emitting surface that emits light laterally; an optical member that emits light emitted from the light source upward; a housing that accommodates the light source and the optical member therein; a heat dissipation member that dissipates heat generated from the light source; It is equipped with The heat dissipation member is provided so as to protrude laterally from the housing.

2. The image generating device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the heat dissipation member is not covered by the housing in a top view.

3. 3. The image generating device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed with an air inlet through which air flows into the housing from the outside, and an air outlet through which air circulating within the housing flows out to the outside.

4. The housing has a body and a cover disposed on an upper portion of the body, The image production device according to claim 3 , wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are formed between the body and the cover.

5. 4. The image production device of claim 3, wherein the air flow outlet faces downward.

6. The optical member is a lens that emits light emitted from the light source upward; a reflecting member that reflects light emitted from the light source toward the lens; and The image generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing has a wall portion disposed between the lens and the light source.

7. The image generating device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing positioned above the light source has a surface painted black.

Images