Display device for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a display device for a vehicle capable of improving a field of view in front of the vehicle.SOLUTION: A display device (10;10A) includes: an emission portion (20) capable of emitting light; and a reflection portion (40;40A) for reflecting the light emitted from the emission portion (20) toward a driver. The reflection portion (40;40A) has: a flat end portion (41) formed flat; and a plurality of spherical surface portions (42;42A) that protrude from part of the flat end portion (41), are formed in a spherical shape, and reflect the light emitted from the emission portion (20).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicle display devices that are mounted on vehicles and display information include units that issue warnings based on information about the vehicle's surroundings and information about the vehicle itself. For example, the vehicle warning unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 is installed in a saddle-ride vehicle, which is an example of a vehicle, and is composed of a diffuse reflection unit that diffuses and reflects projected light, and a vehicle instrument device.

[0003] The diffuse reflection portion is provided on a windshield for a vehicle that covers an upper space of the vehicle instrumentation device so as to diffusely reflect light from the vehicle instrumentation device toward the driver. More specifically, the diffuse reflection portion is formed by forming the entire surface into a finely uneven shape.

[0004] The vehicle instrument device has a case in which a light emitting section capable of emitting light is provided inside the case. The light emitting section includes a light source, a control means for turning on the light source or changing the color of the light source when issuing a warning, and a light guiding member for guiding the light from the light source so that the light from the light source is emitted toward the diffuse reflector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-87505 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] For example, vehicle display devices may be provided with a diffuse reflector on the windshield of a saddle-ride vehicle, or on the front window of a passenger car. In either case, it is necessary to ensure good forward visibility while still allowing the driver to recognize information. It would be even more desirable if this could be improved.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a display device for a vehicle that can improve the visibility ahead of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A vehicle display device according to a first aspect includes an emission unit capable of emitting light and a reflection unit that reflects the light emitted from the emission unit toward a driver, The reflecting portion has a flat end portion that is formed flat, and a plurality of spherical portions that protrude from a part of the flat end portion and are formed spherically, and that reflect the light emitted from the emitting portion.

[0009] In a second aspect of the vehicle display device that can be dependent on the first aspect, the spherical portion is formed only in the area that can reflect light toward the driver, and at the boundary between the reflective area and the non-reflective area, the spherical portion has a wall portion that intersects approximately perpendicularly toward the flat end. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a display device for a vehicle that can improve the visibility ahead of the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a vehicle display device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 2A is an enlarged view of the reflecting portion shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a view of the reflecting portion shown in FIG. 2A as seen from behind. [Figure 3]3A is an enlarged view of a reflective portion used in a vehicle display device according to Example 2, FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of portion 3B in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of the spherical portion shown in FIG. 3B as viewed from behind. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description, left and right refer to left and right relative to the vehicle occupant, and front and rear refer to front and rear relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle. In the drawings, Fr indicates front, Rr indicates rear, Le indicates left from the occupant's perspective, Ri indicates right from the occupant's perspective, Up indicates top, and Dn indicates bottom. Example 1

[0013] Please refer to Fig. 1. A vehicle display device 10 (hereinafter abbreviated as "display device 10") is provided, for example, at the front of a saddle-ride type vehicle. The display device 10 is a device that issues a warning to a driver Dr based on, for example, information about the surroundings of the vehicle and information about the vehicle itself.

[0014] The display device 10 has an emission unit 20 that is supported by the vehicle body Bo and is capable of emitting light, and a reflection unit 40 that is provided on the windshield WS and reflects the light emitted from the emission unit 20 toward the driver Dr. The emission unit 20 may be configured integrally with an instrument such as a speedometer.

[0015] The windshield WS is installed on the vehicle so as to cover the space above the emission unit 20, and ensures forward visibility while controlling the wind blowing on the driver Dr.

[0016] As an example, when it becomes necessary to issue a warning to the driver Dr, the display device 10 emits light from the emission unit 20. The emitted light is reflected by the reflection unit 40 toward the driver Dr, and the driver Dr can recognize that the warning light is on and that an event requiring attention has occurred.

[0017] The emission unit 20 has a housing 30 having an opening 32a on the top surface, a light-transmitting member 22 that covers the opening 32a and allows light to pass through, a light source 23 that is provided within the housing 30 and can be turned on, and a control means 24 that controls the light source 23 and is provided within the housing 30.

[0018] The housing 30 is tilted downward from the rear to the front. The housing 30 is composed of a base 31 fixed to the vehicle body Bo and a lid 32 placed on top of the base 31. A hole 31a is formed in the center of the base 31 to pass the harness 16 through.

[0019] The base 31 and the lid 32 are fastened together by a screw 33. A seal 34 is provided between the base 31 and the lid 32 around the entire periphery to prevent the intrusion of water and the like.

[0020] The base 31 and the lid 32 may be made of, for example, black AES resin, and may be formed by, for example, injection molding.

[0021] The housing 30 may be tilted downward from the front to the rear, or may be tilted left and right. Furthermore, it may be tilted both in the front and rear directions and the left and right directions. The housing 30 may be provided with a horizontal top surface, but it is preferable that the top surface be tilted. This is because it is possible to prevent water droplets such as rainwater from running down and adhering to the top surface.

[0022] Furthermore, the base 31 and the lid 32 may be made of a resin other than AES resin, or may be made of different materials. The molding method for the base 31 and the lid 32 is not limited to injection molding.

[0023] For example, an injection-molded product made of acrylic resin (PMMA) can be used for the light-transmitting member 22. The light-transmitting member 22 is colorless, or if colored, is configured with a color that allows light from the light source 23 to pass through.

[0024] For example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) can be used as the light source 23. There may be a single light source 23 emitting light of one color tone (lighting color), or there may be multiple light sources 23, each emitting light of a different color tone (lighting color). Furthermore, the color tone may be changed by combining light sources 23 of the three primary colors.

[0025] It should be noted that the light source 23 may be something other than an LED.

[0026] The control means 24 is composed of a microcomputer mounted on a board and having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. A harness 16 is connected to the control means 24 to supply power to the control means 24, etc.

[0027] The control means 24 acquires various types of vehicle-related information from a vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) mounted on the saddle-ride type vehicle via the harness 16. The control means 24 determines whether or not a warning is necessary based on the acquired information. If it determines that a warning is necessary, the control means 24 lights up or flashes the light source 23, changes the lighting color, or changes the lighting interval of the light source 23 according to the content of the warning.

[0028] The information that the control means 24 obtains from the vehicle ECU may include information such as the presence of an obstacle on the road, the vehicle approaching another vehicle traveling ahead, or another vehicle traveling behind approaching, but may also include any other information that requires a warning to be issued to the driver Dr.

[0029] 2A and 2B, the reflecting portion 40 has a flat end portion 41 that is formed flat, and a plurality of spherical portions 42 that protrude from a part of the flat end portion 41 and are formed in a spherical shape, and that reflect the light emitted from the emitting portion 20.

[0030] 2B in particular. The semicircular area at the bottom of the spherical portion 42 is the area onto which light from the light output portion 20 is projected. This area is referred to as the "projection portion 42p." The light that hits the projection portion 42p is diffused and reflected toward the occupant.

[0031] <Example 2> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0032] Please refer to Figures 3A to 3C. Figures 3A and 3B show a reflecting section 40A used in a display device 10A of Example 2. Figure 3C shows a spherical section 42A formed on the reflecting section 40A as viewed from a position facing the flat end section 41.

[0033] The display device 10A according to the second embodiment has a different shape of the spherical portion 42A from the spherical portion 42 (see FIG. 2A) of the display device 10 according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). The other basic configurations are the same as those of the display device 10 according to the first embodiment. The same reference numerals are used for the parts common to the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0034] 3B and 3C, spherical portion 42A has a shape in which a part of a sphere has been removed. This removed-shape portion rises in a substantially vertical wall shape from flat end 41, and this portion is referred to as "wall portion 42Aw."

[0035] Even if spherical surface portion 42A were formed, the area that cannot be reflected toward driver Dr (see FIG. 1) (area outside projection portion 42p) would not contribute to issuing a warning to driver Dr. By forming wall surface portion 42Aw, it is possible to reduce the size of spherical surface portion 42A while ensuring the area necessary to form projection portion 42p.

[0036] The shape of the wall surface portion 42Aw can be formed using a mold at the same time as forming the spherical surface portion 42A, or by forming a spherical portion and then cutting away a portion thereof. As long as the portion that does not contribute to the transmission of information to the driver Dr is the wall surface portion 42Aw, the method of forming it may be other than those described above.

[0037] The display devices 10 and 10A described above will be summarized below.

[0038] Referring to Fig. 1, the display device 10 has an emission section 20 capable of emitting light, and a reflection section 40 that reflects the light emitted from the emission section 20 toward the driver Dr. Referring to Fig. 2A, the reflection section 40 has a flat end section 41 that is formed flat, and a plurality of spherical sections 42 that protrude from a part of the flat end section 41 and are formed into a spherical shape, and that reflect the light emitted from the emission section 20. The same applies to the display device 10A shown in Fig. 3.

[0039] 1 and 2A. The flat end portion 41 ensures visibility ahead of the vehicle. Meanwhile, the spherical portion 42 reflects the light emitted from the emission portion 20 toward the driver Dr, allowing the driver Dr to recognize information. This makes it possible to provide a display device 10 that can improve visibility ahead of the vehicle.

[0040] See Figures 3B and 3C. In order to form spherical portion 42A only in a portion that can reflect light toward driver Dr (see Figure 1), spherical portion 42A has wall portion 42Aw that intersects approximately perpendicularly toward flat end portion 41 at the boundary between the reflective portion and the non-reflective portion. By forming wall portion 42Aw, spherical portion 42A can be formed only in a portion that contributes to transmitting information to driver Dr. Since the area of ​​flat end portion 41 can be increased while ensuring visibility for driver Dr, the field of view ahead of the vehicle can be improved.

[0041] The display devices 10, 10A according to the present invention can be applied to passenger vehicles as well as saddle-ride type vehicles, etc. Vehicles on which the display devices 10, 10A are mounted are not limited to these types.

[0042] As long as the functions and effects of the present invention are exhibited, the present invention is not limited to the examples. [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] The vehicle display device of the present invention is suitable for saddle-ride type vehicles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 10, 10A...Vehicle display device 20...Emission part 40, 40A...Reflector 41...Flat end 42, 42A...Spherical part, 42Aw...Wall part Dr...Driver

Claims

1. The vehicle includes an emission section capable of emitting light and a reflection section that reflects the light emitted from the emission section toward a driver, The reflective portion has a flat end portion that is formed flat, and a plurality of spherical portions that protrude from a portion of the flat end portion and are formed spherically, and that reflect the light emitted from the emitting portion.

2. 2. The vehicle display device according to claim 1, wherein the spherical portion has a wall portion that intersects approximately perpendicularly toward the flat end portion at the boundary between the reflective portion and the non-reflective portion, so that the spherical portion is formed only in the portion that can reflect light toward the driver.

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