Display device and vehicle equipped therewith

Abstract

To provide a more suitable display device or display technology. According to the present invention, it contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 3, "Good Health and Well-being for All." [Solution] The display device comprises a light source and a display panel that generates video light for creating a virtual image visible to the driver based on the light emitted from the light source. The display device also has a case that covers at least a portion of the display device, including the area around the video display surface of the display panel, and the case has a surface made of a black resin or a black painted material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device and a vehicle including the same.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a display device or a virtual image display device that projects video light onto a windshield or a front glass of a vehicle such as an automobile to display a virtual image, and displays driving information such as vehicle speed and engine speed, traffic information from navigation, and vehicle information such as remaining fuel and coolant temperature.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The display device is disposed, for example, on or inside a dashboard of a vehicle. When using the display device, a driver can obtain information necessary for driving without moving his or her line of sight to an instrument panel incorporated in the dashboard, that is, a so-called instrument panel. On the other hand, visibility may be deteriorated due to the arrangement, brightness, influence from external light, information display, etc. of the display device.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a more suitable display device or display technology.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to an aspect of the present invention, the following display device is provided. The display device comprises a light source and a display panel that generates video light for generating a virtual image to be seen by a driver based on the light emitted from the light source. The display device also has a case that covers at least a part of the display device, including the area around the video display surface of the display panel, and the case has a surface made of a black resin or a black painted material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, a more suitable display device or display technology can be provided. Other problems, configurations, and effects not mentioned above will be clarified by the following description of the embodiments. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of an in-vehicle system including a display device. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of a device used to acquire vehicle information. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing an example of a display device. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a configuration in which a display device is installed in a vehicle. [Figure 5] This figure shows an example of a configuration in which a display device is installed in a vehicle. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of a light source structure for a display device. [Figure 7] This figure shows an example of a configuration in which a display device is mounted on a vehicle. [Figure 8A] This is a diagram showing an example of the top surface of a display device. [Figure 8B] This figure shows an example of a cross-section of a display device. [Figure 9] This is a diagram showing the case of a display device. [Figure 10] This is another diagram showing the case of the display device. [Figure 11] This figure shows an example of a display device installed in a vehicle. [Figure 12]This figure shows an example of connecting a wired connection terminal to a display device. [Figure 13A] This is a diagram illustrating the cover of a display device. [Figure 13B] This is another diagram illustrating the cover of the display device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are illustrative examples for explaining the present invention, and have been omitted and simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation. The present invention can also be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise specified, each component may be singular or plural. The position, size, shape, and range of each component shown in the drawings may not represent the actual position, size, shape, and range in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the position, size, shape, and range disclosed in the drawings. When there are multiple components that have the same or similar function, they may be described using the same reference numeral with different subscripts. Also, when it is not necessary to distinguish between these multiple components, the subscripts may be omitted in the description.

[0010] In explanations, when describing program-based processing, the focus may be on the program, its functions, or its processing units. The main hardware components are the processor, or controllers, devices, computers, and systems composed of such processors. The computer, using its processor, executes processing according to the program read into memory, utilizing resources such as memory and communication interfaces as appropriate. This realizes the specified functions and processing units. The processor is composed of semiconductor devices such as CPUs / MPUs and GPUs. Processing is not limited to software programs; it can also be implemented using dedicated circuits. FPGAs, ASICs, CPLDs, etc., are applicable as dedicated circuits.

[0011] The program may be pre-installed as data in the target computer, or may be distributed as data to the target computer from the program source. The program source may be a program distribution server on a communication network, or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a memory card or a disk. The program may be composed of a plurality of modules. The computer system may be composed of a plurality of devices. The computer system may be composed of a client-server system, a cloud computing system, an IoT system, etc. Various data and information are composed in a structure such as a table or a list, for example, but are not limited thereto. Expressions such as identification information, identifier, ID, name, number, etc. are mutually replaceable.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an in-vehicle system including a display device 1 or a virtual image display device. For the vehicle or the vehicle and the driver, the horizontal direction X is the left-right direction, the lateral direction of the vehicle or the vehicle, or the width direction of the vehicle or the vehicle. The vertical direction Z is the up-down direction or the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The horizontal direction Y orthogonal to the lateral direction of the vehicle or the vehicle is the front-back direction of the vehicle or the vehicle or the traveling direction of the vehicle. In the example of FIG. 1, it is set so that the direction in which the vehicle travels is the negative direction on the Y axis. The display device 1 may also be referred to as a virtual image display device. Hereinafter, the description will be made using the name "display device". The vehicle or the vehicle is typically an automobile or a truck, but is not limited thereto, and may be a moving body such as a motorcycle, a railway vehicle, an aircraft, or a ship. Hereinafter, these vehicles will be described using the name "vehicle".

[0013] The display device 1 acquires vehicle information 4 from cameras and various sensors installed in various parts of the vehicle 2. The display device 1 may also be called a virtual image display device. The various sensors, for example, detect various events that occur in the vehicle 2 and periodically detect the values ​​of various parameters related to driving conditions. It can also acquire road information from a navigation device 6 (car navigation system), external devices 400, terminal devices 410 (e.g., mobile terminals), and GPS (Global Positioning System) information. The GPS may be installed in the vehicle 2, or it may be installed in the external devices 400 or terminal devices 410.

[0014] Vehicle information 4 includes, for example, vehicle 2's speed information, gear information, steering angle information, lamp illumination information, ambient light information, distance information, infrared information, engine ON / OFF information, camera image information, accelerometer / gyro information, GPS (Global Positioning System) information, navigation information, vehicle-to-vehicle communication information, and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication information. Camera image information includes in-vehicle camera images and exterior camera images. GPS information includes latitude and longitude as well as current time information. Vehicle information 4 also includes input information from the driver.

[0015] The display device 1 is connected to the controller 100 of the vehicle 2 via an information transmission path, and the display device 1 and the controller 100 can communicate with each other. The controller 100 of the vehicle 2 is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The display device 1 and the controller 100 of the vehicle 2 communicate via the information transmission path, for example, by means of a CAN (Controller Area Network) or LIN (Local Interconnect Network) interface. Note that the display device 1 and the controller 100 of the vehicle 2 may communicate via in-vehicle Ethernet or the like via the information transmission path. Also, other wired or wireless connection forms may be adopted. For example, when transmitting all information including video information via one information transmission path, the connection between the controller 100 (the source of video information, etc.) on the vehicle 2 side and the display device 1 (that is, the connection form of the information transmission path) may be FPD-LinkIII, GMSL (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link), or the like.

[0016] The controller 100 controls the vehicle 2 based on input and output of data, and the in-vehicle system is configured by a configuration in which it is connected to the display device 1. The in-vehicle system can communicate with the outside of the vehicle 2 via a communication device or a network or the like. As an example of communication with the outside of the vehicle 2, a direct communication method or an indirect communication method is used. The direct communication method is a method used internationally as ITS (Intelligent Transport System) communication, and the indirect communication method is a method of indirectly communicating, for example, via a server through an external device or a terminal device 410. The in-vehicle system can transmit and receive data or information, for example, with a server 700 connected on the network 500 via a relay base 600 on the network 500. Also, the in-vehicle system may communicate with infrastructure such as external devices and terminals installed on the road on which the vehicle 2 travels.

[0017] Figure 2 shows an example of a device used to acquire vehicle information. As shown in Figure 2, vehicle information 4 is acquired using devices such as a camera and various sensors connected to the controller 100 or control device. Note that the various devices in Figure 2 can be deleted, other types of devices added, or replaced with other types of devices as appropriate. Also, as an example, the controller 100 of vehicle 2 may also have the function of controlling the display device 1.

[0018] The vehicle speed sensor 901 detects the speed of vehicle 2 and is used to generate speed information as a result of the detection. The shift position sensor 902 detects the current gear and is used to generate gear information as a result of the detection. The steering angle sensor 903 detects the current steering angle and is used to generate steering angle information as a result of the detection. The headlight sensor 904 detects whether the headlights are ON or OFF and is used to generate lamp illumination information as a result of the detection.

[0019] The illuminance sensor 905 and the chromaticity sensor 906 detect ambient light from the vehicle 2 and are used to generate ambient light information as detection results. The distance measuring sensor 907 detects the distance between the vehicle 2 and an external object, or the distance between external objects, and is used to generate distance information as detection results. The infrared sensor 908 detects the presence and distance of objects in the vicinity of the vehicle 2 and is used to generate infrared information as detection results. The engine start sensor 909 detects the ON / OFF status of the engine and is used to generate ON / OFF information as detection results. The acceleration sensor 912 and the gyro sensor 913 detect the acceleration and angular velocity of the vehicle 2 and are used to generate acceleration gyro information representing the attitude and behavior of the vehicle 2.

[0020] The temperature sensor 914 detects the temperature inside and outside the vehicle and is used to generate temperature information as the detection result. For example, if the display device 1 is located inside the dashboard of the vehicle 2, the temperature sensor 914 may be used to detect the temperature inside the dashboard. If a temperature that may affect the operation of the display device 1 is detected, the display device 1 may stop operating. The temperature sensor 914 may also be located in other places that may experience temperatures similar to those inside the dashboard.

[0021] Furthermore, if the display device 1 is installed on the dashboard or elsewhere, the temperature sensor 914 may be used to detect the temperature in the vicinity where the display device 1 is installed. If a temperature is detected that may affect the operation of the display device 1 due to direct sunlight or the like, the display device 1 may stop operating. Here, the temperature sensor 914 may be placed on the dashboard as an example. The temperature sensor 914 may also be placed outside the vehicle, assuming that the temperature near the display device 1 and the temperature outside the vehicle are similar.

[0022] The vehicle-to-infrastructure wireless transceiver 915 generates vehicle-to-infrastructure communication information through vehicle-to-infrastructure communication between vehicle 2 and roads, signs, signals, etc. The vehicle-to-vehicle wireless transceiver 916 generates vehicle-to-vehicle communication information through vehicle-to-vehicle communication between vehicle 2 and other surrounding vehicles. The wired wireless communication unit 917 for mobile terminal-to-vehicle communication is a device that acquires information from devices connected to the LTE (Long Term Evolution) network (e.g., WiFi devices) via wired or wireless communication. The controller 100 or control device can acquire information transmitted and received on the LTE network via the wired wireless communication unit 917 for mobile terminal-to-vehicle communication.

[0023] The in-vehicle camera 919 and the exterior camera 920 capture images of the interior and exterior of the vehicle and are used to generate in-vehicle and exterior camera image information. Specifically, the in-vehicle camera 919 is, for example, a camera for a Driver Monitoring System (DMS) that captures the driver's posture, eye position, and movement. In this case, by analyzing the captured images, the driver's fatigue level and gaze position can be determined.

[0024] On the other hand, the external camera 920 captures images of the surroundings, such as the front and rear of vehicle 2. In this case, the external camera 920 analyzes the captured images to determine the presence or absence of obstacles such as other vehicles or people in the vicinity, buildings and terrain, road surface conditions such as rain, snow, ice, and unevenness, and road signs. The external camera 920 also includes, for example, a dashcam that records the situation while driving.

[0025] The GPS receiver 921 generates GPS information obtained by receiving GPS signals from GPS satellites. For example, a device used to acquire vehicle information can obtain the current time, latitude, and longitude using the GPS receiver 921. The VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System, registered trademark) receiver 922 generates VICS information obtained by receiving VICS signals. The GPS receiver 921 and the VICS receiver 922 may be provided as part of a navigation system.

[0026] The voice input device 918 receives the driver's voice and is used to generate voice information. The driver can input operation details via the voice input device 918 by speaking. The vehicle operation switch 911 is used to generate driver operation information for steering wheel switches, etc.

[0027] Furthermore, the video generation unit 910 generates video information based on vehicle information 4 acquired by the controller 100 of the vehicle 2. The video generation unit 910 can also generate video information based on external information.

[0028] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the display device 1. Figure 3 mainly shows the control of the display of projected images (including virtual images) in the display device 1.

[0029] In Figure 3, the display device 1 includes, for example, a control unit 1010, a non-volatile memory 1011, a volatile memory 1012, a storage unit 1013, a display driver 1021, and a light source drive unit 1022, all of which are mounted on a wiring board or the like. The display device 1 also includes a communication unit 1014, a wireless communication unit 1015, a video processing unit 1016, an operation input unit 1017, an external power input unit 1018, a speaker 1019, and a light-emitting indicator 1020.

[0030] The control unit 1010 is specifically a microcontroller (MCU) or a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Each block other than the control unit 1010 may be mounted within the control unit 1010 as appropriate. Furthermore, the display device 1 is not limited to implementation using the control unit 1010; it may also be implemented using an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) or other semiconductor devices. The configuration shown in Figure 3 may, for example, involve a control unit mounted inside the housing of the display device 1, or a control unit mounted outside the housing. Additionally, the display device 1 can be controlled by a controller in the vehicle 2 or an external device without implementing the control unit 1010 within the display device 1.

[0031] The non-volatile memory 1011 primarily stores programs executed within the control unit 1010, setting parameters used in the processing of each part within the control unit 1010, and predefined audio and video data. The non-volatile memory 1011 may also store information other than programs, such as video, audio, and video.

[0032] The volatile memory 1012 operates by expanding the program stored in the non-volatile memory 1011. The volatile memory 1012 primarily processes acquired information and various data used in the processing of each part within the control unit 1010 as appropriate.

[0033] The storage unit 1013 stores video data, video data, or audio data for output to the speaker 1019, etc. The video data, video data, or audio data to be stored in the storage unit 1013 may be stored in the storage unit 1013 in advance. Alternatively, the video data, video data, or audio data to be stored in the storage unit 1013 may be received from an external device via the communication unit 1014.

[0034] In Figure 3, the communication unit 1014 transmits and receives information such as vehicle information 4 to and from the controller 100 of the vehicle 2 or various devices such as sensors in the vehicle 2, using a mechanism such as CAN or in-vehicle Ethernet. The communication unit 1014 may also receive video information using a mechanism such as FPD-Link III or GMSL. The hardware of the communication interface that receives vehicle information 4 and the hardware of the communication interface that receives video information in the communication unit 1014 may be separate or integrated. Furthermore, the communication unit 1014, which transmits and receives information via a wired or wireless connection using a connector that connects to a plug, may also function as the control unit of the display device 1.

[0035] The wireless communication unit 1015 may be configured with a Wi-Fi communication interface, a Bluetooth® communication interface, a mobile communication interface such as 4G or 5G, etc. As shown in Figure 1, the wireless communication unit 1015 may communicate with external devices via a network 500 connected through a router or relay station 600. An example of an external device is a server 700 connected via network 500. Alternatively, the wireless communication unit 1015 may communicate directly with a terminal device 410, etc. An example of a terminal device 410 is a smartphone, tablet, wireless earphones, headphones, or beacon.

[0036] The video processing unit 1016 may perform distortion correction, conversion, and other processing on the received video information. The video processing unit 1016 may generate video data for the video display unit 200 using acquired vehicle information, external information, etc. Specifically, the distortion correction here corrects the distortion of the image caused by the curvature of the windshield 3 when the image from the display device 1 is projected onto the display area 5, as shown in Figure 1. The video processing unit 1016 may also be implemented by the control unit 1010 reading and executing a program stored in the non-volatile memory 1011 or volatile memory 1012.

[0037] In other words, the video processing unit 1016 processes video data related to the display video projected onto the display area 5, such as in Figure 1, based on information acquired from an external source or from the vehicle 2. On the other hand, the system does not necessarily have a video processing unit 1016; in such a case, the control unit 1010 can process video information from the vehicle 2 or an external terminal via the communication unit 1014. Alternatively, the controller 100 of the vehicle 2 may process the video information.

[0038] The operation input unit 1017 is, for example, an operation button, a receiver for a remote controller, or an infrared light receiver, and is used to input user operations. The operation input unit 1017 may be used, for example, for the driver to operate the display device 1.

[0039] The external power input unit 1018 has a power connector for supplying power, and power is input from an external source by connecting the power connector to a wired connection terminal (power plug), supplying the necessary power to each part of the display device 1 shown in Figure 3.

[0040] The speaker 1019 emits sound based on audio data stored in the volatile memory 1012, the non-volatile memory 1011, or the storage unit 1013.

[0041] The light-emitting indicator 1020 emits light using a light-emitting element or the like, and can notify the user of the status of the display device 1 by the timing of the light emission of the light-emitting element or the color of the emitted light.

[0042] The display driver 1021 drives each display element (pixel) included in the display panel 11 based on the video data. This allows the video display unit 200 or video display unit to create and display an image for projection onto the display area 5 based on the video data. The display driver 1021 can be configured, for example, by a circuit mounted on a circuit board.

[0043] The light source drive unit 1022 drives the light source 20 to generate light. Based on the drive, the light source drive unit 1022 causes the light source 20 to generate light and supply it to the display panel 11. Vehicle information 4 received via the communication unit 1014, or information from terminal devices, etc., is used to adjust or control the light source 20 using the light source drive unit 1022, which is the driver used to drive the light source.

[0044] Furthermore, the display device 1 may protect the display panel 11 based on ambient light information from the illuminance sensor 905 shown in Figure 2. That is, in order to prevent the display panel 11 from being burned out by sunlight, the display device 1 may perform an operation to protect the display panel 11 from sunlight according to the value of the illuminance sensor 905. More specifically, if the intensity of ambient light or sunlight acquired by the illuminance sensor 905 is strong and there is a risk of the display panel 11 being burned out, the brightness of the light source 20 is reduced, and the amount of light from the light source 20 incident on the display panel 11 is suppressed, thereby suppressing the temperature rise of the display panel 11.

[0045] Each component in Figure 3 may be implemented using a dedicated circuit such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) as appropriate. In this embodiment, the display device 1 has a configuration that includes a non-volatile memory 1011, a volatile memory 1012, a storage unit 1013, and a video processing unit 1016, but the above processing may be performed by a single memory.

[0046] Next, the video display unit 200 will be described in detail. The video display unit (video display unit) 200 projects video light from the light source 20 (in other words, light source light) onto the display panel 11 based on video data. The video display unit may also be called a projection-type video display device or a projector. The video display unit 200 comprises a light source 20 and a display panel 11 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) having video display elements.

[0047] The light source 20 functions as a backlight source for the display panel 11. The light source 20 is configured, for example, using a semiconductor light source element, and generates a predetermined light source and supplies it to the display panel 11. Typically, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element is used as the semiconductor light source element. The light source 20 may also be configured by arranging multiple light sources. The backlight section is configured using the light source 20, etc.

[0048] The display panel 11 generates and emits modulated video light based on the light source. In other words, the display panel 11 forms and displays an image on the display screen based on video data, and generates and emits video light corresponding to the image based on the light from the light source 20. The video data in this embodiment will be described as video data input from the video processing unit 1016. The display panel 11 forms an image to be projected onto the display area 5 by modulating the light from the light source 20 pixel by pixel according to the video data, and projects it as video light (in other words, projected light).

[0049] Furthermore, the display panel 11 is not limited to a liquid crystal panel; it may also be a screen plate with a diffusion function. The means for projecting an image onto the screen plate with a diffusion function may include a means of projecting an image from a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) or a liquid crystal panel in combination with a projection lens, or a means of using a micro electro-mechanical system.

[0050] Figures 4 and 5 show examples of configurations in which the display device 1 is projected onto a vehicle 2. Figure 4 shows an example of projecting the display device 1 onto a passenger car. Passenger cars include sports cars, sedans, SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles), and minivans, where the angle of the windshield 3 or windshield is 20° to 45° with respect to the Y-axis (the longitudinal direction or direction of travel of the vehicle 2). Figure 5 shows an example of projecting the display device 1 onto some passenger cars and commercial vehicles, in other words, the windshield 3 or windshield in Figure 5 is in the upright position. Specifically, these include light super-height wagons, trucks, and buses, where the angle of the windshield 3 or windshield is 45° to 90° with respect to the Y-axis (the longitudinal direction or direction of travel of the vehicle 2). As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the display device 1 is located on the dashboard 7 of the vehicle 2. The display device 1 may also be implemented so as to be embedded within the dashboard 7. The dashboard 7 also includes an instrument panel, for example, a meter cluster in front of the steering wheel.

[0051] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the image light 13 in Figure 4 is emitted toward the driver, and the image light 13 in Figure 5 is emitted toward the windshield 3. The image light 13 emitted from the display device 1 is reflected when it is irradiated onto the windshield 3 or the windshield. The reflected image light 13 is incident on the driver's viewpoint 14 as a projected image. Also, from the driver's viewpoint 14, a virtual image 10 corresponding to the image light 13 is formed in conjunction with the display device 1, i.e., a virtual image display device, at a position visible through the display area 5 (Figure 1) of the display device 1 corresponding to the irradiation area of ​​the image light 13, and the virtual image 10 can be seen. In this embodiment, the projection of image light onto the display area 5 of the windshield 3 is described, but the projection unit that turns the image light into a projected image may be other projection members besides the windshield 3.

[0052] Figure 6 shows the video display unit 200 of the display device 1. The light source unit 12 may also be called the backlight unit. The light source unit 12 includes a light source 20, a reflective mirror 21, a polarization conversion element 22, and a light guide unit 23, and may also include a diffuser plate 24. The reflective mirror 21 is used to reflect light from the light source 20 and adjust it to parallel light. The reflective surface of the reflective mirror 21 is a parabolic surface and may be asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source 20. The reflective mirror 21 may also be positioned eccentrically with respect to the light source 20. The reflective mirror 21 may also be called a reflector.

[0053] The polarization conversion element 22 is composed of a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) and a phase difference film (1 / 2λ). The polarization conversion element 22 separates incident light into S-polarized and P-polarized light, and then polarizes either the separated S-polarized or P-polarized light using the phase difference film (1 / 2λ) to emit the randomly polarized light incident on the polarization conversion element 22 as linearly polarized light.

[0054] The light guide section 23 may also be called an optical transmission section. The light guide section 23 is configured to adjust the angle of incidence of light rays to the display panel 11, and in this example, it is configured using an optical reflecting section 23a having a prism shape (a jagged shape). The light guide section 23 may also be a prism sheet as an example. In this example, the light rays incident on the optical reflecting section 23a of the light guide section 23 are adjusted to a predetermined light distribution and reflected toward the display panel 11. The distribution of light incident on the display panel 11 can be adjusted by the shape of the reflective surface of the optical reflecting section 23a, the inclination of the reflective surface, the surface roughness, etc. In this structure, the optical axis of the light source 20 and the optical axis of the light incident on the display panel 11 are parallel or approximately parallel.

[0055] The light guide 23 is, for example, a resin member having a prism shape, and the light-reflecting portion 23a of the prism-shaped part that becomes the reflective surface is coated with an Al reflective film or the like. The light-reflecting portion 23a of the light guide 23 may be configured to have multiple inclinations on one surface in order to achieve more precise adjustment of reflected light. The reflective surface may also be composed of multiple or multifaceted surfaces, or it may be composed of a curved surface. When a large number of reflective surfaces and connecting surfaces are formed alternately in a sawtooth pattern on the light-reflecting portion 23a, the light incident on the light guide 23 is reflected on each reflective surface and directed toward the display panel 11, and further adjusted to a predetermined light distribution characteristic via the diffuser plate 24 before incident on the display panel 11. The diffuser plate 24 uniformly disperses the incident light from the light guide 23. The diffuser plate 24 has the effect of improving the brightness uniformity within the virtual image plane.

[0056] Furthermore, the video display unit 200 may have a configuration other than that shown in Figure 6, and may, for example, include a light source, an illumination optical system, a PBS or polarization separation element, and a reflective liquid crystal panel or LCOS.

[0057] Figure 7 shows an example of a configuration in which the display device 1 is mounted on a vehicle 2. Figure 7 shows the display device 1 mounted on a vehicle 2 similar to that in Figures 4 and 5. In this configuration, sunlight 15 is reflected in the same direction as the image light 13 from the display device 1, reflected by the windshield 3, etc., and incident on the driver's line of sight 14. As a result, the driver's visibility of the projected image (including virtual images) emitted from the display device 1 may be impaired by external light such as sunlight 15.

[0058] Figure 8A is a top view of the display device 1 in Figure 7. The display device 1 in Figure 8A has an opening on the top surface of the case (housing) of the display device 1, on the side facing the windshield 3 in Figure 7, that allows projected images from the display panel 11 to pass through towards the center. That is, when viewed from the top surface of the display device 1, the image display surface of the display panel 11 is visible, and at least a part of it, including the area around the image display surface of the display panel 11, is covered by the case.

[0059] Figure 8B is a cross-sectional view of the display device 1, and is a cross-sectional view of the display device 1 along the dashed line (AA) in Figure 8A. This is also a cross-sectional view of the vehicle 2 in the front-rear direction in Figure 7. The display device 1 is constructed by overlapping a bottom case 101 as a first case and an upper case 102 as a second case to form a case that covers and houses components such as the light source unit 12, the light guide unit 23, and the display panel 11.

[0060] The bottom case 101 includes a light source unit 12 on the inside, which has a light source, a reflective mirror, and a polarization conversion element as a backlight unit, and a light guide unit 23 as a prism mirror that guides the light emitted from the light source unit 12. The light rays incident on the light guide unit 23 are adjusted to a predetermined light distribution and reflected toward the display panel 11. The light source unit 12 may also include the light guide unit 23. Furthermore, the bottom case 101 includes a bottom substrate 111 on the inside, which serves as a first substrate.

[0061] The upper case 102 includes a display panel 11 on its interior, which has a video display surface in the opening of the upper case 102. Furthermore, the upper case 102 includes an upper substrate 112 on its interior, which serves as a second substrate. The upper substrate 112 includes a wireless communication unit 1015 as a communication interface. The upper substrate 112 may also include an interface for receiving GPS signals and VICS signals.

[0062] The light emitted from the light source unit 12 is reflected by the light guide unit 23 and emitted from the display device 1 as a projected image (including a virtual image) through the display panel 11.

[0063] As shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 7, sunlight 15 is directed towards the display device 1 and reflected off the surface of the display device 1's case. To reduce this reflection of sunlight 15, the case of the display device 1 in Figure 8 is made of a black resin material. The surface of the display device 1's case may also not be glossy, or it may have a textured surface with wrinkles or other patterns, or a textured surface with fine fibers such as felt. Furthermore, the case of the display device 1 may be made of metal and have a textured surface with black paint, preferably a matte black paint finish.

[0064] Furthermore, the material and shape of the case of the display device 1 only need to be such that it is at least the case surface that is exposed to sunlight or the case surface that is incident on the driver's line of sight 14. For example, the upper surface of the upper case 102, which is the case of the display device 1, on the side of the windshield 3 that is directly exposed to sunlight should be treated to reduce the reflection of sunlight 15.

[0065] In this way, the display device 1 can suppress the deterioration of visibility of the projected image (including virtual images) from the display panel 11 of the display device 1 due to external light such as sunlight 15. Furthermore, the vehicle 2 equipped with the display device 1 can contribute to safe driving.

[0066] Figure 9 shows the case of the display device 1. The upper case 102 has a downward-facing flange portion 170 at the outer edge of the upper surface, i.e., the end, where the flat surface of the case side extends downward. The upper case 102 also has a concave screw hole for fixing a metal screw 150 in a flat surface portion 171 that is offset upward from the lower end of the downward-facing flange portion 170, located inside the downward-facing flange portion 170.

[0067] Furthermore, the flat edge of the circumferential surface of the bottom case 101 is provided with a bottom flange portion 172 that is smaller than the downward flange portion 170 of the upper case 102. The bottom flange portion 172 faces the surface portion 171 of the upper case 102 and has holes that face the screw holes of the surface portion 171, through which screws 150 can pass. The bottom case 101 also includes a bottom substrate 111 that is screw-fixed inside the case. The bottom substrate 111 has a connector 160 on its end side.

[0068] The bottom case 101 of the display device 1 is superimposed on the upper case 102, and the screws 150 on both sides are fixed in an upward insertion direction from below. At this time, the lower end of the head of the screw 150 is above the lower end of the downward flange 170, and the screw 150 is covered by the upper case 102, thus avoiding reflection of the screw 150 from sunlight. In other words, the downward flange 170 of the upper case 102 extends downward in the same direction as the axial direction of the screw 150, and even further downward than the lower end of the head of the screw 150, so it covers the entire screw 150, including the head, from above and the side. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the reflection of external light such as sunlight 15 towards the windshield 3 by the screw 150. Furthermore, even if external light such as sunlight reflected from the surface of the dashboard 7 hits the head of the screw 150, causing a secondary reflection, this secondary reflection can be reduced. The screw 150 is a metal screw that firmly secures the case and may be painted black or otherwise. This reduces the possibility of the case of the display device 1 coming loose due to vibration or the like. Therefore, if the display device 1 of Figure 9 is placed on the vehicle of Figure 7, the screw 150 will not be reflected on the windshield 3 by external light such as sunlight 15, and the deterioration of the visibility of the projected image (including virtual images) from the display panel 11 of the display device 1 can be suppressed.

[0069] Figure 10 is another diagram showing the case of the display device 1. The upper case 102 has a lateral flange portion 180 that extends horizontally outward from the outer edge of the upper surface, i.e., the end. The upper case 102 also has a screw hole through which a metal screw 150 passes in a flat surface portion 173 located below the lateral flange portion 180, which is horizontally offset from the side edge of the lateral flange portion 180.

[0070] Furthermore, the bottom case 101 is equipped with a smaller bottom flange portion 172 than the lateral flange portion 180 of the upper case 102. The bottom flange portion 172 faces the flat surface portion 173 of the upper case 102 and has a concave screw hole that faces the hole in the surface portion 173, allowing the screw 150 to be fastened. The bottom case 101 of the display device 1 is superimposed on the upper case 102, and the screws 150 on both sides are fixed by inserting them from the side of the surface portion 173.

[0071] In this configuration, the rear end of the screw head 150 is located inward from the side edge of the lateral flange 180, and the screw 150 is covered by the upper case 102, thus avoiding reflection of sunlight off the screw 150. In other words, the lateral flange 180 of the upper case 102 extends laterally in the same direction as the axial direction of the screw 150, extending further outward than the screw head, thus covering the entire screw 150, including the head, from above. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the reflection of external light, such as sunlight 15, from the screw 150 towards the windshield 3. Furthermore, since the lateral flange 180 is shaped to cover the screw head from below, even if external light, such as sunlight, reflected from the surface of the dashboard 7 hits the screw head, causing secondary reflection, this secondary reflection can be reduced.

[0072] Therefore, if the display device 1 of Figure 10 is placed on the vehicle of Figure 7, the screws 150 will not be reflected on the windshield 3 due to reflections from external light such as sunlight 15, and deterioration of the visibility of the projected image (including virtual images) from the display panel 11 of the display device 1 can be suppressed.

[0073] Figure 11 shows the display device 1 mounted on the vehicle 2. The display device 1 has an upper case 102 with a downward-facing flange portion 170 and a side-facing flange portion 180. The display device 1 is installed on the dashboard 7 of the vehicle 2 via a mounting part 190. The bottom case 101 of the display device 1 has screw holes on the lower side. The mounting part 190 is fixed to the dashboard 7 and is a U-shaped concave member that joins the display device 1 and the dashboard 7. The side of the mounting part 190 has holes.

[0074] The screw holes in the bottom case 101 and the holes on the side of the mounting part 190 are aligned and fixed together with screws 155. The mounting part 190 is a metal part that firmly secures the case and may be coated with a black matte finish or the like.

[0075] At this time, the screw 155 is covered by the upper case 102, thus preventing reflection of sunlight off the screw 155.

[0076] Therefore, if the display device 1 is mounted on the vehicle 2 in Figure 7 via the mounting component 190 as shown in Figure 11, the screws 155 will not be reflected on the windshield 3 due to reflections from external light such as sunlight 15, and deterioration of the visibility of the projected image (including virtual images) from the display panel 11 of the display device 1 can be suppressed.

[0077] Furthermore, by making the holes in the mounting part 190 elongated, the display device 1 can be movably adjusted to an appropriate angular position relative to the dashboard 7. In addition, there is a gap d between the lower side of the display device 1 in Figure 11 and the mounted mounting part 190 or dashboard 7. This makes it easier for the display device 1 to dissipate heat generated from the bottom substrate 111, which is fixed to the lower surface inside the bottom case 101, to the outside of the display device 1.

[0078] Figure 12 shows the display device 1 of Figure 11 connected to a wired connection terminal with a cable. The bottom case 101 includes a bottom board 111 that is screw-fixed inside the case. The bottom board 111 has a connector 160 on its end side that penetrates the side of the bottom case 101 and is exposed on the case surface or visible from the side. The connector 160 connects to a wired connection terminal 161 such as a plug with a cable on the outside of the bottom case. The connector 160 is an HDMI®, USB, power connector for power supply, etc.

[0079] In this configuration, the connector 160 and wired connection terminal 161 are covered by the upper case 102. Therefore, the extended portions of the downward-facing flange 170 and the sideways-facing flange 180 on the upper case 102 are of a length that avoids reflection of sunlight off the connector 160 and wired connection terminal.

[0080] Therefore, by placing the display device 1 of Figure 12 on the vehicle 2 of Figure 7 and connecting the wired connection terminal 161, the display device 1 will not have the wired connection terminal or other parts reflected on the windshield 3 due to reflections from external light such as sunlight 15, thereby preventing deterioration in the visibility of the projected image (including virtual images) from the display panel 11 of the display device 1.

[0081] Figure 13A is a diagram illustrating the cover of the upper case 102 of the display device 1. Figure 13A is a view from direction X toward direction Y. Figure 13B is another diagram illustrating the cover of the upper case 102 of the display device 1. It is a view from direction Y toward direction X.

[0082] In Figure 13A, plane A is a virtual plane perpendicular to the image light 13, which is the principal ray of the light emitted from the display panel 11 of the display device 1. The screw projection line 151 is the projection line of the screw 150 onto plane A in the same direction as the image light 13. The screw projection position 152 is the projection position of the screw projection line 151 onto plane A. This screw projection line 151 is a virtual reflected light from sunlight reflected off the screw.

[0083] Furthermore, the end projection lines 181a and 181b are projection lines of the ends of the lateral flange portion 180 of the upper case 102 in the same direction as the image light 13 onto plane A. The end projection positions 182a and 182b are the projection positions of the end projection lines 181a and 181b onto plane A. The projection range ud is the projection range of the outer circumference of the upper case 102 between the end projection position 182a and the end projection position 182b.

[0084] Here, the screw projection position 152 on plane A of the screw projection line 151 is covered by the upper case 102 as a cover, by including the projection range of the outer circumference of the upper case 102 within the projection range of projection range ud.

[0085] In Figures 13A and 13B, the projection area bd on the outer periphery of the bottom case 101 is included within the projection area ud, so the bottom case 101 is covered by the upper case 102.

[0086] In this way, the screws 150 attached to the upper case 102 or the bottom case 101 are covered by the upper case 102. Furthermore, it is preferable that the upper case 102 covers the bottom case 101, and even glossy components such as the mounting parts 190 and screws 155 and wired connection terminals 161 that connect to the bottom case 101. That is, with respect to a plane A perpendicular to the principal rays of the video light emitted from the display panel 11, the positions of all screws that fix the upper case 102 and the bottom case 101 projected in a direction parallel to the principal rays are included in the area projected from the outer circumference of the upper case 102 to plane A in a direction parallel to the principal rays. It is desirable that this applies not only to the screws 155, but also to glossy components such as the mounting parts 190 and wired connection terminals 161.

[0087] The technology according to this embodiment can display good projected images (including virtual images). The technology according to this embodiment can prevent traffic accidents by providing a vehicle equipped with a display device (head-up display device) that displays information that reduces the driver's eye movement and contributes to supporting safe driving. In this way, the technology according to this embodiment contributes to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) "3. Good Health and Well-being." [Explanation of Symbols]

[0088] 1:Display device, 2: Vehicles, 3: Windshield, 5:Display area, 7: Dashboard, 10: Illusion, 11: Display panel, 12: Light source section, 13: Video light, 14: Perspective, 15: Sunlight, 101: Bottom case, 102: Upper case, 111: Bottom board, 112: Upper circuit board, 150, 155: Screws, 160: Connector, 161: Wired connection terminal, 170: Downward-facing brim, 171, 173: Surface area, 172: Bottom brim area, 180: Side brim section, 190: Mounting parts, 200: Video display unit.

Claims

1. A display device, Light source and The system includes a display panel that generates video light for creating a virtual image for the driver to see, based on the light emitted from the aforementioned light source, The display device has a case that covers at least a part of the display device, including the area around the video display surface of the display panel. The case is a display device having a surface made of a black resin or black painted material.

2. In the display device according to claim 1, A display device wherein the surface of the case has a textured or fuzzy surface.

3. In the display device according to claim 1, The surface of the case is the top surface of the case, in the display device.

4. In the display device according to claim 1, The case comprises an upper case and a bottom case, and the upper case and the bottom case are fixed together with screws. The screw is covered by the upper case, which is a display device.

5. In the display device according to claim 4, The upper case is provided with a downward-facing flange portion at its end, where the side of the case extends downward, and the bottom case is provided with a bottom flange portion that is smaller than the downward-facing flange portion. A display device comprising a bottom case superimposed on the upper case and fixed from below to above the bottom flange portion with screws.

6. In the display device according to claim 5, A display device in which the lower end of the screw head is above the lower end of the downward-facing flange.

7. In the display device according to claim 4, The upper case comprises a lateral flange portion at its end, the upper surface of the case extending horizontally outward, and a surface portion below the lateral flange portion, which is horizontally offset from the side edge of the lateral flange portion. The bottom case is provided with a bottom flange portion that is smaller than the horizontal flange portion. A display device comprising a bottom case superimposed on the upper case and secured from the side of the surface with screws.

8. In the display device according to claim 7 A display device wherein the rear end of the screw head is located inward from the side end of the lateral flange portion.

9. In the display device according to claim 1, The aforementioned case comprises an upper case and a bottom case, The aforementioned case and the mounting parts that are fixed to the dashboard are secured with screws. The screw is covered by the upper case, which is a display device.

10. In the display device according to claim 1, The aforementioned case comprises an upper case and a bottom case, The bottom case is provided with a connector that penetrates the side of the bottom case and is exposed on the case surface or visible from the side. The connector is connected to the wired connection terminal on the outside of the bottom case. A display device in which the connector and the wired connection terminal are covered by the upper case.

11. A display device according to claim 4, A display device in which, with respect to a plane perpendicular to the principal ray of the image light emitted from the display panel, the positions of all the screws fixing the upper case and the bottom case, projected in a direction parallel to the principal ray, are included within the range obtained by projecting the outer circumference of the upper case onto the plane in a direction parallel to the principal ray.

12. A vehicle comprising a display device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and a windshield that reflects the image light of the display device and emits it toward the driver.

Images