Vehicle display device and display light conversion device used in the same device

Abstract

To provide a vehicle display device and a display light conversion device used in the same device that ensure the visibility of the displayed image when wearing polarized sunglasses, with only an increased cost for users of polarized sunglasses. [Solution] The vehicle display device (20) comprises a display unit (21) that emits display light L, whose main component is S-polarized light, toward a ceramic forming part (13) formed on the windshield (12), and a display light conversion device (30) having a phase difference plate (31) that converts the display light L reflected by the ceramic forming part (13) of the windshield (12) into light whose main component is circularly polarized or P-polarized light. The display light conversion device (30) is provided on the driver side of the ceramic forming part (13) so that the driver using polarized sunglasses (S) can see the virtual image V through the phase difference plate (31).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved vehicular display device and a display light conversion device for use in the same. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] At the peripheral edge of a vehicle windshield, a ceramic formation portion (so-called black ceramic portion) where black ceramic is baked and printed is provided. Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicular display device that utilizes the black ceramic portion as a background by reflecting display light for displaying an image toward the lower edge of the black ceramic portion.

[0003] The instrument panel of the vehicular display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a recessed portion in which a part of the upper surface is recessed, a hood portion covering above the recessed portion, and an opening formed on the far side of the region surrounded by the recessed portion and the hood portion.

[0004] The ceramic formation portion has an exposed portion exposed from the opening so that a driver can visually recognize it. The exposed portion is surrounded by the recessed portion and the hood portion. By reflecting the display light toward this exposed portion, an image with high visibility can be obtained. PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0005] PATENT DOCUMENT 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-308090 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0006] By the way, when a liquid crystal display such as a TFT is used for a display unit, display light is emitted as linearly polarized light. When a driver wears polarized sunglasses, the image formed by the display light whose main component is S-polarized light becomes difficult to see due to the polarized sunglasses.

[0007] If the main component of the display light is P-polarized, it will be necessary to address the decrease in reflectivity of the windshield. Improvements such as increasing the brightness of the emitted display light or adding a reflective film to the windshield would impose costs on drivers who do not use polarized sunglasses, so there is room for improvement.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a vehicle display device and a display light conversion device used in the same device that can ensure the visibility of the displayed image when wearing polarized sunglasses, with only the user of polarized sunglasses incurring increased costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] This disclosure provides a display device that emits display light whose main component is S-polarized light toward a ceramic forming portion formed in a windshield, causing a virtual image to be visible in front of the ceramic forming portion, The display light conversion device includes a phase difference plate that converts the display light reflected from the ceramic forming portion of the windshield into display light having circular polarization or P polarization as its main component, The aforementioned display light conversion device is To enable drivers using polarized sunglasses to see a virtual image through the phase difference plate, A vehicle display device is provided, which is located on the driver's side of the ceramic forming section.

[0010] Used in conjunction with a vehicle display device, which emits display light whose main component is S-polarized light toward a ceramic forming section formed on a windshield, and has a display device that makes a virtual image visible in front of the ceramic forming section. A display light conversion device having a phase difference plate that converts the display light reflected from the ceramic forming portion of the windshield into display light having circularly polarized or P-polarized light as its main component, A display light conversion device is provided, which is located on the driver side of the ceramic forming portion, so that a driver using polarized sunglasses can see the virtual image through the phase difference plate.

[0011] Preferably, the lower end of the phase difference plate is supported when the driver is using the polarized sunglasses. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The present invention provides a vehicle display device and a display light conversion device used in the same device that can ensure the visibility of the displayed image when wearing polarized sunglasses, with only an increased cost for the user of polarized sunglasses. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle display device according to Example 1. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle display device according to Example 2. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle display device according to Example 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Examples will be described based on the attached figures. Note that the examples described herein are not intended to particularly limit the present invention. Furthermore, the elements constituting each example can be combined as appropriate. Also, the same reference numerals are used for members and parts that perform the same function, and redundant explanations are omitted or simplified as appropriate. In the figures, Fr indicates front, Rr indicates rear, Up indicates top, and Dn indicates bottom.

[0015] <Example 1> Refer to Figure 1. A vehicle 10 (for example, a four-wheeled vehicle) equipped with the vehicle display device 20 according to Embodiment 1 is shown. The vehicle 10 includes an instrument panel 11 located at the front of the passenger compartment and a windshield 12.

[0016] (Ceramic forming part) The windshield 12 has a ceramic-formed portion 13 (black ceramic portion) with a matte black ceramic print formed on its periphery. Note that the ceramic forming portion 13 may be provided on the inner surface (the surface on the vehicle compartment side) of the windshield 12, or may be provided on the outer surface of the windshield 12. Further, when the windshield 12 is configured by stacking a plurality of glass sheets, the ceramic forming portion 13 may be provided inside the windshield 12.

[0017] (Vehicle Display Device) The vehicle display device 20 includes a display 21 that emits display light L for displaying an image toward the ceramic forming portion 13, and a display light conversion device 30 that converts the display light L reflected by the ceramic forming portion 13.

[0018] (Display) The display 21 is built into the instrument panel 11. The main component of the display light L is set to S-polarized light (S-wave). Specifically, for example, a TFT-LCD (liquid crystal display) is adopted as the display 21. The TFT-LCD has a pair of polarizing plates (not shown) sandwiching a liquid crystal cell (not shown). The orientation of the polarizing plates is set so that the polarization direction of linearly polarized light is perpendicular to the incident surface, that is, to emit S-polarized light.

[0019] (Retardation Plate) The display light conversion device 30 includes a quarter-wave plate 31 (retardation plate) that converts the display light L reflected by the ceramic forming portion 13 into display light L whose main component is circularly polarized light (the rotation direction is not limited). The shape and size of the quarter-wave plate 31 are appropriately changed according to the image displayed by the display light L. For example, it has a rectangular plate shape whose longitudinal direction is the vehicle width direction.

[0020] Note that when there is a plurality of pieces of information displayed by the display light L, the size and arrangement of the quarter-wave plate 31 may be adjusted according to the priority of the information, so that only high-priority information can be viewed through the quarter-wave plate 31 and low-priority information can be directly viewed. For example, when displaying a speed and a clock, only the speed may be made visible through the quarter-wave plate 31.

[0021] (Display light conversion device) The display light conversion device 30 is positioned on the driver's side of the ceramic forming section 13 (between the ceramic forming section 13 and the eye point) so that the driver wearing polarized sunglasses S can see the virtual image V through the quarter-wave plate 31.

[0022] An example of the display light conversion device 30 is described below. The lower end portion 31a of the quarter-wave plate 31 is supported by a support member 33 via a hinge mechanism 32. This makes the quarter-wave plate 31 foldable. For example, by using a torque hinge as the hinge mechanism 32, the upright position of the quarter-wave plate 31 can be maintained when using polarized sunglasses S. When polarized sunglasses S are not in use, the quarter-wave plate 31 is folded and stored in the support member 33.

[0023] The support member 33 is fixed to the upper surface 11a of the instrument panel 11. As a method of fixing, for example, an adhesive gel pad 34 or a removable double-sided tape 34 is provided on the support member 33.

[0024] <Example 2> Refer to Figure 2. The display light conversion device 40 of the vehicle display device 20A includes a half-wave plate 41 (phase difference plate) that converts the display light L reflected by the ceramic forming part 13 into display light L in which P polarization is the main component.

[0025] The lower end portion 41a of the half-wave plate 41 is fitted into and supported by a groove 16 formed in the upper surface 15a of the instrument panel 15. The half-wave plate 41 is detachable so that it can be fitted into the groove 16 when using the polarized sunglasses S and removed when not using the polarized sunglasses S.

[0026] <Example 3> Refer to Figure 3. The display light conversion device 80 of the vehicle display device 20B is equipped with a quarter-wave plate 81 (phase difference plate). The support configuration of the quarter-wave plate 31 will be described below.

[0027] The instrument panel 50 of the vehicle 10 on which the vehicle display device 20B is installed has an opening 51 through which the display light L reflected from the ceramic molded portion 13 can pass. The opening 51 is covered by a cover member 60. The cover member 60 is, for example, a glass plate that allows the display light L reflected from the ceramic molded portion 13 to pass through.

[0028] The instrument panel 50 has an inclined portion 52 that extends upward from the edge of the upper surface 50a to the edge 53 of the opening 51. The lower end portion 60a of the cover member 60 overlaps with the inclined portion 52.

[0029] The lower end portion 60a of the cover member 60 is fixed by a fixing member 70 so as not to separate from the inclined portion 52. The fixing member 70 is bent and has a clamping portion 71 that sandwiches the lower end portion together with the inclined portion 52, and a fixing portion 72 that extends from the lower end of the clamping portion 71 toward the driver side (rear) and is attached to and fixed to the upper surface 50a of the instrument panel 50.

[0030] The incident surface 82 of the quarter-wave plate 81 is supported by being superimposed on the cover member 60. The incident surface 82 may also be attached to the cover member 60. The lower end 81a of the quarter-wave plate 81 is supported by the upper end surface 71a of the clamping portion 71. When the polarized sunglasses S are not used, the quarter-wave plate 81 is removed from the cover member 60.

[0031] To prevent the quarter-wave plate 81 from coming off the cover member 60, the upper end surface 71a of the clamping portion 71 has an extended portion 73 that extends upward from its edge.

[0032] (Effects of Examples 1-3) Refer to Figures 1 to 3. Firstly, A display unit 21 emits display light L, whose main component is S-polarized, toward the ceramic forming section 13 formed on the windshield 12, and makes a virtual image V visible in front of the ceramic forming section 13. The windshield 12 includes a display light conversion device 30, 40, 80 having phase difference plates 31, 41, 81 that convert the display light L reflected from the ceramic forming part 13 of the windshield 12 into display light in which circularly polarized or P-polarized light is the main component, The display light conversion devices 30, 40, and 80 are, To enable a driver using polarized sunglasses S to see a virtual image V through phase difference plates 31, 41, and 81, Vehicle display devices 20, 20A, and 20B are provided, which are located on the driver side of the ceramic forming section 13.

[0033] In other words, the vehicle display devices 20, 20A, and 20B consist of a display unit 21 that emits S-polarized light, which has a higher reflectivity than P-polarized light, and display light conversion devices 30, 40, and 80, which are separate from the display unit 21. If the driver uses polarized sunglasses S, the display light conversion devices 30, 40, and 80 can be provided as an additional component. This ensures the visibility of the image when using polarized sunglasses S with only an additional cost increase for the user of polarized sunglasses S.

[0034] Secondly, in the first vehicle display devices 20, 20A, and 20B, The lower ends 31a, 41a, and 81a of the phase difference plates 31, 41, and 81 are configured to be supported when the driver uses polarized sunglasses S. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the phase difference plates 31, 41, and 81 can be positioned closer to the driver than the ceramic forming section 13. Although not shown, other embodiments are also acceptable, as long as the lower ends of the phase difference plates are directly or indirectly supported by the instrument panel.

[0035] Thirdly, Used in conjunction with vehicle display devices 20, 20A, and 20B, which are equipped with a display unit 21 that emits display light L, whose main component is S-polarized, toward a ceramic forming section 13 formed on the windshield 12, and makes a virtual image V visible in front of the ceramic forming section 13. A display light conversion device 30, 40, 80 having phase difference plates 31, 41, 81 that convert the display light L reflected from the ceramic forming part 13 of the windshield 12 into light in which circularly polarized or P-polarized light is the main component, Display light conversion devices 30, 40, and 80 are provided, which are located on the driver side of the ceramic forming section 13, so that a driver using polarized sunglasses S can see the virtual image V through the phase difference plates 31, 41, and 81.

[0036] The display light conversion devices 30, 40, and 80 are separate components from the display unit 21. If the driver uses polarized sunglasses S, the display light conversion devices 30, 40, and 80 can be provided as an additional component. This ensures the visibility of the image when using polarized sunglasses S, with only the user of the polarized sunglasses S incurring additional costs.

[0037] Fourth, in the third display light conversion devices 30, 40, and 80, The lower ends 31a, 41a, and 81a of the phase difference plates 31, 41, and 81 are configured to be supported when the driver uses polarized sunglasses S. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the phase difference plates 31, 41, and 81 can be positioned closer to the driver than the ceramic forming section 13. Although not shown, other embodiments are also acceptable, as long as the lower ends of the phase difference plates are directly or indirectly supported by the instrument panel. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 11, 15… Instrument panel 12…Windshield 13…Ceramic forming section 20, 20A, 20B… Vehicle display devices 21...Indicator 30…Display light conversion device 31...1 / 4 wavelength plate (retardation plate), 31a...bottom end 40…Display light conversion device 41...1 / 2 wavelength plate (retardation plate), 41a...bottom end 80…Display light conversion device 81…1 / 4 wavelength plate (phase difference plate), 81a…lower end

Claims

1. A display device that emits display light whose main component is S-polarized light toward a ceramic forming section formed in a windshield, and makes a virtual image visible in front of the ceramic forming section, The display light conversion device includes a phase difference plate that converts the display light reflected from the ceramic forming portion of the windshield into display light having circularly polarized or P-polarized light as its main component, The aforementioned display light conversion device is To enable drivers using polarized sunglasses to see a virtual image through the phase difference plate, A vehicle display device provided on the driver's side of the ceramic forming section.

2. The lower end of the phase difference plate is supported when the driver uses the polarized sunglasses. The vehicle display device according to claim 1.

3. Used in conjunction with a vehicle display device, which emits display light whose main component is S-polarized light toward a ceramic forming section formed on a windshield, and has a display device that makes a virtual image visible in front of the ceramic forming section. A display light conversion device having a phase difference plate that converts the display light reflected from the ceramic forming portion of the windshield into display light having circularly polarized or P-polarized light as its main component, A display light conversion device provided on the driver side of the ceramic forming section so that a driver using polarized sunglasses can see the virtual image through the phase difference plate.

4. The lower end of the phase difference plate is supported when the driver uses the polarized sunglasses. The display light conversion device according to claim 3.

Images