Head-up display device

Abstract

The present invention provides a head-up display (HUD) device that can absorb shock favorably. The HUD device according to the present invention comprises a housing that houses a display that radiates display light expressing an image, and a connecting part 50, and is provided inside the dashboard of a vehicle. The housing includes a lower case 31 and a middle case 32. The connecting part 50 connects the lower case 31 and the middle 32, and is less rigid than the lower case 31 and the middle case 32. The connecting part 50 is provided with a first portion 51 secured to the lower case 31, a second portion 52 secured to the middle case 32, and a fragile part 53 that is more fragile than the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. The fragile part 53 is positioned between the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. The HUD device also comprises a first securing part 61 that secures the first portion 51 to the lower case 31 and a second securing part 62 that secures the second portion 52 to the middle case 32.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a head-up display device. [Background technology]

[0002] A head-up display (HUD) device is known that is provided in the dashboard of a vehicle, emits display light representing an image on the windshield, and displays a virtual image of the image. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a HUD device in which a material with relatively high rigidity, such as metal, is used for the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-103008 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The dashboard is designed to break appropriately to absorb the impact when the vehicle receives an excessive impact in order to ensure the safety of the vehicle occupants and pedestrians. For the same reason, it is desirable for the HUD device installed in the dashboard to be able to absorb the impact when it receives an excessive impact. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, when a material with a relatively high rigidity is used for the housing of the HUD device, the demand for shock absorption increases for the above reason.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and has an object to provide a head-up display device that can effectively absorb impacts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a head-up display device according to the present disclosure includes: a housing having a first case and a second case and housing a display unit that emits display light to display an image; a connecting portion that connects the first case and the second case and has a lower rigidity than the first case and the second case, The connecting portion is a first portion fixed to the first case; a second portion fixed to the second case; Located between the first portion and the second portion, Due to the connection itself a weak portion weaker than the first portion and the second portion, It is installed in the dashboard of the vehicle. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, impact can be absorbed well. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a head-up display (HUD) device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of a connecting portion between the lower case and the middle case according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lower case, the middle case, and the connecting portion according to the embodiment taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a lower case, a middle case, a connecting portion, and the like according to the above embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a connecting portion according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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

[0010] A head-up display (HUD) device 100 according to this embodiment is provided in a dashboard (also called an instrument panel) of a vehicle, and emits display light 2 representing an image onto a windshield 1, and displays a virtual image of the image, as shown in Fig. 1. The virtual image is displayed in front of the vehicle through the windshield 1.

[0011] In the following, each configuration may be described using the left-right, up-down, and front-rear directions of the vehicle. In appropriate drawings, an X-axis along the left-right direction, a Y-axis along the up-down direction, and a Z-axis along the front-rear direction are shown.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the HUD device 100 includes a display unit 10, a first mirror 21, a second mirror 22, a housing 30, a control board 40, and a connecting unit 50.

[0013] The display unit 10 displays an image and emits display light 2 representing the image toward the first mirror 21. The display unit 10 has, for example, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and a backlight that illuminates the LCD from behind. The LCD is, for example, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) type. The backlight is, for example, composed of an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a light guide member, etc.

[0014] The first mirror 21 reflects the display light 2 from the display unit 10 toward the second mirror 22. The first mirror 21 is, for example, a concave mirror.

[0015] The second mirror 22 reflects the display light 2 from the first mirror 21 toward the windshield 1 located outside the HUD device 100. The second mirror 22 is, for example, a concave mirror. The second mirror 22 is driven to rotate about a rotation axis 22a by a drive mechanism (not shown).

[0016] The housing 30 includes a lower case 31 , a middle case 32 , and an upper case 33 .

[0017] The lower case 31 is box-shaped and opens upward, and is made of, for example, metal. The lower case 31 supports the display unit 10 via a support member 10a provided on the bottom surface of the lower case 31. The lower case 31 covers the middle case 32 from below, and houses the display unit 10 and a control board 40 therein. The lower case 31 is connected to the middle case 32 by a connecting portion 50.

[0018] The middle case 32 is box-shaped and opens upward, and is made of, for example, metal. The middle case 32 houses the second mirror 22 and a drive mechanism (not shown) inside. An opening H1 is formed at the rear bottom of the middle case 32, through which the display light 2 traveling from the display unit 10 to the first mirror 21 passes.

[0019] The upper case 33 is formed of a light-shielding resin or metal, and covers the middle case 32 from above. The upper case 33 has an opening H2 and a shielding wall 33a, and is formed in a frame shape. The opening H2 passes the display light 2 directed from the second mirror 22 to the windshield 1. The shielding wall 33a prevents external light such as sunlight from entering the housing 30. The upper case 33 is provided with a cover glass (not shown) that closes the opening H2. The upper case 33 supports, for example, the first mirror 21. The upper case 33 is fixed to the middle case 32 by known fixing means such as a screw S.

[0020] The control board 40 is a printed circuit board equipped with a microcomputer that controls the overall operation of the HUD device 100. The control board 40 controls the display position of the virtual image in the vertical direction by controlling a drive mechanism (not shown) and rotating the second mirror 22. The control board 40 also communicates with systems such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls each part of the vehicle, and causes the display unit 10 to display an image showing information related to the vehicle.

[0021] The connecting portion 50 shown in FIG. 1 connects the lower case 31, which is an example of the first case, and the middle case 32, which is an example of the second case, at a plurality of locations including the front and rear portions. Of these locations, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing connecting portions located at the front portions of the lower case 31 and the middle case 32. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the front portions of the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 are connected by three connecting portions 50. Since the configurations of the respective connecting portions 50 are the same, the following description will be given of the configuration related to an arbitrary connecting portion 50, and the description of the configuration related to the other connecting portions 50 will be omitted. Although not shown, the rear portions of the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 are connected by one or more connecting portions 50.

[0022] The connecting portion 50 is formed from a member having lower rigidity than the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 which are formed from metal, for example, from resin. As shown in Fig. 3, the connecting portion 50 includes a first portion 51, a second portion 52, and a fragile portion 53. The HUD device 100 also includes a first fixing portion 61, a second fixing portion 62, and a pair of sub-fixing portions 63. For example, the first fixing portion 61, the second fixing portion 62, and the sub-fixing portion 63 are each formed from the same screw.

[0023] 3, the first portion 51 has a cylindrical portion 511 formed along the axis AX, and a pair of cup portions 512, 513 adjacent to the cylindrical portion 511. Meanwhile, the lower case 31 has a fixed portion 310 to which the first portion 51 is fixed. The fixed portion 310 has a recess 311 into which the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 511 is inserted, and a pair of bosses 312, 313 corresponding to the pair of cup portions 512, 513.

[0024] The tube portion 511 of the first portion 51 is a cylindrical portion formed along the axis AX parallel to the Y-axis. The lower end of the tube portion 511 is inserted into the recess 311 of the lower case 31. The tube portion 511 is fixed to the recess 311 from below by a first fixing portion 61 consisting of a screw. The first fixing portion 61 is located on the axis AX, and is screwed into the inside of the tube portion 511 through a through hole formed in the recess 311.

[0025] The cup portion 512 of the first portion 51 is cup-shaped and opens upward. The upper surface of the cup portion 512 is formed flush with the upper surface of the tube portion 511. The bottom of the cup portion 512 is formed with a recessed portion that is recessed upward. The upper end of the boss 312 of the lower case 31 is inserted into the recessed portion formed in the bottom of the cup portion 512. The boss 312 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The cup portion 312 is fixed to the boss 312 from above by a secondary fixing portion 63 consisting of a screw. The secondary fixing portion 63 extends parallel to the axis AX at a position off the axis AX, passes through a through hole formed in the cup portion 512, and is screwed into the inside of a bottomed hole formed in the boss 312.

[0026] Cup portion 513 of first portion 51 is located on the opposite side of cup portion 512 across tube portion 511. Cup portion 513 is fixed from above to boss 313 formed in lower case 31 by auxiliary fixing portion 63 consisting of a screw. The relationship between cup portion 513 and boss 313 formed in lower case 31 is the same as the relationship between cup portion 512 and boss 312.

[0027] The second part 52 is a part fixed to the middle case 32, and is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the axis AX as shown in Fig. 3. On the other hand, the middle case 32 is formed with a fixed part 320 that protrudes toward the connecting part 50 and to which the second part 52 is fixed as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the second part 52 is fixed to the fixed part 320 of the middle case 32 from above by a second fixing part 62 consisting of a screw. The second fixing part 62 is located on the axis AX, and is screwed into the inside of the cylindrical second part 52 through a through hole formed in the fixed part 320.

[0028] The fragile portion 53 is located between the first portion 51 and the second portion 52, and is a portion that is weaker than the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. Specifically, the fragile portion 53 is formed between the lower end portion 52a of the second portion 52 and an upper surface of the tubular portion 511 of the first portion 51, and is located on the axis line AX. The fragile portion 53 is formed to have an outer diameter centered on the axis line AX smaller than that of the lower end portion 52a of the second portion 52, and is gradually reduced in diameter from the second portion 52 toward the first portion 51.

[0029] The connecting portion 50 formed as described above is formed with a strength such that the weak portion 53 and the first portion 51 break when the HUD device 100 receives an excessive impact via the vehicle, but does not break under normal circumstances when no excessive impact is applied. The strength may be determined by experiment. Moreover, under normal circumstances, the connecting portion 50 can absorb impacts and maintain the connection between the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 due to the elasticity of the resin and the flexible shape of the weak portion 53.

[0030] (1) The HUD device 100 described above includes a connecting portion 50 that connects the lower case 31 (an example of a first case) and the middle case 32 (an example of a second case) and has a lower rigidity than the lower case 31 and the middle case 32. The connecting portion 50 includes a first portion 51 fixed to the lower case 31, a second portion 52 fixed to the middle case 32, and a fragile portion 53 that is located between the first portion 51 and the second portion 52 and is fragile than the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. According to this configuration, when the vehicle receives an excessive impact, the weak portion 53 of the connecting portion 50 breaks, and the middle case 32 and the lower case 31 can be separated. In other words, when an excessive impact is received, the HUD device 100 breaks appropriately, and the impact can be absorbed well. This makes it possible to mitigate a part of the impact that may be applied to the vehicle occupants.

[0031] (2) The lower case 31 also supports the display unit 10 . Since the lower case 31 supporting the display unit 10 is heavy relative to other parts of the housing 30, if an excessive impact is received and the weak part 53 of the connecting part 50 breaks, the lower case 31 is likely to separate from the middle case 32 and fall. In other words, with this configuration, the HUD device 100 is moderately prone to breakage when subjected to an excessive impact.

[0032] (3) The HUD device 100 also includes a first fixing portion 61 that fixes the first portion 51 to the lower case 31 and a second fixing portion 62 that fixes the second portion 52 to the middle case 32. The first fixing portion 61, the second fixing portion 62, and the fragile portion 53 are located on the same axis AX. This configuration ensures resistance to vibrations, particularly in the vertical direction, during normal times, while when an excessive impact is received, the first fixing portion 61 and the second fixing portion 62 move so as to deviate from each other's axis line AX, acting to break the fragile portion 53. In other words, it is possible to achieve both normal impact resistance and fragility of the HUD device 100 when an excessive impact is received.

[0033] (4) In addition, the HUD device 100 includes the secondary fixing portion 63 that fixes the first portion 51 to the lower case 31 at a position offset from the axis line AX. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the connecting portion 50 from rotating relative to the lower case 31 about the axis line AX.

[0034] (5) The lower case 31 and the middle case 32 are made of metal, and the connecting portion 50 is made of resin. If the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 are made of metal, the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 themselves are unlikely to break when subjected to an excessive impact, and so there is a high demand for shock absorption. On the other hand, by forming the connecting part 50 from resin, it is possible to break appropriately when subjected to an excessive impact, and it is possible to easily absorb the impact well. Note that the lower case 31 or the middle case 32 may be made of resin as long as it has a higher rigidity than the connecting part 50. However, when at least one of the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 is made of metal, the connecting part 50 made of resin is preferable.

[0035] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and drawings. Modifications (including the deletion of components) can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0036] The shape of the connecting portion 50 is not limited to the above example, and can be modified as appropriate. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, a connecting portion 50M according to a modified example may be adopted. Hereinafter, this modified example will be described using the same reference numerals for each part having the same function as the above embodiment. The connecting portion 50M according to the modified example includes a first portion 51, a second portion 52, and a fragile portion 53. The first portion 51 is fixed from above to the fixed portion 310 of the lower case 31 by a first fixing portion 61 made of a screw. The first portion 51 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. The second portion 52 is fixed from above to the fixed portion 320 of the middle case 32 by a second fixing portion 62 made of a screw. The second portion 52 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape. The fragile portion 53 is formed in a plate shape connecting the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. For example, the fragile portion 53 is formed thinner than the first portion 51 and the second portion 52, and is thus configured to be fragile than the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. This connecting portion 50M also allows the HUD device 100 to break appropriately when subjected to an excessive impact, thereby absorbing the impact well. In addition, when the connecting portion 50M is employed, the auxiliary fixing portion 63 can be omitted.

[0037] The weak portion 53 in the connecting portion 50 is not limited to the above example, and may have any shape as long as it is weaker than the first portion 51 and the second portion 52. For example, the weak portion 53 may be a groove portion formed between the first portion 51 and the second portion 52 of the connecting portion 50.

[0038] The number of connecting portions 50 connecting the lower case 31 and the middle case 32 can be determined arbitrarily depending on the design. Also, one of the pair of auxiliary fixing portions 63 may be omitted. Similarly, one of the pair of cup portions 512, 513 and one of the pair of bosses 312, 313 may be omitted. Also, a configuration in which the middle case 32 and the upper case 33 are connected by the connecting portions 50 can be adopted. In this case, the middle case 32 is an example of the first case, and the upper case 33 is an example of the second case.

[0039] The connecting portions 50, 50M may be made of any known material such as plastic or elastomer, and the material may be selected arbitrarily.

[0040] In the above, an example has been shown in which the first fixing portion 61, the second fixing portion 62, and the auxiliary fixing portion 63 are each composed of the same screw, but they may include different types of screws. Also, the first fixing portion 61, the second fixing portion 62, and the auxiliary fixing portion 63 are not limited to screws, and may be composed of known fixing members that utilize, for example, pins, hooks, or the like.

[0041] The optical system within the HUD device 100 may be configured as desired as long as it can radiate the display light 2 from the display unit 10 to the windshield 1, and the number, shape and arrangement of the mirrors that reflect the display light 2 can be changed as appropriate.

[0042] Although the display unit 10 using an LCD has been described above, the configuration of the display unit 10 is not limited and is arbitrary. For example, the display unit 10 may use an OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode). The display unit 10 may also include a DMD (Digital Micromirror Device) and a transmissive screen that receives light reflected by the DMD and displays an image.

[0043] The light-transmitting member that reflects the HUD device 100 toward the user is not limited to the windshield 1 of the vehicle, and may be a combiner constituted by a plate-shaped half mirror, a hologram element, or the like.

[0044] The type of vehicle on which the HUD device 100 is mounted is not limited, and the HUD device 100 can be applied to various vehicles such as four-wheeled motor vehicles and motorcycles.

[0045] In the above description, descriptions of well-known technical matters have been omitted as appropriate in order to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 100 Head-up display (HUD) device 1 Windshield 2 display light 10 Display section 21 Mirror No. 1 22 2nd Mirror 30 Case 31 Lower case (an example of the first case) 310 Fixed part 311 Recess 312,313 Boss 32 Middle case (an example of the second case) 320 Fixed part 33 Upper case 40 Control Board 50 Connection part 51 Part 1 511 Cylinder part 512,513 Cup section 52 Part 2 53 Weakened part 61 1st fixed part 62 Second fixed part 63 Sub-fixing part AX axis

Claims

1. a housing having a first case and a second case and housing a display unit that emits display light to display an image; a connecting portion that connects the first case and the second case and has a lower rigidity than the first case and the second case, The connecting portion is a first portion fixed to the first case; a second portion fixed to the second case; a weak portion located between the first portion and the second portion and weaker than the first portion and the second portion due to the connecting portion itself; A head-up display device is installed in the dashboard of a vehicle.

2. The first case is located below the second case and supports the display unit. The head-up display device according to claim 1 .

3. a first fixing portion that fixes the first portion to the first case; a second fixing portion that fixes the second portion to the second case, The first fixed portion, the second fixed portion, and the weak portion are located on the same axis line. The head-up display device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a secondary fixing portion that fixes the first portion to the first case at a position offset from the axis; The head-up display device according to claim 3 .

5. At least one of the first case and the second case is made of metal, The connecting portion is formed of resin. The head-up display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images