Vehicle display device

Abstract

To provide a vehicular display device that can improve a three-dimensional appearance of a displayed image.SOLUTION: A vehicular display device 1 comprises: a display part 2, arranged at a front side of a vehicle with respect to an eye point EP of the vehicle, which displays a real image; an enclosure 3, mounted on the vehicle, which has an opening part 3a; a transparent panel 4 that blocks the opening part; a projecting part 5, arranged inside the enclosure, which projects display light to an outer space through the panel; a light-emission control part 6 having a light source for making light incident to the panel through an end face of the panel; a design 41, formed on the panel, which emits light by the light made incident to the panel from the light source; and a combiner 7, arranged between the display part and the eye point, which reflects the light L3 from the design emitting light and the display light toward the eye point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a vehicle display device that displays a virtual image. Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle display device that superimposes and visually recognizes a foreground of a vehicle and a virtual image of a superimposed image from an eye point. In Patent Document 1, virtual images of various guidance images are visually recognized from an eye point at an intermediate position in the vehicle width direction of two analog meter units.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a vehicle display device, it is desirable to be able to realize a three-dimensional display. For example, if a plurality of layers of virtual images can be displayed in addition to a real image, it becomes possible to improve the three-dimensional effect of the display image.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device capable of improving the three-dimensional effect of a display image.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The display device for a vehicle according to the present invention is disposed in front of the vehicle with respect to the eye point of the vehicle, and includes a display unit that displays a real image, a housing mounted on the vehicle and having an opening, a transparent panel that closes the opening, a projection unit disposed inside the housing and projecting display light into the external space through the panel, a light emission control unit having a light source that makes light enter the panel from an end face of the panel, a design formed on the panel and emitting light by the light that has entered the panel from the light source, and a combiner disposed between the display unit and the eye point and reflecting the light of the emitted design and the display light toward the eye point.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment. Also, the constituent elements in the following embodiment include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[0009] [Embodiment] An embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. This embodiment relates to a vehicle display device. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the vehicle display device according to the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the panel according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a lit design, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a virtual image formed by the lit design, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship of each image in the embodiment, FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of a design formed on the panel, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a lit design, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a virtual image inclined with respect to the real image.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle display device 1 according to the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 100 such as an automobile. The vehicle display device 1 has a display unit 2, a housing 3, a panel 4, a projection unit 5, a light emission control unit 6, and a combiner 7. The vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment can display a plurality of layers of virtual images in addition to the real image displayed by the display unit 2.

[0011] The display unit 2 is disposed forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction X with respect to the eye point EP of the vehicle 100. The eye point EP is a position assumed to be the position of the driver's eyes. The display unit 2 is disposed on the instrument panel 102 of the vehicle 100. The display unit 2 faces the eye point EP in the vehicle longitudinal direction X. The display unit 2 has a first display unit 21 and a second display unit 22. The first display unit 21 and the second display unit 22 are devices that display a real image toward the eye point EP. The first display unit 21 and the second display unit 22 are, for example, liquid crystal display devices such as TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display). The second display unit 22 is disposed at a position closer to the eye point EP than the first display unit 21.

[0012] The housing 3 is disposed below the display unit 2 in the vehicle vertical direction Z. The housing 3 is disposed, for example, inside the dashboard. The housing 3 has an opening 3a facing upward. The panel 4 is a transparent member that closes the opening 3a of the housing 3. The panel 4 is a protection panel that protects the devices disposed inside the housing 3. The illustrated shape of the panel 4 is a curved shape facing inward of the housing 3. The panel 4 is inclined with respect to the vehicle longitudinal direction X such that the rear end 4b of the vehicle is located above the front end 4a of the vehicle.

[0013] The projection unit 5 is disposed inside the housing 3. The projection unit 5 is a device that projects display light Lt toward the external space of the housing 3 through the panel 4. The projection unit 5 is, for example, a liquid crystal display device. The projection unit 5 has a display surface facing upward. The display surface faces the panel 4. The projection unit 5 projects the image on the display surface upward.

[0014] The combiner 7 is a transparent member that can transmit the light of the display unit 2. The combiner 7 is disposed between the display unit 2 and the eye point EP in the vehicle front-rear direction X. More specifically, the combiner 7 is disposed in front of the vehicle with respect to the opening 3a of the housing 3. The illustrated combiner 7 is disposed so as to overlap the display unit 2 when viewed from the eye point EP. In other words, the combiner 7 is disposed so that the light of the display unit 2 travels toward the eye point EP through the combiner 7. The combiner 7 may be smoked.

[0015] The combiner 7 includes a main body 70 and a louver film 71 attached to the main body 70. The main body 70 is formed of a transparent member such as glass. The louver film 71 is disposed on the surface of the main body 70 facing the eye point EP. The louver film 71 is configured not to transmit unnecessary light. More specifically, the louver film 71 is configured to transmit the light traveling from the display unit 2 toward the eye point EP and not to transmit the light in other directions. For example, the louver film 71 blocks the light incident on the combiner 7 from obliquely above and restricts the transmission to the side of the eye point EP.

[0016] The combiner 7 has a reflection surface 7a facing the eye point EP in the vehicle front-rear direction X. The reflection surface 7a is the surface of the louver film 71 facing the eye point EP. The reflection surface 7a is disposed so that it can reflect the display light Lt toward the eye point EP. The reflection surface 7a is inclined with respect to the vehicle vertical direction Z so as to approach the eye point EP as it goes toward the upper part of the reflection surface 7a. The virtual image Vr1 formed by the display light Lt is formed at a position in front of the vehicle with respect to the display unit 2 when viewed from the eye point EP. That is, the virtual image Vr1 formed by the display light Lt is formed at a position deeper than the display unit 2 when viewed from the eye point EP.

[0017] The vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment can further display a virtual image by the panel 4 and the light emission control unit 6. As shown in FIG. 2, a design 41 is formed on the panel 4. The design 41 is formed on the inner surface 4c of the panel 4. The inner surface 4c is the surface on which the display light Lt from the projection unit 5 is incident. The design 41 is a set of fine patterns formed on the inner surface 4c. The exemplified fine pattern is a recess 42 formed on the inner surface 4c. The recess 42 may be a groove extending parallel to each other. The recess 42 may be a dot-like dent distributed and arranged in the region of the design 41.

[0018] The recess 42 forms a reflecting surface 42a inside the panel 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the reflecting surface 42a reflects the light L2 toward the combiner 7. The shape of the recess 42 in the cross section of FIG. 2 is triangular. This triangle becomes narrower in the width in the vehicle front-rear direction X as it goes from the inner surface 4c to the outer surface 4d. The plurality of recesses 42 are arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction X.

[0019] The light emission control unit 6 controls the light emission of the design 41. The light emission control unit 6 includes a light source 61 and a control unit 62. The light source 61 is arranged to face the end face 4e of the panel 4 and irradiates light toward the end face 4e. The end face 4e is the end face of the panel 4 facing the front of the vehicle. The light source 61 includes, for example, a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a condenser lens. The direction of the optical axis of the light source 61 is, for example, a direction orthogonal to the end face 4e. The light source 61 is arranged inside the housing 3 and is shielded from the external space by the housing 3. That is, the housing 3 houses the light source 61 so that the light source 61 is not visible from the external space. The control unit 62 controls the lighting and extinguishing of the light source 61. The control unit 62 may further control the image display in the projection unit 5. The control unit 62 may further control the image display in the display unit 2.

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a state where the light source 61 is lit. The light L1 of the light source 61 enters the panel 4 from the end face 4e. The panel 4 is a light guide member that guides the light L2 incident from the end face 4e to the design 41. The panel 4 may be configured such that the incident light L2 is totally reflected inside the panel 4. The light L2 that reaches the recess 42 is reflected by the reflecting surface 42a of the recess 42. The recess 42 is formed so as to reflect the light L2 toward the combiner 7. The optical axis direction of the reflected light L3 may be the same as, for example, the optical axis direction of the display light Lt.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 4, the reflected light L3 is reflected by the reflecting surface 7a of the combiner 7 toward the eye point EP. The virtual image Vr2 formed by the reflected light L3 is formed at a position in front of the vehicle with respect to the display unit 2 as viewed from the eye point EP. The position where the virtual image Vr2 of the design 41 is formed is a position between the position where the virtual image Vr1 formed by the display light Lt is formed and the display unit 2.

[0022] Thus, the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment forms a first layer where the real image by the display unit 2 is located, a second layer where the virtual image Vr1 by the display light Lt is located, and a third layer where the virtual image Vr2 by the design 41 is located. Therefore, the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment can realize a display with a three-dimensional effect.

[0023] In addition, the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment can realize a display having a sense of unity as a design by an image having a three-layer structure. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle display device 1 may superimpose both the virtual image Vr1 by the display light Lt and the virtual image Vr2 by the design 41 on the real image R1 of the first display unit 21. A display having a sense of unity as a design is realized by the overlapping real image R1 and the two-layer virtual images Vr1 and Vr2. Note that the vehicle display device 1 may superimpose the virtual images Vr1 and Vr2 on the real image R2 by the second display unit 22.

[0024] In the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment, the real images R1, R2 and the virtual images Vr1, Vr2 are configured to fit within the frame of the combiner 7 as viewed from the eye point EP. That is, when viewed from the eye point EP, the real images R1, R2 and the virtual images Vr1, Vr2 appear to be displayed on a single combiner 7. Thereby, the sense of unity as a display design is improved.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows an example of the design 41 formed on the panel 4. The illustrated design 41 has a first design 41a, a second design 41b, and a third design 41c. The first design 41a, the second design 41b, and the third design 41c are arranged in this order along the image horizontal direction GH. The first design 41a and the third design 41c are symbols for route guidance of the vehicle 100. The second design 41b is a symbol for alerting the driver.

[0026] The light source 61 has a first light source 61a, a second light source 61b, and a third light source 61c. The first light source 61a is a light source that emits light for the first design 41a. In the image horizontal direction GH, the position of the first light source 61a corresponds to the position of the first design 41a. The second light source 61b and the third light source 61c are light sources that emit light for the second design 41b and the third design 41c, respectively. In the image horizontal direction GH, the position of the second light source 61b corresponds to the position of the second design 41b, and the position of the third light source 61c corresponds to the position of the third design 41c.

[0027] The design 41 is formed so as not to emit light when the corresponding light source 61 is not lit. For example, the portion where the design 41 is formed transmits the display light Lt in the same manner as the portion where the design 41 is not formed. In other words, the design 41 is configured so as not to emit light by the display light Lt or to emit a light amount that is not visually recognized even if it emits light by the display light Lt. The width and depth of one recess 42 are, for example, several [μm] to several tens [μm]. The interval between adjacent recesses 42 may be several [μm] to several tens [μm].

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a state in which the first light source 61a is lit and the second light source 61b and the third light source 61c are turned off. The light L1 of the first light source 61a is incident on the panel 4 from the end face 4e. The incident light L2 travels toward the first design 41a along the vertical image direction GV. The first design 41a reflects the light L2 and emits light. The illustrated first design 41a is configured such that the entire pattern emits light. However, the first design 41a may be configured such that the outline of the pattern emits light.

[0029] In FIG. 7, the second design 41b and the third design 41c are not emitting light. That is, the first light source 61a can cause the first design 41a to emit light alone. In other words, the first light source 61a can cause the first design 41a to emit light independently of the second design 41b and the third design 41c. Similarly, the second light source 61b can cause the second design 41b to emit light independently of the first design 41a and the third design 41c. The third light source 61c can cause the third design 41c to emit light independently of the first design 41a and the second design 41b.

[0030] The virtual image Vr2 formed by the design 41 is displayed in an intermediate layer between the layer of the virtual image Vr1 as the background and the layers of the real images R1, R2. Therefore, the vehicle display device 1 can make it appear as if the virtual image Vr2 is floating between the virtual image Vr1 and the real images R1, R2. Thus, the vehicle display device 1 can realize a three-dimensional display. Further, the panel 4 on which the design 41 is formed also serves as a protection panel that closes the housing 3. Therefore, according to the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment, display images with different depths can be added without adding expensive components.

[0031] As described above, the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment includes a display unit 2 that displays real images R1 and R2, a housing 3, a transparent panel 4, a projection unit 5, a light emission control unit 6, a design 41, and a combiner 7. The display unit 2 is disposed in front of the vehicle with respect to the eye point EP of the vehicle 100. The housing 3 is mounted on the vehicle 100 and has an opening 3a. The panel 4 closes the opening 3a of the housing 3. The projection unit 5 is disposed inside the housing 3 and projects display light Lt into the external space through the panel 4.

[0032] The light emission control unit 6 has a light source 61 that makes light L1 enter the panel 4 from the end face 4e of the panel 4. The design 41 is formed on the panel 4 and emits light by the light L2 that has entered the panel 4 from the light source 61. The combiner 7 is disposed between the display unit 2 and the eye point EP and reflects the light L3 of the emitted design 41 and the display light Lt toward the eye point EP. According to the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment, in addition to the real images R1 and R2 of the display unit 2 and the virtual image Vr1 formed by the display light Lt, the virtual image Vr2 of the design 41 can be displayed. The two virtual images Vr1 and Vr2 are located in different layers when viewed from the eye point EP. Therefore, the vehicle display device 1 of the present embodiment enables a three-dimensional display.

[0033] In the present embodiment, the virtual image Vr1 formed by the display light Lt forms an image at a position in front of the vehicle with respect to the display unit 2 when viewed from the eye point EP, and the position where the virtual image Vr2 of the design 41 forms an image is between the position where the virtual image Vr1 formed by the display light Lt forms an image and the display unit 2. That is, the virtual image Vr2 of the design 41 forms an image at a position between the real images R1 and R2 and the virtual image Vr1. Such a multi-layered image enables a three-dimensional display.

[0034] In the panel 4 of this embodiment, a plurality of designs 41a, 41b, 41c are formed. The light emission control unit 6 has a plurality of light sources 61a, 61b, 61c corresponding to the respective designs 41a, 41b, 41c, and can emit light for one design 41a, 41b, 41c independently of the other designs 41a, 41b, 41c. By emitting light for each of the plurality of designs 41a, 41b, 41c individually, a colorful display becomes possible.

[0035] Note that the virtual image Vr2 formed by the design 41 can have a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the shape of the panel 4. For example, the panel 4 of this embodiment has the curved shape shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the virtual image Vr2 can have a shape along a curved surface that curves toward the front of the vehicle.

[0036] The virtual image Vr2 formed by the design 41 can be a virtual image inclined with respect to the display unit 2. For example, in the panel 4 of this embodiment, the end portion 4b at the rear of the vehicle is inclined so as to be positioned above the end portion 4a at the front of the vehicle. In other words, the panel 4 is inclined so that the optical path length from the end portion 4a at the front of the vehicle to the eye point EP is shorter than the optical path length from the end portion 4b at the rear of the vehicle to the eye point EP. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the virtual image Vr2 is inclined so that the lower part of the virtual image Vr2 is positioned closer to the viewer than the upper part when viewed from the eye point EP. In other words, the virtual image Vr2 is inclined so as to move away from the real image R1 from the lower part to the upper part. Such an inclined virtual image Vr2 enables a three-dimensional display.

[0037] [First Modification of the Embodiment] With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a first modification of the embodiment will be described. In the first modification of the embodiment, the difference from the above embodiment is, for example, that it has light sources 61d, 61e that irradiate light along the horizontal direction GH of the image. FIG. 9 is a plan view of a panel according to the first modification of the embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the panel with the fifth light source lit.

[0038] The panel 4 according to the first modification example has a fourth design 41d and a fifth design 41e. The fourth design 41d is located above the three designs 41a, 41b, and 41c in the vertical image direction GV. The fifth design 41e is located below the three designs 41a, 41b, and 41c in the vertical image direction GV. The fourth design 41d and the fifth design 41e are, for example, displays that produce a three-dimensional effect. As an example, the fourth design 41d and the fifth design 41e may be patterns imitating an aerial view of a road. At least one of the fourth design 41d and the fifth design 41e may be a pattern for attracting attention. For example, the fourth design 41d may be a pattern for prompting attention to an obstacle in front of the vehicle.

[0039] The fourth design 41d and the fifth design 41e are arranged so as not to overlap any of the first design 41a, the second design 41b, and the third design 41c when viewed along the vertical image direction GV. Also, the fourth design 41d and the fifth design 41e are arranged so as not to emit light regardless of whether the first light source 61a, the second light source 61b, or the third light source 61c is lit.

[0040] The light source 61 has a fourth light source 61d and a fifth light source 61e. The fourth light source 61d is a light source that causes the fourth design 41d to emit light. In the vertical image direction GV, the position of the fourth light source 61d corresponds to the position of the fourth design 41d. The fifth light source 61e is a light source that causes the fifth design 41e to emit light. In the vertical image direction GV, the position of the fifth light source 61e corresponds to the position of the fifth design 41e.

[0041] FIG. 10 shows a state in which the fifth light source 61e is lit and the other light sources 61a, 61b, 61c, and 61d are turned off. The light L1 of the fifth light source 61e enters the panel 4 from the end face 4f. The incident light L2 travels toward the fifth design 41e along the horizontal direction GH of the image. The fifth design 41e reflects the light L2 and emits light. In FIG. 10, the other designs 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d are not emitting light. That is, the fifth light source 61e can cause the fifth design 41e to emit light alone. In other words, the fifth light source 61e can cause the fifth design 41e to emit light independently of the other designs 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d. Similarly, the fourth light source 61d can cause the fourth design 41d to emit light independently of the other designs 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41e.

[0042] [Second Modified Example of the Embodiment] Referring to FIG. 11, a second modified example of the embodiment will be described. In the second modified example of the embodiment, the difference from the above embodiment is, for example, that a design formed on the combiner is caused to emit light. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a combiner and a second light emission control unit according to the second modified example of the embodiment.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 11, a design 72 is formed on the main body 70 of the combiner 7. The design 72 is a collection of fine patterns formed on the back surface 70a of the main body 70. The illustrated fine pattern is a recess 73 formed in 70a. The recess 73 is, for example, a groove or a dot-like depression. The vehicle display device 1 according to this modified example has a second light emission control unit 8. The second light emission control unit 8 has a light source 81 adjacent to the main body 70. The light source 81 is disposed to face the end face 70b of the main body 70. The light source 81 is controlled by, for example, the control unit 62.

[0044] The light L11 of the light source 81 enters the main body 70 from the end face 70b. The light L11 that reaches the recess 73 is reflected by the recess 73 toward the side of the eye point EP. The optical axis direction of the reflected light L12 is the direction toward the eye point EP. The vehicle display device 1 according to the second modification example can form a fourth layer in which a real image by the design 72 is located, in addition to the first layer including the real images R1 and R2, the second layer in which the virtual image Vr1 is located, and the third layer in which the virtual image Vr2 is located. Therefore, the vehicle display device 1 according to the second modification example of the embodiment can realize a three-dimensional display.

[0045] As described above, the vehicle display device 1 according to the second modification example of the embodiment includes a second light emission control unit 8 that causes light to enter the combiner 7 from the end face 70b of the combiner 7, and a design 72. The second light emission control unit 8 causes the light L11 to enter the combiner 7 from the end face 70b of the combiner 7. The design 72 is formed on the combiner 7 and emits light by the light L11 incident on the combiner 7 from the second light emission control unit 8. The vehicle display device 1 according to this modification example enables a three-dimensional display by the design 72 that emits light.

[0046] The contents disclosed in the above embodiments and modification examples can be executed in appropriate combination.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0047] 1 Vehicle display device 2: Display unit, 21: First display unit, 22: Second display unit 3: Housing, 3a: Opening 4: Panel, 4a: Front end portion of the vehicle, 4b: Rear end portion of the vehicle, 4c: Inner surface 4d: Outer surface, 4e, 4f: End faces 41: Design, 41a: First design, 41b: Second design, 41c: Third design 41d: Fourth design, 41e: Fifth design 42: Recess, 42a: Reflective surface 5 Projection unit 6: Light emission control unit, 61: Light source, 61a: First light source, 61b: Second light source 61c: Third light source, 61d: Fourth light source, 61e: Fifth light source, 62: Control unit 7: Combiner, 7a: Reflecting surface, 70: Body, 71: Louver film 72: Design 8: Second light emission control unit, 81: Light source 100: Vehicle, 102: Instrument panel EP eye point GH: Image horizontal direction, GV: Image vertical direction Lt: Display light, L1: Light of light source, L2: Incident light, L3: Reflected light R1, R2: Real image Vr1: Virtual image by display light, Vr2: Virtual image of design X: Vehicle longitudinal direction, Z: Vehicle vertical direction

Claims

1. A display unit disposed in front of the vehicle with respect to an eye point of the vehicle and displaying a real image; A housing mounted on the vehicle and having an opening; A transparent panel closing the opening; A projection unit disposed inside the housing and projecting display light into the external space through the panel; A light emission control unit having a light source that makes light enter the panel from an end face of the panel; A design formed on the panel and reflecting the light that has entered the panel from the light source; A combiner disposed between the display unit and the eye point and reflecting the reflected light by the design and the display light toward the eye point; A vehicle display device characterized by comprising the above.

2. The virtual image formed by the display light is formed at a position in front of the vehicle relative to the display unit as seen from the eye point, The position where the virtual image of the design is formed is a position between the position where the virtual image formed by the display light is formed and the display unit. The vehicle display device according to Claim 1.

3. A plurality of the above designs are formed on the panel, The light emission control unit has a plurality of the light sources corresponding to the respective designs, and can light one of the designs independently of the other designs. The vehicle display device according to Claim 1.

4. Furthermore, a second light emission control unit that makes light enter the combiner from an end face of the combiner; A design formed on the combiner and reflecting the light that has entered the combiner from the second light emission control unit toward the eye point; The vehicle display device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, comprising the above.

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