Optical waveguide lens, head-up display system and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention provides a light guide lens, a head-up display system, and a vehicle. [Solution] The optical waveguide lens includes a lens body, a lattice structure, and a reflective layer, the lens body has a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to each other along a first direction, the lattice structure is arranged on the lens body, the lattice structure includes an entrance lattice and an exit lattice, the entrance lattice is located on the side where the first surface is located, the exit lattice is located on the side where the second surface is located, and the reflective layer is arranged on the lens body, the reflective layer is located on the side where the first surface is located, and the reflective layer and the exit lattice are arranged opposite to each other along the first direction. The reflective layer reduces the risk of the light inside the lens body leaving the lens body from a non-lattice position, and improves the intensity of the output light of the optical waveguide lens, thereby improving the imaging effect of the head-up display system and the interactive experience between the user and the vehicle.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of head-up display technology, and more particularly to a light guide lens, a head-up display system, and a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] An in-vehicle head-up display system can display dashboard information on the windshield to enhance the human-vehicle interactive experience. A conventional head-up display system includes a display element on the dashboard and multiple sets of curved mirrors positioned between the display element and the windshield. The curved mirrors reflect light multiple times, allowing it to reach the human eye. However, due to the large size and number of curved mirrors and the large installation space required, the head-up display system occupies a large amount of space inside the vehicle.

[0003] To solve the problem of large head-up displays, multiple sets of curved mirrors are usually replaced with a single optical waveguide lens. The light from the display element enters the lens body through diffraction by the input grating of the optical waveguide lens, is totally reflected inside the lens body, and then reaches the surface of the windshield through diffraction by the output grating. Finally, it is reflected by the windshield to the human eye, thereby realizing the head-up display function. However, when the light is diffracted by the output grating, some of the light propagates away from the windshield, weakening the light intensity output from the optical waveguide lens and reducing the optical effect of the head-up display system.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to provide a light guide lens, head-up display system, and vehicle with high output light intensity. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an optical waveguide lens, a head-up display system, and a vehicle that have high output light intensity. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technical ideas of the present invention are as follows:

[0007] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical waveguide lens, the optical waveguide lens including: a lens body; a grating structure; and a reflective layer; the lens body having a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite each other along a first direction; the grating structure is provided on the lens body; the grating structure includes an entrance grating and an exit grating; the entrance grating is located on the side where the first surface is located and the exit grating is located on the side where the second surface is located, and the entrance grating and the exit grating are arranged alternately in the second direction; the first direction is parallel to the thickness direction of the lens body and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; the lens body is provided with a reflective layer; the reflective layer is located on the side where the first surface is located; and the reflective layer and the exit grating are arranged opposite each other along the first direction.

[0008] In some embodiments, along the first direction, at least a portion of the projection of the exit grating is located within the projection range of the reflective layer.

[0009] In some embodiments, the reflective layer is a silver-plated layer, an aluminum-plated layer, a copper-plated layer, or a gold-plated layer.

[0010] In some embodiments, the grating structure includes a plurality of diffraction grooves spaced apart, and an angle α between the extending direction of the diffraction grooves and the first direction satisfies 0<α<90°.

[0011] In some embodiments, the length dimension of the input grating in the second direction is smaller than the length dimension of the output grating in the second direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the entrance grating is separate from and fixedly connected to the lens body, or the entrance grating is integrally molded with the lens body, and / or The exit grating is provided separately from the lens body and fixedly connected thereto, or the exit grating is molded integrally with the lens body.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a head-up display system, comprising: an optical waveguide lens according to any one of the above claims; a display element; and a reflective element; along a first direction, the display element is located on a side of the optical waveguide lens where an incident grating is located, and the display element is arranged opposite the incident grating, and the display element is used to radiate light from the light guide lens; along the first direction, the reflective element is located on a side of the optical waveguide lens where an exit grating is located, and the display element is arranged opposite the exit grating, and the reflective element is used to reflect the exit light at the exit grating to human eyes.

[0014] In some embodiments, the head-up display system further comprises a transmission mirror, wherein the transmission mirror is located between the display element and the light guide lens along the first direction, the transmission mirror is used to adjust the light source emitted from the display element into collimated light, and the propagation direction of the collimated light is parallel to the thickness direction of the lens body.

[0015] In some embodiments, the display element is a silicon-based liquid crystal element or a digital light processing element.

[0016] In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a vehicle body, wheels, a dashboard, and a head-up display system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a windshield is attached to the vehicle body, the vehicle body and the windshield surrounding and forming a driver's seat, the wheels are attached to the vehicle body, and the dashboard is attached to the vehicle body and located within the driver's seat, wherein a display element is located within the dashboard, and a reflective element is installed on the windshield, or the windshield is a reflective element. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The beneficial effects of the present invention are that when the head-up display system is activated, the user in the driver's seat can view the information on the dashboard without lowering his / her head, improving the human-vehicle interactive performance; the head-up display system is equipped with an optical waveguide lens, and the optical waveguide lens is provided with a reflective layer, which reduces the risk of the light inside the lens body leaving the lens body from a non-lattice position, improves the intensity of the output light of the optical waveguide lens, and improves the imaging effect of the head-up display system and the interactive experience between the user and the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the light propagation path of a head-up display system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part I in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the optical waveguide lens of FIG. 1 in one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part II in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the optical waveguide lens of FIG. 1 in another embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0019] 1: Optical waveguide lens, 11: Lens body, 111: First surface, 112: Second surface, 12: Grating structure, 121: Incident grating, 122: Exit grating, 123: Diffraction groove, 13: Reflective layer, 2: Display element, 3: Reflective element, 4: Transmitting mirror. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention will be further described below in combination with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0021] The present invention provides a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a body, wheels, and a dashboard, a windshield attached to the body, the body and windshield surrounding a driver's seat, wheels attached to the body, the number of wheels may be two, three, four or more, the specific number of wheels and the specific type of vehicle are not particularly limited in the present invention, the dashboard is attached to the body and located within the driver's seat, and the vehicle further comprises a head-up display system, which transmits information on the dashboard to the human eye through light reflection and diffraction, i.e., when the head-up display system is activated, a user in the driver's seat can view information on the dashboard without lowering their head, improving human-vehicle interaction, reducing the frequency with which the user lowers their head while driving, and allowing the user to focus their eyes on the front of the vehicle, thereby improving the safety of using the vehicle.

[0022] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , the head-up display system includes an optical waveguide lens 1, a display element 2, and a reflecting element 3. The display element 2 and the reflecting element 3 are respectively provided on both sides of the optical waveguide lens 1 along the thickness direction of the optical waveguide lens 1. The display elements 2 and the reflecting elements 3 are alternately arranged in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the optical waveguide lens 1. For convenience of explanation, the thickness direction of the optical waveguide lens 1 is defined as a first direction Z, and the alternate arrangement direction of the display elements 2 and the reflecting elements 3 is defined as a second direction X. That is, the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. Here, the second direction X is within a plane surrounded by the longitudinal direction and width direction of the optical waveguide lens 1. For convenience of understanding, the second direction X in the present invention is the longitudinal direction of the optical waveguide lens 1.

[0023] The display element 2 is located in the dashboard and is used to display information such as road conditions, the vehicle's oil level, water temperature, etc. When the head-up display system is operating, the display element 2 generates an image of the target and emits light, which is then irradiated onto the optical waveguide lens 1, which diffracts and totally reflects the light, and then transmits the light to the surface of the reflective element 3, which reflects the light so that it enters the human eye, thereby realizing the head-up display function.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the reflective element 3 is attached to the windshield, which facilitates maintenance and replacement of the reflective element 3 and reduces maintenance costs. In another embodiment of the present invention, the windshield is used directly as the reflective element 3, which reduces the number of parts and processing costs for the entire vehicle and reduces the installation costs of the reflective element 3.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the optical waveguide lens 1 includes a lens body 11 and a grating structure 12 provided on the lens body 11. Specifically, the grating structure 12 includes an entrance grating 121 and an exit grating 122. The lens body 11 has a first surface 111 and a second surface 112 arranged opposite each other along a first direction Z. The entrance grating 121 is provided on the side where the first surface 111 is located, and the exit grating 122 is provided on the side where the second surface 112 is located, and the entrance gratings 121 and the exit grating 122 are arranged alternately in the second direction X. Along the first direction Z, the display element 2 is located on the side where the first surface 111 of the optical waveguide lens 1 is located and is arranged opposite the entrance grating 121. The reflective element 3 is located on the side where the second surface 112 of the optical waveguide lens 1 is located and is arranged opposite the exit grating 122. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the light emitted from the display element 2 is irradiated onto the incident grating 121, is incoupled into the inside of the lens body 11 due to diffraction by the incident grating 121, is totally reflected by the lens body 11 and is irradiated onto the exit grating 122, is diffracted by the exit grating 122, leaves the lens body 11, and is irradiated onto the surface of the reflective element 3, and finally is reflected by the reflective element 3 to reach the human eye.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the head-up display system further includes a transmission mirror 4, which is located between the display element 2 and the optical waveguide lens 1 along the first direction Z, and is used to adjust the light source emitted from the display element 2 into collimated light, and the propagation direction of the collimated light is parallel to the first direction Z.

[0027] In this embodiment, a transmission mirror 4 is provided between the display element 2 and the optical waveguide lens 1, so that the light emitted from the display element 2 can be irradiated parallel to the surface of the incident grating 121, improving the consistency of the light propagation direction inside the lens body 11 and enhancing the imaging effect of the head-up display system.

[0028] Furthermore, the display element 2 is a silicon-based liquid crystal element or a digital light processing element, which allows the display element 2 to be installed with increased flexibility.

[0029] Here, when the display element 2 is a silicon-based liquid crystal element, the display element 2 has high resolution. When the display element 2 is a digital light processing element, the display element 2 has high definition. Therefore, installing the display element 2 on a silicon-based liquid crystal element or a digital light processing element contributes to improving the imaging effect of the head-up display system.

[0030] 3 and 4, the grating structure 12 includes diffraction grooves 123, which are inclined along the third direction T, and the angle α between the third direction T and the first direction Z satisfies 0<α<90°. Specifically, the angle α between the third direction T and the first direction Z may be 9°, 15°, 26°, 37°, 42°, 45°, 55°, 67°, 85°, etc.

[0031] In this embodiment, the angle between the third direction T and the first direction Z is 0 to 90°, so that the grating structure 12 can easily diffract light, and the operating stability and reliability of the grating structure 12 can be improved.

[0032] Furthermore, the length dimension of the entrance grating 121 in the second direction X is smaller than the length dimension of the exit grating 122 in the second direction X.

[0033] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 , the light that enters the inside of the lens body 11 through the entrance grating 121 needs to be totally reflected by the exit grating 122 by the lens body 11. Since the dimension of the entrance grating 121 is smaller than the dimension of the exit grating 122 in the second direction X, the risk that the light inside the lens body 11 cannot be completely emitted through the exit grating 122 is reduced, the utilization efficiency of the light guide lens 1 for the light output from the display element 2 is improved, and the intensity of the light output from the light guide lens 1 is increased.

[0034] In one embodiment, the grating structure 12 is provided separately from and fixedly connected to the lens body 11, i.e., the entrance grating 121 and the exit grating 122 are attached to the lens body 11 as independent components, which facilitates the installation, maintenance, and replacement of the entrance grating 121 and the exit grating 122. In another embodiment, the grating structure 12 is integrally formed with the lens body 11, i.e., the entrance grating 121 is directly etched on the first surface 111 of the lens body 11, and the exit grating 122 is etched on the second surface 112, so as to enhance the connection stability between the grating structure 12 and the lens body 11.

[0035] As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the optical waveguide lens 1 further includes a reflective layer 13, which is coated on the first surface 111 and / or the second surface 112 of the lens body 11. The reflective layer 13 is made of an opaque material, which reduces the risk of light inside the lens body 11 leaving the lens body 11 at a non-grating position and reduces the risk of weakening the light intensity at the output grating 122. This improves the output light intensity of the optical waveguide lens 1, enhances the imaging effect of the head-up display system, and improves the interactive experience between the user and the vehicle.

[0036] Here, the reflective layer 13 is a silver-plated layer, an aluminum-plated layer, a copper-plated layer, or a gold-plated layer, that is, the material of the reflective layer 13 is silver, aluminum, copper, gold, or other light-opaque materials. However, in this embodiment, the specific material of the reflective layer 13 is not particularly limited so as to increase the flexibility of the installation method of the reflective layer 13.

[0037] The number of reflective layers 13 may be one, two, three or more, and this embodiment is not particularly limited to the specific number of reflective layers 13. Here, when the number of reflective layers 13 is multiple, the materials of the reflective layers 13 may be the same or different.

[0038] Specifically, the reflective layer 13 is located on the side where the first surface 111 is located, and the reflective layer 13 and the exit grating 122 are arranged opposite each other along the first direction Z, and at least a portion of the projection of the exit grating 122 is located within the projection range of the reflective layer 13, and / or the reflective layer 13 is located on the side where the second surface 112 is located, and the reflective layer 13 and the entrance grating 121 are arranged opposite each other along the first direction Z, and at least a portion of the projection of the entrance grating 121 is located within the projection range of the reflective layer 13.

[0039] In this embodiment, at least a portion of the projection range of the incident grating 121 and / or the exit grating 122 is located within the projection range of the reflective layer 13. This reduces the risk that, during the process of light diffraction by the grating structure 12, the light will leave the lens body 11 from the position facing the grating structure 12, resulting in a decrease in light intensity. This further improves the intensity of the light diffracted by the grating structure 12, enhances the intensity of the light output from the optical waveguide lens 1, and the imaging effect of the head-up display system, thereby improving the interactive experience between the user and the vehicle.

[0040] The above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and those skilled in the art may make further improvements without departing from the creative idea of ​​the present invention, which are included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An optical waveguide element, The optical waveguide element (1) includes an optical waveguide (11), a grating structure (12), and a reflective layer (13), The optical waveguide (11) has a first surface (111) and a second surface (112) arranged opposite to each other along a first direction (Z), The grating structure (12) is provided in the optical waveguide (11), and the grating structure (12) comprises an input grating (121) and an output grating (122), the input grating (121) is located on the side where the first surface (111) is located, the output grating (122) is located on the side where the second surface (112) is located, and the input grating (121) and the output grating (122) are alternately arranged in a second direction (X), the first direction (Z) is parallel to the thickness direction of the optical waveguide (11), and the second direction (X) is perpendicular to the first direction (Z); The reflective layer (13) includes a first reflective layer and a second reflective layer. the first reflective layer is provided on the optical waveguide (11) so as to be located on a side where the first surface (111) is located, and in a plan view, the exit grating (122) is located within a range of the first reflective layer; the second reflective layer is provided on the optical waveguide (11) so as to be located on a side where the second surface (112) is located, and in a plan view, the incident grating (121) is located within the range of the second reflective layer; In a plan view, the first reflective layer and the second reflective layer partially overlap each other. An optical waveguide element characterized by:

2. The reflective layer (13) is a silver-plated layer, an aluminum-plated layer, a copper-plated layer, or a gold-plated layer.

2. The optical waveguide element according to claim 1.

3. The grating structure (12) includes a plurality of diffraction grooves (123) arranged at intervals, and an angle α between the extension direction of the diffraction grooves (123) and the first direction (Z) satisfies 0<α<90°.

2. The optical waveguide element according to claim 1.

4. The length dimension of the entrance grating (121) in the second direction (X) is smaller than the length dimension of the exit grating (122) in the second direction (X).

2. The optical waveguide element according to claim 1.

5. The incident grating (121) is provided separately from the optical waveguide (11) and is fixedly connected thereto, or the incident grating (121) is molded integrally with the optical waveguide (11), and / or The exit grating (122) is provided separately from the optical waveguide (11) and fixedly connected thereto, or the exit grating (122) is molded integrally with the optical waveguide (11).

5. The optical waveguide element according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

6. The optical waveguide element (1) according to claim 1, a display element (2), and a reflecting element (3), Along the first direction (Z), the display element (2) is located on the side of the optical waveguide element (1) where the incident grating (121) is located, and the display element (2) is installed opposite the incident grating (121), and the display element (2) is used to radiate a light source to the optical waveguide element (1); Along the first direction (Z), the reflecting element (3) is located on the side of the optical waveguide element (1) where the exit grating (122) is located, the display element (2) is installed opposite the exit grating (122), and the reflecting element (3) is used to reflect the exit light at the exit grating (122) to human eyes. A head-up display system.

7. The head-up display system further comprises a transmission mirror (4), the transmission mirror (4) being located between the display element (2) and the optical waveguide element (1) along the first direction (Z), the transmission mirror (4) being used to adjust the light source emitted from the display element (2) into a collimated light.

7. The head-up display system according to claim 6.

8. The display element (2) is a silicon-based liquid crystal element or a digital light processing element; 7. The head-up display system according to claim 6.

9. A vehicle comprising a vehicle body, wheels, a dashboard, and the head-up display system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, A windshield is attached to the vehicle body, and the vehicle body and the windshield surround and form a driver's seat, The wheels are attached to the vehicle body, the dashboard is attached to the vehicle body and located within the driver's seat; wherein the display element (2) is located within the dashboard, The reflective element (3) is installed on the windshield or the windshield is the reflective element (3). A vehicle characterized by:

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