Vehicle display device

Abstract

To provide a display device for a vehicle which can efficiently attain the function of discharging liquid which has entered the opening part for heat release of a housing to the outside of the housing and the function of releasing heat of a heat sink at one time.SOLUTION: A display device for vehicle 100 includes: a housing 10 equipped in a vehicle 200; an image display device 20 provided in a storage HS of the housing; and a heat sink 30 provided in a position in contact with the image display device. The housing has an opening part 12a opening in an upper direction. The heat sink has a heat release surface 30a, which is attached in a position that separates a storage part and the opening part from each other in the housing and is exposed from the housing through the opening part. In the heat release surface, there is formed a discharge flow passage FP for discharging liquid that has entered the opening part to the outside of the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a head-up display including a backlight unit, a first case having two fixing portions to which a lens holder is fixed, and a second case that fits into the first case. Patent Document 1 also discloses that the backlight unit includes a substrate on which a light source that illuminates the display panel from behind is mounted, a lens that focuses light from the light source, a lens holder that houses the lens and substrate, and a heat sink to which the lens holder is fixed and that dissipates heat transmitted from the substrate. The first case of this head-up display is provided with a protective wall that surrounds the heat sink, and the bottom protective wall is formed with a drain hole that drains moisture that attempts to seep into the first case from the protective wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-166852 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a vehicle display device, there is still room for improvement in achieving both the function of discharging liquid that has entered the heat discharging opening of the housing to the outside of the housing and the heat discharging function of the heat sink.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle display device that can efficiently combine the function of discharging liquid that has entered the heat dissipation opening of the housing with the heat dissipation function of the heat sink. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle display device of the present invention comprises a housing mounted on a vehicle, an image display device provided within a storage section of the housing, and a heat sink provided in a position in contact with the image display device, wherein the housing has an opening that opens upward when the housing is mounted on the vehicle, the heat sink is attached within the housing at a position that separates the storage section and the opening, and has a heat dissipation surface exposed from the housing through the opening, and the heat dissipation surface has a discharge flow path formed thereon to discharge liquid that has entered the opening out of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The vehicle display device according to the present invention has the advantage of being able to efficiently achieve both the function of discharging liquid that has entered the heat dissipation opening of the housing to the outside of the housing and the heat dissipation function of the heat sink. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with a display device for a vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the vehicle display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the vehicle display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the vehicle display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the heat sink and the image display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the heat sink and the image display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the heat sink and the image display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the heat sink and the image display device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 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 to the embodiment. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] [Embodiment] An embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 8. The embodiment relates to a vehicle display device. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle equipped with a vehicle display device according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the vehicle display device according to an embodiment, Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the vehicle display device according to an embodiment, Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the vehicle display device according to an embodiment, Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a heat sink and an image display device according to an embodiment, Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the heat sink and an image display device according to an embodiment, Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the heat sink and an image display device according to an embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the heat sink and an image display device according to an embodiment.

[0011] The vehicle display device 100 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a head-up display device mounted on a vehicle 200 such as an automobile. The vehicle display device 100 is accommodated in an instrument panel 220 of the vehicle 200. The vehicle display device 100 projects display light Lt of an image through an opening in the instrument panel 220 toward a reflective surface 210a of a windshield 210 of the vehicle 200. The windshield 210 is a reflective portion located in front of an eye point EP in the vehicle 200, and is, for example, semi-transparent, and reflects the display light Lt incident from the vehicle display device 100 onto the reflective surface 210a toward the eye point EP. The driver of the vehicle 200 can view a virtual image Vi by the display light Lt reflected by the windshield 210.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 2, the vehicle display device 100 includes a housing 10, an image display device 20, a heat sink 30, a mirror device 40, a reflecting member RM, and a control unit CR. The housing 10 is formed in a box shape and is mounted on a vehicle 200. The housing 10 houses the image display device 20, the mirror device 40, the reflecting member RM, and the control unit CR in a housing section HS (see Fig. 4) inside the housing 10. The heat sink 30 is attached to the image display device 20. The image display device 20, the heat sink 30, the mirror device 40, the reflecting member RM, and the control unit CR are fixed to the housing 10.

[0013] An opening 12c (see FIG. 3) through which the display light Lt is emitted from inside the housing 10 toward the reflecting surface 210a of the windshield 210 is formed in the housing 10, and a cover member 13 is attached to cover the opening 12c. The cover member 13 is a light-transmitting member that transmits at least the display light Lt emitted by the image display device 20.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the housing 10 of the embodiment includes a lower case 11 and an upper case 12. The lower case 11 and the upper case 12 are molded from, for example, an insulating synthetic resin. The lower case 11 is a box-shaped member that is open at the top, and the upper case 12 is a box-shaped member that is open at the bottom. The lower case 11 and the upper case 12 are engaged with each other so that the opening of the lower case 11 aligns with the opening of the upper case 12, thereby forming the housing 10. In the housing 10 of the embodiment, an opening 12c through which the display light Lt is emitted toward the reflecting surface 210a of the windshield 210 is formed in a part of the top surface of the upper case 12. The image display device 20, the mirror device 40, the reflecting member RM, and the control unit CR are assembled to and held in the lower case 11.

[0015] The image display device 20 outputs a display image to be projected onto the windshield 210 as display light Lt. The image display device 20 includes a liquid crystal display unit and a backlight unit. The liquid crystal display unit is a so-called liquid crystal panel, and is configured, for example, with a light-transmitting or light-semitransmitting TFT liquid crystal (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display). The liquid crystal display unit is illuminated from the back side, causing the display surface on the front side to emit light. The backlight unit illuminates the liquid crystal display unit from the back side. The backlight unit is driven, for example, by power obtained from a battery (not shown) inside the vehicle 200.

[0016] The heat sink 30 is disposed in contact with the image display device 20 and is a member that dissipates heat generated by the image display device 20. The heat sink 30 is formed of a metal member with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. In the embodiment, the heat sink 30 is attached to the rear surface of the image display device 20 (the side opposite to the emission surface from which the display light Lt is emitted), and is configured to mainly receive heat generated by the backlight unit and dissipate the heat to the outside of the housing 10.

[0017] The housing 10 has an opening 12a that opens upward when the housing 10 is mounted on the vehicle 200. As shown in Fig. 3, the opening 12a is provided in a part of the upper case 12 that is separate from the part where the opening 12c is formed. When viewed from above, the opening 12a in this embodiment is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The opening 12a is an opening for dissipating heat from the heat sink 30 to the outside of the housing 10.

[0018] The heat sink 30 is attached to the housing 10 so as to close the opening 12a. The heat sink 30 has a heat dissipation surface 30a, which is exposed from the housing 10 through the opening 12a. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in the vehicle display device 100, the image display device 20, the mirror device 40, the reflecting member RM, and the control unit CR are housed in a housing section HS of the housing 10, and the heat sink 30 is attached in a position within the housing 10 that separates the housing section HS from the opening 12a.

[0019] A discharge flow path FP is formed on the heat dissipation surface 30a of the heat sink 30 to discharge liquid that has entered the opening 12a to the outside of the housing 10. For example, liquid such as a drink spilled by an occupant of the vehicle 200 may enter the opening 12a of the image display device 20 through an opening in the instrument panel 220. The liquid that has entered the opening 12a flows along the discharge flow path FP and is directly discharged outside the housing from the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP.

[0020] 5 and 6, the heat sink 30 has a plurality of protrusions 31 protruding from the heat dissipation surface 30a, and on the heat dissipation surface 30a, the discharge flow paths FP are formed as groove-like portions between adjacent protrusions 31. In this embodiment, the protrusions 31 function as heat dissipation fins. That is, the protrusions 31 have the function of increasing the surface area of ​​the heat sink 30 and improving the heat dissipation effect of the heat sink 30.

[0021] The heat sink 30 of this embodiment has a side wall 32 that stands along the outer periphery of the heat dissipation surface 30a, and the protrusion 31 is located inside the area of ​​the heat dissipation surface 30a that is surrounded by the side wall 32. Here, a groove-shaped discharge flow path FP is also formed between the side wall 32 and the protrusion 31 that is located adjacent to the side wall 32. The side wall 32 separates the heat dissipation surface 30a from the housing 10, thereby preventing liquid that has splashed on the heat dissipation surface 30a of the heat sink 30 from leaking into the housing 10. For example, the side wall 32 of the heat sink 30 prevents liquid that has splashed on the heat dissipation surface 30a of the heat sink 30 from seeping into the housing HS through the gap between the heat dissipation surface 30a and the housing 10.

[0022] In the heat sink 30 of this embodiment, a portion of the side wall portion 32 is cut out, and this cutout portion is the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP. The terminal end of the discharge flow path FP is a portion that discharges liquid that has entered the opening 12a from inside the opening 12a to the outside of the housing 10. When the heat sink 30 is attached to the housing 10, the discharge flow path FP is formed so that liquid that has splashed on the heat dissipation surface 30a flows toward the terminal end of the drainage flow path FP, and the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP is positioned so that the liquid that has entered the opening 12a is discharged to the outside of the housing 10.

[0023] 3 and 4, the housing 10 has a discharge port 12b that is an outlet for liquid that has entered the opening 12a. In the embodiment, a cutout portion is formed in a part of the edge of the side wall of the upper case 12, and the discharge port 12b is formed by the cutout portion and the edge of the side wall of the lower case 11. In the embodiment, the heat sink 30 has two terminal ends of the discharge flow path FP, and the discharge ports 12b are formed at positions corresponding to the terminal ends of the discharge flow path FP in the side wall of the housing 10. In other words, there is a one-to-one correspondence between the terminal ends of the discharge flow path FP and the discharge ports 12b.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , the drainage flow path FP of the heat sink 30 includes a flow straightening region FPa, which is a region between adjacent protrusions 31, and a terminal region FPb, which is a region disposed within the drain port 12b and includes the terminal end of the drainage flow path FP. The flow straightening region FPa in the embodiment also includes the region between the side wall 32 and the protrusion 31 disposed adjacent to the side wall 32. The flow straightening region FPa is a region for guiding liquid that has spilled onto the heat dissipation surface 30a to the terminal region FPb. The flow straightening region FPa is exposed from the opening 12a of the housing 10. Liquid that has entered the opening 12a spills onto the flow straightening region FPa and flows through the drainage flow path FP of the flow straightening region FPa, and is then guided to the terminal region FPb. The terminal region FPb is a region for discharging liquid that has spilled into the opening 12a to the outside of the opening 12a (outside the housing 10). The termination region FPb is provided on a part of the outer periphery of the heat sink 30, and is formed to protrude from the flow rectification region FPa.

[0025] In the embodiment, a terminal region FPb, which is a region including the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP, is disposed within the discharge port 12b of the housing 10. The terminal end of the discharge flow path FP is exposed from the discharge port 12b, and liquid that has entered the opening 12a is directly discharged from the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP to the outside of the opening 12a (outside the housing 10) via the rectifying region FPa. That is, in the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, the terminal region FPb is formed so that the liquid flowing through the discharge flow path FP (terminal region FPb) does not come into contact with the housing 10. This configuration can prevent the liquid from entering the storage section HS from between the housing 10 and the heat sink 30.

[0026] Furthermore, when the housing 10 is mounted on the vehicle 200, the heat sink 30 is attached to the housing 10 with the heat dissipation surface 30a inclined so that the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP faces downward. That is, when the housing 10 is mounted on the vehicle 200, the heat dissipation surface 30a is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the up-down direction of the vehicle 200 so that the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP faces downward. The inclination angle of the heat dissipation surface 30a with respect to the horizontal plane perpendicular to the up-down direction of the vehicle 200 is appropriately set to an inclination angle that allows the liquid that has entered the opening 12a to flow smoothly from the flow straightening region FPa to the terminal region FPb. Furthermore, since the liquid on the heat dissipation surface 30a is used to cool the heat sink 30, the inclination angle of the heat dissipation surface 30a may be set to an angle that ensures a certain amount of residence time of the liquid on the heat dissipation surface 30a.

[0027] In the embodiment, each protrusion 31 is formed in a plate shape extending in the direction in which the heat dissipation surface 30a is inclined. In the extension direction of each protrusion 31, the end of each protrusion 31 on the terminal region FPb side (the lower end of each protrusion 31 in the direction in which the heat dissipation surface 30a is inclined) is spaced apart from the side wall 32 of the heat sink 30. Liquid flowing between adjacent protrusions 31 passes between the end of each protrusion 31 on the terminal region FPb side and the side wall 32, joins together, and reaches the terminal region FPb (the end of the discharge flow path FP).

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the heat sink 30 is attached to the image display device 20 with its surface (attachment surface) opposite to the heat dissipation surface 30a in contact. In this embodiment, the image display device 20 includes a main body 21 including a liquid crystal display unit and a light source for the backlight unit, and a case 22 that houses the main body 21. In the image display device 20 of this embodiment, the case 22 is a box-shaped member with an opening on one side, and houses the liquid crystal display unit and the light source for the backlight unit so that the display surface of the liquid crystal display unit is exposed from the opening. The light source is housed in the case 22 to form the backlight unit. The light source for the backlight unit is located within the case 22 at a position facing the back surface opposite the display surface of the liquid crystal display unit.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 8, the heat sink 30 is attached to the rear of the case 22 (the portion of the case 22 opposite to the portion where the display surface of the liquid crystal display unit is exposed). The heat sink 30 is fixed to the case 22 with fixing members such as screws. The case 22 is formed of, for example, a resin material. The case 22 may also be formed of a metal material with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum. In this case, heat generated from the light source of the backlight unit and the like can be efficiently conducted to the heat sink 30.

[0030] As described above, the vehicle display device 100 of the embodiment is provided with a reflecting member RM. As shown in FIG. 2, the reflecting member RM is a flat mirror, and the reflecting surface that reflects the display light Lt is formed as a flat surface. The reflecting member RM is disposed at a position facing the image display device 20. The reflecting member RM reflects the display light Lt emitted from the image display device 20 toward the mirror 41 of the mirror device 40.

[0031] The mirror device 40 includes a mirror 41, a drive member 42, and a bearing member 43. The mirror 41 reflects the display light Lt reflected by the reflecting member RM toward the reflecting surface 210a of the windshield 210 through the opening 12c. The mirror 41 of the embodiment is a concave mirror and functions as a magnifying mirror. That is, the mirror 41 of the embodiment magnifies and reflects the display image represented by the display light Lt after reflection by the concave mirror 41 so that the display image represented by the display light Lt after reflection by the mirror 41 is relatively larger than the display image represented by the display light Lt before reflection by the mirror 41.

[0032] The mirror 41 includes a main body and a pair of rotation shafts protruding from each side wall of the main body. The main body has a reflective surface that reflects the display light Lt. In the embodiment, the main body is a substantially rectangular flat member whose longitudinal direction is along the rotation axis of the mirror when viewed from the thickness direction of the main body.

[0033] The mirror's rotation axis is located at the rotation axis position. The rotation axis is the rotation center of the mirror 41. The central axes of the mirror's rotation axes are each on the rotation axis line. In this embodiment, the mirror's rotation axis protrudes along the rotation axis line from each of the side walls in the width direction of the main body, and a drive member 42 is attached to one of the rotation axes, and a bearing member 43 is attached to the other rotation axis. The drive member 42 and the bearing member 43 are fixed to the lower case 11 with fixing members such as screws, and the mirror 41 is attached to the lower case 11 via the drive member 42 and the bearing member 43.

[0034] The driving member 42 includes a motor and a power transmission member. The motor rotates its output shaft using power supplied from a battery or the like of the vehicle 200. The power transmission member is a member that transmits driving force from the output shaft of the motor to the rotation shaft of the mirror. The power transmission member is composed of, for example, a gear. The rotation of the output shaft of the motor is transmitted to the rotation shaft of the mirror 41 by the power transmission member, causing the main body of the mirror 41 to rotate. With this configuration, the angle of the main body of the mirror 41 can be changed.

[0035] The control unit CR controls the image display device 20 to control the display image (virtual image) displayed by the vehicle display device 100. The control unit CR is also connected to the mirror device 40, and can adjust the angle of the main body of the mirror 41 by controlling the rotation of the motor of the mirror device 40. In other words, the control unit CR controls the mirror device 40 to adjust the display position of the display image.

[0036] As described above, the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment comprises a housing 10 mounted on a vehicle 200, an image display device 20 provided in a storage section HS of the housing 10, and a heat sink 30 provided in a position in contact with the image display device 20, and the housing 10 has an opening 12a that opens upward when the housing 10 is mounted on the vehicle 200, and the heat sink 30 is attached in a position within the housing 10 that separates the storage section HS and the opening 12a, and has a heat dissipation surface 30a exposed from the housing 10 through the opening 12a, and a discharge flow path FP is formed on the heat dissipation surface 30a to discharge liquid that has entered the opening 12a to the outside of the housing 10.

[0037] In the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, a discharge flow path FP is formed in the heat sink 30 to discharge liquid that has entered through the opening 12a to the outside of the housing 10. This allows for both the function of discharging liquid that has entered the heat dissipation opening 12a of the housing 10 to the outside of the housing 10 and the heat dissipation function of the heat sink 30 to be efficiently achieved. Furthermore, since liquid that has entered through the opening 12a and splashed on the heat sink 30 can be directly discharged to the outside of the housing 10, it is possible to prevent liquid from entering the storage section HS between the heat sink 30 and the housing 10. Furthermore, for example, by providing a discharge flow path FP on the heat dissipation surface 30a of the heat sink 30, the liquid on the heat dissipation surface 30a can be used to cool the heat sink 30 while also being guided to the outside of the housing 10. Furthermore, by forming a discharge flow path FP in the heat sink 30, liquid that has entered through the opening 12a can be discharged outside the housing 10 without forming a discharge flow path in the housing 10, and since there is no need to provide a discharge flow path in the housing 10, the housing 10 can be made smaller.

[0038] In addition, in the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, the heat sink 30 has a plurality of protrusions 31 protruding from the heat dissipation surface 30a, and on the heat dissipation surface 30a, the discharge flow path FP is formed as a groove-like portion between adjacent protrusions 31.

[0039] In the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, the heat dissipation fins (protrusions 31) of the heat sink 30 form a discharge flow path FP, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink 30 and enabling the liquid that has seeped in through the opening 12a to be discharged outside the housing.

[0040] Furthermore, in the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, the housing 10 has a discharge port 12b, which is an outlet for liquid that has entered the opening 12a, and the discharge flow path FP includes a straightening region FPa, which is the region between adjacent protrusions 31, and a terminal region FPb, which is a region disposed within the discharge port 12b and includes the terminal end of the discharge flow path FP.

[0041] In the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, the liquid is directly discharged from the end of the discharge flow path FP to the outside of the housing 10 via the discharge port of the housing 10, thereby preventing the liquid from splashing between the housing 10 and the heat sink 30. In other words, the liquid can be prevented from seeping into the storage section HS from between the housing 10 and the heat sink 30.

[0042] In the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, when the housing 10 is mounted on the vehicle 200, the heat dissipation surface 30a is inclined with the end of the discharge flow path FP pointing downward relative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the vertical direction of the vehicle 200.

[0043] In the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, the heat dissipation surface 30a of the heat sink 30 is inclined toward the outlet of the housing 10, thereby enabling smooth discharge of the liquid while ensuring a certain amount of time for the liquid to remain on the heat dissipation surface 30a, thereby enabling the heat sink 30 to be cooled by the liquid.

[0044] [Variations] In the above embodiment, the image display device 20, the mirror device 40, the reflecting member RM, and the control unit CR are assembled to the lower case 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the image display device 20, the mirror device 40, the reflecting member RM, and the control unit CR may be assembled to the upper case 12.

[0045] [Reference example] As a reference example different from the embodiment, a configuration in which a lid portion covering the opening 12a is provided on the upper case 12 without forming a discharge flow path FP in the heat sink 30 is also possible. However, in this case, heat may be trapped in the space between the heat dissipation surface 30a of the heat sink 30 and the lid portion, which may reduce the heat dissipation function of the vehicle display device. In addition, providing a lid portion increases the size of the housing 10.

[0046] On the other hand, in the vehicle display device 100 according to the embodiment, even if liquid seeps into the opening 12a, it can be discharged to the outside of the opening 12a by providing the discharge flow path FP in the heat sink 30. Therefore, the housing 10 can be made smaller than the configuration of the reference example in which a lid is provided on the upper case 12.

[0047] The contents disclosed in the above embodiments can be implemented in appropriate combinations. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10: Housing 11: Lower case, 12: Upper case, 12a: Opening, 12b: Discharge port 30: heat sink, 30a: heat dissipation surface 40: Mirror device 100: vehicle display device, CR: control unit, FP: discharge flow path, RM: reflective member

Claims

1. a housing mounted on the vehicle; an image display device provided in the housing; a heat sink provided at a position in contact with the image display device; Equipped with an opening is formed on an upper surface of the housing, the opening facing upward in a vertical direction of the vehicle when the housing is mounted on the vehicle; the heat sink is attached to a position within the housing that separates the accommodation portion from the opening, and has a heat dissipation surface exposed from the housing through the opening; a discharge flow path for discharging liquid that has entered the opening to the outside of the housing is formed on the heat dissipation surface; A vehicle display device comprising:

2. the heat sink has a plurality of protrusions protruding from the heat dissipation surface, On the heat dissipation surface, the discharge flow path is formed as a groove-like portion between adjacent protrusions. The vehicle display device according to claim 1 .

3. the housing has a discharge port that is an outlet for liquid that has entered the opening, the discharge flow path includes a flow straightening region that is a region between the adjacent protrusions, and a terminal region that is disposed within the discharge port and includes a terminal end of the discharge flow path, The vehicle display device according to claim 2 .

4. When the housing is mounted on the vehicle, the heat dissipation surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the up-down direction such that the terminal end of the discharge flow path faces downward. The display device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images