Head-up display device
The head-up display device uses a single display unit and optimized optical modules to minimize size, power consumption, and costs by projecting multiple image beams at different depths, addressing the inefficiencies of dual-image generation units.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CORETRONIC CORPORATION
- Filing Date
- 2022-04-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-23
AI Technical Summary
Current in-vehicle augmented reality head-up display devices require two image generation units, leading to large structure volume, high power consumption, and high costs due to their complex optical setups.
A head-up display device that projects multiple image beams using a single display unit and a combination of optical modules with free-form surface reflectors and mirrors to create virtual images at different depths, optimizing the optical path lengths to reduce overall size, power consumption, and cost.
The optimized optical path design results in a smaller, more energy-efficient head-up display device with reduced material and operational costs while maintaining effective image projection capabilities.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a display device, and particularly to a head-up display device.
Background Art
[0002] An in-vehicle augmented reality head-up display device is generally designed to be capable of displaying two different types of content images. One type of image displays predetermined driving information, such as vehicle speed, fuel level, mileage, speed limit, etc. The other type of image displays driving information according to road conditions, such as left and right turn signs, location guides, warning signs, etc. The image having the first type of driving information is preferably displayed at a shallow (front) position, for example, 2 meters ahead, and the image having the second type of driving information is displayed at a deep (rear) position, for example, 8 meters ahead.
[0003] In the structure of the current augmented reality head-up display device, usually two image generation units (Picture Generation Unit, PGU) installed at different positions are used to generate images having different image distances in depth. However, since two image generation units are installed, there are drawbacks such as a large overall structure volume, high power consumption, and high cost.
[0004] The "Background Art" section is only intended to facilitate understanding of the invention content, and it may include some components other than the prior art known to those skilled in the art disclosed in the "Background Art". The content disclosed in the "Background Art" does not mean that the problems to be solved by the content or one or more embodiments of the present invention have already been grasped or recognized by those skilled in the art before the filing of the present invention.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] The present invention provides a head-up display device that can reduce the system volume, reduce power consumption, and further reduce costs.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] Further understanding of other objectives and advantages of the present invention can be gained from the technical features disclosed in this invention.
[0007] To achieve one, some, or all of the aforementioned objectives, or other objectives, one embodiment of the present invention provides a head-up display device that projects a first image beam and a second image beam onto a target element. The head-up display device includes a display unit, a first optical module, and a second optical module. The display unit provides the first image beam and the second image beam. The first optical module receives the first image beam and the second image beam from the display unit and transmits the first image beam and the second image beam to the second optical module. The second optical module includes a free-form surface reflector. The free-form surface reflector receives the first image beam and the second image beam from the first optical module. The first image beam and the second image beam are each reflected by the second optical module to the outside of the head-up display device and further transmitted to the target element to form a first virtual image and a second virtual image. The optical path of the first image beam from the display unit to the position of the first virtual image formed thereon via the first optical module is greater than the optical path of the second image beam from the display unit to the position of the second virtual image formed thereon.
[0008] As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the head-up display device is designed to generate a first image luminous flux and a second image luminous flux using a single display unit. Therefore, the overall structure of the head-up display device has advantages such as a smaller volume, lower power consumption, and lower cost.
[0009] To more clearly and understandably demonstrate the features and advantages of the present invention, the following will be described in detail with reference to examples and drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0010] [Figure 1A] A schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B]A schematic diagram of two virtual images formed by a head-up display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram of the first optical module in a head-up display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] A schematic diagram of the first optical module in a head-up display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram of the first optical module in a head-up display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] A schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] A schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0011] In order to clearly illustrate the above and other technical details, features, and effects of the present invention, preferred embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Directional terms used in the following embodiments (e.g., up, down, left, right, front, or back) refer only to the directions shown in the drawings. Therefore, these directional terms are used for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the present invention.
[0012] Figure 1A is a schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1B is a schematic diagram of two virtual images formed by the head-up display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figures 1A and 1B, one embodiment of the present invention provides a head-up display device 100 for projecting a first image luminous beam B1 and a second image luminous beam B2 onto a target element T. In this embodiment, the head-up display device 100 is applied to a means of transportation such as an automobile. The target element T is, for example, the windshield of an automobile. When the first image luminous beam B1 and the second image luminous beam B2 are reflected by the target element T to the eyes E of an observer (e.g., the driver of the means of transportation), the observer can see a first virtual image VM1 and a second virtual image VM2 in front of the target object T, having different imaging distances and different driving information.
[0013] In this embodiment, the head-up display device 100 includes a display unit 110, a first optical module 120, and a second optical module 130. The display unit 110 provides a first image luminous beam B1 and a second image luminous beam B2. More specifically, the display unit 110 has an adjacent first effective imaging region R1 and a second effective imaging region R2. The first effective imaging region R1 and the second effective imaging region R2 each generate a first image luminous beam B1 and a second image luminous beam B2, and the first and second virtual images formed outside the head-up display device 100 represent different image content (e.g., driving information). The first optical module 120 receives the first image luminous beam B1 and the second image luminous beam B2 from the display unit 110 and transmits the first image luminous beam B1 and the second image luminous beam B2 to the second optical module 130.
[0014] In this embodiment, the first optical module 120 includes a first reflective surface 120R1, a second reflective surface 120R2, and a third reflective surface 120R3, which are installed adjacent to each other. The first image luminous beam B1 from the first effective imaging region R1 of the display unit 110 is reflected sequentially by the second reflective surface 120R2 and the third reflective surface 120R3 of the first optical module 120 and reaches the second optical module 130. The second image luminous beam B2 from the second effective imaging region R2 of the display unit 110 is reflected by the first reflective surface 120R1 of the first optical module 120 and reaches the second optical module 130. The second image luminous beam B2 does not pass through the second reflective surface 120R2 and the third reflective surface 120R3 of the first optical module 120, and the first image luminous beam B1 does not pass through the first reflective surface 120R1 of the first optical module 120.
[0015] In this embodiment, there is an obtuse angle θ1 between the first reflective surface 120R1 and the second reflective surface 120R2, and an acute angle θ2 between the second reflective surface 120R2 and the third reflective surface 120R3. The first reflective surface 120R1 and the third reflective surface 120R3 are not directly connected, but the first reflective surface 120R1 is connected to the third reflective surface 120R3 via the second reflective surface 120R2. In this embodiment, one end of the first reflective surface 120R1 is connected to one end of the second reflective surface 120R2, the other end of the second reflective surface 120R2 is connected to one end of the third reflective surface 120R3, and the acute angle θ2 formed by the second reflective surface 120R2 and the third reflective surface 120R3 is directed toward the display unit 110.
[0016] In this embodiment, the first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 from the first optical module 120 are incident on the second optical module 130 at different angles. The second optical module 130 includes a free-form mirror 132. The free-form mirror 132 receives the first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 from the first optical module 120. The first image beam B1 and the second image beam B2 are reflected by the second optical module 130 to the outside of the head-up display device 100 and further transmitted to the target element T to form the first virtual image VM1 and the second virtual image VM2. Due to the first optical module 120, the optical path of the first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the position of the first virtual image VM1 it has formed is greater than the optical path of the second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the position of the second virtual image VM2 it has formed.
[0017] In this embodiment, the head-up display device 100 further includes a sensor 140 and a controller 150. The sensor 140 detects the position of the user's (driver's) eyes E. The controller 150 includes, but is not limited to, a microcontroller unit (MCU), a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable controller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or other similar devices, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, each function of the controller 150 can be implemented as a plurality of program codes. These program codes are stored in memory, and the controller 150 executes these program codes. Alternatively, in one embodiment, each function of the controller 150 may be implemented as one or more electrical circuits. The present invention is not limited to implementing each function of the controller 150 in software or hardware.
[0018] In this embodiment, the controller 150 is electrically connected to the sensor 140 and coupled to the second optical module 130, and the second optical module 130 has a drive (not shown) that drives, for example, the free-form surface mirror 132. The controller 150 receives a signal from the sensor 140 and controls the drive according to the change in the position of the eye E, adjusts the yaw angle of the free-form surface mirror 132, and clearly shows the first virtual image VM1 and the second virtual image VM2.
[0019] According to the above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the head-up display device 100 is designed such that the display unit 110 generates the first image light beam B1 and the second image light beam B2. The optical path of the head-up display device 100 is designed such that the first image light beam B1 is reflected at least twice by the first optical module 120, and the second image light beam B2 is reflected once by the first optical module 120, and the optical path from the display unit 110 to the position of the first virtual image VM1 of the first image light beam B1 is larger than the optical path from the display unit 110 to the position of the second virtual image VM2 of the second image light beam B2. Therefore, the overall structure of the head-up display device 100 has advantages such as a smaller volume, less power consumption, and lower cost.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the first optical module in the head-up display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the first optical module 120A in FIG. 2 is similar to the first optical module 120 in FIG. 1A, but the main differences are as follows. In this embodiment, the first optical module 120A is a polygonal light-transmitting body, and the material of the light-transmitting body is, for example, glass. The first reflecting surface 120R1, the second reflecting surface 120R2, and the third reflecting surface 120R3 are installed on three surfaces of the polygonal light-transmitting body. The advantages of the head-up display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 in FIG. 1A and are omitted here.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a head-up display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, the first optical module 120B in FIG. 3 is similar to the first optical module 120 in FIG. 1A, but the main differences are as follows. In this embodiment, the first optical module 120B further includes a polygonal light-transmitting body 122B, and the material of the light-transmitting body is, for example, glass. The first reflecting surface 120R1 and the second reflecting surface 120R2 are installed on two surfaces of the polygonal light-transmitting body 122B. The third reflecting surface 120R3 is a plane mirror. Also, the first reflecting surface 120R1 and the second reflecting surface 120R2 are connected, the first reflecting surface 120R1 and the third reflecting surface 120R3 are not connected, and the second reflecting surface 120R2 and the third reflecting surface 120R3 are not connected. The advantages of the head-up display device according to the third embodiment of the present invention are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 in FIG. 1A and are omitted here.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a first optical module in a head-up display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the first optical module 120C in FIG. 4 is similar to the first optical module 120 in FIG. 1A, but the main differences are as follows. In this embodiment, the first optical module 120C is a plurality of plane mirrors, and these plane mirrors are separated from each other. That is, the first reflecting surface 120R1, the second reflecting surface 120R2, and the third reflecting surface 120R3 are not connected to each other. However, in another embodiment, these plane mirrors may be connected to each other. The advantages of the head-up display device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 in FIG. 1A and are omitted here.
[0023] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 5, the head-up display device 100D in Figure 5 is similar to the head-up display device 100 in Figure 1A, and the relative positions of the virtual images formed by the head-up display device 100D in Figure 5 are similar to the two virtual images in Figure 1B, with the main differences being as follows. In this embodiment, the first optical module 120D includes a curved mirror 124 and a convex lens 126, and the curved mirror 124 is arranged such that, for example, its concave surface faces the display unit 110. The curved mirror 124 may be a free-form reflecting mirror.
[0024] More specifically, in this embodiment, the first image beam B1 from the first effective imaging region R1 of the display unit 110 is reflected by the curved mirror 124 to the second optical module 130. The second image beam B2 from the second effective imaging region R2 of the display unit 110 first passes through the convex lens 126 before being reflected by the curved mirror 124 to the second optical module 130. The convex lens 126 is not located in the transmission path of the first image beam B1.
[0025] In this embodiment, the optical path of the first image luminous flux B1 from the display unit 110 to the curved mirror 124 is greater than the optical path of the second image luminous flux B2 from the display unit 110 to the curved mirror 124.
[0026] In this embodiment, the curved mirror 124 and the display unit 110 are not parallel. The curved mirror 124 and the second optical module 130 are not parallel.
[0027] As described above, in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the head-up display device 100D reduces the optical path of the second image light beam B2 by installing a convex lens 126, and makes the optical path of the first image light beam B1 larger than the optical path of the second image light beam B2. Therefore, the head-up display device 100D uses fewer optical elements and has a simpler optical path. Other advantages of the head-up display device 100D are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 in Figure 1A and are omitted here.
[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a head-up display device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The head-up display device of the sixth embodiment is a variation of the first and fifth embodiments. Referring to Figure 6, the head-up display device 100E in Figure 6 is similar to the head-up display device 100 in Figure 1A and the head-up display device 100D in Figure 5, and the relative position of the virtual image formed by the head-up display device 100E in Figure 6 is also similar to that in Figure 1B, with the main differences being as follows. While the first optical module 120D of the head-up display device 100D in Figure 5 includes a single curved mirror 124, in this embodiment, the first optical module 120E includes a first reflector and a second reflector installed adjacent to each other, and the second reflector and the first reflector in the embodiment of Figure 6 are a curved mirror 124 and a plane mirror 128, respectively. Note that the curved mirror 124 may be a spherical reflector, an aspherical reflector, or a free-form reflector. The first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 is reflected by the plane mirror 128 to the second optical module 130, forming a first virtual image with a relatively long image distance. The second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 is reflected by the curved mirror 124 to the second optical module 130, forming a second virtual image with a relatively short image distance. By installing the curved mirror 124, the optical path of the second image beam B2 is reduced, and furthermore, the optical path of the first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130 is larger than the optical path of the second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130.
[0029] In this embodiment, the curved mirror 124 and the second optical module 130 are not parallel. The curved mirror 124 is a free-form reflecting mirror. The advantages of the head-up display device 100E are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 in Figure 1A and are therefore omitted here.
[0030] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a head-up display device based on the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The head-up display device of the seventh embodiment is a variation of the sixth embodiment. Referring to Figure 7, the head-up display device 100F in Figure 7 is similar to the head-up display device 100E in Figure 6, and the relative position of the virtual image formed in Figure 7 is similar to that in Figure 1B. The main differences from the head-up display device 100E in Figure 6 are as follows. In this embodiment, the first optical module 120F includes a first reflector and a second reflector installed adjacent to each other, and the second reflector and the first reflector in the embodiment of Figure 7 are curved mirrors 124 and 129, respectively, and the curvature of the curved mirror 124 is different from the curvature of the curved mirror 129. The first image light beam B1 from the first effective imaging region R1 of the display unit 110 is reflected by the curved mirror 129 to the second optical module 130, forming a first virtual image with a relatively long image distance. The second image beam B2 from the second effective imaging region R2 of the display unit 110 is reflected by the curved mirror 124 to the second optical module 130, forming a second virtual image with a relatively close image distance. Due to the different curvatures of the curved mirrors 124 and 129, the optical path of the second image beam B2 is reduced, and furthermore, the optical path of the first image beam B1 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130 is larger than the optical path of the second image beam B2 from the display unit 110 to the second optical module 130.
[0031] In this embodiment, the curved mirror 124 and the second optical module 130 are not parallel. Furthermore, both the curved mirror 129 and the curved mirror 124 are free-form reflecting mirrors. The advantages of the head-up display device 100F are similar to those of the head-up display device 100 in Figure 1A and the head-up display device 100E in Figure 6, and are therefore omitted here.
[0032] In summary, in one embodiment of the present invention, the head-up display device is designed so that a first image luminous beam and a second image luminous beam are generated by the display unit, and the design of the first optical module makes the optical path of the first image luminous beam from the display unit to the position of the first virtual image larger than the optical path of the second image luminous beam from the display unit to the position of the second virtual image. Therefore, the overall structure of the head-up display device has advantages such as a smaller volume, lower power consumption, and lower cost.
[0033] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not limit the scope of implementation. That is, any simple and equivalent changes and modifications made based on the claims and content of the invention fall within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, any embodiment or claim of the present invention does not necessarily possess all the purposes, advantages, or features disclosed herein. Also, the abstract and the title of the invention are for use in patent literature searches and do not limit the scope of rights of the present invention. In addition, terms such as "first," "second," etc., mentioned in the specification or claims indicate the names of elements or distinguish different embodiments or scopes, and do not limit the upper or lower limit of the number of elements. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0034] 100, 100D, 100E, 100F Head-Up Display Device 110 Display Unit 120, 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E, 120F First Optical Module 120R1 1st reflective surface 120R2 2nd reflective surface 120R3 3rd reflective surface 122B Polygonal transparent body 124, 129 curved mirror 126 Convex Lens 128 Plane mirror 130 Second Optical Module 132 Free-form reflector 140 sensors 150 controllers B1 First image luminous flux B2 Second Image Light Beam E eye R1 First effective imaging region R2 Second effective imaging region T Target element VM1 First Virtual Image VM2 Second Virtual Image θ1 obtuse angle θ² acute angle
Claims
1. A head-up display device, The head-up display device projects a first image beam and a second image beam onto the target element. The head-up display device includes a display unit, a first optical module, and a second optical module. The display unit provides the first image luminous beam and the second image luminous beam. The first optical module receives the first image luminous beam and the second image luminous beam from the display unit and transmits the first image luminous beam and the second image luminous beam to the second optical module, and the first optical module includes a curved mirror and a convex lens. The second optical module includes a free-form surface reflector and receives the first image beam and the second image beam from the first optical module. The first image beam and the second image beam are each reflected by the second optical module to the outside of the head-up display device and further transmitted to the target element to form the first virtual image and the second virtual image. The optical path of the first image luminous beam from the display unit to the position of the first virtual image formed thereon, via the first optical module, is greater than the optical path of the second image luminous beam from the display unit to the position of the second virtual image formed thereon. The first image beam from the display unit is reflected by the curved mirror to the second optical module, and the second image beam from the display unit first passes through the convex lens and then is reflected by the curved mirror to the second optical module. The convex lens is not installed on the transmission path of the first image light beam, Head-up display device.
2. The head-up display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved mirror is a free-form surface reflecting mirror.
3. The head-up display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical path of the first image luminous beam from the display unit to the curved mirror is greater than the optical path of the second image luminous beam from the display unit to the curved mirror.
4. The head-up display device according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved mirror and the display unit are not parallel, and the curved mirror and the second optical module are not parallel.