Viewing window unit, display apparatus and vehicle

Abstract

The present application provides a viewing window unit, a display apparatus and a vehicle. The viewing window unit provided by the present application can be applied to a vehicle-mounted display apparatus, and has better anti-collision capability and the performance of eliminating external stray light, and when same is applied to a display apparatus and a vehicle, the firmness of the display apparatus can be improved, and the display effect can be ensured, thus improving user experience. The viewing window unit comprises an inorganic layer and an organic layer which are sequentially arranged in the transmission direction of first image light. The inorganic layer is used for transmitting the first image light to the organic layer and for reflecting second image light. The organic layer is used for transmitting the first image light from the inorganic layer.

Description

Window unit, display device and vehicle

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on September 15, 2023, with application number 202311204094.X and application name “A Window Unit, Display Device and Vehicle”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The embodiments of the present application relate to the fields of display technology and intelligent automobile driving technology, and more specifically, to a window unit, a display device, and a vehicle. Background Art

[0003] Cars have become an indispensable means of transportation in people's daily lives. With the development of intelligent cars, people's demand for cars has been upgraded from simple means of transportation to a living space with certain information acquisition and entertainment enjoyment. Among them, in-vehicle display technology has become a hot research direction.

[0004] Since there are multiple optical components inside the vehicle-mounted display device, when it is subjected to a violent impact, it is easy to break, crack, or even break into sharp edges and deformation, posing a safety hazard.

[0005] Therefore, how to make the vehicle-mounted display device resistant to smashing and collision and improve the impact resistance and robustness of the vehicle-mounted display device is a problem that needs to be solved.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present application provides a window unit, a display device, and a vehicle. The window unit provided in the present application has strong impact resistance and the ability to eliminate external stray light. When applied to a display device and a vehicle, it can improve the robustness of the display device, ensure the display effect, and enhance the user experience when riding in the vehicle.

[0008] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a window unit. The window unit comprises an inorganic layer and an organic layer sequentially arranged along the transmission direction of a first image light. The inorganic layer is configured to transmit the first image light toward the organic layer and also to reflect a second image light; the organic layer is configured to transmit the first image light from the inorganic layer.

[0009] It should be noted that in the present application, the organic layer may be a thermoplastic plastic, which may be called organic glass, such as polypropylene (PP), polychloroprene (PC), or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The inorganic layer may be inorganic glass, which has a high flatness.

[0010] Based on the above solution, the window unit provided in this application utilizes the higher breaking elongation of organic glass and arranges the organic layer on the side close to the viewing side, which can improve the robustness of the display device and provide collision safety protection.

[0011] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a window unit. The window unit is used in an in-vehicle display device, which further includes an image generating unit and an image magnifying unit. The window unit comprises an inorganic layer and an organic layer sequentially arranged along a transmission direction of a first image light, wherein: the inorganic layer is configured to transmit the first image light to the organic layer and also to reflect the second image light emitted by the image generating unit, the first image light being generated by the image magnifying unit reflecting the second image light; and the organic layer is configured to transmit the first image light from the inorganic layer.

[0012] Based on the above solution, the window unit provided in this application can be used in a vehicle-mounted display system. By utilizing the higher elongation at break of organic glass and arranging the organic layer on the side close to the viewing side, the robustness of the display device can be improved and collision safety protection can be provided.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in certain implementations of the first aspect, the window unit further includes a polarizing layer, located between the inorganic layer and the organic layer and disposed on a first surface of the inorganic layer. The inorganic layer is specifically configured to transmit the first image light to the polarizing layer; the polarizing layer is configured to eliminate stray light incident from the organic layer and transmit the first image light from the inorganic layer to the organic layer; and the organic layer is specifically configured to transmit the first image light from the polarizing layer.

[0014] Based on the above solution, by adopting a polarization layer in the window unit, the ambient light entering the window unit can be eliminated, thereby improving the stray light elimination performance of the window unit.

[0015] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the polarization layer includes a first quarter-wave plate and at least one linear polarizer.

[0016] By providing multiple layers of linear polarizers, the effect of eliminating stray light of the display device can be further improved, thereby improving the display performance of the display device.

[0017] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the thickness h1 of the inorganic layer is in the range of 1.2mm≤h1≤2mm, the thickness of the polarization layer h2 is in the range of 1.2mm≤h2≤2mm, and the thickness h3 of the organic layer is in the range of 1mm≤h3≤2.5mm.

[0018] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the window unit further includes a spectroscopic film, which is arranged on the second surface of the inorganic layer, and the spectroscopic film is used to reflect the second image light and transmit the first image light to the inorganic layer.

[0019] The use of a dichroic film can improve the reflective performance of the window unit, thereby reducing the loss of light energy.

[0020] In combination with the first aspect, in some implementations of the first aspect, the window unit further includes an anti-reflection film, and the anti-reflection film is arranged on an outer surface of the organic layer.

[0021] Using an anti-reflective film to reduce the reflection of ambient light on the window unit can further improve the performance of the window unit.

[0022] In a second aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a display device for in-vehicle display. The display device includes: an image generation unit, an image magnification unit, and a window unit as described in the first aspect and any possible implementation of the first aspect. The image generation unit is configured to emit the second image light toward the window unit; the window unit is also configured to allow a human eye to view a virtual image formed by the first image light through the window unit; and the image magnification unit is configured to receive the second image light from the window unit and, based on the reflection of the second image light, generate the first image light toward the window unit.

[0023] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the window unit is placed at an angle relative to a vertical direction.

[0024] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the angle α between the window unit and the vertical direction is in the range of 0°≤α≤45°.

[0025] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the image generating unit is located above the window unit and the image magnifying unit.

[0026] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, a range of a virtual imaging distance VID of the display device is VID≥2m.

[0027] In combination with the second aspect, in certain implementations of the second aspect, the range of the eye box H of the display device in the vertical direction is H≥20 mm.

[0028] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the field of view (FOV) of the display device is in the range of 15°≤FOV≤30°.

[0029] In combination with the second aspect, in some implementations of the second aspect, the image generating unit further includes a second quarter-wave plate.

[0030] By incorporating a quarter-wave plate into the image generation unit, the image light emitted by the unit is converted into circularly polarized or elliptically polarized light, improving the uniformity of the light emitted by the unit. Furthermore, this can be combined with a window unit containing both a quarter-wave plate and a linear polarizer to eliminate ambient stray light, improve system light efficiency, and further enhance display quality.

[0031] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a display system, characterized by comprising a first processor and the display device according to the second aspect and any possible implementation of the second aspect, wherein the first processor is electrically connected to the image generation unit. The first processor is configured to obtain first image information, perform pre-distortion processing on a first image corresponding to the first image information, generate second image information corresponding to a second image, and send the second image information to the image generation unit.

[0032] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a vehicle, which includes the display system as described in the third aspect.

[0033] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the display system is arranged at at least one of a headrest of a seat of the vehicle and a backrest of a seat of the vehicle.

[0034] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the display system is arranged in a co-pilot console of the vehicle.

[0035] In combination with the fourth aspect, in some implementations of the fourth aspect, the first processor is used to obtain the first image information from a video source.

[0036] In combination with the fourth aspect, in certain implementations of the fourth aspect, the vehicle also includes a second processor, which is electrically connected to the first processor, and the second processor is used to obtain third image information from a video source and pre-process the third image information to generate the first image information. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario 100 of a window unit provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0038] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first window unit 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0039] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a second window unit 300 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0040] FIG4 is a schematic diagram showing the principle of eliminating stray light by the window unit 300 provided in the present application.

[0041] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario 500 of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0042] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a display device 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0043] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a scenario in which the tilt direction of the display device 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application is not parallel to the plane of the chair back.

[0044] FIG8 is a schematic diagram showing the principle that the image generation unit provided in an embodiment of the present application is arranged above the window unit and the image magnification unit.

[0045] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the thickness D of the display device and the width V of the image generating unit provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0046] FIG10 shows a possible structure of the image generation unit 601 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0047] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of the light output angle θ of the image generation unit 601 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0048] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the rotation of the display device 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0049] FIG13 is a schematic diagram of a display system 1300 provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0050] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of a method for pre-distortion processing of an image provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0051] FIG15 is a circuit diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0052] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of a possible functional framework of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0054] In order to facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, the following explanations are provided.

[0055] First, the terms "first," "second," and various numbers in the text descriptions or drawings of the embodiments of the present application shown below are merely for convenience of description and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence, and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of the present application. For example, they may be used to distinguish between different quarter-wave plates or different image lights.

[0056] Second, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the embodiments of the present application shown below are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a system, product or device that includes a series of units is not necessarily limited to those units explicitly listed, but may include other units that are not explicitly listed or are inherent to these products or devices.

[0057] Third, in the embodiments of this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. An embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. The use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner to facilitate understanding.

[0058] Fourth, in the embodiment of the present application, image light refers to light carrying an image (or image information) and is used to generate an image.

[0059] Fifth, in the drawings of this application, the thickness, size, and shape of each optical element have been slightly exaggerated for ease of illustration. Specifically, the shapes of the optical elements shown in the drawings are by way of example, and the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn strictly to scale.

[0060] Sixth, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. It should also be understood that terms (such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined as such herein.

[0061] Seventh, it should be noted that, unless otherwise specified as a horizontal field of view angle or a vertical field of view angle, in the description of this application, the field of view angle of the display device refers to the angle corresponding to the diagonal length of the displayed image.

[0062] With the rapid development of smart cars, the demand for in-vehicle displays is increasing. Vehicles typically have at least one in-vehicle display device installed to meet passengers' needs for work, gaming, and movie viewing. Current in-vehicle displays typically use plastic casings to protect internal components. Furthermore, the front casing and the metal frame at the bottom of the keypad opening are weak. When impacted, in-vehicle displays can easily deform or even crack, forming sharp edges, posing a safety hazard.

[0063] In view of this, the present application provides a window unit that can be applied to a display device to improve the display device's resistance to pressure and impact. In addition, the window unit provided by the present application can also eliminate stray light entering the window unit, thereby achieving the purpose of improving the display effect of the display device.

[0064] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario 100 of a window unit provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG1 , a window unit 102, an image generation unit 101, and an image magnification unit 103 constitute a display device 10. Specifically, image generation unit 101 emits image light toward window unit 102. This image light is reflected by window unit 102 and then incident on image magnification unit 103. This image light is then reflected by image magnification unit 103 and then incident on window unit 102. It then passes through window unit 102 and enters the human eye, allowing the user to see a large-format image in the distance through window unit 102.

[0065] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first window unit 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 2 , along the transmission direction of the first image light, window unit 200 includes an inorganic layer 202 and an organic layer 201. The inorganic layer 202 is configured to transmit the first image light (e.g., image light reflected from the image amplification unit) toward the organic layer 201 and reflect the second image light (e.g., image light emitted from the image generation unit). The organic layer 201 is configured to transmit the first image light from the inorganic layer 202 to the human eye.

[0066] Optionally, the inorganic layer 202 is made of inorganic glass. The organic layer 201 may be made of thermoplastic plastics, such as PP, PC, or PMMA.

[0067] Optionally, the inorganic layer 202 and the organic layer 201 are bonded together by an optically clear adhesive.

[0068] Based on the above solution, the window unit provided in the present application achieves the effect of improving the anti-collision properties of the window unit by utilizing the tensile strength at break properties of the plastic organic layer.

[0069] To improve the reflectivity of the window unit 200, in some embodiments, the window unit 200 may further include a dichroic film 203 disposed on the inner surface of the inorganic layer to reflect the second image light while simultaneously transmitting the first image light to the organic layer 201. The dichroic film 203 improves the reflective performance of the window unit 200, thereby reducing light energy loss and improving the display effect.

[0070] Because the window unit 200 is exposed outside the display device, ambient light may be incident on the organic layer 201 and reflected into the human eye. To reduce the impact of ambient light on viewing, in some embodiments, the window unit 200 may further include an anti-reflection film 204 disposed on the outer surface of the organic layer 201. The anti-reflection film 204 reduces the reflection of stray light from the window unit 200.

[0071] It should be noted that the window unit 200 can be provided with different film layers on its surface depending on the application scenario and product performance requirements. For example, it can be provided with only the bezel film 203 or the anti-reflection film 204, or with both the bezel film 203 and the anti-reflection film 204. Furthermore, the bezel film 203 and the anti-reflection film 204 are merely examples. The window unit 200 can also be provided with other elements or films that can also enhance the reflective and / or anti-reflective performance of the window unit 200. Such elements or films are all within the scope of protection of this application.

[0072] In order to further eliminate the deterioration of the display effect caused by external stray light entering the display device from the window unit, the embodiment of the present application also provides a schematic structural diagram of a second window unit 300, as shown in Figure 3. Compared with the window unit 200 described in Figure 2, the window unit 300 eliminates stray light by setting a polarization layer in the organic layer and the inorganic layer. Specifically, the window unit 300 includes an inorganic layer 303, a polarization layer 302 (including a linear polarizer 33 and a quarter wave plate 34) and an organic layer 301 in sequence along the transmission direction of the first image light. Among them, the inorganic layer 303 is used to reflect the second image light and transmit the first image light to the polarization layer 302. The polarization layer 302 is used to eliminate stray light from the external environment and transmit the image light from the inorganic layer 303 to the organic layer 301. The organic layer 301 is used to transmit the image light from the polarization layer 302.

[0073] For example, FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the principle of eliminating stray light in the window unit 300 provided by the present application. As shown in FIG4, the external ambient light enters the window unit 300 through the organic layer 301. After passing through the linear polarizer 33, the light loss is half of the linear polarization light. The linear polarization light continues to be incident on the 1 / 4 wave plate 34 and is converted into right-handed circularly polarized light (it can also be left-handed circularly polarized light, the direction is determined by the angle between the optical axis of the 1 / 4 wave plate 34 and the linear polarizer 33). Subsequently, the right-handed circularly polarized light is reflected by the inorganic layer 33 (or the image magnification unit, some light may pass through the inorganic layer 33 to reach the image magnification unit) to form left-handed circularly polarized light (when the incident light is left-handed circularly polarized light, right-handed circularly polarized light is generated), and after passing through the 1 / 4 wave plate 34 again, an outgoing linear polarization is generated that is perpendicular to the polarization direction of the incident polarization light. The outgoing linear polarization cannot pass through the linear polarizer 33 to reach the human eye, thereby achieving the elimination of the ambient light incident on the display device.

[0074] It should be noted that, in the present application, the structure of the polarization layer 302 is not limited to the structure shown in FIG3 . For example, the polarization layer 302 may also include a plurality of linear polarizers 33 with parallel optical axes, thereby further improving the extinction effect.

[0075] In addition, it should be noted that in the present application, the polarization layer 302 is arranged between the inorganic layer 303 and the organic layer 301, that is, the structure of the window unit 300 provided in the present application allows the first image light to pass through the polarization layer 302 first and then through the organic layer 301. Such a layer arrangement order can avoid the appearance of bright and dark flickering points in the displayed image, thereby ensuring the optimal display effect.

[0076] Optionally, the polarizing layer 302 and the organic layer 301 are bonded together by OCA.

[0077] In the present application, if the virtual image distance (VID) required by the display device is in the range of VID≥2m, the vertical eye box H is in the range of H≥20mm, and the field of view angle FOV is in the range of 15°≤FOV≤30°, the thickness h1 of the inorganic layer 303 of the window unit 300 provided in the present application is in the range of 1.2mm≤h1≤2mm, the thickness h2 of the polarizing layer 302 is in the range of 1.2mm≤h2≤2mm, and the thickness h3 of the organic layer 301 is in the range of 1mm≤h3≤2.5mm.

[0078] It is understood that window unit 300 can also be configured with different film layers, such as at least one of the aforementioned beam splitting film 203 and anti-reflection film 204, and further description thereof is omitted. Furthermore, the materials for inorganic layer 303 and organic layer 301 can be similarly described with reference to the description of window unit 200 shown in the above figures, and further description thereof is omitted.

[0079] It is also understandable that the window unit 200 shown in FIG. 2 and the window unit 300 shown in FIG. 3 can be applied to a display device, for example, can be used as an example of the window unit 102 in the display device 10 shown in FIG. 1 .

[0080] Next, in conjunction with the window units shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the vehicle-mounted display device constructed by applying the window unit provided by the present application will be described in detail.

[0081] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario 500 of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 5, a display device 501 is mounted on a seatback 502. Display device 501 can generate a long-range magnified virtual image through the input of an external video signal (also referred to as a signal source), providing viewers with a large-format, long-range visual experience that can meet the needs of various application scenarios such as leisure and entertainment, business office work, etc.

[0082] The light-emitting surface of display device 501 is the viewing window, and the distance between the image plane of the virtual image formed by display device 501 and the eye box is the virtual image distance (VID). The eye box is the range of eye movement within which objects can be clearly seen. The field of view (FOV) is the angle formed by the two edges of the maximum range of the virtual image visible to the eye, with the eye as the vertex. In this application, it specifically refers to the angle between two points horizontally from the center of the virtual image, i.e., the horizontal field of view.

[0083] It will be appreciated that, as an example, in FIG5 , display device 501 is mounted on the seatback of a vehicle, such as a car or airplane, constituting an in-vehicle virtual image display system. In other scenarios, display device 501 may also be mounted on the vehicle's headrest or on the passenger seat, etc., which is not limited in this application. Furthermore, display device 501 may be mounted on, but is not limited to, the following vehicles: cars, trucks, buses, boats, airplanes, helicopters, recreational vehicles, trains, and the like.

[0084] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a display device 600 provided in an embodiment of the present application, which can be applied to an in-vehicle display system. As shown in FIG6 , the display device 600 is sequentially arranged along the transmission direction of the image light into an image generation unit 601, a window unit 602, and an image magnification unit 603. The image generation unit 601 is used to emit image light to the window unit. The window unit 602 is used to reflect the image light from the image generation unit 601 to the image magnification unit 603, and transmit the image light from the image magnification unit 603. The window unit 602 is also used for the human eye to view the virtual image formed by the image light through the window unit 602. The image magnification unit 603 is used to reflect the image light from the window unit 602 to the window unit 602.

[0085] Optionally, in the present application, the image magnifying unit 603 is a free-form mirror. In some embodiments, in order to enhance the reflection effect of the image magnifying unit 603 and reduce light energy loss, a total reflection film is arranged on the inner surface (inner side) of the image magnifying unit.

[0086] Specifically, when a passenger uses the display device 600 to view video images, the image generation unit 601 emits image light toward the window unit 602. The image light is reflected by the window unit 602 and then incident on the image magnification unit 603. The image light is reflected again by the image magnification unit 603 and then incident on the window unit 602, passing through the window unit 602. At this time, the passenger can see a large-format video image located far away through the window unit 602.

[0087] In some embodiments, the window unit 602 is tilted relative to the vertical direction (also referred to as the plumb direction), that is, the window unit 602 forms a certain angle α with the vertical direction. When the display device 600 is installed on the seat back, the angle α between the window unit 602 and the vertical direction ranges from 0°≤α≤45°.

[0088] It should be noted that the angle α between the window unit 602 and the vertical direction is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the viewer's perspective, installation location, and usage scenario. For example, when the display device 600 is mounted on a seatback, as in the usage scenario shown in FIG5 , the seatback is typically tilted rearward for riding comfort, and the angle β between the seat and the vertical direction is generally in the range of 22° ≤ β ≤ 25°. Furthermore, when the human eye views the virtual image through the window unit 602, the line of sight has a certain downward angle relative to the horizontal. Furthermore, the safety of rear passengers must also be considered to prevent collisions between the display device 600 and the passengers. Therefore, it is generally required that the tilt plane of the window unit 602 remain parallel to the tilt plane of the seatback (i.e., the tilt direction of the window unit 602 remains consistent with the tilt direction of the seatback) when the display device 600 is installed (or when not in use, or when shipped from the factory). This prevents the window unit 602 from tilting excessively and protruding from the seatback, posing a safety hazard. For example, as shown in FIG7 , if the tilt plane of window unit 602 is inconsistent with the tilt plane of the seat back, that is, the tilt direction of window unit 602 is not parallel to the tilt direction of the seat back, the display device 600 will protrude from the seat back, making it more likely to collide with the passenger. Therefore, considering factors such as the tilt range of the seat, the viewing angle of the human eye when viewing images, and user safety, the present application sets the angle α between window unit 602 and the vertical direction to a range of 0°≤α≤45°, with a preferred value of 25°, so that when the display device 600 is installed, it can ensure the safety of passengers and the aesthetics of the seat in the vehicle.

[0089] It will be appreciated that, in order to prevent passengers from being disturbed by the light emitted by image generation unit 601 when viewing the image, that is, to prevent passengers from simultaneously viewing the image generated by image generation unit 601 when viewing the displayed image, in this embodiment of the present application, image generation unit 601 is positioned above window unit 602 and image magnification unit 603. For example, in the schematic diagram of horizontal field of view angles shown in FIG8 , the horizontal limit of human vision is the edge of the image generated by image light #1 and image light #2. Therefore, when image generation unit 601 is outside the range of image light corresponding to the maximum field of view angle, the human eye will not see image generation unit 601 when viewing the image.

[0090] In other words, when the viewing distance of the human eye (i.e., the distance between the human eye and window unit 602, which can be 250 mm, for example) is determined and the tilt angle of window unit 602 is determined, the position of image generation unit 601 can be determined using the relationship shown in FIG8 . It will be appreciated that image generation unit 601 must be located not only outside the image light corresponding to the maximum horizontal field of view angle, but also outside the image light corresponding to the vertical field of view angle. This ensures that when the human eye views the image, the image generated by the image generation unit is not visible in either the horizontal or vertical directions.

[0091] In addition, the position of the image generation unit 601 is also related to the eye box range of the display device 600. It is usually necessary to ensure that the edge image light emitted by the image generation unit 601 (i.e., image light #3 in Figure 8) passes through the upper edge of the window single source 602 and is emitted approximately 50 mm below the edge of the eye box. This ensures that when the human eye views the image, the image in the image generation unit 601 is not simultaneously seen.

[0092] It should be noted that the "up" referred to in the description of FIG. 8 is a relative position. For example, when a person is viewing an image, the upper edge of the window unit relative to the lower edge of the window unit is considered "up" as defined in this application. Alternatively, the position of the human eye relative to the cabin floor is considered "up" as defined in this application. It is understood that "down" is the opposite direction of "up."

[0093] In some embodiments, the aspect ratio of the image generating unit 601 in the display device 600 provided herein is 16:9. To reduce the thickness of the display device 600, in other embodiments, the aspect ratio of the image generating unit 601 may be set to 21:9.

[0094] FIG9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the thickness D and width V of the image generation unit of a display device according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG9 shows that the size of the window unit 602 (when the tilt angle is fixed) is related to the display device's field of view (the field of view corresponding to the diagonal length of the displayed image), the viewing distance, and the range of the viewing eyebox. Specifically, the larger the display device's field of view, the larger the size of the window unit 602; the longer the viewing distance, the larger the size of the window unit 602; and the larger the range of the viewing eyebox, the larger the size of the window unit 602. When the size of the window unit 602 increases while maintaining the field of view of the display device 600, the thickness D of the display device 600 will increase. At the same time, the width V of the image generation unit 601 is compatible with the size of the window unit 602 to ensure the display performance of the display device 600. Therefore, to balance the display effect and maintain the field of view of the display device, the width of the image generation unit 601 can be reduced, thereby reducing the thickness D of the display device 600.

[0095] Therefore, in order to further reduce the thickness of the display device 600, in some embodiments, the aspect ratio of the image generating unit 601 may be increased from 16:9 to 21:9, thereby achieving the purpose of reducing the thickness of the display device.

[0096] It should be noted that the image generation unit 601 can adopt an LCD display, a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) display, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a micro light-emitting diode (Micro-LED) display, a display using miniLED display technology, a digital light processing (DLP) display or a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) display, etc., and this application does not limit it.

[0097] Figure 10 is a possible structure of the image generation unit 601 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Optionally, in some embodiments, the image generation unit 601 further includes an anti-glare (AG) film 1001. As shown in Figure 10, the AG film 1001 can be provided on the light-emitting surface of the image generation unit 601, so as to achieve the purpose of improving the contrast of the picture generated by the image generation unit 601, based on achieving the purpose of improving the viewing angle of the image generation unit 601. Among them, the AG film 1001 can be formed on the light-emitting surface of the image generation unit 601 by processes including but not limited to glass etching, microparticle addition, phase separation technology, etc., which are not limited in this application. For example, as shown in Figure 10, when the AG film 1001 is provided on the light-emitting surface of the LCD display, an LCD display including an AG film can be constituted.

[0098] In other embodiments, the light-emitting surface of the image generating unit 601 may be provided with a quarter-wave plate 1002 to make the image light emitted by the image generating unit 601 circularly polarized or elliptically polarized, thereby improving the uniformity of the light emitted by the image generating unit 601. It should be noted that when the window unit 602 also includes a polarizing layer, the quarter-wave plate 1002 provided on the light-emitting surface of the image generating unit 601 may also cooperate with the window unit 602 to eliminate stray light in the environment and improve the display effect.

[0099] In addition, when the image generating unit 601 is an LCD display, in order to reduce the impact of the screen backlight on the image, reduce the luminous angle, and improve the display effect, in some embodiments, an anti-peep film 1003 or other collimating unit 1003 that narrows the luminous angle can be built into the backlight part of the LCD.

[0100] It should be noted that FIG10 is merely an example provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application and does not limit the scope of protection of the present application. In other words, the image generation unit 601 may select one or more of the AG films, quarter-wave plates, and privacy films exemplified above, based on different application requirements and different display screens.

[0101] FIG11 is a schematic diagram of the light output angle θ of the image generation unit 601 provided in an embodiment of the present application. According to FIG11 , it can be seen that in the present application scheme, the light output angle (θ L ,θ R ) is 25°, and the light output angle (θ T ,θ B ) is less than or equal to 30°.

[0102] It should be noted that, in the present application, the range of the light output brightness Y of the image generation unit 601 is Y≥1000nit.

[0103] It is understandable that since the heights of passengers in the cabin are different, in order to take into account the viewing experience of passengers of different heights and optimize the viewing experience, in some embodiments, a rotating device 604 can be set on both sides of the shell of the display device 600.

[0104] Optionally, the rotating device 604 is a manual device, such as a rotating shaft. Alternatively, the rotating device 604 is an electric device, such as a rotating motor. Specifically, as shown in FIG12 , when the rotating device 604 is a manual device, the viewing angle can be adjusted by manually moving the display device up and down. Alternatively, when the rotating device 604 is an electric device, the display device can be controlled to rotate vertically by turning on and off a button to adjust the viewing angle.

[0105] Based on the above solution, the display device 600 provided in the embodiment of the present application can achieve a long-distance, large-format in-vehicle display effect with a VID range of VID ≥ 2m, a vertical eyebox H range of H ≥ 20mm, and a FOV range of 15° ≤ FOV ≤ 30°. Compared with existing solutions, the display device provided in the embodiment of the present application has a small number of components, a thin thickness, simple assembly, and a compact size, and can be easily installed in small spaces within the vehicle (including seat headrests, backrests, and passenger side consoles).

[0106] Generally speaking, when an optical system generates an image, there are usually certain aberrations and distortions. In order to further improve the display effect, an embodiment of the present application provides a display system 1300, as shown in Figure 13, wherein the display system 1300 includes a processing device 1301 and a display device provided by the present application, and the processor 1301 is electrically connected to the image generation unit in the display device.

[0107] In one achievable manner, the processing device 1301 is used to obtain first image information from an image source, and pre-distort a first image corresponding to the first image information to generate second image information corresponding to a second image, and send the second image information to an image generation unit, so that the image generation unit generates an image according to the second image information and emits image light.

[0108] It should be noted that the principle of pre-correcting the distortion of the first image by the processing device 1301 using the first image information can be referred to the process shown in Figure 14. Since the image light is distorted when it is emitted through the display device, the image generated is distorted. Therefore, the processing device 1301 first pre-distorts the acquired first image information through a pre-distortion processing algorithm to generate image information corresponding to the inversely distorted image (i.e., the second image), so that the image light emitted by the image generation unit is the image light of the inversely distorted image. When the image light is emitted through the display device, it will undergo the inherent distortion of the display device, and the image displayed by the display device will no longer be distorted.

[0109] In one achievable embodiment, processing device 1301 is configured to obtain first image information from a second processor, perform pre-distortion processing on a first image corresponding to the first image information, generate second image information corresponding to a second image, and transmit the second image information to an image generation unit, so that the image generation unit generates an image based on the second image information and emits image light. The second processor is configured to obtain third image information from an image source and perform processing on the third image information, including but not limited to image compression, enhancement and restoration, and matching description recognition.

[0110] In some embodiments, the processing device 1301 can also perform other processing on the image information of the video source, such as, but not limited to, image compression, enhanced restoration, matching description recognition, etc., so that the processed image information can be adapted to the image generation unit.

[0111] The embodiment of the present application further provides a vehicle on which the aforementioned display system is installed. It is understood that the vehicles to which the present application solution can be applied include but are not limited to cars, airplanes, trains, or ships.

[0112] Figure 15 is a circuit diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 15, the circuit in the display device mainly includes a host processor (host CPU) 1201, an external memory interface 1202, an internal memory 1203, an audio module 1204, a video module 1205, a power module 1206, a wireless communication module 1207, an I / O interface 1208, a video interface 1209, a display circuit 1210 and a modulator 1212, etc. Among them, the main processor 1201 and its peripheral components, such as the external memory interface 1202, the internal memory 1203, the audio module 1204, the video module 1205, the power module 1206, the wireless communication module 1207, the I / O interface 1208, the video interface 1209, and the display circuit 1210 can be connected via a bus. The main processor 1201 can be called a front-end processor.

[0113] In addition, the circuit diagrams shown in the embodiments of the present application do not constitute specific limitations on the display device. In other embodiments of the present application, the display device may include more or fewer components than shown, or may combine or separate certain components, or arrange the components differently. The components shown in the diagrams may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware.

[0114] The main processor 1201 includes one or more processing units. For example, the main processor 1201 may include an application processor (AP), a modem processor, a graphics processor (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a controller, a video codec, a digital signal processor (DSP), a baseband processor, and / or a neural network processor (NPU). Different processing units may be independent devices or integrated into one or more processors.

[0115] The main processor 1201 may also be provided with a memory for storing instructions and data. In some embodiments, the memory in the main processor 1201 is a cache memory. This memory can store instructions or data that the main processor 1201 has just used or is reusing. If the main processor 1201 needs to use the instruction or data again, it can directly call it from the memory. This avoids repeated accesses, reduces the waiting time of the main processor 1201, and thus improves system efficiency.

[0116] In some embodiments, the display device may further include multiple input / output (I / O) interfaces 1208 connected to the main processor 1201. The interfaces 1208 may include an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) interface, an I2S (Inter-Integrated Circuit Sound) interface, a PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) interface, a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) interface, a MIPI (Mobile Industry Processor Interface) interface, a GPIO (General-Purpose Input / Output) interface, a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) interface, and / or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface. The I / O interfaces 1208 may be connected to devices such as a mouse, touchpad, keyboard, camera, speaker, microphone, etc., as well as physical buttons on the display device (e.g., volume button, brightness adjustment button, power button, etc.).

[0117] The external memory interface 1202 can be used to connect an external memory card, such as a Micro SD card, to expand the storage capacity of the display device. The external memory card communicates with the main processor 1201 through the external memory interface 1202 to implement data storage function.

[0118] The internal memory 1203 can be used to store computer executable program codes, which include instructions. The internal memory 1203 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system, an application required for at least one function (such as a call function, a time setting function, etc.), etc. The data storage area may store data created during the use of the display device (such as a phone book, world time, etc.), etc. In addition, the internal memory 1203 may include a high-speed random access memory, and may also include a non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, a flash memory device, a universal flash memory (UFS), etc. The main processor 1201 executes various functional applications and data processing of the display device by running instructions stored in the internal memory 1203 and / or instructions stored in a memory provided in the main processor 1201.

[0119] The display device can implement audio functions such as music playback and calls through the audio module 1204 and the application processor.

[0120] The audio module 1204 is used to convert digital audio information into analog audio signal output, and is also used to convert analog audio input into digital audio signals. The audio module 1204 can also be used to encode and decode audio signals, such as for playing or recording. In some embodiments, the audio module 1204 can be provided in the main processor 1201, or some functional modules of the audio module 1204 can be provided in the main processor 1201.

[0121] The video interface 1209 can receive external audio and video signals, which can specifically be a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), a Digital Visual Interface (DVI), a Video Graphics Array (VGA), a Display Port (DP), etc. The video interface 1209 can also output video. When the display device is used as an in-vehicle display, the video interface 1209 can receive speed signals and power signals input from peripheral devices, and can also receive external VR video signals. When the display device is in use, the video interface 1209 can receive video signals input from an external computer or terminal device.

[0122] The video module 1205 can decode the video input from the video interface 1209, for example, by performing H.264 decoding. The video module can also encode the video captured by the display device, for example, by performing H.264 encoding on the video captured by an external camera. Furthermore, the main processor 1201 can also decode the video input from the video interface 1209 and output the decoded image signal to the display circuit 1210.

[0123] The display circuit 1210 and modulator 1212 are used to display corresponding images. In this embodiment, the video interface 1209 receives an external video source signal, which the video module 1205 decodes and / or digitizes before outputting one or more image signals to the display circuit 1210. The display circuit 1210 drives the modulator 1212 based on the input image signal to image the incident polarized light and output image light. Furthermore, the main processor 1201 may also output one or more image signals to the display circuit 1210.

[0124] In this embodiment, the display circuit 1210 and the modulator 1212 are electronic components in the image generating unit, and the display circuit 1210 can be referred to as a driving circuit.

[0125] The power module 1206 is used to provide power to the main processor 1201 and the light source 1200 based on input power (e.g., direct current). The power module 1206 may include a rechargeable battery, which can provide power to the main processor 1201 and the light source 1200. Light emitted by the light source 1200 can be transmitted to the modulator 1212 for imaging, thereby forming an image light signal.

[0126] The wireless communication module 1207 enables the display device to communicate wirelessly with the outside world. It can provide wireless local area networks (WLAN) (such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) networks), Bluetooth (BT), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Frequency Modulation (FM), Near Field Communication (NFC), infrared technology (IR) and other wireless communication solutions. The wireless communication module 1207 can be one or more devices that integrate at least one communication processing module. The wireless communication module 1207 receives electromagnetic waves via an antenna, frequency modulates and filters the electromagnetic wave signals, and sends the processed signals to the main processor 1201. The wireless communication module 1207 can also receive signals to be sent from the main processor 1201, frequency modulate them, amplify them, and convert them into electromagnetic waves for radiation through the antenna.

[0127] In addition, in addition to being input through the video interface 1209, the video data decoded by the video module 1205 can also be received wirelessly through the wireless communication module 1207 or read from an external memory. For example, the display device can receive video data from a terminal device or an in-vehicle entertainment system through the wireless local area network in the vehicle, and the display device can also read audio and video data stored in an external memory.

[0128] The above-mentioned display device can be installed on a vehicle. Please refer to Figure 16, which is a schematic diagram of a possible functional framework of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0129] As shown in FIG16 , the functional framework of a vehicle may include various subsystems, such as the sensor system 12, the control system 14, one or more peripheral devices 16 (one of which is shown as an example), a power supply 18, a computer system 20, and an onboard display system 22. Optionally, the vehicle may also include other functional systems, such as an engine system that provides power to the vehicle, etc., which are not limited in this application.

[0130] The sensor system 12 may include a plurality of detection devices that sense the information being measured and convert the sensed information into electrical signals or other required information outputs according to certain rules. As shown in the figure, these detection devices may include a global positioning system (GPS), a vehicle speed sensor, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a radar unit, a laser rangefinder, a camera, a wheel speed sensor, a steering sensor, a gear position sensor, or other components for automatic detection, etc., and this application does not limit them.

[0131] The control system 14 may include several components, such as a steering unit, a braking unit, a lighting system, an autonomous driving system, a map navigation system, a network timing system, and an obstacle avoidance system, as shown. Optionally, the control system 14 may also include components such as a throttle controller and an engine controller for controlling vehicle speed, although this application does not limit this.

[0132] The peripheral devices 16 may include several components, such as the communication system shown in the figure, a touch screen, a user interface, a microphone, and a speaker. The communication system is used to enable network communication between the vehicle and other devices. In practical applications, the communication system may utilize wireless communication technology or wired communication technology to enable network communication between the vehicle and other devices. Wired communication technology may involve communication between the vehicle and other devices via network cables or optical fibers.

[0133] Power supply 18 represents a system that provides electrical power or energy to the vehicle, and may include, but is not limited to, rechargeable lithium batteries or lead-acid batteries. In practical applications, one or more battery components in the power supply are used to provide electrical energy or energy for starting the vehicle. The type and material of the power supply are not limited in this application.

[0134] Several functions of the vehicle are controlled and implemented by the computer system 20. The computer system 20 may include one or more processors 2001 (one processor is shown as an example) and a memory 2002 (also referred to as a storage device). In actual applications, the memory 2002 is also inside the computer system 20, or it can be outside the computer system 20, for example, as a cache in the vehicle, etc., which is not limited in this application.

[0135] The processor 2001 may include one or more general-purpose processors, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU). The processor 2001 may be used to run relevant programs or instructions corresponding to the programs stored in the memory 2002 to implement corresponding functions of the vehicle.

[0136] The memory 2002 may include a volatile memory, such as RAM; the memory may also include a non-volatile memory, such as ROM, flash memory, HDD or solid-state drive SSD; the memory 2002 may also include a combination of the above types of memory. The memory 2002 can be used to store a set of program codes or instructions corresponding to the program codes, so that the processor 2001 can call the program codes or instructions stored in the memory 2002 to implement the corresponding functions of the vehicle. In the present application, the memory 2002 can store a set of program codes for vehicle control, and the processor 2001 can call the program codes to control the safe driving of the vehicle. How to achieve safe driving of the vehicle is described in detail below in this application.

[0137] Optionally, in addition to storing program code or instructions, memory 2002 may also store information such as road maps, driving routes, and sensor data. Computer system 20 may integrate with other components in the vehicle functional framework diagram, such as sensors and GPS in the sensor system, to implement relevant vehicle functions. For example, computer system 20 may control the vehicle's direction or speed based on data input from sensor system 12, although this application does not limit this.

[0138] The in-vehicle display system 22 may include several components, such as a controller and an in-vehicle display. The controller 222 is used to generate an image (e.g., an image of VR content) based on user instructions and send the image to the in-vehicle display for display. The in-vehicle display may include an image generation unit, a window unit, and an image magnification unit. Passengers can view the target image presented on the in-vehicle display through the window unit. The functions of some components in the in-vehicle display system may also be implemented by other subsystems of the vehicle. For example, the controller may also be a component of the control system.

[0139] FIG16 of this application shows four subsystems: sensor system 12, control system 14, computer system 20, and onboard display system 22. These subsystems are merely illustrative and not limiting. In practice, a vehicle may combine several components within the vehicle according to different functions, thereby obtaining subsystems with corresponding functions. In practice, a vehicle may include more or fewer systems or components, and this application does not limit this.

[0140] The above-mentioned means of transportation can be a car, a truck, a bus, a ship, an airplane, a helicopter, an RV, a train, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not make any special limitations.

[0141] Unless otherwise defined, technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0142] The above description is only one embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made on the basis of the present application shall be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A window unit, characterized in that: The method comprises an inorganic layer and an organic layer sequentially arranged along a transmission direction of a first image light, wherein: The inorganic layer is used to transmit the first image light to the organic layer, and is also used to reflect the second image light; The organic layer is used to transmit the first image light from the inorganic layer.

2. The window unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The window unit further includes a polarizing layer, which is located between the inorganic layer and the organic layer and arranged on the first surface of the inorganic layer, wherein: The inorganic layer is specifically used to transmit the first image light to the polarization layer; The polarizing layer is used to eliminate stray light incident from the organic layer and transmit the first image light from the inorganic layer to the organic layer; The organic layer is specifically used to transmit the first image light from the polarization layer.

3. The window unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The polarization layer includes a first quarter wave plate and at least one linear polarizer.

4. The window unit according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that: The thickness h1 of the inorganic layer is in the range of 1.2 mm≤h1≤2 mm, the thickness h2 of the polarizing layer is in the range of 1.2 mm≤h2≤2 mm, and the thickness h3 of the organic layer is in the range of 1 mm≤h3≤2.5 mm.

5. The window unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The window unit further includes a prismatic film, which is arranged on the second surface of the inorganic layer, and is used for reflecting the second image light and transmitting the first image light to the inorganic layer.

6. The window unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The window unit further includes an anti-reflection film disposed on an outer surface of the organic layer.

7. A display device, characterized in that: For in-vehicle display, the display device comprises: an image generating unit, an image magnifying unit and a window unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The image generating unit is configured to emit the second image light toward the window unit; The window unit is also used for human eyes to view the virtual image formed by the first image light through the window unit; The image amplification unit is used to receive the second image light from the window unit, and generate the first image light to the window unit based on the reflection of the second image light.

8. The display device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The window unit is placed obliquely relative to the vertical direction.

9. The display device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The range of the angle α between the window unit and the vertical direction is 0°≤α≤45°.

10. The display device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that: The image generating unit is located above the viewing window unit and the image enlarging unit.

11. The display device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that: The range of the virtual imaging distance VID of the display device is VID≥2m.

12. The display device according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that: The range of the eye box H of the display device in the vertical direction is H≥20 mm.

13. The display device according to any one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that: The field of view FOV of the display device is in the range of 15°≤FOV≤30°.

14. The display device according to any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that: The image generating unit further comprises a second quarter wave plate.

15. A display system, characterized in that: The display device comprises a first processor and any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the first processor is electrically connected to the image generating unit. The first processor is used to obtain first image information, perform pre-distortion processing on a first image corresponding to the first image information, generate second image information corresponding to the second image, and send the second image information to the image generation unit.

16. A means of transport, characterized in that: Comprising the display system as claimed in claim 15 above.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, characterized in that: The display system is arranged at least one of a headrest of a seat of the vehicle and a backrest of a seat of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, characterized in that: The display system is arranged in the co-pilot console of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that: The first processor is used to obtain the first image information from a video source.

20. The vehicle according to any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that: The vehicle further includes a second processor, the second processor being electrically connected to the first processor, The second processor is used for acquiring third image information from a video source, and preprocessing the third image information to generate the first image information.

Images