Vehicle projection module, vehicle, and control method for vehicle projection module

Abstract

A vehicle projection module, a vehicle, and a control method for the vehicle projection module. The vehicle projection module comprises a projection assembly (7), a reflection assembly arranged in a light transmission direction of the projection assembly (7), and a driving assembly for adjusting the reflection angle of the reflection assembly. The driving assembly is configured to enable the reflection assembly to switch between a first reflection angle and a second reflection angle so as to project a pattern emitted by the projection assembly (7) onto different projection surfaces. The vehicle projection module enables a projection module to switch the projection pattern between different projection surfaces, and reduces the space occupied by the projection module, while lowering cost.

Description

Vehicle projection module, vehicle, and control method of vehicle projection module

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Chinese patent application No. 202311182321.3 filed on September 14, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present application relates to a projection module, and in particular to a vehicle projection module, a vehicle, and a control method for the vehicle projection module. Background Art

[0004] With people's increasing demand for car features, cars are no longer just a means of transportation, but also a form of entertainment for users to enjoy during travel and rest. For example, when driving out for fun, users can use the projection function of car lights to watch movies or entertainment videos. In addition, the projection function of car lights can also be used to communicate with drivers of neighboring vehicles or passers-by. Such car lights with projection functions are called projection lights.

[0005] Car light projection has two functions: ground projection and wall projection. In the existing technology, if you want to achieve both ground projection and wall projection functions at the same time, the vehicle needs to be equipped with multiple projection modules, which will also bring more costs and more space requirements.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] One of the purposes of the present application is to provide a vehicle projection module that can switch projection patterns between different projection surfaces through a single projection module, thereby reducing the space occupied by the projection module and lowering costs.

[0008] The second purpose of the present application is to provide a vehicle whose projection module can switch the projection pattern between different projection surfaces through a projection module, thereby reducing the space occupied by the projection module and reducing costs.

[0009] The third purpose of this application is to provide a control method for a vehicle projection module, which can realize rapid switching of projections on different projection surfaces, reduce the space occupied by the projection module and reduce costs.

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the first aspect of the present application provides a vehicle projection module, which is installed on a vehicle body bracket and includes a projection component, a reflection component arranged in the light transmission direction of the projection component, and a driving component for adjusting the reflection angle of the reflection component. The driving component is configured to enable the reflection component to switch between a first reflection angle and a second reflection angle to project the pattern emitted by the projection component onto different projection surfaces.

[0011] Preferably, the vehicle body bracket is provided with a through hole.

[0012] The projection assembly is located on one side of the vehicle body bracket, and the reflection assembly is located on the other side of the vehicle body bracket. When the driving assembly rotates the reflection assembly to a first reflection angle, light emitted by the projection assembly is projected onto one projection surface via the through hole. When the driving assembly rotates the reflection assembly to a second reflection angle, light emitted by the projection assembly is transmitted to the reflection assembly via the through hole, and is reflected by the reflection assembly and projected onto the other projection surface. Or

[0013] The projection assembly and the reflection assembly are located on the same side of the vehicle body bracket. When the driving assembly switches the reflection assembly between a first reflection angle and a second reflection angle, the light emitted by the projection assembly is reflected by the reflection assembly, passes through the through hole, and is projected onto different projection surfaces.

[0014] Preferably, the drive assembly comprises:

[0015] a drive mechanism; and

[0016] A driving connector is connected between the driving mechanism and the reflection component, and includes a first connecting part, a second connecting part and a goose neck connected between the first connecting part and the second connecting part. The first connecting part is connected to the driving shaft of the driving mechanism, and the second connecting part is connected to the reflection component to drive the rotation of the driving connector through the driving mechanism, and the reflection angle of the reflection component is adjusted by the rotation of the driving connector.

[0017] Further preferably, the gooseneck is an arc-shaped connecting portion, and the arc radius of the arc-shaped connecting portion coincides with that of the first connecting portion; and / or

[0018] A counterweight is provided on the gooseneck so that the center of mass of the whole composed of the driving component and the reflecting component is located on the driving shaft of the driving mechanism.

[0019] Preferably, when the driving mechanism drives the gooseneck to rotate, the gooseneck passes through the through hole so as to avoid the vehicle body bracket; and / or

[0020] The driving assembly is further configured to enable the reflecting assembly to rotate to a third reflecting angle. When the reflecting assembly is at the third reflecting angle, the reflecting assembly is located at the through hole and is flush with the vehicle body bracket.

[0021] Preferably, the driving assembly includes a driving mechanism and a ball head connector, a fixed bracket is connected between the driving mechanism and the reflective assembly, the ball head connector is connected between the driving mechanism and the reflective assembly through the fixed bracket, and the driving mechanism can adjust the distance between the reflective assembly and the fixed bracket by driving the ball head connector to rotate, and adjust the reflection angle of the reflective assembly by adjusting the distance between the reflective assembly and the fixed bracket.

[0022] Further preferably, at least two of the driving mechanisms and the ball head connectors are correspondingly provided, and a connecting line of at least two of the ball head connectors is parallel to one side of the reflective assembly.

[0023] Preferably, the vehicle body bracket forms a light guiding portion at the through hole, and the light guiding portion extends from the vehicle body bracket and bends toward the projection assembly.

[0024] A second aspect of the present application provides a control method for a vehicle projection module, which is applied to the above-mentioned vehicle projection module. The control method for the vehicle projection module includes:

[0025] In response to receiving a first control instruction, the driving component drives the reflecting component to rotate to a first reflecting angle, so as to project the pattern emitted by the projection component onto a wall;

[0026] In response to receiving the second control instruction, the driving component is driven to drive the reflecting component to rotate to a second reflecting angle, so as to project the pattern emitted by the projection component on the ground.

[0027] Preferably, the first control instruction includes a projection position parameter, and in response to receiving the first control instruction, causing the driving component to drive the reflective component to rotate to a first reflection angle to project a pattern emitted by the projection component on the wall comprises:

[0028] driving the reflection component and / or the projection component to project the pattern emitted by the projection component onto a position on the wall corresponding to the projection position parameter,

[0029] The projection position parameters are used to splice patterns emitted by projection components of multiple vehicles into a combined pattern on the wall.

[0030] A third aspect of the present application provides a vehicle, which includes the above-mentioned vehicle projection module.

[0031] Through the above technical solution, the projection module provided by the present application, by setting the driving component to enable the reflection component to switch between the first reflection angle and the second reflection angle, so as to project the pattern emitted by the projection component onto different projection surfaces, can realize the switching of the projection pattern between different projection surfaces through one projection module, thereby reducing the space occupied by the projection module and reducing costs.

[0032] In some preferred examples of the present application, the driving assembly is configured to include a driving mechanism and a driving connector connected between the driving mechanism and the reflection assembly, and the driving connector is configured to include a first connecting part, a second connecting part and a goose neck connected between the first connecting part and the second connecting part. Through the driving connector of this structure, the center of mass of the whole composed of the driving assembly and the reflection assembly can be made as close as possible to the driving axis of the driving mechanism, thereby reducing the possibility of cracks on the driving connector, ensuring the normal rotation of the reflection assembly, thereby ensuring the projection adjustment effect of the projection module, and extending the service life of the projection module.

[0033] In some preferred examples of the present application, the driving assembly includes a driving mechanism and a ball head connector, and the ball head connector is configured to pass through the fixed bracket and be connected between the driving mechanism and the reflection assembly, and the driving mechanism can adjust the distance between the reflection assembly and the fixed bracket by driving the ball head connector to rotate, and adjust the reflection angle of the reflection assembly by adjusting the distance between the reflection assembly and the fixed bracket, which can avoid cracks on the ball head connector and ensure the normal rotation of the reflection assembly, thereby ensuring the projection adjustment effect of the projection module and extending the service life of the projection module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG1 is one of the working diagrams of the projection module according to a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG2 is a second working diagram of the projection module according to a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG3 is one of the working diagrams of the drive assembly in one specific embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG4 is a second working diagram of a driving assembly in a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0038] FIG5 is a third working diagram of a driving assembly in a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0039] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a projection module according to a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of a drive assembly according to a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG8 is one of the working diagrams of the projection module according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG9 is a second working diagram of the projection module according to another specific embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG10 is a third working diagram of the projection module according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG11 is a fourth working diagram of the projection module according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG12 is a fifth working diagram of the projection module according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of a projection module according to another embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of an application of a projection module provided by the present application;

[0048] FIG15 is a schematic diagram of a process flow of a projection module provided by a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0049] FIG16 is a schematic diagram of a process flow of a projection module provided in a second specific embodiment of the present application;

[0050] FIG17 is a schematic diagram of a process of a projection module provided in a third embodiment of the present application;

[0051] FIG18 is a control diagram of a projection module provided in a specific embodiment of the present application;

[0052] FIG19 is a control diagram of a projection module provided in another specific embodiment of the present application.

[0053] DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 driving connector 2 driving mechanism 3 ball joint connector 4 reflector bracket 5 reflector 6 vehicle body bracket 7 projection assembly 8 light guide 9 fixing bracket 11 first connecting portion 12 second connecting portion 13 gooseneck DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] The specific implementation methods of the present application are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific implementation methods described here are only used to illustrate and explain the present application, and the scope of protection of the present application is not limited to the specific implementation methods described below.

[0055] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the said features.

[0056] In a basic embodiment of the present application, a projection module is provided, which is mounted on a vehicle body bracket 6 and includes a projection component 7, a reflection component arranged in the light transmission direction of the projection component 7, and a driving component for driving the reflection component to adjust the reflection angle. The driving component is configured to enable the reflection component to switch between a first reflection angle and a second reflection angle to project the pattern emitted by the projection component 7 onto different projection surfaces.

[0057] It should be noted that the projection module can be installed on the vehicle body. In this case, the projection component 7 can be connected to the bracket component on the vehicle body, the driving component can also be connected to the bracket component on the vehicle body, and the driving component is connected to the reflection component to adjust the rotation angle of the reflection component, and adjust the reflection angle of the reflection component by adjusting the rotation angle of the reflection component.

[0058] The projection component 7 can be any mechanism that can project patterns. The patterns can be numbers, text, images, or a combination of at least two of the above three. The projection component 7 can project dynamic patterns or static patterns.

[0059] The first reflection angle and the second reflection angle can be determined according to the actual situation of the vehicle projection module. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present application can also achieve adjustment of any angle between the first reflection angle and the second reflection angle to adapt to projection surfaces at different positions.

[0060] Different projection surfaces can be any two non-overlapping surfaces, such as the ground and a slope, two slopes with different inclination angles, the ground and a wall, etc. In the following description of this application, the ground and the wall are taken as two different projection surfaces for discussion.

[0061] When the projection module provided by the above-mentioned basic embodiment of the present application is in operation, it can be connected to a control unit, which sends instructions to the driving component to cause the driving component to adjust the reflection angle of the reflection component, as shown in Figure 15. Specifically, when it is necessary to project the pattern emitted by the projection component 7 onto a wall, the driving component adjusts the reflection angle of the reflection component to a first reflection angle; when it is necessary to project the pattern emitted by the projection component 7 onto the ground, the driving component adjusts the reflection angle of the reflection component to a second reflection angle. In this way, the reflection angle of the reflection component is switched between the first reflection angle and the second reflection angle, and the switching of the reflection angle enables the pattern emitted by the projection component 7 to be projected onto different projection surfaces.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present application, the projection module can use an afocal system or an autofocus projection system to produce images, so that the pattern projected on the target plane is clearly visible. In scenarios where the projection image is not highly demanding, a fixed-focus projection system can also be considered to reduce the cost of the entire product.

[0063] In actual operation, the projection module may include a control unit connected to the driving component to control the operation of the driving component, as shown in Figures 16 and 18. In this embodiment, the control unit, the driving component, and the reflection component may interact and control according to the timing diagram shown in Figure 18:

[0064] The control unit determines to start the projection system according to the instruction information. The instruction information may be a user instruction or a vehicle system instruction. The user instruction or the vehicle system instruction may include a projection surface to be projected.

[0065] The control unit generates a drive instruction based on the determined projection surface. The drive instruction is used to instruct the drive component to adjust the reflection angle of the reflection component. The drive instruction may also include a target reflection angle to be adjusted (e.g., a first reflection angle or a second reflection angle).

[0066] The control unit sends a driving instruction to the driving component.

[0067] The driving component rotates the reflecting component to a target reflecting angle according to the received driving instruction.

[0068] The reflective component is driven to rotate to a target reflection angle so that the pattern emitted by the projection component 7 is projected onto a desired projection surface.

[0069] In some embodiments, the projection module may further include a distance measuring unit that can be used to measure the distance between the projection module and the projection surface and transmit the distance to a control unit, which adjusts the operation of the projection component 7 and the reflective component to make the projected pattern clearer. The distance measuring unit can be any unit that can measure distance. As a specific embodiment of the present application, the distance measuring unit is a laser ranging radar, and its working process is shown in Figures 17 and 19.

[0070] In this embodiment, the laser ranging radar, the control unit, and the projection component can interact and be controlled according to the timing diagram shown in FIG19 :

[0071] The laser ranging radar detects the distance between the projection surface to be projected and the projection assembly 7. The laser ranging radar can predetermine the relative positional relationship between it and the projection assembly 7, so that the laser ranging radar can detect the distance between the projection surface to be projected and the laser ranging radar, and convert it into the distance between the projection surface to be projected and the projection assembly 7 based on the relative positional relationship. In an embodiment of real-time conversion, the laser ranging radar can be reused for ranging of other functions (such as ranging between vehicles and target objects in functions such as obstacle avoidance and autonomous driving). In some variations, the ranging of the laser ranging radar can also be calibrated, with the projection assembly 7 as the far point of ranging. After calibration, the laser ranging radar can directly obtain the distance between the projection surface to be projected and the projection assembly 7 without the need for real-time conversion each time.

[0072] The laser ranging radar feeds back the detected distance to the control unit.

[0073] The control unit generates a focus adjustment instruction according to the received distance signal.

[0074] The control unit inputs the focus adjustment instruction to the projection component 7 .

[0075] The projection component 7 adjusts the projection focal length according to the focal length adjustment instruction.

[0076] In addition, the control of the reflective assembly by the control unit can still refer to the timing diagram shown in Figure 18. In this embodiment, the control unit is multiplexed to control the focus of the driving assembly and the projection assembly 7.

[0077] Table 1 shows the parameters of a fixed-focus projection module example. It demonstrates that even at significant deviations from the rated working distance, the projected image maintains excellent image quality. For example, when the projection module is positioned 600mm from the ground and 3000mm from the wall, it can project a clear image on both the floor and the wall without requiring focus adjustment. By carefully evaluating the depth of focus and modulation transfer function (MTF) curve of a fixed-focus projection module, it can replace afocal and autofocus projection systems in appropriate scenarios.

[0078] Table 1

[0079] The projection module provided by the above basic implementation method, by setting the driving component to enable the reflection component to switch between the first reflection angle and the second reflection angle, so as to project the pattern emitted by the projection component 7 on different projection surfaces, can realize the switching of the projection pattern between different projection surfaces through one projection module, thereby reducing the space occupied by the projection module and reducing costs.

[0080] In a specific embodiment of the present application, a through hole is provided on the vehicle body bracket 6, the projection component 7 is located on one side of the vehicle body bracket 6, and the reflection component is located on the other side of the vehicle body bracket 6. When the driving component rotates the reflection component to a first reflection angle, the light emitted by the projection component 7 is projected onto a projection surface through the through hole. When the driving component rotates the reflection component to a second reflection angle, the light emitted by the projection component 7 is transmitted to the reflection component through the through hole, and is reflected by the reflection component and projected onto the other projection surface.

[0081] In some specific embodiments, the projection assembly 7 can be disposed on the inner side of the vehicle body support 6, and correspondingly, the reflection assembly can be disposed on the outer side of the vehicle body support 6. The inner side and the outer side of the vehicle body support 6 can be the inner side and the outer side as conventionally understood by those skilled in the art. Specifically, the area enclosed by the vehicle body support 6 is the inner side of the vehicle body support 6, and the area outside the area enclosed by the vehicle body support 6 is the outer side of the vehicle body support 6. When projection onto the ground is required, the drive assembly rotates the reflection assembly to the second reflection angle, and light emitted by the projection assembly 7 is transmitted through the through hole to the reflection assembly, and then reflected by the reflection assembly and projected onto the ground. When projection onto a wall is required, the drive assembly rotates the reflection assembly to the first reflection angle, and light emitted by the projection assembly 7 is projected directly onto the wall through the through hole without passing through the reflection assembly.

[0082] In this embodiment, the projection assembly 7 can emit light in a first direction. The first direction can be toward the outside of the vehicle body bracket 6. For example, the first direction can be a direction that is approximately horizontal (the horizontal direction is conventionally understood by those skilled in the art) and toward the outside of the vehicle body bracket 6. Since the projection assembly 7 emits light in the first direction, and the projection assembly 7 is arranged on the inside of the vehicle body bracket 6, and the reflective assembly is arranged on the outside of the vehicle body bracket 6, it is difficult to project the light emitted by the projection assembly 7 onto the wall by adjusting the reflective assembly alone. Therefore, in this embodiment, when projection onto the wall is required, the driving assembly rotates the reflective assembly to a first reflection angle so that the reflective assembly avoids the outgoing light path of the projection assembly 7, so that the light emitted by the projection assembly 7 can be directly projected onto the wall through the through hole without passing through the reflective assembly; when projection onto the ground is required, the driving assembly rotates the reflective assembly to a second reflection angle so that the reflective assembly is located on the outgoing light path of the projection assembly 7, thereby reflecting the light emitted by the projection assembly 7 onto the ground.

[0083] In another specific embodiment of the present application, a through hole is provided on the vehicle body bracket 6, and the projection component 7 and the reflection component are located on the same side of the vehicle body bracket 6. When the driving component switches the reflection component between the first reflection angle and the second reflection angle, the light emitted by the projection component 7 is reflected by the reflection component and passes through the through hole and is projected onto different projection surfaces.

[0084] In some specific embodiments, the projection assembly 7 and the reflection assembly can be disposed on the inner side of the vehicle body bracket 6 .

[0085] In this embodiment, the projection component 7 can emit light along the second direction. The second direction can be opposite to the direction of gravity. For example, the first direction can be approximately vertical (those skilled in the art conventionally understand the vertical direction) and other directions opposite to the direction of gravity that can form an angle with the vertical line. Since the projection component 7 emits light along the second direction, and the projection component 7 and the reflection component are both arranged on the inner side of the vehicle body bracket 6, the light emitted by the projection component 7 can be switched between the wall and the ground only by adjusting the reflection component. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the driving component causes the reflection component to switch between the first reflection angle and the second reflection angle, the light emitted by the projection component 7 can be reflected by the reflection component and pass through the through hole and projected onto different projection surfaces.

[0086] The projection module in the existing technology generally adopts a combination of motors and gears. Although this method can accurately control the projection direction and angle, vehicles are often in a high-intensity vibration environment. In a high-intensity vibration environment, frequent and strong vibrations can easily cause fatigue fracture of the teeth of the meshing gears, affecting the direction adjustment function of the projection module.

[0087] In one embodiment of the present application, a reflective assembly includes a reflector bracket 4 and a reflector 5 mounted on the reflector bracket 4, and a drive assembly is connected to the reflector bracket 4. The installation of the reflector 5 and the reflector bracket 4 in FIG13 is one embodiment of the reflective assembly. The provision of the reflector bracket 4 protects the reflector 5, reduces the possibility of damage to the reflector 5 during use, and prolongs the service life of the reflector 5.

[0088] In a specific embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figures 1 to 7, the driving assembly includes a driving mechanism 2 and a driving connector 1 connected between the driving mechanism 2 and the reflection assembly. The driving connector 1 includes a first connecting part 11, a second connecting part 12 and a gooseneck 13 connected between the first connecting part 11 and the second connecting part 12. The first connecting part 11 is connected to the driving shaft of the driving mechanism, and the second connecting part 12 is connected to the reflection assembly to drive the driving connector 1 to rotate through the driving mechanism, and the reflection angle of the reflection assembly is adjusted by the rotation of the driving connector 1.

[0089] It should be noted that the first connecting portion 11 , the second connecting portion 12 and the gooseneck portion 13 can be integrally formed, or can be formed separately and then connected, preferably integrally formed.

[0090] When the reflecting assembly includes a reflector bracket 4 and a reflector 5, the driving connector 1 can be connected to the reflector 5 or to the reflector bracket 4. It is preferably connected to the reflector bracket 4, which is more convenient for the installation of the driving connector 1 and can also improve the stability of the connection between the reflecting assembly and the driving connector 1.

[0091] Through the above-mentioned setting, the center of mass of the whole composed of the driving component and the reflection component can be made as close as possible to the driving shaft of the driving mechanism, thereby reducing the possibility of cracks on the driving connector during the driving process, ensuring the normal rotation of the reflection component, ensuring the projection adjustment effect of the projection module, and extending the service life of the projection module.

[0092] The drive assembly provided in the above embodiment is more suitable for situations where the reflective assembly is turned outward, that is, the reflective assembly flips outward from its initial closed state. Because the drive connector 1 has a relatively simple structure and can position the drive mechanism 2 and the reflective assembly to be driven on different sides of the vehicle body bracket 6, this drive structure is more suitable for situations where the projection assembly 7 is located on one side of the vehicle body bracket and the reflective assembly is located on the other side of the vehicle body bracket 6. Its structure on the outside of the vehicle body bracket 6 is simple, and the rotational support is stable. When the reflective assembly is rotated upward to a specific angle, the projection pattern emitted by the projection assembly 7 is directly projected onto the wall (as shown in FIG6 ); when the reflective assembly is rotated downward to a specific angle, the projection pattern emitted by the projection assembly 7 is reflected by the reflective assembly and projected onto the ground (as shown in FIG5 ). When the reflective assembly is rotated upward, the first connecting portion 11 can be parallel to the vehicle body bracket 6, reducing the space required for the drive mechanism 2 and achieving a miniaturized design. In some variations of the present application, the drive assembly provided in the above embodiment can also be used when the reflective assembly is turned inward. Turning the reflective assembly inward will be described below in conjunction with other drive assemblies and will not be further elaborated here.

[0093] As a specific embodiment of the present application, the rotation angle range of the reflective component is 30-70°, and the rotation angle of different projection positions can select a suitable outward-facing angle of the reflective component according to the position of the ground projection area. The light of the projection component 7 is projected onto the ground through the reflective component, thereby realizing the ground projection function. When switching to wall projection, the reflective component continues to flip outward until it no longer interferes with the light envelope (that is, the position of the reflective component will not be illuminated by the light projected by the projection component 7). At this time, the light projected by the projection module can be directly irradiated onto the wall, realizing the wall projection function, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0094] As a specific embodiment of the present application, referring to FIG. 7 , the gooseneck 13 is an arc-shaped connecting portion, and the arc radius of the arc-shaped connecting portion coincides with that of the first connecting portion 11 .

[0095] It should be noted that the arc radius of the arc-shaped connecting portion coincides with the first connecting portion 11, which means that the arc radius R of the arc-shaped connecting portion is consistent not only with the extension direction of the first connecting portion 11, but also with the length of the first connecting portion 11. The arc radius of the arc-shaped connecting portion and the length of the first connecting portion 11 can be adjusted according to actual conditions. For example, the length of the first connecting portion 11 is determined by the distance from the rotation axis (i.e., the drive axis of the drive mechanism 2) to the connection point of the reflector, and the arc radius α is adjusted according to the angle α at which the reflector assembly needs to rotate.

[0096] In one specific embodiment of the present application, at least two drive connectors 1 are provided. This can increase the transmission stability between the drive mechanism 2 and the reflective assembly and reduce jitter in the projected pattern. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, two drive connectors 1 are provided. Furthermore, the two drive connectors 1 can be arranged in parallel, and the distance between them can be greater than the width of the projection lens of the projection assembly 7 to avoid the optical path of the projection assembly 7 during rotation.

[0097] It should be noted that when the connection surface between the reflective assembly and the drive connector 1 is a plane, the size and shape of the multiple drive connectors 1 are completely consistent. In other words, in this case, the connection points of at least two drive connectors 1 and the reflective assembly are placed on the same straight line, and the straight line is parallel to the rotation axis.

[0098] As a specific embodiment of the present application, a counterweight is provided on the gooseneck 13. The counterweight is positioned so that the center of mass of the drive assembly and reflector assembly is located on the drive shaft of the drive mechanism 2. This completely eliminates the rotational torque generated by gravity, thereby preventing cracks in the drive connector during the drive process, ensuring the normal rotation of the reflector assembly, maintaining the projection adjustment effect of the projection module, and further extending the service life of the projection module. It can also ensure the rotational position accuracy of the reflector assembly, making it particularly suitable for vehicle projection.

[0099] When the driving mechanism 2 drives the gooseneck 13 to rotate, the gooseneck 13 passes through the through hole to avoid the vehicle body bracket 6, thereby ensuring the normal use of the projection module and preventing the vehicle body bracket 6 from affecting the rotation of the reflection component.

[0100] In one embodiment of the present application, the drive assembly is further configured to rotate the reflective assembly to a third reflection angle. When the reflective assembly is at the third reflection angle, the reflective assembly is located at the through-hole and flush with the vehicle body bracket 6. This allows the reflective assembly to fit the vehicle body bracket 6 when not in use, thereby ensuring the aesthetics of the entire vehicle. Furthermore, this prevents the reflective assembly and drive connector 1 from being damaged by collisions when located outside the vehicle body bracket 6 when not in use. Furthermore, this prevents dust, stones, and the like from entering the projection module and causing damage to the projection assembly when not in use.

[0101] According to the present application, the driving connector 1 can be selected from any material molded parts that take into account both strength and hardness, such as carbon steel molded parts, injection molded parts or other alloy molded parts. In a specific embodiment of the present application, the driving connector 1 is a carbon steel molded part. The driving connector 1 using the above-mentioned molded parts can prevent the driving connector 1 from being deformed during the vibration process and avoid the shaking of the reflective component. During the shaking of the reflective component, the pattern reflected by the reflective component may also shake on the projection surface, and the shaking of the projection pattern may cause glare to the person observing the projection pattern. Therefore, avoiding the shaking of the reflective component can reduce the possibility of glare and improve driving safety.

[0102] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the drive assembly includes a drive mechanism 2 and a ball connector 3. A fixed bracket 9 is connected between the drive mechanism 2 and the reflector assembly. The ball connector 3 passes through the fixed bracket 9 and is connected between the drive mechanism 2 and the reflector assembly. The drive mechanism 2 can adjust the distance between the reflector assembly and the fixed bracket 9 by driving the rotation of the ball connector 3, and adjust the reflection angle of the reflector assembly by adjusting the distance between the reflector assembly and the fixed bracket 9. The fixed bracket 9 can be fixed to the vehicle body bracket 6 or integrally formed with the vehicle body bracket 6. The fixed bracket 9 is used to determine the rotation reference of the reflector assembly.

[0103] It should be noted that during the installation process of the ball head connector 3, the ball head connector end (the head of the ball head connector 3) is connected to the reflective assembly, and the end opposite to the ball head connector end (the tail of the ball head connector 3) is connected to the drive shaft of the drive mechanism 2 and can be driven by the drive shaft. The drive mechanism 2 can be fixed on the vehicle body, and by driving the tail of the ball head connector 3 to rotate, the ball head connector 3 moves relative to the fixed bracket 9 in a direction perpendicular to the fixed bracket 9, thereby adjusting the distance between the reflective assembly and the fixed bracket 9.

[0104] The driving assembly provided in the above-mentioned specific embodiment has a ball head connector 3 that is strong enough to withstand the gravity of the reflection assembly, and has no gear matching structure, so there is no risk of wear. It can also avoid cracks on the ball head connector during the driving process, ensuring the rotation of the reflection assembly, thereby ensuring the projection adjustment effect of the projection module and extending the service life of the projection module.

[0105] The driving assembly provided by the above embodiment is more suitable for the case where the reflective assembly is turned inward, that is, the reflective assembly flips inward from the initial state. The angle adjustment of the driving structure is more flexible and is more suitable for the case where the projection assembly 7 and the reflective assembly are located on the same side of the vehicle body bracket. After the reflective assembly rotates to the first specific angle, the projection pattern emitted by the projection assembly 7 is reflected by the reflective assembly and projected onto the ground; after the reflective assembly rotates to the second specific angle, the projection pattern emitted by the projection assembly 7 is reflected by the reflective assembly and projected onto the wall. As a specific embodiment of the present application, the initial position of the reflector is at a position within an angle of 30-45° with the wall, and the projection light is reflected by the reflector and projected onto the wall; when it is necessary to switch the projection target, the reflector is rotated inward to a position within a range of 45-80° with the wall. At this time, the light reflected by the projection module is projected onto the ground. As shown in Figures 8 to 12.

[0106] In a specific embodiment of the present application, referring to Figure 13, the ball end of the ball head connector 3 is connected to the reflection assembly, and the other end passes through the fixed bracket 9 to be connected to the driving shaft of the driving mechanism 2, and the ball head connector 3 is threadedly connected to the fixed bracket 9, and the driving shaft of the driving mechanism 2 is connected to the ball head connector 3, so that the driving mechanism 2 drives the ball head connector 3 to rotate to adjust the length of the ball head connector 3 extending out of the fixed bracket 9, and the reflection angle of the reflection assembly is adjusted by adjusting the length of the ball head connector 3 extending out of the fixed bracket 9.

[0107] Specifically, the reflector assembly can be mounted on a fixed bracket 9 via a plurality of ball connectors 3, with the fixed bracket 14 being stationary relative to the entire lamp assembly. The tail of the ball connector 3 is coaxially connected to the drive shaft of the drive mechanism 2 (the tail of the ball connector 3 and the drive shaft of the drive mechanism 2 are connected on the same axis), and the ball connector 3 is driven to rotate by the drive mechanism 2. The ball connector 3 is threadedly engaged with the fixed bracket 9, and as the ball connector 3 rotates, its extension length relative to the vehicle body bracket 6 also changes accordingly. The reflector assembly achieves its own angle change by adjusting the relative height of the connection point between the ball connector 3 and the reflector assembly.

[0108] When the reflective assembly includes a reflector bracket 4 and a reflector 5, the ball head connector 3 can be connected to the reflector 5 or to the reflector bracket 4. It is preferably connected to the reflector bracket 4, which is more convenient for the installation of the ball head connector 3 and can also improve the stability of the connection between the reflective assembly and the ball head connector 3.

[0109] In a specific embodiment of the present application, at least two driving mechanisms 2 and ball head connectors 3 are provided correspondingly, and a line connecting the at least two ball head connectors 3 is parallel to one side of the reflective component.

[0110] According to the present application, the outer edge of the reflector 5 of the reflective assembly is a quadrilateral, preferably a rectangle. The reflector bracket 4 of the reflective assembly matches the shape of the reflector, and its outer edge is also a quadrilateral, preferably a rectangle. At least two drive mechanisms 2 and ball connectors 3 are provided in correspondence, which means that at least two drive mechanisms 2 are provided, at least two ball connectors 3 are provided, and the drive mechanisms 2 and ball connectors 3 are provided in correspondence. The line connecting at least two ball connectors 3 is parallel to one side of the reflective assembly, which means that the line connecting at least two of the at least two ball connectors 3 is parallel to one side of the reflective assembly. That is, when there are two ball connectors 3, the line connecting the two ball connectors 3 is parallel to one side of the reflective assembly; when there are three ball connectors 3, the line connecting two ball connectors 3 can be parallel to one side of the reflective assembly, while the other ball connector 3 is not on this line, or the line connecting the two ball connectors 3 can be parallel to one side of the reflective assembly, while the other ball connector 3 is on this line. Preferably, when there are three ball connectors 3, the line connecting two of the ball connectors 3 is parallel to one side of the reflective assembly, and the other ball connector 3 is not on this line.

[0111] As a specific embodiment of the present application, the driving mechanism 2 and the ball head connector 3 are respectively provided in three numbers, and the line connecting the two ball head connectors 3 is parallel to one side of the reflective component, and the line connecting the two ball head connectors 3 is parallel to the other side of the reflective component. The above arrangement can not only realize the multi-directional adjustment of the reflection angle of the reflective component, but also simplify the installation structure. The driving mechanism 2 and the ball head connector 3 can also be respectively provided in four, five or even more numbers. When the driving mechanism 2 and the ball head connector 3 are respectively provided in four numbers, the line connecting the two ball head connectors 3 is parallel to one side of the reflective component, and the line connecting the other two ball head connectors 3 is parallel to the side opposite to the above-mentioned side. In other words, when the outer edge of the reflective component is a rectangle, these two lines are parallel.

[0112] In one embodiment of the present application, the vehicle body bracket forms a light guide 8 at the through hole. The light guide 8 extends from the vehicle body bracket 6 and bends toward the projection assembly 7. In actual use, the light guide 8 is arranged to be inclined from bottom to top toward the projection assembly 7. Preferably, the light guide 8 is arranged on the lower side of the through hole of the vehicle body bracket 6 (i.e., the side facing the direction of gravity). In this way, when the projection module projects a pattern onto the ground, it can project as much light as possible onto the ground, ensuring the integrity of the pattern while improving light utilization efficiency.

[0113] The drive mechanism 2 can be a stepper motor or other motor capable of rotating the reflective assembly. In one embodiment of the present application, the drive mechanism 2 is a stepper motor. The stepper motor has a self-locking feature, which means that it is difficult to force the stepper motor rotor to rotate by external force. The self-locking feature of the stepper motor prevents the motor's drive shaft from rotating when the projection module is operating.

[0114] When the projection module provided in the above specific embodiment is used as a wall projection, the vehicle is often static and remains relatively still with the wall. The main function of wall projection is to serve as a mobile private cinema. While providing the visual enjoyment of a large screen, it also has a certain degree of convenience and speed. According to the commonly used lens with a projection ratio of 1.2:1 on the market, as long as the distance from the front of the vehicle to the projection wall is kept at about 3.2m, a 100-inch screen size can be projected on the wall. If an ultra-short focus lens is used, the distance from the front of the vehicle to the wall can be further significantly reduced.

[0115] If the projection wall is large enough, multiple vehicles can be combined for projection. The projection area and projection position on the wall can be set through the mobile phone app to project a huge picture on the wall, as shown in Figure 14. Among them, the projection of vehicle I is in area A, the projection of vehicle II is in area B, the projection of vehicle III is in area C, and the projection of vehicle IV is in area D.

[0116] When the projection module provided in the above specific embodiment is used as a ground projection application, the ground projection application scenario is relatively flexible, and the vehicle can be either dynamic or static. However, in the ground projection application scenario, it is necessary to consider the problem of surrounding obstacles blocking the projection light. The projection module should be used in conjunction with the vehicle-mounted perimeter radar. When the radar detects that the space around the vehicle is too small or there is an obstacle in the projection light path, the vehicle-mounted host can appropriately reduce the displayed image or adjust the projection area position, or directly turn off the projection function.

[0117] When the vehicle is stationary, ground projection can be used for welcoming and farewell functions or ground atmosphere projection. These two ground projection patterns are closer to the vehicle body.

[0118] When applied to dynamic vehicles, projected patterns can be used to display interactive information, such as reversing prompts, ground markers, remote control driving warnings, autonomous driving warnings, and steering and lane change prompts. When the ground projection function is activated while the vehicle is in motion, the distance between the ground projection pattern and the vehicle body should be adjusted according to the vehicle's speed. The faster the vehicle, the greater the reflector rotation angle and the longer the projection distance. Furthermore, to ensure that the projection path is not obstructed by other vehicles, the position of the ground projection pattern should be further adjusted based on feedback from the on-board ranging radar. When the distance to surrounding vehicles is too close to accommodate the projection pattern, the projection function should be turned off. Table 2 shows the relationship between light pattern size and vehicle speed for reference.

[0119] Table 2

[0120] In addition, the present application also provides a vehicle, including the vehicle projection module provided by any of the above technical solutions. The vehicle has all the advantages of the above projection modules, which will not be described in detail here.

[0121] Furthermore, the present application provides a control method for a vehicle projection module, which is applied to the above-mentioned vehicle projection module, comprising: in response to receiving a first control instruction, causing a driving component to drive a reflecting component to rotate to a first reflection angle to project a pattern emitted by the projection component 7 onto a wall;

[0122] In response to receiving the second control instruction, the driving component drives the reflecting component to rotate to the second reflecting angle to project the pattern emitted by the projection component 7 onto the ground.

[0123] The control method can achieve rapid switching between different projection surfaces, reduce the space occupied by the projection module and reduce costs. It also has all the advantages of a vehicle projection module.

[0124] In a specific embodiment of the present application, the first control instruction includes a projection position parameter. In response to receiving the first control instruction, causing the driving assembly to drive the reflective assembly to rotate to a first reflection angle to project a pattern emitted by the projection assembly 7 onto the wall includes: driving the reflective assembly to project the pattern emitted by the projection assembly 7 at a position on the wall corresponding to the projection position parameter, wherein the projection position parameter allows the patterns emitted by the projection assemblies 7 of multiple vehicles to be spliced ​​into a combined pattern on the wall. In other words, the projection assemblies 7 of multiple vehicles can splice the patterns emitted onto the wall into a complete pattern based on their respective projection position parameters.

[0125] As a specific embodiment of the present application, the owners of multiple vehicles operate mobile phone APPs to actively communicate to form a projection group, and each vehicle sends its own posture to each mobile phone APP. The mobile phone APP / APP server obtains the posture of each vehicle in the projection group, the position and size of the wall to be projected (which can be obtained by sensing by a laser sensor or other sensor on the vehicle), and the video to be played; according to the number of vehicles and the vehicle posture, the video is divided into multiple sub-videos by position, and the projection position parameters of each sub-video are determined; the sub-videos and projection position parameters are sent to each mobile phone APP or directly to the on-board projection APP, and the on-board projection APP enables each projection component to project the corresponding sub-video, and drives the reflection component to perform fine-tuning to the position on the wall corresponding to the projection position parameters.

[0126] When the driving component includes a driving mechanism 2 and a driving connector 1 connected between the driving mechanism 2 and the reflecting component, and the driving connector 1 includes a first connecting part 11, a second connecting part 12 and a gooseneck 13 connected between the first connecting part 11 and the second connecting part, since the projection component does not directly emit light through the reflecting component, the projection component can adjust the light output direction of the projection component through a built-in algorithm or the projection component is provided with a fine-tuning driving mechanism, thereby achieving fine-tuning of the projection position of the projection pattern.

[0127] When the driving assembly includes the driving mechanism 2 and the ball head connector 3 , the projection position of the projection pattern can be fine-tuned by fine-tuning the axial extension length of each ball head connector 3 .

[0128] In the above two embodiments, fine adjustment of the projection pattern can be achieved while also reducing the risk of cracks in the driving assembly that would affect the driving assembly or even the normal use of the projection module, thereby extending the service life of the projection module.

[0129] As another specific embodiment of the present application, after the vehicle is parked, the user can operate the vehicle-mounted system to enter the combined projection mode. The vehicle-mounted system broadcasts the vehicle entering the combined projection mode via short-range communication and carries the vehicle's posture / position information and the parameters of the wall it faces. At the same time, the vehicle-mounted system receives the vehicle posture / position information and the parameters of the wall it faces broadcasted by other vehicles via short-range communication. Based on the matching of the vehicle posture / position information and the parameters of the wall it faces, the vehicle-mounted system automatically forms a projection group. After the projection group is formed, the sub-video and the sub-video projection position are determined according to the method described in the specific embodiment above for projection.

[0130] As a third specific embodiment of the present application, after determining the position of the vehicles for combined projection and each vehicle, a wall projection vehicle and a ground projection vehicle are determined from multiple vehicles. The projection modules of the wall projection vehicle are projected onto the same wall to form a combined pattern, and the ground projection vehicle is projected onto the ground for lighting. When determining the wall projection vehicle and the ground projection vehicle, the ground projection vehicle can be located between the wall projection vehicles (that is, the ground projection vehicle is the vehicle in the middle, and the wall projection vehicle is the vehicle on both sides). Thus, while realizing the projection of the wall combined pattern, The owner of the vehicle can be located in front of the projection vehicle to view the combined projection content, and the projection vehicle can illuminate or provide ambient lighting for the owner. In addition, through the above method, the projection light path of the wall projection vehicle and the owner can avoid each other. Furthermore, the ambient lighting can be achieved by identifying the owner's position through a sensor (such as a laser radar or a camera) and directional lighting (for example, only illuminating the owner's position to form a small aperture around the owner). In some variations, when determining the wall projection vehicle and the ground projection vehicle, the owner's position can also be identified by a sensor (such as a laser radar or a camera). According to the owner's position, the projection light path of the wall projection is determined to avoid the owner's vehicle as the wall projection vehicle, and the vehicle corresponding to the owner's position as the ground projection vehicle (or other vehicles as the ground projection vehicle). In this variation, the above-mentioned solution of lighting or providing ambient lighting while viewing the combined projection content can also be implemented, and the position of the owner is more flexible. In this embodiment, it is precisely because the present application can provide switching between different projection surfaces that it can implement an implementation method in which multiple vehicles are projected onto different projection surfaces in the same space to achieve different functions.

[0131] The preferred embodiments of the present application are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present application is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments. Within the technical concept of the present application, various simple modifications can be made to the technical solution of the present application, and these simple modifications all fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0132] It should also be noted that the various specific technical features described in the above specific embodiments can be combined in any appropriate manner unless there is any contradiction. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, this application will not further describe various possible combinations.

[0133] In addition, the various implementation methods of the present application may be arbitrarily combined, and as long as they do not violate the concept of the present application, they should also be regarded as the contents disclosed in the present application.

Claims

1. A vehicle projection module, the projection module being mounted on a vehicle body bracket (6), characterized in that: It comprises a projection component (7), a reflection component arranged in the light transmission direction of the projection component (7), and a driving component for adjusting the reflection angle of the reflection component, wherein the driving component is arranged to enable the reflection component to switch between a first reflection angle and a second reflection angle, so as to project a pattern emitted by the projection component (7) onto different projection surfaces; The vehicle body bracket (6) is provided with a through hole. The projection assembly (7) is located on one side of the vehicle body bracket (6), and the reflection assembly is located on the other side of the vehicle body bracket (6); the driving assembly comprises a driving mechanism (2) and a driving connecting member (1); the driving connecting member (1) is connected between the driving mechanism (2) and the reflection assembly; the driving connecting member (1) comprises a first connecting portion (11), a second connecting portion (12), and a goose neck portion (13) connected between the first connecting portion (11) and the second connecting portion (12); the first connecting portion (11) is connected to a driving shaft of the driving mechanism (2), and the second connecting portion (12) is connected to the reflection assembly so as to drive the driving connecting member (1) to rotate through the driving mechanism (2), and adjust the reflection angle of the reflection assembly through the rotation of the driving connecting member (1); or The projection assembly (7) and the reflection assembly are located on the same side of the vehicle body bracket (6); the driving assembly comprises a driving mechanism (2) and a ball head connector (3); a fixed bracket (9) is connected between the driving mechanism (2) and the reflection assembly; the ball head connector (3) passes through the fixed bracket (9) and is connected between the driving mechanism (2) and the reflection assembly; and the driving mechanism (2) can adjust the distance between the reflection assembly and the fixed bracket (9) by driving the ball head connector (3) to rotate, and adjust the reflection angle of the reflection assembly by adjusting the distance between the reflection assembly and the fixed bracket (9).

2. The vehicle projection module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The projection component (7) is located on one side of the vehicle body bracket (6), and the reflection component is located on the other side of the vehicle body bracket (6); when the driving component rotates the reflection component to a first reflection angle, light emitted by the projection component (7) is projected onto one of the projection surfaces via the through hole; and when the driving component rotates the reflection component to a second reflection angle, light emitted by the projection component (7) is transmitted to the reflection component via the through hole, and is projected onto the other of the projection surfaces after being reflected by the reflection component; or The projection component (7) and the reflection component are located on the same side of the vehicle body bracket (6); when the driving component switches the reflection component between a first reflection angle and a second reflection angle, light emitted by the projection component (7) is reflected by the reflection component, passes through the through hole, and is projected onto different projection surfaces.

3. The vehicle projection module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gooseneck (13) is an arc-shaped connecting portion, and the arc radius of the arc-shaped connecting portion coincides with the first connecting portion (11); and / or A counterweight is provided on the gooseneck (13) so that the center of mass of the whole formed by the driving component and the reflecting component is located on the driving shaft of the driving mechanism (2).

4. The vehicle projection module according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the driving mechanism (2) drives the gooseneck (13) to rotate, the gooseneck (13) passes through the through hole so as to avoid the vehicle body bracket (6); and / or The driving component is also configured to enable the reflection component to rotate to a third reflection angle. When the reflection component is at the third reflection angle, the reflection component is located at the through hole and is flush with the vehicle body bracket (6).

5. The vehicle projection module according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two of the driving mechanisms (2) and the ball head connectors (3) are provided correspondingly, and a connecting line of at least two of the ball head connectors (3) is parallel to one side edge of the reflective component.

6. The vehicle projection module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vehicle body bracket (6) forms a light guiding portion (8) at the through hole, and the light guiding portion (8) extends from the vehicle body bracket (6) and bends toward the projection assembly (7).

7. A method for controlling a vehicle projection module, characterized in that: Applied to the vehicle projection module according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the control method of the vehicle projection module comprises: In response to receiving a first control instruction, the driving component drives the reflecting component to rotate to a first reflecting angle, so as to project a pattern emitted by the projection component (7) onto a wall surface; In response to receiving a second control instruction, the driving component drives the reflecting component to rotate to a second reflecting angle, so as to project the pattern emitted by the projection component (7) on the ground.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first control instruction includes a projection position parameter, and in response to receiving the first control instruction, the driving component drives the reflection component to rotate to a first reflection angle to project a pattern emitted by the projection component (7) on the wall, comprising: driving the reflection component so as to project the pattern emitted by the projection component (7) at a position on the wall corresponding to the projection position parameter, The projection position parameters are used to splice patterns emitted by projection components (7) of multiple vehicles into a combined pattern on the wall.

9. A vehicle, characterized in that: A vehicle projection module comprising any one of claims 1 to 6.

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