JP2026001370A - Vehicle display device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a vehicle display device that allows passengers other than the driver to view a high-quality reflected image. [Solution] A vehicle display device (1) includes a display device main body (3) including a display unit (31) and a case (33) that houses the display unit (31), and the display light emitted by the display unit (31) is reflected on the windshield (22) of the vehicle (2) to be viewed by the passengers. The vehicle display device (1) also includes an orientation change unit (4) that changes the orientation of the display device main body (3), and the orientation change unit (4) changes the orientation of the display device main body (3) in the vehicle width direction. [Selected Figure] Figure 1

Description

This disclosure relates to a vehicle display device.

A vehicle display device is known in which display light emitted by a display unit is reflected off the vehicle's windshield so that it can be seen by passengers (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-86514

However, this type of vehicle display device generates display light based on the viewpoint from the driver's seat, and the reflected light is primarily visible to the driver, so passengers other than the driver may see a distorted reflected image, leaving room for improvement.

The present disclosure therefore aims to provide a vehicle display device that allows passengers other than the driver to view a high-quality reflected image.

In one aspect, the following solution is provided.
A display device for a vehicle includes a display device main body including a display unit and a case that houses the display unit, and the display light emitted by the display unit is reflected on a windshield of the vehicle so that the display light is visible to a passenger,
an orientation change unit that changes the orientation of the display device main body;
The orientation change unit changes the orientation of the display device main body in the vehicle width direction.

This disclosure makes it possible to provide a vehicle display device that allows passengers other than the driver to view a high-quality reflected image.

1 is a schematic side view of a main part of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle display device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a display device for a vehicle. 10A and 10B are schematic perspective views showing an operation of changing the orientation of the display device main body. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the interior of a vehicle, showing a state in which the display device main body is oriented toward the driver's seat. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of a vehicle interior showing a state in which the display device main body is oriented toward the passenger seat side. FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the vehicle display device. 1 is a schematic plan view of the main parts of the interior of a vehicle, showing a state in which the display device main body is oriented toward the driver's seat. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the main parts of the interior of a vehicle, showing a state in which the display device main body is oriented toward the passenger seat. FIG.

The following describes the embodiments in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[Vehicle display device]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a main part of a vehicle 2 equipped with a vehicle display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle display device 1 is mounted on an instrument panel 21 of a vehicle 2, projects display light L onto a windshield 22, and allows a reflected image G to be visually recognized by a passenger.

The projection position (reflection position) on the windshield 22 may be a transparent transmission portion 22a or a light-shielding light-shielding portion 22b. For example, the light-shielding portion 22b formed on the lower edge of the windshield 22 is configured as a portion coated with a baked black ceramic. The vehicle display device 1 may also include an optical system composed of a concave mirror for magnifying the display or a mirror for projecting a virtual image into the distance. The vehicle display device 1 may also be a windshield display (WSD) that uses the light-shielding portion 22b, or a head-up display (HUD) that uses the transmission portion 22a. The vehicle display device 1 can be installed not only in automobiles, but also in motorcycles, ships, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, etc.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle display device 1. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vehicle display device 1 includes a display device main body 3 and a direction changing unit 4 .

[Display device body]
As shown in FIG. 2, the display device main body 3 includes a display unit 31, a display light control layer 32, a case 33, and a protective cover .

The display unit 31 includes a display panel 311 and a backlight unit 312.

The display panel 311 is composed of, for example, a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) liquid crystal display panel (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display). The display panel 311 is controlled by a graphic controller or the like on a circuit board (not shown) connected via a flexible substrate (not shown), and a drive voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer via transparent electrodes. The liquid crystal layer forms a display image by controlling the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules and changing the transmittance of each pixel.

The backlight unit 312 is disposed behind the display panel 311. The backlight unit 312 includes a light source substrate 312a and an optical sheet 312b. A plurality of light-emitting elements (LEDs) 312c are mounted on the light source substrate 312a. The light source substrate 312a is connected to the circuit board described above via a flexible substrate. The light-emitting elements 312c emit light when a drive current is supplied. The optical sheet 312b is, for example, a prism sheet that diffuses light. The light emitted from the light-emitting elements 312c passes through the optical sheet 312b and illuminates the display panel 311. As a result, the display unit 312 emits display light L, which is a display image that is visually recognized by the viewer.

The display light control layer 32 is disposed between the protective cover 34 and the display unit 31 and controls the direction of the transmitted display light L. The display light control layer 32 is a film-like member having a base, a refractive portion, and a film, and is made of transparent synthetic resins with different refractive indices. To prevent rainbow unevenness when wearing polarized sunglasses, it is preferable to use a material with low retardation (phase difference) such as PMMA, polycarbonate, or TAC.

The display light control layer 32 is fixed to the protective cover 34 on the emission surface 321 side via an optical bonding layer 323 (adhesive layer). The optical bonding layer 323 is made of a transparent synthetic resin (e.g., silicone-based, urethane-based, or acrylic-based resin). The display light control layer 32 is fixed to the display panel 311 on the incidence surface 322 side via an adhesive layer 324 (adhesive layer) made of an adhesive material.

The case 33 houses the display unit 31. The case 33 is made of, for example, a light-blocking synthetic resin. The case 33 has an opening 331 in the part facing the windshield 22 that allows display light L to pass through.

The protective cover 34 is a plate-shaped member made of a transparent material such as PMMA or soda-lime glass. By covering the opening 331 of the case 33, the protective cover 34 protects the display unit 31 inside the case 33 from moisture, dust, and other particles.

[Orientation change section]
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the operation of changing the orientation of the display device main body 3. As shown in FIG.
2 and 3 , the orientation change unit 4 is provided between the display device main body 3 and the mounting portion 23 on the vehicle 2 side, and enables changing the orientation of the display device main body 3. The orientation change unit 4 changes the orientation of the display device main body 3 in the vehicle width direction.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the orientation change unit 4 changes the orientation of the display device main body 3 in the vehicle width direction by moving the display device main body 3 along an arc B centered on an axis A that is perpendicular to the vehicle width direction and parallel to the display surface of the display unit 31. Such an orientation change unit 4 can be configured, for example, by a rotation support mechanism using bearings such as a goniostage. Note that FIGS. 1 to 3 show the orientation change unit 4 schematically.

The orientation change unit 4 includes a drive mechanism 41 (see FIG. 6) that changes the orientation of the display device main body 3 based on the drive of a power source (not shown). The power source of the drive mechanism 41 is, for example, an electric motor, and changes the orientation of the display device main body 3 via a transmission mechanism such as a gear transmission mechanism or a belt transmission mechanism. The drive mechanism 41 also fixes the orientation of the display device main body 3 based on the stopping of the drive of the power source. For example, the movement of the display device main body 3 is locked using the brake function of the electric motor or transmission mechanism.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the main parts of the interior of the vehicle, showing the display device main body 3 facing the driver's seat side, and Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the main parts of the interior of the vehicle, showing the display device main body 3 facing the passenger seat side.
4 and 5, the display device main body 3 of this embodiment is disposed in the vehicle width direction between the driver's seat (not shown) and passenger seat (not shown) of the vehicle 2. The vehicle 2 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is a left-hand drive vehicle, with the driver's seat located behind the steering wheel 24 and the passenger seat located to the right of the driver's seat.

The orientation change unit 4 can be in two states: one in which the orientation of the display device main body 3 is aligned with the driver's seat (see Figure 4) and one in which it is aligned with the passenger's seat (see Figure 5). When the orientation of the display device main body 3 is aligned with the driver's seat, it is possible to display a reflected image G that is clearly visible to the passenger (driver) sitting in the driver's seat. When the orientation of the display device main body 3 is aligned with the passenger's seat, it is possible to display a reflected image G that is clearly visible to the passenger sitting in the passenger seat. The orientation of the display device main body 3, which can be changed by the orientation change unit 4, is not limited to the driver's seat or the passenger's seat, but can be changed to any orientation. In either orientation, the drive mechanism 41 locks the movement of the display device main body 3, thereby suppressing vibration of the display device main body 3 and preventing shaking of the reflected image G.

[Drive control unit and display control unit]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the vehicle display device 1.
6, the vehicle display device 1 includes a drive control unit 5 and a display control unit 6. Both the drive control unit 5 and the display control unit 6 include a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The drive control unit 5 and the display control unit 6 execute predetermined processes according to a program written in the ROM.

The drive control unit 5 controls the drive mechanism 41. The drive control unit 5 controls the drive mechanism 41 based on predetermined conditions and automatically changes the orientation of the display device main body 3. For example, the drive control unit 5 acquires various vehicle information from the ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 25 of the vehicle 2, and automatically changes the orientation of the display device main body 3 when the acquired vehicle information meets predetermined conditions. As a specific example, when a television image is displayed on the vehicle display device 1, when the vehicle 2 is moving, the orientation of the display device main body 3 is automatically adjusted to face the passenger seat, displaying a television image that is clearly visible to the passenger sitting in the passenger seat. Furthermore, when the vehicle 2 is stopped, the orientation of the display device main body 3 is automatically adjusted to face the driver's seat, displaying a television image that is clearly visible to the passenger sitting in the driver's seat. The drive control unit 5 has an automatic mode and a manual mode, and in the manual mode, the orientation of the display device main body 3 is changed based on the passenger's operation.

Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of the main parts of the interior of the vehicle, showing the display device main body 3 oriented toward the driver's seat, and Figure 8 is a schematic plan view of the main parts of the interior of the vehicle, showing the display device main body 3 oriented toward the passenger seat.
The display control unit 6 switches the display content using the display light L and corrects the display light L depending on the orientation of the display device main body 3. For example, when the orientation of the display device main body 3 is aligned with the driver's seat, the display control unit 6 causes the vehicular display device 1 to display content for the driver, such as navigation and vehicle information. Furthermore, when the orientation of the display device main body 3 is aligned with the driver's seat, the reflected image G viewed from the driver's seat is not rectangular but has a distorted shape. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7 , the display control unit 6 warps and corrects the display light L based on the viewpoint from the driver's seat, so that the reflected image G viewed from the driver's seat has an appropriate shape.

When the display device main body 3 is oriented toward the passenger seat, the display control unit 6 causes the vehicle display device 1 to display content intended for the passenger seat, such as entertainment images (for example, television images or online videos). When the display device main body 3 is oriented toward the passenger seat, the reflected image G viewed from the passenger seat is not rectangular but distorted. In this case, as shown in Figure 8, the display control unit 6 warps the display light L based on the viewpoint from the passenger seat, so that the reflected image G viewed from the passenger seat has an appropriate shape.

Although the embodiments have been described in detail above, they are not limited to specific embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the claims. It is also possible to combine all or several of the components of the above-described embodiments.

The present invention includes the following embodiments.

[1] A vehicle display device comprising a display device main body including a display unit and a case that houses the display unit, wherein display light emitted by the display unit is reflected on a windshield of a vehicle to be visually recognized by a passenger,
an orientation change unit that changes the orientation of the display device main body;
The orientation change unit changes the orientation of the display device main body in a vehicle width direction.

[2] The display device main body is disposed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction,
The vehicle display device according to [1], wherein the orientation change unit changes the orientation of the display device body to include a state in which the orientation is aligned with the driver's seat side and a state in which the orientation is aligned with the passenger's seat side.

[3] The vehicle display device described in [1] or [2], wherein the orientation change unit moves the display device main body along an arc centered on an axis perpendicular to the vehicle width direction and parallel to the display surface of the display unit.

[4] The vehicle control device described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the orientation change unit includes a drive mechanism that changes the orientation of the display device main body based on the drive of a power source.

[5] The vehicle display device described in [4], wherein the drive mechanism fixes the orientation of the display device main body when the drive of the power source is stopped.

[6] Further comprising a drive control unit that controls the drive mechanism,
The vehicle display device according to [4] or [5], wherein the drive control unit automatically changes the orientation of the display device body based on a predetermined condition.

[7] Further comprising a display control unit that controls the display unit,
The display device for a vehicle according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the display control unit corrects the display light depending on the orientation of the display device body.

[8] The display control unit
When the orientation of the display device main body is aligned with the driver's seat side of the vehicle, warping correction is performed on the display light based on a viewpoint from the driver's seat side;
The vehicle display device according to [7], wherein when the orientation of the display device main body is aligned with the passenger seat side of the vehicle, the display light is warped and corrected based on the viewpoint from the passenger seat side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle display device 2 Vehicle 21 Instrument panel portion 22 Windshield 22a Transmitting portion 22b Light-shielding portion 23 Mounting portion 24 Steering handle 25 ECU
3 Display device body 31 Display unit 311 Display panel 312 Backlight unit 312a Light source substrate 312b Optical sheet 312c Light emitting element 32 Display light control layer 321 Emission surface 322 Incident surface 323 Optical bonding layer 324 Adhesive layer 33 Case 331 Opening 34 Protective cover 4 Orientation change unit 41 Drive mechanism 5 Drive control unit 6 Display control unit L Display light G Reflected image A Axis B Arc

Claims (8)

A display device for a vehicle includes a display device main body including a display unit and a case that houses the display unit, and the display light emitted by the display unit is reflected on a windshield of the vehicle so that the display light is visible to a passenger,
an orientation change unit that changes the orientation of the display device main body;
The orientation change unit changes the orientation of the display device main body in a vehicle width direction. the display device main body is disposed between a driver's seat and a passenger seat of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction,
The vehicle display device according to claim 1 , wherein the orientation change unit changes the orientation of the display device body between a state where the orientation is aligned with the driver's seat side and a state where the orientation is aligned with the passenger's seat side. The vehicle display device described in claim 1, wherein the orientation change unit moves the display device main body along an arc centered on an axis perpendicular to the vehicle width direction and parallel to the display surface of the display unit. The vehicle control device described in claim 1, wherein the orientation change unit includes a drive mechanism that changes the orientation of the display device main body based on the drive of a power source. The vehicle display device described in claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism fixes the orientation of the display device body when the power source is stopped. a drive control unit that controls the drive mechanism;
The display device for a vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the drive control unit automatically changes the orientation of the display device body based on a predetermined condition. a display control unit that controls the display unit;
The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the display control unit corrects the display light in accordance with an orientation of the display device main body. The display control unit
When the orientation of the display device main body is aligned with the driver's seat side of the vehicle, warping correction is performed on the display light based on a viewpoint from the driver's seat side;
The vehicle display device according to claim 7 , wherein when the display device main body is oriented toward a passenger seat side of the vehicle, the display light is warped and corrected based on a viewpoint from the passenger seat side.