JP2017171146A - Head-up display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid, in particular, a situation in which a sense of incongruity to a virtual image is generated even if a view point position of a driver is displaced from a reference position.SOLUTION: This invention relates to a head-up display device 2 for image-forming a virtual image 7 at a depth side of a reflection member 6 by reflecting an image 4 of a display device 3 by the reflection member 6 in front of a driver's seat 5. The display device 3 can display two images 41, 42 for a left eye and a right eye respectively. The head-up display device comprises detection means 33 which can detect a view point position 43 of a driver. Also, the head-up display device comprises control means 8 for gradually thinning the images 41, 42 as a whole at a moved side out of the two images 41, 42 of the display device 3 according to a moving amount 38 from a reference position 45 when the view point position 43 of the driver detected by the detection means 33 is moved to a lateral direction from the reference position 45.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a head-up display device.

  Some vehicles such as automobiles have a head-up display device. In this head-up display device, an image of the display device is reflected by a reflective member in front of the driver's seat (for example, a dedicated reflector such as a combiner) to form a virtual image on the back side of the reflective member. Yes (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As a result, the driver can obtain information that assists driving with a small amount of line-of-sight movement from the state of driving forward.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-270716

  However, the above head-up display has the following problems.

  For example, when a front window glass is used as a reflecting member instead of a combiner, the front window glass has a complicated curved surface shape, so that the virtual image that is reflected by the front window glass has no distortion. It is difficult.

  Therefore, in a normal case, the distortion of the virtual image reflected and projected on the reflecting member is limited to a preset range of the eye box (a range in which the eye position is appropriate when the proper driving posture is taken). The image of the display device is adjusted so that it is visually recognized less.

  For this reason, if the driver's eyes are out of the eyebox range, the positional relationship between the front window glass and the virtual image will deviate from the position where the distortion is visible (or the appropriate visual recognition range), and the distortion of the virtual image will be Since it appears to be larger, the display quality is lowered, and the distortion of the virtual image appearing on the left and right eyes appears to be different, which may cause the driver to feel uncomfortable.

  In addition, the instrument panel is provided with an opening for passing the image of the display device installed inside, but the image is opened due to the driver's eye being out of the eyebox range, etc. A phenomenon occurs in which a part of the virtual image is missing due to being kicked at the part.

  In this way, when the image is kicked at the opening, a part of one virtual image suddenly disappears, and this makes it appear that the virtual image suddenly switched to the other virtual image. It causes a feeling. Such a sense of incongruity or discontinuity is particularly felt when the effective side image and virtual image are kicked.

  Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
In the head-up display device that reflects the image of the display device by the reflection member in front of the driver's seat and forms a virtual image on the back side of the reflection member,
The display device can display two images for the left eye and the right eye,
While equipped with detection means that can detect the viewpoint position of the driver,
When the viewpoint position of the driver detected by the detection means moves laterally from the reference position,
Of the two images of the display device, there is provided control means for gradually reducing the entire image on the moved side in accordance with the amount of movement from the reference position.

  According to the present invention, with the above configuration, even if the viewpoint position of the driver deviates from the reference position, it is possible to prevent the virtual image from feeling uncomfortable.

It is a block diagram of the head-up display apparatus concerning this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process of the control means with which the head-up display apparatus of FIG. 1 was equipped. The upper row is the actual display of the left-eye and right-eye images at each position by eye movement, and the lower row is a virtual image visually recognized at each position described above. FIG. 4 is a diagram similar to FIG. 3 when the present embodiment is not applied as a comparative example.

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 are for explaining this embodiment.

  <Configuration> The configuration of this embodiment will be described below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a head-up display device 2 is provided for a vehicle 1 such as an automobile. In the head-up display device 2, the image 4 of the display device 3 (or the information projection unit) is reflected by the reflection member 6 in front of the driver's seat 5 to form a virtual image 7 on the back side of the reflection member 6. It is supposed to be.

  Here, as the display device 3, various devices such as a segment type display, a display panel, and a projector can be used. The image 4 of the display device 3 is, for example, information that assists driving. The head-up display device 2 is provided with a control means 8 (or a control device) for causing the display device 3 to display the image 4.

  For the reflecting member 6, a dedicated reflecting plate such as the combiner 11 or the front window glass 12 (W / S) of the vehicle 1 can be used. The combiner 11 and the front window glass 12 are subjected to a reflection treatment or the like as necessary. In this case, the front window glass 12 is used as the reflecting member 6.

  Then, the image 4 of the display device 3 is guided to the reflecting member 6 directly or indirectly through an optical component such as the mirror 21. Optical components such as the combiner 11 and the mirror 21 can be adjusted in angle so as to match the height of the eyes of the driver by an angle adjusting mechanism attached thereto. The control means 8 of the head-up display device 2 includes an angle information detection unit 24 that calculates angle information 23 based on a detection signal 22 from a sensor or the like provided in the angle adjustment mechanism (hereinafter referred to as necessary). (See also the flowchart of FIG. 2 according to the above).

  Furthermore, a position generation unit 26 that generates positions such as an eye box 25 suitable for the driver and a reference position 45 described later is provided based on the angle information 23 acquired by the angle information detection unit 24. The eye box 25 is a range in which the viewpoint position (eye point) is appropriate when the driver is in an appropriate driving posture. The eye box 25 is, for example, about twice as long as the distance between the left and right eyes (pupil) in the horizontal direction (left-right direction or substantially vehicle width direction), It is set as a horizontally long rectangular shape having a size approximately equal to the interval between eyes (pupils).

  Then, the control means 8 is limited to the range of the eye box 25, and an image information generating unit that adjusts the image 4 of the display device 3 so that the virtual image 7 reflected and projected on the reflecting member 6 is visually recognized with little distortion. 27. Thereby, the virtual image 7 formed on the back side of the reflecting member 6 is in a range corresponding to the eye box 25 on the reflecting member 6 (see the appropriate visual recognition range 28 on the reflecting member 6, and the lower part of FIGS. 3 and 4). ) Is visually recognized so that there is almost no distortion, and distortion is generated outside the above-described range, or it is visually recognized that there is a relatively large distortion.

  In contrast to the basic configuration as described above, this embodiment has the following configuration.

(1) As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 3 can display two images 41 and 42 for the left eye and the right eye, respectively (see FIG. 3).
And the detection means 33 which can detect a driver | operator's viewpoint position 43 is provided.
The driver's viewpoint position 43 detected by the detection means 33 is
When moving (or shifted) from the reference position 45 in the horizontal direction 46,
Of the two images 41, 42 of the display device 3, the entire moved (or shifted) images 41, 42 are gradually thinned (or faded out) according to the amount of movement 38 from the reference position 45. ) Provide control means 8.

  Here, the two images 41 and 42 for the left eye and the right eye are created as stereoscopic images (composite images), and are displayed in a state where they coincide with each other in the horizontal direction 46 or slightly shifted. Is done. Two virtual images 7 a and 7 b are formed by the two images 41 and 42 in front of the driver seat 5. The driver visually recognizes one virtual image 7 by synthesizing these two virtual images 7a and 7b in the brain.

  The viewpoint position 43 can be the position of both eyes of the driver, the position of one of the eyes, the position of the middle point between the positions of both eyes, or the like. In addition, the viewpoint position 43 can be switched to any of these depending on the situation.

  The detection means 33 includes a viewpoint observation camera 34 provided toward the driver on the ceiling of the driver's seat 5, the instrument panel 51 (for example, around the meter device), and the like. Further, the control means 8 has a viewpoint position detection unit 37 that detects the position of the driver's viewpoint (that is, the viewpoint position 43) as the detection means 33 by performing image processing on the driver's video from the viewpoint observation camera 34. Is provided.

  The reference position 45 can be set as appropriate within the range of the eye box 25 described above. In this case, the reference position 45 is the center position in the lateral direction 46 of the eye box 25.

  FIG. 3 shows the case of this embodiment, and FIG. 4 shows the case where this embodiment is not applied as a comparative example. 3 and 4, (c) is a case where the viewpoint position 43 is aligned with the reference position 45, and (R1), (R2), and (R3) are respectively on the right side of the viewpoint position 43 with respect to (c). This shows a case where the movement amount 38 (see FIG. 1) gradually increases. Further, (L1), (L2), and (L3) indicate cases where the amount of movement 38 to the left of the viewpoint position 43 gradually increases with respect to (c).

  In FIG. 3, the right-side image 42 becomes light when the viewpoint position 43 is shifted to the right side, and the left-side image 41 becomes thin when the viewpoint position 43 is shifted to the left side. In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the images 41 and 42 located on the moved side are gradually thinned with a natural feeling as the amount of movement 38 increases.

  On the other hand, in FIG. 4, the darkness of the two images 41 and 42 is always the same. As described above, when the two images 41 and 42 have the same darkness, the composition tends to be performed around the effective side images 41 and 42 or the virtual images 7a and 7b.

  On the other hand, in the case of this embodiment as described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the composition is performed around the dark side images 41 and 42 or the virtual images 7a and 7b.

  At this time, the reference position 45 may have a required width within the range of the eye box 25 as long as an area (fade-out area) where a feeling of fading out can be obtained naturally can be secured (that is, the reference position 45). The position 45 may be a reference range). Note that settings regarding how to set the reference position 45 are input to the viewpoint deviation amount calculation unit 39 in advance.

  Furthermore, the viewpoint position 43 detected by the viewpoint position detection unit 37 is compared with a preset reference position 45 to monitor the deviation (displacement or movement) of the viewpoint position 34 from the reference position 45, and the amount of deviation ( A viewpoint deviation amount calculation unit 39 for calculating a deviation amount or a movement amount 38) and a deviation direction is provided. The image information generating unit 27 thins the images 41 and 42 of the display device 3 described above. The lateral direction 46 is substantially the vehicle width direction.

(2) As shown in FIG. 1, the display device 3 is installed inside the instrument panel 51, and an opening 52 through which the images 41 and 42 of the display device 3 pass is provided in the instrument panel 51. Is provided.
When the driver's viewpoint position 43 moves to a position where one of the images 41 and 42 is kicked by the opening 52 (see (R3) and (L3) in FIGS. 3 and 4), the control means 8 3, the entire image 41, 42 on the kicked side is erased (see broken line portions in FIGS. 3 (R3) and (L3)).

  Here, the viewpoint deviation amount calculation unit 39 calculates whether one of the images 41 and 42 is kicked by the opening 52 and the virtual images 7a and 7b are missing. Position information of the opening 52 is input to the viewpoint deviation amount calculation unit 39 in advance. In this case, it is preferable that the viewpoint position 43 is the position of the eye on the moved side.

  In addition, it is preferable that the opening 52 of the instrument panel 51 has a size corresponding to the eyebox 25 or the appropriate visual recognition range 28 on the reflecting member 6 described above. Alternatively, the opening 52 may be larger than the size corresponding to the eye box 25 and the appropriate visual recognition range 28.

  (3) In the above, one of the images 41 and 42 (and the virtual images 7a and 7b) is erased in response to kicking at the opening 52, but the viewpoint position 43 is not the opening 52 but the eye box. When it is out of the range of 25, the entire images 41 and 42 (and the virtual images 7a and 7b) on the moved side (the side that deviated first) may be erased. In this case, the images 41 and 42 are read as the viewpoint position 43 and the opening 52 is read as the eye box 25 as appropriate.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing of the control means 8.

  When control is started at START, the control means 8 acquires angle information 23 (such as the mirror 21 and the combiner 11) from the angle adjustment mechanism by the angle information detection unit 24 in step S1. Next, in step S2, the position generator 26 calculates an eye box 25 and a reference position 45 suitable for the driver based on the angle information 23 detected by the angle information detector 24.

  Next, in step S3, a video of the driver is photographed by the viewpoint observation camera 34 as the detecting means 33, and the video of the driver from the viewpoint observation camera 34 is image-processed by the viewpoint position detection unit 37, and the actual viewpoint position is detected. (Or viewpoint position 43) is acquired as information.

  In step S <b> 4, the viewpoint deviation amount calculation unit 39 compares the viewpoint position 43 detected by the viewpoint position detection unit 37 with the reference position 45 set in advance, and the viewpoint position 43 of the driver is determined from the reference position 45. It is determined whether or not the vehicle has moved. If the result is No, the process returns to step S3 and loops to constantly monitor whether or not the driver's viewpoint position 43 has moved from the reference position 45.

  If YES, the viewpoint deviation amount calculation unit 39 calculates and acquires the deviation amount (or movement amount 38) from the viewpoint reference position 45, the deviation direction, and the like in step S5. In step S <b> 6, the image information generation unit 27 determines that the images 41 and 42 on the moving side (display device 3) are in accordance with the movement amount 38 (deviation amount) from the reference position 45 of the driver's viewpoint position 43. Change the density so that it is lighter (lighter).

  Further, in step S7, the viewpoint deviation amount calculation unit 39 determines whether one of the images 41 and 42 has been kicked by the opening 52, and in the case of No, the process returns to step S6 to loop, thereby driving the driver. Whether or not at least one viewpoint position 43 is kicked by the opening 52 is constantly monitored.

  If YES, the image information generation unit 27 erases the entire images 41 and 42 (of the display device 3) kicked by the opening 52 in step S8.

  Thereafter, the control may be terminated by END, and the process may be repeated by returning to START, or may be returned to step S3 or the like to loop.

  In the case of (3) described above, step S7 is set as “whether the position of one eye of the driver has moved from the eye box 25”, and step S8 is set to “images 41 and 42 on the side moved from the eye box 25”. Delete all of ".

  <Operation> The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

  In the head-up display device 2, the image 4 displayed on the display device 3 is guided to a predetermined position of the reflection member 6 and reflected by the reflection member 6, so that the front of the driver's seat 5 and the depth of the reflection member 6 are reflected. The virtual image 7 can be formed (or displayed) at the side position and can be shown to the passenger. Thus, the driver can obtain information that assists driving with less line-of-sight movement than when looking at the meter device from the state of driving facing forward.

  At this time, the display device 3 displays the two images 41 and 42 for the left eye and the right eye at the same time. Then, two virtual images 7a and 7b are projected by superimposing and displaying the two images 41 and 42 in a state where they coincide with each other in the horizontal direction or slightly shifted, and the two virtual images 7a and 7b become brains. The single virtual image 7 (so-called 3D image) having a change in the sense of distance according to the amount of deviation between the images 41 and 42 is visually recognized (the 3D image is viewed with the naked eye). In principle, it is almost the same whether viewing with 3D glasses.

  For example, when the front window glass 12 is used as the reflecting member 6, the front window glass 12 has a complicated curved surface shape, so that the virtual images 7a and 7b that are reflected by the front window glass 12 are not distorted. It is difficult to do.

  Therefore, in a normal case, the virtual images 7a and 7b reflected and projected on the reflecting member 6 are visually recognized with little distortion, limited to a specific position (for example, a preset appropriate viewpoint range such as the eye box 25). Thus, the image 4 (or optical system) of the display device 3 is adjusted.

  Therefore, when the driver's viewpoint position 43 deviates from the eye box 25, the positional relationship between the front window glass 12 and the virtual images 7a and 7b is from the position where the distortion is visually recognized (the appropriate visual recognition range 28 on the reflecting member 6). Since the displacement of the virtual images 7a and 7b appears to be larger, the display quality is deteriorated and the distortion of the virtual images 7a and 7b appearing on the left and right eyes is different, which makes the driver feel uncomfortable. There is a high risk of causing it.

  However, the driver's viewpoint position 43 is not always in the eye box 25, and the virtual images 7a and 7b are visible even when the driver moves from the eye box 25.

  In recent years, since the size of the image 4 of the head-up display device 2 is increasing, it is difficult to reduce the distortion of the virtual image 7 even in the eye box 25.

  <Effect> According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (Effect 1) When the viewpoint position 43 of the driver is moved in the lateral direction 46 from the reference position 45 (in the eye box 25) by the control means 8, the two images 41 and 42 of the display device 3 The entire moved (or shifted) images 41 and 42 are gradually thinned (fade out) in accordance with the amount of movement 38 from the reference position 45.

  For example, when the viewpoint position 43 deviates from the reference position 45 to the left side, the image 41 on the left side of the display device 3 is gradually thinned as a whole, and the viewpoint position 43 deviates from the reference position 45 to the right side. In this case, the image 42 on the right side of the display device 3 is gradually made thinner as a whole.

  As a result, the virtual images 7a and 7b on the side moved from the reference position 45 are gradually thinned according to the movement amount 38, but the opposite virtual images 7a and 7b remain dark. And since humans perceive the darker virtual images 7a and 7b more strongly than the thin virtual images 7a and 7b, the moving virtual images 7a and 7b gradually become less concerned. The influence of the virtual images 7a and 7b can be reduced without causing a sense of incongruity. Therefore, for example, as the viewpoint position 43 deviates from the reference position 45, the visible virtual images 7a and 7b tend to become more distorted. Even in such a case, the virtual images 7a and 7b on the larger distortion side become thinner. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the visible virtual image 7 from being distorted.

  Furthermore, since the above can be carried out in a controlled manner without using any additional parts, it can be easily realized.

  (Effect 2) Further, in the above, the control means 8 is the driver's viewpoint at a position where one of the images 41 and 42 is kicked by the opening 52 of the instrument panel 51 and a part of one of the virtual images 7a and 7b is missing. When the position 43 moves, the entire image 41, 42 on the kicked side is erased from the display device 3 (see FIGS. 3 (R3) and (L3)).

  Specifically, when the left virtual image 7a is partially cut off by being kicked by the opening 52, the entire left image 41 disappears from the display device 3, and is kicked by the opening 52 to the right. When the virtual image 7b is lost, the entire right image 42 disappears from the display device 3.

  As a result, the virtual images 7a and 7b on the side moved from the reference position 45 naturally disappear in accordance with the timing at which the images 41 and 42 are kicked at the opening 52 after the entire image gradually becomes thinner as described above. As a result, the image is erased after the switching to the other virtual image 7a, 7b is performed slowly in the driver's brain. For example, as shown in FIGS. Problems such as a sense of incongruity or discontinuity caused by sudden disappearance of part of one of the virtual images 7a and 7b due to kicking at the part 52 and sudden switching to the other virtual images 7a and 7b. Can be resolved. This is particularly effective when the virtual images 7a and 7b are missing due to the kicking of the images 41 and 42 on the effective side.

  At this time, as described above, since the opposite images 41 and 42 and the virtual images 7a and 7b remain dark, the entire virtual images 7a and 7b on the side where the images 41 and 42 are kicked by the opening 52 are provided. Even if disappears, the virtual images 7a and 7b on the opposite side disappear in a state where they are strongly recognized, so that the virtual image 7 can be viewed almost without any sense of incongruity. Therefore, the range in which the virtual image 7 can be seen in a state where there is no (or little) quality deterioration can be made wider than the range kicked by the opening 52.

  Even if the above-mentioned feeling of incongruity disappears, it can be felt that one of the virtual images 7a and 7b has disappeared at the position kicked by the opening 52, so that the viewpoint position 43 is far from the reference position 45 or an appropriate position. And that the correct driving posture is not taken and the setting angle of the reflecting member 6 and the mirror 21 is not correct. It is also possible to obtain an effect of prompting the user to adjust correctly.

  Furthermore, as described above, even if one virtual image 7a, 7b disappears at the position kicked by the opening 52, the opposite virtual images 7a, 7b remain so that, for example, the opening 52 is enlarged. Thus, it is possible to eliminate the need to take measures to expand the range in which the virtual images 7a and 7b are not lost.

  When the opening 52 is enlarged as described above, the appearance of the instrument panel 51 is deteriorated, and the structure of the head-up display device 2 itself and the assembly of the head-up display device 2 inside the instrument panel 51 are combined. Since the attached structure is also large, it is structurally disadvantageous. However, in the case of this embodiment, it is not necessary to enlarge the opening 52, so that such appearance and assembly problems can be eliminated. Further, since the opening 52 does not need to be enlarged, for example, the opening 52 can be contracted to a size corresponding to the eye box 25 (or the appropriate visual recognition range 28 described above), or the opening 52 can be reduced. It is possible to reduce the size of the head-up display device 2 by reducing the size.

  (Effect 3) Alternatively, the entire images 41 and 42 (and the virtual images 7a and 7b) on the side moved by the deviation of the viewpoint position 43 from the range of the eye box 25 may be deleted. Thereby, the same effect as the above can be obtained.

  While the embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the embodiments are merely illustrative. Therefore, the present invention is not limited only to the embodiments, and it goes without saying that design changes and the like within a range not departing from the gist are included in the present invention. Further, for example, when each embodiment includes a plurality of configurations, it is a matter of course that possible combinations of these configurations are included even if not specifically described. Further, when a plurality of embodiments and modification examples are disclosed, it is needless to say that possible combinations of configurations extending over these are included even if not specifically described. Further, the configuration depicted in the drawings is of course included even if not particularly described. Further, when there is a term of “etc.”, it is used in the sense that the equivalent is included. In addition, when there are terms such as “almost”, “about”, “degree”, etc., they are used in the sense that they include those in the range and accuracy recognized by common sense.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Head up display apparatus 3 Display apparatus 4 Image 5 Driver's seat 6 Reflective member 7 Virtual image 8 Control means 33 Detection means 38 Movement amount 41 Image 42 Image 43 Viewpoint position 45 Reference position 46 Lateral direction 51 Instrument panel 52 Opening part

Claims (3)

In the head-up display device that reflects the image of the display device by the reflection member in front of the driver's seat and forms a virtual image on the back side of the reflection member,
The display device can display two images for the left eye and the right eye,
While equipped with detection means that can detect the viewpoint position of the driver,
When the viewpoint position of the driver detected by the detection means moves laterally from the reference position,
A head-up display device comprising control means for gradually thinning the entire image on the moved side of two images of the display device in accordance with the amount of movement from the reference position. The head-up display device according to claim 1,
The display device is installed inside the instrument panel, and the instrument panel is provided with an opening through which an image of the display device passes.
The control means is configured to erase the entire image on the kicked side from the display device when the viewpoint position of the driver moves to a position where one image is kicked by the opening. Head-up display device. The head-up display device according to claim 1,
The control means is configured to erase the entire image on the moving side from the display device when the viewpoint position of the driver moves from a preset eyebox range. .