JP6142805B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device that forms a display in which a real image and a virtual image are combined.

  Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle display device including a plate-shaped combiner unit having a half mirror layer and an electromic layer, a background member having a light source and a light guide plate, and a liquid crystal display. Yes. The half mirror layer of the combiner unit transmits light incident on the back surface irradiated by the background member to the front side and reflects light of a display image by the liquid crystal display on the front surface. Thus, the display device forms a display in which the real image of the light guide plate that emits light and the virtual image of the image are combined.

  In addition, in the combiner unit of Patent Document 1, the electromic layer is provided on the back side of the half mirror layer. The electromic layer can change the light transmittance. Therefore, the display device can appropriately adjust the luminance difference between the real image of the light guide plate that emits light and the virtual image of the image by controlling the light transmittance in the electrochromic layer.

JP 2012-106702 A

  Now, in the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the electrochromic layer only changes the light transmittance. Therefore, although the luminance can be adjusted by controlling the light transmittance of the light guide plate, this light is still transmitted straight through the electrochromic layer. Therefore, the real image of the light guide plate is simply visually recognized as being at the installation position of the light guide plate. As described above, in the display device of Patent Document 1, even when the electrochromic layer is controlled, no clear change occurs in the display.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems described above, and an object thereof is to provide a display device capable of causing a clear change in display.

In order to achieve the above object, the first invention is a plate-like shape forming the front surface (51) and the back surface (52), which transmits light incident on the back surface and reflects light incident on the front surface. A member (50), and a first display means (30) for transmitting the light of the first image (11) from the back side of the semi-transmissive member to visually recognize the real image (12) of the first image from the front side. A second display means (40) for reflecting the virtual image (14) of the second image together with the first image by reflecting the light of the second image (13) on the front surface of the semi-transmissive member; and it is disposed between the first display hand stage, a transmitting state for linearly transmitting light of the first image, and a scattering state haze value to be scattered transmitted light of the first image by greater than the transmission state A switchable optical element (70).

  According to the present invention, when the optical element is in a transmission state in which the light of the first image is transmitted in a straight line, a display in which the real image of the first image and the virtual image of the second image are combined is performed. When the optical element is switched from such a state to a scattering state in which light is scattered and transmitted, the light of the first image displayed by the first display means is scattered by the optical element. As a result, the first image is visually recognized as if the light is being displayed at the position of the optical element, not the actual position of the first display means.

  According to the above, it is possible to move the relative position of the first image with respect to the second image as a virtual image by switching between the transmission state and the scattering state in the optical element. Therefore, it becomes possible to cause a clear change in the display.

  Note that the reference numbers in the parentheses are merely examples of correspondences with specific configurations in the embodiments to be described later in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and limit the scope of the present invention. It is not a thing.

It is a front view of the display apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the display in simple navigation mode. It is a figure which shows the display of the display apparatus in normal driving mode. It is a figure which shows the mechanical structure of a display apparatus, Comprising: It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of a liquid-crystal shutter typically, Comprising: (A) is a figure which shows a permeation | transmission state, (B) is a figure which shows a scattering state. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of a display apparatus. It is a figure which shows the display of the display apparatus in a system check mode.

  The display device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 notifies the viewer of information such as the traveling speed of the vehicle by an image. The display device 100 is accommodated in an instrument panel provided in a vehicle cabin of the vehicle in a posture in which the front side shown in FIG. 1 is directed toward the driver's seat. The display of the display device 100 is configured by combining a plurality of images such as a speedometer image 13a and a navigation image 11a, for example. The display device 100 can switch and display a plurality of display modes including the normal travel mode shown in FIG. 2 and the simple navigation mode shown in FIG. 1 based on the operation of the viewer.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display device 100 includes a half mirror 50, a first display 30, a second display 40, a decoration member 60, a liquid crystal shutter 70, and the like. These elements 50, 30, 40, 60 and 70 are accommodated in the housing 65 and are held by the housing 65. In the following description, the direction from the first display 30 to the half mirror 50 is a front direction FD, and the opposite direction to the front direction FD is a back direction BD.

  The half mirror 50 has a plate shape that forms a front surface 51 facing the front direction FD and a back surface 52 facing the back direction BD. The edge of the half mirror 50 is fixed by the housing 65 in a posture in which the thickness direction is slightly inclined with respect to the axis line along the front direction FD. The half mirror 50 is formed by evaporating aluminum or the like on the surface of a plate material such as a colorless and transparent acrylic resin. The half mirror 50 transmits at least part of the light incident on the back surface 52 from the first display device 30 in the front direction FD. In addition, the half mirror 50 reflects light incident on the front surface 51 from the second display device 40 in the front direction FD.

  The first indicator 30 is arranged in the back direction BD of the half mirror 50. The first display 30 is configured in a plate shape by combining a liquid crystal display 31, a backlight 32, and the like. The liquid crystal display 31 has a dot-matrix display configuration having a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally along the display surface 31a. The liquid crystal display 31 can display various images (hereinafter, “first image”) 11 in color on the display surface 31a by controlling each pixel. The backlight 32 is positioned in the back direction BD of the liquid crystal display 31 and irradiates illumination light toward the liquid crystal display 31. The first image 11 formed on the display surface 31a is lit and displayed by transmitting illumination light from the backlight 32.

  The above first display 30 irradiates the light of the first image 11 such as the navigation image 11 a displayed on the display surface 31 a from the back side of the half mirror 50. The light of the first image 11 passes through the half mirror 50 in the front direction FD. As described above, the real image 12 of the first image 11 is visually recognized by a viewer located on the front side of the half mirror 50.

  The second display device 40 is disposed above the half mirror 50, and the display surface 41 a is opposed to the front surface 51 of the half mirror 50. The distance from the liquid crystal display 41 to the front surface 51 of the half mirror 50 is longer than the distance from the display surface 31 a of the liquid crystal display 31 to the front surface 51 of the half mirror 50.

  The second display 40 is configured in a plate shape by combining a liquid crystal display 41, a backlight 42, and the like. The liquid crystal display 41 has a segment-type display configuration in which an image (hereinafter, “second image”) 13 is formed by a plurality of segments whose shapes are defined in advance. The liquid crystal display 41 digitally displays numerical values as the second image 13 by controlling each segment. The backlight 42 is positioned on the opposite side of the half mirror 50 with the liquid crystal display 41 interposed therebetween, and irradiates light toward the liquid crystal display 41. The second image 13 formed on the liquid crystal display 41 is lit and displayed by transmitting illumination light from the backlight 42.

  The above second display 40 irradiates the light of the second image 13 such as the speedometer image 13 a displayed on the display surface 41 a from above the half mirror 50. The light of the second image 13 is reflected by the front surface 51 of the half mirror 50 in the front direction FD. Thereby, the virtual image 14 of the second image 13 is visually recognized together with the real image 12 in the back direction BD rather than the real image 12 by the viewer located on the front side of the half mirror 50.

  The decorating member 60 is formed in an enlarged cylindrical shape by a resin material or the like. The decoration member 60 is disposed between the half mirror 50 and the first display 30. The decorating member 60 is fixed to the housing 65 in a posture in which the axial direction is slightly inclined with respect to the axial line along the front direction FD. The peripheral wall 61 of the decorating member 60 is formed in a tapered shape whose inner diameter increases as it goes in the front direction FD. On the inner peripheral side of the peripheral wall 61, a perfect circular opening 62 is formed to make the first display device 30 visible from the front side.

  Here, a range that is visually recognized through the opening 62 in the display surface 31 a of the first display device 30 is a central region 35. Also. A range located on the outer peripheral side of the central region 35 in the display surface 31 a is defined as an outer peripheral region 36. The outer peripheral region 36 is located in the back direction BD of the peripheral wall 61 and irradiates light toward the peripheral wall 61.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a light shielding portion 63 and a light transmitting portion 64 are formed on the peripheral wall 61 of the decorative member 60. The light shielding unit 63 blocks light from the outer peripheral region 36 (see FIG. 3) located in the back direction BD. A plurality of light transmitting portions 64 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 61. Each translucent portion 64 extends in a strip shape along the radial direction of the decorative member 60. The translucent part 64 individually emits and displays light by transmitting light emitted from the outer peripheral region 36 (see FIG. 3).

  The liquid crystal shutter 70 shown in FIG. 3 is formed in a thin plate shape, and is disposed between the half mirror 50 and the first display 30. The liquid crystal shutter 70 is overlapped with the half mirror 50 and is in contact with the back surface 52 and the decoration member 60. The liquid crystal shutter 70 and the half mirror 50 are held by the housing 65 in a posture in which each plate surface direction is inclined with respect to the display surface 31a. The liquid crystal shutter 70 can be switched between a substantially colorless and transparent transmission state and a scattering state in which the liquid crystal shutter 70 is cloudy and cloudy. In the transmissive state, the liquid crystal shutter 70 transmits light from the display surface 31a in a straight line. On the other hand, in the scattering state, the liquid crystal shutter 70 scatters and transmits the light from the display surface 31a.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid crystal shutter 70 includes two transparent base materials 71 and an intermediate layer 73. A transparent electrode 72 is formed on each of the two transparent substrates 71. The intermediate layer 73 is formed of a matrix polymer 75 (see the dot region in FIG. 4) in which an infinite number of liquid crystal capsules 74 are dispersed, and is filled in a space sandwiched between two transparent electrodes 72. The liquid crystal capsule 74 contains liquid crystal molecules. Liquid crystal molecules exhibit optical anisotropy whose refractive index changes depending on the orientation of the molecules. The matrix polymer 75 is formed of a compound that exhibits optical isotropy. The refractive index of the matrix polymer 75 is aligned with the refractive index in the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules.

  The liquid crystal shutter 70 having the above configuration can be switched between the transmission state and the scattering state by controlling the voltage applied to the liquid crystal shutter 70. The liquid crystal shutter 70 increases or decreases the haze value according to the applied voltage. The haze value is a value indicating the ratio of diffusely transmitted light to total transmitted light, and can be measured using a haze meter. As the haze value increases, the turbidity (cloudiness) of the liquid crystal shutter 70 increases.

  More specifically, when a voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes 72 as shown in FIG. 4A, the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal capsule 74 is directed to the direction of the electric field. Since the refractive index of the matrix polymer 75 is aligned with the refractive index in the major axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules, the light incident on the liquid crystal shutter 70 can travel straight without being refracted and reflected by the liquid crystal capsule 74. As a result, the liquid crystal shutter 70 exhibits a low haze value when the voltage is on, and enters a transmission state.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when no voltage is applied between the transparent electrodes 72, the liquid crystal molecules are aligned along the interface of the liquid crystal capsule 74. In addition, the myriad liquid crystal capsules 74 are individually directed in different directions. Therefore, a refractive index mismatch occurs between the liquid crystal molecules and the matrix polymer 75. As a result, the light incident on the liquid crystal shutter 70 is repeatedly reflected and refracted on the surface and inside of the liquid crystal capsule 74 and cannot travel straight. As a result, the liquid crystal shutter 70 exhibits a high haze value when the voltage is off, and enters a scattering state in which light to be transmitted is diffused.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the display device 100 will be described based on FIG. 5 with reference to FIG. The display device 100 includes a control unit 80 that controls these in addition to the first display 30, the second display 40, and the liquid crystal shutter 70 described above. The control unit 80 is configured by a microcomputer or the like that is operated by a program. The control unit 80 acquires information indicating the traveling speed of the vehicle output to the in-vehicle local area network (LAN) 86 and the like. The control unit 80 controls image display on the liquid crystal displays 31 and 41 based on the acquired information. In addition, the control unit 80 controls light emission of the backlights 32 and 42 by controlling the current applied to the light sources of the backlights 32 and 42. Further, the control unit 80 switches between the transmission state and the scattering state by controlling the voltage applied to the liquid crystal shutter 70.

  In the display device 100 having the configuration described so far, the apparent change accompanying the switching of the display mode from the simple navigation mode shown in FIG. 1 to the normal driving mode shown in FIG. 2 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. To do.

  In the simple navigation mode shown in FIG. 1, the application of voltage to the liquid crystal shutter 70 is turned on. As a result, the liquid crystal shutter 70 enters a transmission state in which the light from the first display device 30 is transmitted straight through. Therefore, the display of the display device 100 includes a real image 12 of the navigation image 11a perceived at a position on the actual display surface 31a and a virtual image 14 of the speedometer image 13a formed at a position shifted from the real image 12 in the back direction BD. Will be combined.

  By switching the display mode from the above simple navigation mode to the normal travel mode shown in FIG. 2, the application of voltage to the liquid crystal shutter 70 is stopped. Thereby, the liquid crystal shutter 70 is switched to a scattering state in which light from the first display 30 is scattered and transmitted. In addition, by switching the display mode, the first image 11 is changed from the navigation image 11a to the background image 11b. The background image 11b is, for example, a single color image, and is an image that becomes the background of the speedometer image 13a. The light of the background image 11b is scattered by the liquid crystal shutter 70 in the scattering state. As a result, the background image 11b becomes a bowl-like blurred image, and is visually recognized as if the light is displayed at the position of the liquid crystal shutter 70, not the actual position of the display surface 31a. Therefore, the display of the display device 100 is like the speedometer image 13a is floated in the back direction BD (back side) of the projected image of the background image 11b with a blush.

  In the present embodiment described so far, the relative position of the first image 11 with respect to the second image 13 as the virtual image 14 is moved from the viewpoint of the viewer by switching between the transmission state and the scattering state of the liquid crystal shutter 70. Can be made. Therefore, it is possible to cause a clear change in the display by the display device 100 by switching the display mode.

  In addition, according to the arrangement in which the liquid crystal shutter 70 is brought into contact with the back surface 52 of the half mirror 50 as in the present embodiment, a long distance from the display surface 31a of the first display device 30 to the liquid crystal shutter 70 can be ensured. Therefore, the apparent movement amount of the first image 11 when the liquid crystal shutter 70 is switched from the straight transmission to the scattering transmission can be secured. According to the above, the display change of the display device 100 accompanying the switching of the display mode becomes clearer.

  In the present embodiment, the plate surface direction of the liquid crystal shutter 70 is inclined with respect to the display surface 31 a of the first display 30. Therefore, even if the external light incident on the front surface 51 of the half mirror 50 is reflected by the liquid crystal shutter 70, the reflected light travels in a direction shifted from the direction of the viewer facing the display surface 31a. Therefore, the situation where the reflected light from the liquid crystal shutter 70 is visually recognized by the viewer and the display on the display device 100 is difficult to see can be avoided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the liquid crystal shutter 70 is switched from the transmission state to the scattering state, the real image 12 that is located in the front direction FD of the virtual image 14 is separated from the virtual image 14 in terms of appearance from the viewer. To further move in the front direction FD. In this way, by generating a change that enlarges the distance between the real image 12 and the virtual image 14 without changing the context of the real image 12 and the virtual image 14, the real image 12 and the virtual image 14 are combined in terms of appearance from the viewer. The sense of depth of the display is further emphasized.

  In addition, in this embodiment, even when the transmission state and the scattering state are switched with each other, the imaging position of the virtual image 14 of the second image 13 does not substantially move. As long as the second image 13 is configured to draw a speedometer image 13a that digitally displays a numerical value indicating the traveling speed, even the display device 100 that causes a change in the display by the position movement of the first image 11 is used. The provision of information to the viewer is continued in an easy-to-understand manner.

  In this embodiment, the liquid crystal shutter 70 is used as a configuration for switching between straight transmission and diffuse transmission. The liquid crystal shutter 70 can be switched between a transmission state and a scattering state by controlling an applied voltage. Therefore, by adopting the liquid crystal shutter 70, smooth switching between the transmission state and the scattering state is realized. As a result, the above-described display change can be generated more vividly.

  In the present embodiment, the first display 30 corresponds to the “first display means” described in the claims, and the second display 40 corresponds to the “second display means” described in the claims. Equivalent to. The half mirror 50 corresponds to a “semi-transmissive member” recited in the claims, and the liquid crystal shutter 70 corresponds to an “optical element” recited in the claims.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, although one embodiment by the present invention was described, the present invention is not interpreted limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and is applied to various embodiments and combinations within the range which does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. be able to.

  In the above embodiment, the position of the liquid crystal shutter provided so as to be in contact with the back surface of the half mirror can be appropriately changed between the half mirror and the first display. For example, the liquid crystal shutter can be fixed at a position away from the half mirror. In addition, the orientation of the liquid crystal shutter can be changed as appropriate. For example, the liquid crystal shutter may be fixed to the housing in a posture along the display surface of the first display. Or the plate | board surface direction of a liquid-crystal shutter may not be parallel to the plate | board surface direction of a half mirror, and may cross | intersect.

  In the above embodiment, the virtual image of the second image is formed in the back direction BD from the display surface on which the first image is displayed. However, the imaging position of the second image can be changed as appropriate. For example, the imaging position of the virtual image of the second image can be defined in the front direction FD with respect to the display surface on which the first image is displayed. With such a configuration, when the liquid crystal shutter is switched from the transmission state to the scattering state, the front-rear relationship between the real image of the first image and the virtual image of the second image is switched in appearance from the viewer. Therefore, the change in display accompanying the switching of the display mode is easy for the viewer to understand.

  In the above embodiment, the normal travel mode and the simple navigation mode have been described as examples of the display modes that are set in plural. However, a plurality of display modes other than these may be set in the display device. In addition, the images included in the first image and the second image in each display mode can be changed as appropriate.

  For example, the display device 100 can display the system check mode as shown in FIG. 6 based on the fact that the accessory power supply of the vehicle is turned on. In the system check mode, the liquid crystal shutter 70 is in a transmissive state, and a status image 11c indicating the state of the vehicle is displayed on the display surface 31a of the first display 30 as the first image 11. On the other hand, in the system check mode, the virtual image display of the second image by the second display is not performed. As described above, a display mode in which only the first image is displayed among the first image and the second image can also be set.

  The second image displayed as a virtual image may not be a digital display of numerical values. Specifically, a virtual image display of various images is realized by providing a dot matrix type liquid crystal display instead of the segment type liquid crystal display. Moreover, each display structure with which a 1st indicator and a 2nd indicator are provided can be changed suitably, and is not limited to a liquid crystal display, A plasma display, an organic EL display, etc. are employable.

  In the display mode in which the liquid crystal shutter is in the scattering state as in the normal travel mode described in the above embodiment, the first display can change the color of the background image according to the vehicle information. Specifically, by changing the light emission color of the background image according to the instantaneous fuel consumption of the vehicle, ambient display of instantaneous fuel consumption that can provide information to the viewer through the peripheral visual field is realized. Thus, the change of the background image displayed in gradation can be combined with the virtual image of the second image having a floating feeling, so that the appearance of the display device can be further innovative.

  Moreover, the light emission display by the some translucent part 64 arranged in cyclic | annular form with the decorating member 60 shown in FIG. 6 may be combined with the 1st image 11, and may be used for information provision to a viewer. For example, in the system check mode, the bar display portion 11d of the status image 11c extends in an arc shape from the bottom to the top as the system check progresses. Corresponding to such a change in the bar display portion 11d, the light transmitting portion 64 that is in the light emitting state is gradually increased from below to above (the light transmitting portion 64 in the light emitting state is illustrated with dots). Further, in the simple navigation mode shown in FIG. 1, the translucent part 64 positioned in the traveling direction is set in a light emitting state in correspondence with the traveling direction guided by the navigation image 11a.

  In the display device according to the above-described embodiment, application of a voltage to the liquid crystal shutter is also turned off when the ignition of the vehicle is turned off. Therefore, when the ignition is off, the liquid crystal shutter is in a scattering state with a high haze value. As a result, when the vehicle is parked or the like, the decoration member, the first display, and the like are concealed from the viewer in a gradation, so that the appearance of the display device becomes very simple.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid crystal shutter is employed as the optical element, but the optical element is not limited to the liquid crystal shutter as long as it can produce a cloudy gradation. For example, a configuration in which a frosted glass-like optical element is physically inserted and retracted in the front direction FD of the first display may be employed.

  In the process of switching from the simple navigation mode to the normal travel mode described above, the timing for starting the switching of the first image and the timing for starting the switching of the state of the liquid crystal shutter can be shifted in time. For example, the first image can be switched from the navigation image to the background image before switching the liquid crystal shutter from the transmission state to the scattering state. According to such processing, a process in which the background image apparently moves in the front direction FD due to a change in the gradation of the liquid crystal shutter is easily perceived by a viewer. On the other hand, before the first image is switched from the navigation image to the background image, the liquid crystal shutter can be switched from the transmission state to the scattering state. According to such a process, the apparent position change of the first image is easily emphasized.

  The example in which the present invention is applied to a display device mounted on a vehicle has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to a vehicle, and can be applied to all display devices used in various consumer devices, various transport devices, and the like. is there.

11 First image, 12 Real image, 13 Second image, 14 Virtual image, 30 First display (first display means), 31a Display surface, 40 Second display (second display means), 50 Half mirror (semi-transmissive) Member), 51 front surface, 52 back surface, 70 liquid crystal shutter (optical element), 100 display device

Claims (8)

A translucent member (50) that is plate-shaped to form a front surface (51) and a back surface (52), transmits light incident on the back surface, and reflects light incident on the front surface;
First display means (30) for allowing the real image (12) of the first image to be viewed from the front side by transmitting the light of the first image (11) from the back side of the semi-transmissive member;
Second display means (40) for visually recognizing the virtual image (14) of the second image together with the first image by reflecting light of the second image (13) on the front surface of the semi-transmissive member;
Wherein arranged between the semi-transmissive member and the first indicating hands stage, the a transmission state for linearly transmitting light of the first image, the light of the first image by a haze value is larger than the transmission state An optical element (70) capable of switching between a scattering state in which light is scattered and transmitted.   2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light of the first image is scattered by the optical element in the scattering state, thereby causing the projected image of the first image to be emitted and displayed at the position of the optical element.   The first display means displays a background image of the second image;
  The display device according to claim 2, wherein the second image is a display that floats on the back side of the projected image of the background image that is hazy. The optical element, a display device according to claim 1, characterized in that in contact with the back. The optical element is formed in a plate shape and is arranged in a posture in which a plate surface direction is inclined with respect to a display surface (31a) on which the first image is displayed in the first display means. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . The position the virtual image is imaged in the second image, the position where the display of the first image in the first display means, any one of the claims 1-5, characterized in that distant from the rear The display device according to item. It said second display means, the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that digitally displays the value as the second image. The optical element, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control of the voltage applied to the optical element is a liquid crystal shutter capable of switching between the scattering state and the transparent state Display device.

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