Information display apparatus

• US 10,156,720 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ando, Hiroshi, Kashiwada, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sathyanaraya V
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US14/910,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20160178902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0127 comprising devices increasing the depth of field
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/00 Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the variable information is permanently attached to a movable support G09F11/00; abacus G06C1/00; slide-rules G06G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

An information display apparatus reflects light representing information off a projection target to display the information as a virtual image, and includes a projector, at least two image forming devices and a focus adjusting device. The projector projects the light representing information. The image forming devices, to which the light from the projector is projected, are on an optical path from the projector to the projection target. At least one of the image forming devices is at a distance from the projector different from that of other image forming devices. The focus adjusting device adjusts a focal length of one optical system on an optical path from the projector to each of the image forming devices such that the light from the projector is in focus at each of the image forming devices. An image of information on each of the image forming devices is reflected off the projection target.

Claims

1. An information display apparatus that reflects light representing information off a projection target to display the information as a virtual image, comprising:

a projector that projects the light representing the information;

at least two image forming devices, to which the light emitted from the projector is projected, that are disposed on an optical path from the projector to the projection target, and at least one of the at least two image forming devices is disposed at a distance from the projector different from a distance between the projector and remaining of the at least two image forming devices;

a focus adjusting device that adjusts a focal length of one optical system disposed on an optical path from the projector to each of the at least two image forming devices such that the light emitted from the projector is in focus at each of the at least two image forming devices;

control devices that control the projector such that projection of light to each of the at least two image forming devices is switched 60 times or more per second;

wherein an image of information formed on each of the at least two image forming devices is reflected off the projection target,

wherein the at least two image forming devices include;

(i) a first image forming device that projects a first image to a lower region on a lower side of the projection target, and

(ii) a second image forming device that projects a second image to an upper region on an upper side of the projection target,

wherein a distance between the second image forming device and the projection target is longer than a distance between the first image forming device and the projection target,

wherein the second image forming device is arranged below the first image forming device in a vertical direction of the projection target, and

wherein the first image forming device is disposed such that an image forming plane of the first image forming device and a virtual image formed by being reflected off the projection target have a conjugate relationship.

2. The information display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical unit that is disposed on an optical path from the each of the at least two image forming devices to the projection target and is configured to enlarge the image of information formed on each of the at least two image forming devices, wherein;

the second image forming device is disposed such that an image forming plane of the second image forming device and a virtual image formed by being reflected off the projection target have a conjugate relationship.

3. The information display apparatus according to claim 1 mounted to an automobile, further comprising:

an information acquisition device that acquires at least foreground information that is information on an object placed on a road on which the automobile is moving, and vehicle information that is information on a condition of the automobile; and

a control device that controls the projector so as to emit light representing the foreground information acquired by the information acquisition device onto the second image forming device and to emit light representing the vehicle information onto the first image forming device.

4. The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focus adjusting device makes an adjustment so that an image is in focus in each of the at least two image forming devices every time the projector switches a destination of projected light.

5. The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projector is disposed such that an eye of a user of the information display apparatus and a pupil exit of the projector have a conjugate relationship.

6. The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two image forming devices are transmissive screens.

7. The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two image forming devices is a reflective screen.