HEAD-UP DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20160320624A1
• Filed: 03/26/2015
• Published: 11/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: YAMAOKA, Ryo
• Application Number:
  US15/108,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20160320624A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/149 Input by detecting viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1529 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/67 Foldable or movable displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0145 creating an intermediate image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0163 Electric or electronic control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0181 Adaptation to the pilot/driver
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 : characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 : Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed

Abstract

A head-up display device is mounted on a mobile object having an imaging unit which images an eye of an occupant, and projects an image on a projection member of the mobile object to display a virtual image visible by the occupant in a viewing area. The head-up display device includes an optical member, and the viewing area is moved according to an orientation of the optical member which is changeable. The head-up display device includes an adjustment unit that automatically adjusts the orientation of the optical member based on a relative position of the eye imaged by the imaging unit relative to the viewing area.

Claims

1. A head-up display device that is mounted on a mobile object having an imaging unit which images an eye of an occupant, the head-up display device projecting an image on a projection member of the mobile object to display a virtual image visible by the occupant in a viewing area, the head-up display device comprising:

an optical system including an optical member to move the viewing area according to an orientation of the optical member which is changeable;

an adjustment unit that automatically adjusts the orientation of the optical member to be associated with a relative position of the eye imaged by the imaging unit relative to the viewing area; and

a determination unit that determines whether a position of the eye imaged by the imaging unit falls within a movable area of the viewing area movable in a z-direction by the optical system, the z-direction being defined by a vertical direction of the mobile object, wherein

the optical member has a first axis,

the optical system moves the viewing area in the z-direction by changing the orientation of the optical member by rotational driving around the first axis, and

the adjustment unit automatically adjusts the orientation of the optical member by the rotational driving around the first axis when the determination unit determines that the position of the eye falls within the movable area in the z-direction.

3. The head-up display device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an alert unit that alerts the occupant to change a height of a seat on which the occupant is seated when the determination unit determines that the position of the eye imaged by the imaging unit deviates from the movable area in the z-direction.

4. The head-up display device according to claim 3, wherein

the adjustment unit starts to automatically adjust the orientation of the optical member when the height of the seat is changed.

5. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the virtual image is projected frontward in the mobile object, and a lateral direction of the mobile object is defined as a y-direction,

the virtual image having a width in the y-direction is displayed in front of the mobile object,

the optical member has a second axis,

the optical system moves the viewing area in the y-direction by changing the orientation of the optical member by rotational driving around the second axis, and

the adjustment unit stops the rotational driving around the second axis and automatically adjusts the orientation of the optical member by the rotational driving around the first axis, when the determination unit determines that the position of the eye falls within the movable area in the y-direction and the z-direction, and when the viewing area falls within the movable area in the y-direction.

6. The head-up display device according to claim 5, wherein

the adjustment unit automatically adjusts the orientation of the optical member by the rotational driving around the first axis and the rotational driving around the second axis, when the determination unit determines that the position of the eye falls within the movable area in the y-direction and the z-direction, and that the viewing area deviates from the movable area in the y-direction.

7. The head-up display device according to claim 5, wherein

the adjustment unit automatically adjusts the orientation of the optical member by the rotational driving around the first axis and the rotational driving around the second axis when the determination unit determines that the position of the eye deviates from the movable area in the y-direction.

8. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the adjustment unit starts to automatically adjust the orientation of the optical member at a time when a parking state of the mobile object is canceled.

9. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the orientation of the optical member is manually adjustable by the occupant after the adjustment unit automatically adjusts the orientation of the optical member.

2. (canceled)