Head-up display device

• US 9,933,692 B2
• Filed: 07/04/2014
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Kenji, Miyake, Hiroyuki, Oyuki, Naoya, Hirohara, Shintaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stepp Jones, Shawna
• Application Number:
  US14/908,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20160161833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• 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 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0185 Displaying image at variable distance
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/142 Adjusting of projection optics
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/53 Means for automatic focusing, e.g. to compensate thermal effects

Abstract

A head-up display device includes a screen, a projector that projects a visual image to the screen using a projection lens, and a processor. The processor is programmed to generate a virtual image of the visual image from the projected visual image and determine an image-generation position at which the virtual image is to be generated. The screen and the projection lens are configured to be movable along an optical path of the projector. The processor is programmed to determine a screen position to which the screen is to be moved based on the decided image-generation position and determine a lens position to which the projection lens is to be moved based on the determined screen position. The projector includes a screen-drive motor that moves the screen to the determined screen position and a lens-drive motor that moves the projection lens to the determined lens position.

Claims

1. A head-up display device characterized by comprising:

a screen;

a projector that projects a visual image to the screen using a projection lens;

a processor programmed to;

generate a virtual image of the visual image from the projected visual image;

determine an image-generation position at which the virtual image is to be generated, the screen and the projection lens being configured to be movable along an optical path of the projector;

determine a screen position to which the screen is to be moved on the basis of the decided image-generation position;

determine, on the basis of the determined screen position, a direction of screen movement and an amount of screen movement for moving the screen to the determined screen position;

determine a lens position to which the projection lens is to be moved on the basis of the determined screen position; and

determine, on the basis of the determined lens position, a direction of lens movement and an amount of lens movement for moving the lens to the determined lens position;

a screen-drive motor that moves the screen to the determined screen position by repeatedly performing a first operation, in which the screen is moved by a predetermined first unit amount in the determined direction of screen movement, until the screen is moved by the determined amount of screen movement; and

a lens-drive motor that moves the projection lens to the determined lens position by repeatedly performing a second operation, in which the projection lens is moved by a predetermined second unit amount in the determined direction of lens movement, until the projection lens is moved by the determined amount of lens movement;

wherein, each time the first operation is performed for the screen, the second operation is performed for the projection lens such that a focal point of the visual image projected from the projection lens is adjusted on the screen after being moved by the first unit amount.

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

the processor is programmed to determine the position of the projection lens so as to adjust the focal point of the visual image projected from the projection lens on the screen.

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

the processor is programmed to determine the direction of lens movement such that the projection lens and the screen are moved in directions different from each other along the optical path.

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

the first operation and the second operation are started at the same timing; and

a speed of movement of the projection lens by the lens-drive motor is defined as a value obtained by dividing the second unit amount by a time required for the screen to be moved by the first unit amount.

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

the projector continuously projects the visual image to the screen while correcting the visual image in accordance with variations in position of the screen during a period for which the screen is moved by the screen-drive motor.