US 2016/0109714 A1 · Head-Up Display Device

Abstract

A head-up display device operated in a vehicle comprises: a first image source and a second image source, a beam-splitter located in between. In an embodiment, two virtual images located at different positions simultaneously while both of the first and the second image sources have linear polarization but mutual orthogonal or both have an opposite-hand circular polarization associated with a corresponding polarization type beam splitter. In the second embodiment, the polarizing beam splitter is replaced by a transparent/mirror element so that one virtual image could be seen by the driver depending on the mode been selected. In the third embodiment, the beam-splitter is replaced by a mechanical movable shielding element. While the mechanical movable shielding element is disposed in the optical plane to block out the first image light, the second virtual image is chosen. While the mechanical movable shielding element is disposed off the optical plane, nothing blocks out the first image light and the second image light, no second image light is reflected by the windshield. As a result, the first virtual image is chosen to be seen by the driver.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A head-up display device that is operated in a vehicle comprising:

a first image source, which is disposed under a windshield and in a dashboard of the vehicle, the first image source emitting a first polarized image light;
a polarizing beam splitter, which is disposed in front of and spaced from the first image source by a first distance, such that the first polarized image light emitted by the first image source having primary a first polarization component thereof going through the polarizing beam splitter to the windshield and then partially reflected the first polarization component to eyes of a driver by the windshield;
a second image source, attached on a ceiling abutting a top of the windshield, and spaced from the polarizing beam splitter by a second distance, the second image source emitting a second polarized image light, having primary a second polarization component hitting the polarizing beam splitter then reflected to the windshield, and then partially reflected to the eyes of the driver, wherein the first distance is shorter than the second distance and the first polarized image light and the second polarized image light in a significantly opposite direction toward the polarizing beam splitter;
wherein the driver can thus through the windshield see a near distance virtual image due to the first image source and a far distance virtual image due to the second image source.

1 more element

A head-up display device that is operated in a vehicle comprising:

a first image source, which is disposed under a windshield and in a dashboard for emitting a first image light;
a second image source, attached on a ceiling and abutting a top of the windshield;
a transparent/mirror switchable element having a transmitting mode and a mirror mode to be switched, which is disposed in between the first image source and the second image source, and spaced from the first image source by a first distance, and spaced from the second image source by a second distance,
wherein when the transparent/mirror switchable element is operated in a mirror mode, the transparent/mirror switchable element reflects primary the second image light to and off the windshield by reflecting to eyes of a driver, but reflects the first image light away from the windshield so that a second virtual image due to the second image light could be seen by the driver seating at a driven seat but a first virtual image due to the first image light is absent;
wherein when the transparent/mirror switchable element is operated in a transparent mode, the transparent/mirror switchable element allows primary the first image light passing through to and off the windshield by reflecting to the eyes of the driver so that the first virtual image due to the first image light could be seen by the driver seating at the driven seat.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Head-Up Display Device

Life of this patent

Head-Up Display Device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17