CN216034065U

CN216034065U - Image projection apparatus

Info

Publication number: CN216034065U
Application number: CN202121574380.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 渡边贤
Original assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-20
Filing date: 2021-07-12
Publication date: 2022-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2031-07-12
Also published as: CN113954740A

Abstract

The utility model provides an image projection apparatus capable of projecting a projected image in a balanced shape regardless of whether the projected image is a portion closer to a vehicle body or a portion farther from the vehicle body. The image projection device for a vehicle is provided with a plurality of light sources (2), a plurality of lenses (4) respectively facing the plurality of light sources (2), and a plate-shaped light blocking member (3) interposed between the light sources (2) and the lenses (4). The light-blocking member (3) is provided with a plurality of openings (31) through which light (L) from the plurality of light sources (2) passes toward the plurality of lenses (4), respectively. The opening is formed in a trapezoidal shape.

Description

Image projection apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image projection apparatus for a vehicle that projects a predetermined image on a road surface.

Background

Conventionally, in a vehicle lamp, there is known a technique of projecting an image on a road surface to call attention of surrounding vehicles and pedestrians or assist driving of a driver. For example, patent document 1 proposes an invention using a start notification display device that draws a start notification display having a predetermined shape on a road surface in the traveling direction of a vehicle with light to allow a pedestrian or the like to accurately grasp the timing at which the vehicle starts.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2020-55519

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Problem to be solved by the utility model

However, when an image is projected on a road surface using an image projection apparatus, since light is projected from an obliquely upper direction toward the road surface, the width increases as the distance from the vehicle body increases, and a desired image cannot be drawn.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image projection apparatus capable of projecting a uniform shape on a projected image regardless of whether the image is a portion closer to a vehicle body or a portion farther from the vehicle body.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image projection apparatus according to the present invention is an image projection apparatus for a vehicle, the image projection apparatus including a plurality of light sources, a plurality of lenses respectively facing the plurality of light sources, and a plate-shaped light blocking member interposed between the light sources and the lenses, the light blocking member including a plurality of openings for allowing light from the plurality of light sources to pass through the plurality of lenses, respectively, and the openings being formed in a trapezoidal shape.

Preferably, the openings are formed in a trapezoidal shape having a lower bottom shorter than an upper bottom, and the openings are arranged in a row.

The light-blocking member may be provided with three or more openings, and the distances between the openings may be different from each other.

The plurality of openings may be provided in different sizes.

Effect of the utility model

According to the image projection apparatus of the present invention, since the light shielding member is interposed between the light source and the lens, the opening portion through which light from the light source passes is provided in the light shielding member, and the opening portion is formed in the trapezoidal shape, the length of the upper base and the lower base of the trapezoidal shape is adjusted, and thus, an effect that a uniform shape can be projected in both a portion closer to the vehicle body and a portion farther from the vehicle body can be achieved with a simple configuration.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an image projection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the image projection apparatus of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows an optical axis, a light beam, and a projection image of the image projection apparatus of fig. 1, where fig. 3 (a) is a schematic view seen from a side, and fig. 3 (b) is a schematic view seen from above.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a case where a focal point is arranged in a lens, (a) in fig. 4 is a schematic view of a cross section a '-a', and (b) in fig. 4 is a schematic view of a light blocking member viewed from a front direction of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the case of fig. 4, in which fig. 5 (a) is a schematic view showing a projected image formed by a rectangular opening, and fig. 5 (b) is a schematic view showing a projected image formed by a trapezoidal opening.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a case where a focal point is not arranged in a lens, (a) in fig. 6 is a schematic view of a cross section a '-a', and (b) in fig. 6 is a schematic view of a light blocking member as viewed from the front direction of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the case of fig. 6, in which fig. 7 (a) is a schematic view showing a projected image formed by a rectangular opening, and fig. 7 (b) is a schematic view showing a projected image formed by a trapezoidal opening.

Fig. 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating the image projection apparatus and the projected image of fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an image projection apparatus according to a modification is installed in a lamp room of a headlamp.

Fig. 10 shows the arrangement of lenses and the orientation of the lenses in the image projection apparatus of fig. 9, where (a) in fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the lens portion taken along the line B-B, and (B) in fig. 10 is a schematic view of the lens portions viewed from the side in an inclined state.

Fig. 11 is a view of the light shielding member of the image projection apparatus of fig. 9, in which fig. 11 (a) is a schematic view seen from the front direction of the apparatus, and fig. 11 (b) is an enlarged view of the opening portion.

Fig. 12 is a schematic plan view showing the image projection apparatus and the projected image of fig. 9.

Description of the reference numerals

1 image projection apparatus

2 light source

3 shading parts

4 lens

5 Accessories

6 extension piece

7 substrate

31 opening part

32 upper bottom (opening part)

33 lower bottom (opening part)

51 vehicle body

52 backup lamp

54 head lamp

G1-G3 (collectively referred to as "G") images

L light

R road surface

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention embodied as an image projection apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The image projection apparatus 1 shown in fig. 1 and 2 is mounted in the vicinity of the backup lamp 52, and includes a plurality of light sources 2(2a to 2c) that emit light L (L1 to L3) of projection images G (G1 to G3), a plurality of lenses 4(4a to 4c) that face the plurality of light sources 2, respectively, and a light blocking member 3 interposed between the light sources 2 and the lenses 4.

As shown in fig. 2, the image projection apparatus 1 includes a substrate 7 on which the light source 2 is mounted, an attachment 5 for attaching the light blocking member 3 to the substrate 7, a flat plate-shaped light blocking member 3 for cutting the light L from the light source 2 into a predetermined shape, a lens 4 through which the light L from the light source 2 passes, and an extension 6 for shielding the internal structure of the image projection apparatus 1 from the outside of the vehicle.

The light sources 2a to 2c are LEDs having the same luminous flux, that is, LEDs having the same luminance and the same current value, and are arranged in an up-down arrangement. By arranging the light sources 2 vertically, there is an advantage that the optical design of the lens can be simplified as compared with the case of arranging them in the lateral direction.

The plurality of lenses 4(4a to 4c) are integrally formed, and configured to transmit the plurality of lights L1 to L3 from the plurality of light sources 2a to 2c, respectively. The lenses 4a to 4c are provided to have different diameters, and the diameters are smaller toward the lower side. In this case, the lenses 4 are arranged so that the distance between the lenses 4 increases as the diameter increases, so as not to overlap with each other. In addition, the lens 4 determines the position of the distance light source 2 based on its own focal length.

At this time, the inclination of the lens 4 is adjusted to: the light L passing through the lens 4 with the larger diameter projects the image G farther than the lens 4 with the smaller diameter. The inclination of the lens 4 is set to: the lens 4 projected in the vicinity of the vehicle projection device 1 and the vehicle body 51 has a larger inclination. By such adjustment, the light flux passing through the lens 4 having a large diameter is larger than the light flux passing through the lens 4 having a small diameter, and therefore the image G can be projected to an equivalent illuminance regardless of the distance from the vehicle body 51. The lens 4 may be arranged to be larger toward the lower side. In this case, the inclination of the lens 4 is preferably adjusted so that the image G is projected farther from the vehicle body 51 as the lens 4 having a larger diameter becomes larger.

As shown in fig. 3 (a), the vehicle projection apparatus 1 is arranged such that light L emitted from the light sources 2a to 2c descends while inclining toward the road surface R. At this time, as shown in fig. 3 (b), images G1 to G3 extending in the vehicle length direction are projected on the road surface R. The light source 2 is arranged on the same straight line a as the image G drawn by the light L from the light source 2. By forming the light source 2 and the image G in a line on the same straight line a, it is easier to know that the images belong to the same function, compared to the case where the light source 2 and the image G are projected while being shifted in the left-right direction. In this case, a vehicle lamp (for example, the backup lamp 52) disposed in parallel with the light source 2 may be further included so as to be disposed on the same straight line as the light source 2 and the image G.

As shown in fig. 4, when the focal point F exists in the lens, the light passing through the opening 31 of the light blocking member 3 is inverted at the focal point F of the lens 4 and projected. Therefore, the light L passing through the vicinity of the upper floor 32 of the opening 31 is projected to the vicinity of the side Ga closer to the vehicle body 51, and the light L passing through the vicinity of the lower floor 33 is projected to the vicinity of the side Gb farther from the vehicle body 51 (see fig. 5).

As shown in fig. 4 (b), the openings 31 are arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction of the light-blocking member 3. The size of the opening portion 31 is set to match the size of the LED chip as the light source 2. The height h of the opening 31 is preferably about 0.9 mm. The distances k1, k2 between the openings 31 are set to be different depending on the size and inclination of each lens 4.

Fig. 5 (a) shows an image G 'projected in the case where the rectangular-shaped opening 31' is provided when the focal point F exists within the lens, and fig. 5 (b) shows an image G projected in the case where the trapezoidal-shaped opening 31 having the lower base 33 shorter than the upper base 32 is provided when the focal point F exists within the lens. In fig. 5 (b), compared to fig. 5 (a), the extension of the side Gb farther from the vehicle body 51 is suppressed (Gb' > Gb), and a band-shaped image G extending in the vehicle length direction is projected.

As shown in fig. 6, the image projection apparatus 1 may be configured such that light passing through the opening 31 of the light blocking member 3 travels straight inside the lens 4. At this time, the focal point F is not arranged in the lens. In this case, the light L passing through the vicinity of the upper floor 32 of the opening 31 is projected to the vicinity of the side Gb farther from the vehicle body 51, and the light L passing through the vicinity of the lower floor 33 is projected to the vicinity of the side Ga closer to the vehicle body 51 (see fig. 7).

Fig. 7 (a) shows an image G 'projected in the case where the rectangular-shaped opening 31' is provided when the focal point F is not present in the lens, and fig. 7 (b) shows an image G projected in the case where the trapezoidal-shaped opening 31 having the lower base 33 longer than the upper base 32 is provided when the focal point F is not present in the lens. In fig. 7 (b), compared to fig. 7 (a), the extension of the side Gb farther from the vehicle body 51 is suppressed (Gb' > Gb), and a band-shaped image G extending in the vehicle length direction is projected.

Fig. 8 shows a case where the image projection apparatus 1 configured as described above is turned on. The images G1 to G3 are drawn on a straight line a that projects the optical axis of the light L emitted from the light source 2 onto the road surface R. In the image G, an image G1 projected to a position farther from the vehicle body 51 extends longer in the vehicle length direction than an image G3 projected to a position closer to the vehicle body 51. Further, the image G1 projected to a position farther from the vehicle body 51 is wider in the vehicle width direction than the image G3 projected to a position closer to the vehicle body 51.

Here, the preferable projection distance D in the vehicle length direction of the image G varies depending on the mounting position of the image projection apparatus 1. For example, it is preferably within 3m in the case of the headlight or the back-up lamp 52, and within 5m in the case of the side turn signal lamp. In particular, in the case of the backup lamp 52, it is most preferable to set the projection distance D to 2.5 m. Further, it is preferable to adjust the optical performance so that the luminance of the image G becomes 0.2 or more of the michelson contrast at the brightest position P. Further, in this example, from G1 to G3, the length of the image G in the vehicle length direction decreases (D1 > D2 > D3), and the width W in the vehicle width direction also decreases (W1 > W2 > W3).

Next, a modification of the image projection apparatus 1 will be described with reference to fig. 9 to 12. The image projection apparatus 1 may be provided in parallel with a vehicle lamp other than the backup lamp 52, for example, a headlight 54, a side turn signal lamp, or the like, or may be provided in a lamp room of the vehicle lamp. In this modification, an example of a case where the headlight 54 is provided in a lamp room is shown.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the lenses 4 of the image projection apparatus 1 according to the modified example are arranged in a horizontal direction. The lenses 4a to 4c have different diameters, and are arranged so that the diameters thereof increase toward the inside (the axle side). The lens 4 is mounted in a posture in which the entire lens 4 is inclined toward the side of the vehicle body. By appropriately adjusting the inclination angle θ 1 of the entire lens 4, the inclination angle θ 2 of the image G to the vehicle body side can be changed (see fig. 12 (a)).

As shown in fig. 10 (a), the lenses 4 are arranged such that the optical axes of the light beams L1 to L3 passing through the lenses 4a to 4c intersect in a plan view. As shown in fig. 10 (b), the inclination of the lens 4 in the vertical direction is adjusted so that the image G is projected at a position closer to the vehicle body 51 with the smaller diameter lens 4 and at a position farther from the vehicle body 51 with the larger diameter lens 4.

As shown in fig. 11, the opening 31 of the light shield 3 of the modified example is formed in a trapezoidal shape in which the upper bottom 32 is longer than the lower bottom 33. Here, the openings facing the

lenses

4a, 4b, and 4c are referred to as 31a, 31b, and 31c, respectively. Each opening 31 is inclined so as to be lowered toward the axle side, and the bottom angle of the upper bottom 32 toward the vehicle body side is set so that if the bottom angles of the

openings

31a, 31b, and 31c are set to θ a, θ b, and θ c, respectively, θ a > θ b > θ c. The openings 31 are provided to have different sizes (areas). With this configuration, it is possible to suppress the extension of the width W with respect to a plurality of images G projected by the lights L that intersect each other in a plan view and have mutually different vertical inclinations.

Fig. 12 shows a case where the image projection apparatus 1 of the modification is turned on. The images G1 to G3 are drawn on a straight line a that projects the optical axis of the light L emitted from the light source 2 onto the road surface R. In the image G, an image G1 projected to a position farther from the vehicle body 51 extends longer in the vehicle length direction than an image G3 projected to a position closer to the vehicle body 51. Further, the image G1 projected to a position farther from the vehicle body 51 is wider in the vehicle width direction than the image G3 projected to a position closer to the vehicle body 51.

According to the image projection apparatus 1 configured as described above, since the opening 31 is formed in a trapezoidal shape and one of the upper floor 32 and the lower floor 33 which is longer corresponds to the side Ga drawn closer to the image projection apparatus 1 and the vehicle body 51, there is an effect that the extension of the image in the width direction is suppressed and a band-shaped image extending in the vehicle length direction can be projected. Further, since the plurality of openings 31 are formed in the light-shielding member 3 together, the image projection apparatus 1 can be manufactured with a small number of parts, and the number of steps and cost can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and for example, the shape and configuration of each part may be appropriately changed as exemplified below without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An image projection apparatus for a vehicle, characterized in that,

the image projection apparatus includes a plurality of light sources, a plurality of lenses respectively facing the plurality of light sources, and a plate-shaped light blocking member interposed between the light sources and the lenses,

the light shielding member includes a plurality of openings for allowing light from the plurality of light sources to pass through the plurality of lenses,

the opening is formed in a trapezoidal shape.

2. An image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the opening portion is a trapezoidal shape having a lower base shorter than an upper base.

3. The image projection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the openings are arranged in a row.

4. An image projection arrangement according to claim 1,

the light shielding member has three or more of the opening portions,

the distances between the openings are arranged to be different from each other.

5. The image projection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of openings are provided in different sizes, respectively.