Head up display device and helmet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12089683-B2
Application number	US-202117350149-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2021
Priority date	Dec 20, 2018
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

In an HUD device ( 3 ) mounted on a helmet ( 101 ), a projection unit ( 39 ) configured to project display light to a combiner ( 73 ) includes a light emitter ( 57 ) configured to emit display light, a housing ( 61 ) having a projection opening ( 63 ) through which display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a cover member ( 65 ) having transparency to light and disposed to cover the projection opening. The projection unit ( 39 ) is incorporated in a chin portion ( 113 ) of the helmet body such that display light to be projected to the combiner passes through an optical path portion ( 119 ) provided in a mouse cover ( 115 ) of the helmet body ( 105 ). The cover member is disposed at an inner side of an interior member than a surface of the interior member at which an end of the optical path portion at a light emission side is open.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head-up display device configured to be mounted on a helmet, the helmet including an exterior member and an interior member, the head-up display device comprising:
a projection unit configured to project display light to a projection target, the display light being used for forming a display image capable of being visually recognized as a virtual image by a user wearing the helmet through the projection target, the projection target being disposed in front of an eye of the user and having both light transmittance and light reflection; and
a combiner unit for causing the display image by the display light projected from the projection unit to be visually recognized as the virtual image by the user, wherein
the combiner unit includes a combiner and a support mechanism that supports the combiner in a position in front of the eye of the user wearing the helmet,
the support mechanism includes a stay extending in a top-bottom direction, the stay having an upper portion retained by a holder incorporated in a forehead portion of a helmet body, the stay having a lower end coupled to the combiner through a rotation shaft extending in a left-right direction,
the projection unit includes a light emitter configured to emit display light, a housing having an opening through which display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a cover member having transparency to light and disposed to cover the opening of the housing,
the projection unit is incorporated in the helmet such that display light to be projected to the projection target through the cover member passes through a cylindrical optical path portion provided in the interior member,
the cover member is disposed at an inner side of the interior member than a surface of the interior member at which an end of the optical path portion at a light emission side is open, and
in the projection unit, a projection portion in which the opening of the housing is covered with the cover member is located inside a chin portion of the helmet body and outside a mouth cover.

2. The head-up display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the cover member is a plate-shaped object, and inclined in a direction in which a surface of the cover member from which display light is emitted faces outside of the helmet.

3. The head-up display device according to claim 1 , wherein
the housing is oriented with the opening facing upward, and
the optical path portion is disposed above the cover member at a distance and extends in the top-bottom direction.

4. The head-up display device according to claim 3 , wherein
the cover member has a surface provided with a hydrophilic coating film.

5. A helmet including an exterior member and an interior member and provided with a head-up display device, wherein
the head-up display device includes: a projection unit configured to project display light to a projection target, the display light being used for forming a display image capable of being visually recognized as a virtual image by a user wearing the helmet through the projection target, the projection target being disposed in front of an eye of the user and having both light transmittance and light reflection; and a combiner unit for causing the display image by the display light projected from the projection unit to be visually recognized as the virtual image by the user,
the combiner unit includes a combiner and a support mechanism that supports the combiner in a position in front of the eye of the user wearing the helmet,
the support mechanism includes a stay extending in a top-bottom direction, the stay having an upper portion retained by a holder incorporated in a forehead portion of a helmet body, the stay having a lower end coupled to the combiner through a rotation shaft extending in a left-right direction,
the projection unit includes a light emitter configured to emit display light, a housing having an opening through which display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a cover member having transparency to light and disposed to cover the opening of the housing,
a cylindrical optical path portion is provided at a side of the housing having the opening,
the projection unit is incorporated in the helmet such that display light to be projected to the projection target through the cover member passes through the cylindrical optical path portion provided in the interior member,
the cover member is disposed at an inner side of the interior member than a surface of the interior member at which an end of the optical path portion at a light emission side is open, and
in the projection unit, a projection portion in which the opening of the housing is covered with the cover member is located inside a chin portion of the helmet body and outside a mouth cover.

6. A head-up display device configured to be mounted on a helmet, the head-up display device comprising
a projection unit configured to project display light to a projection target, the display light being used for forming a display image capable of being visually recognized as a virtual image by a user wearing the helmet through the projection target, the projection target being disposed in front of an eye of the user and having both light transmittance and light reflection, wherein
the projection unit includes a light emitter configured to emit display light, a housing having an opening through which display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a cover plate having transparency to light and disposed to cover the opening of the housing, and
the cover plate has a color with which a dimming effect of making a light transmittance in a thickness direction lower than a light transmittance of a colorless transparent cover plate is obtained.

7. The head-up display device according to claim 6 , wherein
the color of the cover plate with which the dimming effect is obtained is a smoke color.

8. The head-up display device according to claim 6 , wherein
the light transmittance of the cover plate in the thickness direction is less than or equal to 50%.

9. A helmet equipped with a head-up display device, wherein
the head-up display device includes a projection unit configured to project display light to a projection target, the display light being used for forming a display image capable of being visually recognized as a virtual image by a user wearing the helmet through the projection target, the projection target being disposed in front of an eye of the user and having both light transmittance and light reflection,
the projection unit includes a light emitter configured to emit display light, a housing having an opening through which display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a cover plate having transparency to light and disposed to cover the opening of the housing, and
the cover plate has a color with which a dimming effect of making a light transmittance in a thickness direction lower than a light transmittance of a colorless transparent cover plate is obtained.

10. A head-up display device configured to be mounted on a helmet, the helmet including a helmet body having a window opening for providing a field of view to a user wearing the helmet, and a transparent shield configured to be exchangeably attached to the helmet body and to cover at least a portion of the window opening, the head-up display device comprising:
a combiner disposed inside the shield;
a light emitter configured to emit display light to be projected to the combiner; and
a control unit configured to control generation of display light in the light emitter, wherein the control unit is linked to an operator, the operator being configured to receive an operation for adjusting brightness of a display im

Assignees

• Ns West Inc
• Shoei Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamada Manabu
• Hiramatsu Masanori
• Satou Kou
• TASHIMA Motoki
• Matsuoka Naoya
• ASAOKA Hirotaka

Classifications

• H04N9/3173

  wherein the projection device is specially adapted for enhanced portability · CPC title

• G09G2360/141

  the light conveying information used for selecting or modulating the light emitting or modulating element · CPC title

• G09G5/10

  Intensity circuits · CPC title

• G02B27/0172 Primary

  characterised by optical features · CPC title

• A42B3/224

  with electrical actuation means · CPC title