Image display unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021078495-A1
Application number	US-201816492857-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 3, 2018
Priority date	Apr 12, 2017
Publication date	Mar 18, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

In order to achieve an image display unit having excellent degree of freedom in designing the position of a display image, an image display unit ( 1 A) is provided with: an imaging unit ( 10 ) configured to capture an image of a space to be viewed; an image display device ( 11 ) configured to display an image captured by the imaging unit ( 10 ) in a display area in real time; and an image forming unit configured to form an image in a space where there is no screen by projecting the image displayed by the image display device ( 11 ).

First claim

1 . An image display unit comprising:
an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a space to be viewed; an image display configured to display an image captured by the imaging unit in a display area in real time; and an image forming unit configured to form an image in a space where there is no screen, by projecting the image displayed by the image display, wherein the image forming unit comprises a light guide plate comprising: an incoming surface on which image light from the image display is incident and a plurality of emission structure units configured to allow the image light incident on the incoming surface to be emitted to an outgoing surface by reflecting or refracting the image light, the light guide plate receiving the image light collimated in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the incoming surface, and each of the plurality of emission structure units allows light beams emitted from different positions in the display area in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the incoming surface to be emitted toward a predetermined viewpoint from a light exit surface which is one surface of the light guide plate.

2 . The image display unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of at least a part of a blind spot space hidden by an obstruction in a viewing direction of a viewer, and the image forming unit is provided at a position in the obstruction where a gaze to the blind spot space in the viewing direction passes.

3 . The image display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming unit forms the image in a space opposite to a viewer with respect to the image forming unit.

4 . The image display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the image display unit is used for vehicles.

5 . The image display unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of a blind spot space hidden by a ceiling of a vehicle, and the image forming unit is provided at a position in the ceiling where a gaze to the blind spot space in a viewing direction of a viewer passes.

6 . The image display unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of a blind spot space hidden by a pillar inside a vehicle, and the image forming unit is provided at a position in the pillar where a gaze to the blind spot space in a viewing direction of a viewer passes.

7 . The image display unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of a blind spot space hidden by a dashboard inside a vehicle, and the image forming unit is provided at a position in the dashboard where a gaze to the blind spot space in a viewing direction of a viewer passes.

8 . The image display unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of a blind spot space hidden by a door of a vehicle, and the image forming unit is provided at a position in the door where a gaze to the blind spot space in a viewing direction of a viewer passes.

9 . The image display unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of a space on a side of a vehicle, and the image forming unit is provided in a window of a door of the vehicle.

10 . The image display unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of a space behind a vehicle, and the image forming unit is provided at a position behind a driver's seat in the vehicle and between the driver's seat and a passenger's seat.

11 . The image display unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the imaging unit captures an image of a space behind a vehicle, and the image forming unit is provided at a position in front of a driver's seat in the vehicle and between the driver's seat and a passenger's seat.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The image display unit according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming unit comprises a collimating lens disposed between the image display and the incoming surface of the light guide plate and collimating the image light in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the incoming surface.

14 . The image display unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the image display is disposed so that the image light is emitted in the longitudinal direction of the incoming surface, and the image forming unit comprises a light guide member configured to propagate the image light which has been collimated in the longitudinal direction of the incoming surface and comprising a plurality of light path conversion units configured to emit the propagated light toward the incoming surface of the light guide plate by reflecting or refracting the propagated light.

15 . An image display unit for vehicles, the image display unit comprising:
an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a space to be viewed; an image display configured to display an image captured by the imaging unit in a display area in real time; and an image forming unit configured to form an image in a space where there is no screen, by projecting the image displayed by the image display, wherein the imaging unit captures an image of a blind spot space hidden by a ceiling of a vehicle, and wherein the image forming unit is provided at a position in the ceiling where a gaze to the blind spot space in a viewing direction of a viewer passes.

16 . An image display unit for vehicles, the image display unit comprising:
an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a space to be viewed; an image display configured to display an image captured by the imaging unit in a display area in real time; and an image forming unit configured to form an image in a space where there is no screen, by projecting the image displayed by the image display, wherein the imaging unit captures an image of a space behind a vehicle, and wherein the image forming unit is provided at a position behind a driver's seat in the vehicle and between the driver's seat and a passenger's seat.

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Shinohara Masayuki
• Tanoue Yasuhiro
• Kurata Gouo
• Kitamura Norikazu
• Arai Tsuyoshi
• Mori Yuto

Classifications

• G02B6/003

  Lens or lenticular sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02B6/0028

  Light guide, e.g. taper · CPC title

• G02B6/0038

  Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide · CPC title

• H04N7/183 Primary

  for receiving images from a single remote source · CPC title

• H04N9/31

  Projection devices for colour picture display {, e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]} · CPC title