DE102023102623B3 - Multi-user field-of-view display device, method and control unit for its operation, and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-user field of view display device for a vehicle, which is designed for the parallel generation of its own virtual display image in the field of vision of at least two users with eyeboxes offset from one another, comprising:
- an imaging unit which is designed to generate individual display content and a beam of light beams transporting it for each user;
- a reflection disk in the beam path of the light beam, which has a segmented reflection layer with a plurality of surface segments, each segment having an associated partial reflection surface for all users; and
- an assignment device arranged in the beam path in front of the reflection layer, which is designed to equip the light beam bundles intended for the individual users with predetermined optical or electromagnetic properties that are different from one another, so that each partial reflection area only receives the light beam bundle with the display content intended for the associated user Eyebox reflected.

Description

The invention relates to field of view display devices, which are also known as head-up displays (HUD) and can be used in particular in a motor vehicle or other land, aircraft or watercraft. Such field of view display devices are designed to generate a virtual display image that is displayed in a user's field of vision via reflection on a vehicle window, in particular a windshield, or on a combiner window specifically provided for this purpose, which is arranged in the user's field of vision. The invention is also directed to an operating method for such a field-of-view display device, a correspondingly equipped control unit and a vehicle equipped therewith.

In particular for motor vehicles, it is known to use a so-called driver HUD to superimpose display content such as information about a speed limit or other useful navigation and vehicle operating instructions in the form of a virtual display image on the real image of the surroundings in front of the vehicle observed by the driver, so that he can look at the vehicle You don't have to turn away from the road to read this display. For this purpose, a driver HUD comprises a reflection disk arranged in the driver's field of vision, which is designed either as a section of the windshield or as a combiner disk provided on the inside of the vehicle in front of the windshield and is at least partially transparent to the ambient light incident through the windshield. To generate the display content, a driver HUD in a classic design includes a projection unit housed below the windshield inside the instrument panel. This contains an imaging unit, for example a display, for generating a light beam with the desired display content and, if necessary, suitable imaging and projection optics in order to shape the generated light beam and direct it onto the reflection disk so that it is reflected from it to the driver's eyes so that he can see the virtual display image at a suitable size and distance behind the reflection disk.

The display of traditional head-up displays of this type can only be seen by a single user, such as the driver of a vehicle. To do this, his eyes must be in a specified spatial area (eyebox), which typically does not extend beyond the area of his vehicle seat. It is therefore not possible, for example, for a passenger to see this virtual display image or their own virtual display image through the same head-up display at the same time as the driver. The front passenger therefore does not benefit from such a HUD and does not have a virtual display when looking into the windshield.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an alternative or improved field of view display device which enables parallel generation of virtual display images in the field of vision of at least two users with eyeboxes offset from one another. In particular, this field of view display device should be suitable for use in a vehicle.

This task is achieved by a multiuser field-of-view display device according to independent claims 1 (first variant) and 5 (second variant) as well as by an associated operating method, a correspondingly equipped control unit and a vehicle equipped with this field-of-view display device according to the independent claims. Further refinements are specified in the dependent claims. All further features and effects mentioned in the claims and the following description for the field of view display device also apply with regard to the operating method, the control unit and the vehicle, as well as vice versa.

According to a first aspect, a multi-user field of view display device (hereinafter also referred to as “field of view display device” for short) is provided, which can be designed in particular for use in a vehicle. The field of view display device can be designed, for example, as a head-up display (HUD). The vehicle can be a motor vehicle, but also any other land, air or water vehicle.

The field of view display device presented here is designed to generate its own virtual display image in the field of vision of at least two users, whose eyeboxes are offset from one another or arranged next to one another in a direction transverse to the beam propagation direction of the field of view display device. As usual, an eyebox is understood to be a two- or three-dimensional spatial area from which the respective user can see the virtual display image generated for them, in particular with an unrestricted display quality. For the subjective perception of the individual users, their virtual display images can be displayed without any temporal interruptions. They can therefore be viewed by individual users permanently and/or at the same time.

This field of view display device is intended for a specific application in every specific application Correct number of two or more users, such as for two, three, four or even more users. For this purpose, an associated eyebox is predetermined for each of these users as the spatial area from which the virtual display image that can be generated for them is visible in the intended quality. The eyeboxes assigned to the individual users, for example in a vehicle, can be offset horizontally and/or vertically from one another in order to enable users sitting or standing next to one another and/or one above the other to view their own virtual display image at the same time.

The centers of the individual eyeboxes can in particular be arranged at a predetermined distance from one another in the aforementioned transverse direction. This distance can in particular be at least as large as a dimension of each individual eyebox in the same direction, so that the neighboring eyeboxes do not overlap. The spatial dimensions of the individual eyeboxes can, for example, be just large enough to take into account typical head movements of a user when, for example, he is sitting in his vehicle seat or sitting or standing in another place intended for him. For example, an eyebox assigned to the respective user can be approximately as large as an average human head and/or not extend beyond a spatial area intended for the head of this user of the field of view display device.

The field of view display device firstly comprises an imaging unit which is designed to generate individual display content and a beam of light beams transporting it for each of the at least two users. In principle, any display image generation technology that is suitable for the functionality described herein, such as a display, a projector and much more, can be used.

Furthermore, the field of view display device comprises a reflection disk, which can be designed, for example, as a section of a windshield or another vehicle window or as a combiner disk specifically provided for the field of view display device. The reflection disk is designed and arranged in the beam path of the light beam bundles emitted by the imaging unit in such a way that, during operation of the field of view display device, it reflects the light beam bundles intended for the individual users to their eyeboxes. For this purpose, the reflection disk comprises a segmented reflection layer with several surface segments lying next to one another in the beam cross section of the respective light beam bundle.

According to a first embodiment variant, each of these segments has a number of reflection partial surfaces corresponding to the number of users, which are uniquely assigned to the individual users, for example by having different inclinations and / or reflection angle selectivity, in particular according to the different positions of the for the individual Users have predetermined eyeboxes and/or other suitable mapping properties. Each individual partial reflection surface can be flat (planar) or with a suitable curvature for a desired additional optical effect such as image enlargement, etc. The aforementioned different reflection angle selectivity of the individual partial reflection surfaces can be implemented, for example, by diffractive structures or holographic optical elements, etc.

Furthermore, the field of view display device according to the first variant mentioned comprises an allocation device arranged in the beam path of the light beams before they impinge on the reflection layer of the reflection disk, which is designed to equip the light beams intended for the individual users with predetermined optical or electromagnetic properties that differ from one another, such that each Reflection partial surface only reflects the light beam with the display content intended for the associated user to his eyebox. Some examples with optical or electromagnetic properties of the light beam bundles suitable for this functionality and corresponding assignment properties of the individual reflection partial areas are given below.

A second embodiment variant of the field of view display device presented here differs from the first variant only in that instead of the allocation device and the partial reflection areas provided separately for each user, an electrically switchable reflection element is provided in each segment of the reflection layer, which is synchronous with an alternating generation of the individual Display content for the at least two users can be switched between such reflection states, each assigned to only one user, so that the light beam with the display content intended for the respective user is reflected exclusively to his eyebox. The alternating generation of the individual display contents in the imaging unit with one for each user is unresolved possible image generation frequency of, for example, more than 48 Hz.

One idea of the field of view display device presented here is to provide a reflection disk arranged in the field of vision of several users offset from one another with a segmented reflection layer, which is designed to separate/separate/split the light beam bundles generated by the imaging unit in such a way that light beam bundles with display contents , which are intended for different users, only reach the associated eyeboxes of these users. This makes it possible for each of the several users to have their own virtual display image when looking at a reflection disk that is common to all users, which can be, for example, a windshield of a vehicle or a specially provided combiner disk. The segmented reflection layer mentioned can, for example, be designed as a laminated or subsequently applied and in particular also as a retrofittable film in the layer structure of the reflection disk. When used in a vehicle, such a field of view display device (in particular HUD) can be used, for example, at the same time to provide a virtual display image for the driver with driving-relevant information and, completely independently of this, a different virtual display image, for example a video image, a video film, a browser, maps and other infotainment content is displayed for the front passenger and/or another passenger.

In both variants of the invention, the segmented reflection layer can be formed, for example, within or on the reflection disk, for example in the form of a film laminated into the reflection disk or applied to its surface. The reflection disk itself can be made, for example, from glass or plastic and/or other materials suitable for the specific application, such as a vehicle window.

Due to the segmented structure of the reflection layer presented here and the fact that each segment of its surface serves to display virtual display content for all of the at least two users, the reflection disk is simple and fundamentally scalable as desired and can therefore be flexibly adapted to the specific requirements of a wide variety of applications. In particular, it can be designed to be so compact that it only extends in a spatial area directly opposite a user and/or between two such spatial areas. However, it can also extend over an entire area of space in front of the at least two users and even beyond, for example to enable a panoramic display for each of these users. The reflection disk can in particular be designed to be at least partially transparent to the ambient light incident on the rear, so that the virtual display image for the respective user is superimposed on the real environment he is viewing and is therefore particularly suitable for augmented reality applications.

In both variants of the invention, the several surface segments lying next to one another in the beam cross section can, for example, be a one- or two-dimensional array of segments of that surface of the reflection layer which is actually used during operation of the field of view display device to reflect the light beam bundles emitted by the imaging unit. Depending on the circumstances and requirements of a specific application, the individual segments can be approximately the same or, if necessary, have sizes and/or other properties that vary in a suitable manner along the disk surface. This can be either a predetermined small number, for example from two to about ten, or a large number of more than ten, a hundred or even a thousand surface segments per reflection layer or for each of two linearly independent surface directions of the reflection layer. The more segments of the type presented here that the reflection layer comprises, the smaller their dimensions can be, which in particular allows the thickness of the reflection layer to be reduced and its flexibility with regard to a curved overall shape to be increased. This can simplify the integration of the reflection layer in or on a vehicle window with a given window geometry.

In the field of view display device presented here, additional optical components, such as deflecting mirrors for folding the beam path or other types of optical elements, can optionally be provided between the imaging unit and the reflection disk. However, they are fundamentally not necessary for the functional principle presented here. The basic principle of image generation can in particular be similar to a driver HUD of the type mentioned at the beginning, with the most important further development or the main difference being the design of the reflection disk presented here, which ideally also serves as a partially transparent mirror (also called a combiner), but in several segments, each with at least two partial reflection surfaces (variant 1) or alternately switchable reflection states (variant 2) for the offset eyeboxes of at least two users.

Any disturbance to a user by display content that is presented to another user can be reliably excluded with the structure of the field of view display device described herein. Even if a user were to turn their head sharply towards their neighbor, they would not be able to see their virtual display image. This not only ensures privacy among users can be reliably maintained, but is also particularly suitable for use in a vehicle: the driver cannot be disturbed by display content intended for the front passenger or other passengers, even when he is driving To carry out the driving task, you have to change your line of sight significantly in order to look into the side areas of the windshield or other vehicle windows.

According to an embodiment of the above first variant of the field of view display device, the imaging unit is designed to generate the individual display contents for the individual users alternately and with an image generation frequency of, for example, more than 48 Hz that is unresolvable for each user, with the partial reflection areas assigned to the individual users in each segment of the reflection layer differ from each other in that they are designed to reflect the light with different predetermined polarization states. In this embodiment, the assignment device is designed as an electrically controllable polarization switch, which can be designed, for example, to rotate and/or filter the polarization of the light beam that passes through it in order to switch between the different polarization states mentioned. The polarization switch is designed and is also controlled accordingly during operation of the field of view display device to switch the associated light beam bundles into the respective associated predetermined polarization states synchronously with the alternating generation of the individual display contents for the individual users, so that each partial reflection area at least essentially only does that Light beam bundle with the display content intended for the associated user is reflected to his eyebox.

The predetermined polarization states, which differ from one another, can in principle be any set of different polarization states, which can be imposed on a bundle of light rays generated by the imaging unit by means of an electrically switchable polarization switch or filter and for the selective reflection of which the partial reflection areas can be formed. This can be achieved, for example, for cyclic polarization with two opposite directions of rotation or for linear polarization with two or three different polarization directions. Combinations of such solutions are also possible. “At least essentially” can mean, for example, that the bundle of light rays assigned to each individual user is separated so well from all other bundles of light rays that this user has his virtual display image displayed with the required display quality, while his display content is largely visible to all other of the at least two users remains invisible.

In an alternative or additional embodiment of the field of view display device and the associated operating method (which is described further below), the partial reflection areas assigned to the individual users can also differ from one another, for example, in that they are used to reflect the light in different predetermined wavelength ranges/ Colors are formed. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the assignment device is designed as an alternative or in addition to the polarization switch as a switchable color filter, which serves to limit the associated light beam bundles to the associated wavelength ranges or colors synchronously with the alternating generation of the individual display contents for the individual users.

The predetermined wavelength ranges or colors, which differ from one another, can in principle be any set of pairwise different, in particular disjoint, areas or lines in the visible spectral range, which can be impressed on the light beam bundles generated by the imaging unit by means of an electrically switchable color filter whose selective reflection allows the partial reflection areas to be formed. For two users, for example, complementary colors or color ranges, such as red and green, etc., are suitable.

Again alternatively or in addition to this, in the above first variant of the field of view display device, the allocation device can be designed as a parallax barrier, for example in the form of a suitable strip mask or a lenticular grid, or a different type of device which directs different sections of the light beam bundle emitted by the imaging unit as a whole in different directions directed or selected according to propagation directions. The different subsections of the overall emitted light beam can, for example, originate from subareas of a display surface that are nested in strips. The above can also be used on or above such a display surface Assignment device can be arranged. In this embodiment, the display content assigned to the individual users can therefore, for example, also be generated at the same time in the associated sub-areas of the display surface or of the light beam beam emitted as a whole, so that the imaging unit and/or the assignment device can also be static, that is, without alternating switching between the individual ones Users can be trained and operated.

In a specific embodiment of the field of view display device according to the first variant, geometric and/or optical properties of the individual partial reflection surfaces can differ in a predetermined manner from segment to segment or between predetermined surface sections of the reflection layer, each of which comprises several segments of the same design. For example, the inclination and/or the size and/or the curvature and/or the degree of reflection of the individual partial reflection surfaces can vary from segment to segment or from one cross-segment surface section to the next in order to adapt the partial beams of the respective light beam reflected thereon to, for example, a varying one Curvature of the vehicle window, which serves as a reflection window, or to adapt to different requirements for the representation of the display content in different sub-areas of a virtual display image area of the respective user that can be covered overall. In particular, virtual display content can be displayed, for example, to the driver of a vehicle in various sub-areas within his overall usable virtual display image area, such as. B. on the one hand at the bottom in the black print area or against a dark background of the road ahead and on the other hand further up against a brighter background of illuminated objects or the environment, with correspondingly different brightness and / or spatial resolution and / or size depending on their visibility and / or safety relevance be. Such different display requirements can thus be met by a design that varies along the pane surface, such as the size and/or the degree of reflection, etc., of the relevant partial reflection areas, whereby, for example, the complexity and/or the construction costs of the field of view display device can be reduced in a meaningful way.

According to an embodiment of the field of view display device according to the above first variant, the partial reflection surfaces assigned to the individual users in the respective surface segment of the reflection layer are formed by individual (reflection) boundary surfaces of a prism that is contained in this segment or forms this segment. In this embodiment, the segmented reflection layer is therefore designed as a prism layer or film in which many are identical to each other or, according to the specific embodiment described above, vary in size and / or shape from segment to segment or from one cross-segment surface section to the next Prisms are arranged next to each other along the reflection layer and are, for example, evenly distributed. The individual prisms can in particular directly adjoin one another, but this is not absolutely necessary.

In this embodiment, the partial reflection surfaces of each segment assigned to the individual users are composed of the mutually angled reflective interfaces of these prisms, which, for example, ensures a particularly high mechanical stability of the individual segments and the entire reflection layer and / or a particularly easy to implement and robust Manufacturing method for the individual reflection partial areas can result. The number and size of the individual prisms are generally not subject to any restrictions. Purely by way of example, linear dimensions of the individual prisms along the reflection disk can be in the millimeter or even micrometer range. The reflecting effect of the prism interfaces mentioned for the partial beam of rays in question can be realized in any suitable way, for example by total reflection or by a specially provided reflective coating. The choice of material for the prisms and, if applicable, for their coating(s) and/or a surrounding reflection layer material in which they can be embedded is also not subject to any restrictions, provided that these materials are suitable for the functionality presented herein. Rigid and/or flexible solid materials such as glass or plastic, but also liquids and gases, can be used for these purposes, for example.

According to an embodiment of the field of view display device according to the second variant above, each said reflection element as a whole or at least its reflective interface, which serves to reflect the light beams emitted by the imaging unit, can be rotated about at least one spatial axis by varying an electromagnetic field generated in the reflection layer, whereby the reflection element can be switched between its reflection states assigned to the individual users. The electrically rotatable or alignable reflection elements can be, for example, suitable structures on polymer or liquid crystal base or even small electromechanical mirror structures such as micromirrors and much more. Since in the second variant of the field of view display device all switchable reflection elements and thus segments of the reflection layer must be switched simultaneously into the same reflection state, each assigned to only one of the at least two users, the electromagnetic field required for this can be created, for example, by applying a predetermined electrical voltage or current intensity be implemented on basically any type of electrical contacts, which can be arranged in particular in an edge region of the reflection layer and can therefore be implemented in a structurally simple manner. The individual segments of the reflection layer can be electrically connected to one another, for example, by arranging the reflection layer between two optically transparent and electrically conductive layers or by a suitable network structure of thin conductors. As an alternative to this embodiment, the reflection elements can also be, for example, electrically controllable holographic optical elements that can be switched between different angle selectivity, which results in the individual reflection states mentioned.

In both variants of the invention, the segmented reflection layer can further have a spacer structure made of web-shaped spacers, each of which extends between the adjacent surface segments, for example in a direction perpendicular to a local layer surface, in order to at least partially separate/delimit the individual segments from one another. The spacers can in particular be at least partially connected to one another and thereby form, for example, a honeycomb, square, rectangular or other type of spacer structure. The spacer structure can, for example, serve to mechanically stabilize the individual segments and/or the entire reflection layer and can be made from any suitable material such as metal, plastic or glass, etc. In particular, it can also contribute to the suppression of any interference reflections or to the suppression of light scattering on reflective elements of the segmented reflection layer. For this purpose, the spacers can also include, for example, light-absorbing or light-blocking material, in particular through a suitable coating.

According to a further aspect, a method for operating the field of view display device presented herein is provided. On the one hand, this includes controlling the imaging unit to alternately generate individual display content and a beam of light beams transporting it for each of the at least two users with an image generation frequency of, for example, more than 48 Hz that is unresolvable for each user. This is synchronized depending on the respective design variant the field of view display device either controls an assignment device designed as a polarization switch for switching the light beam bundles between their polarization states assigned to the individual users (first variant above) or the switchable reflection elements of the segmented reflection layer for switching between their reflection states assigned to the individual users (second variant above). This makes it possible to ensure that the light beam with the display content intended for the respective user is always reflected by the reflection disk exclusively to his eyebox.

According to a further aspect, a control unit is provided for operating the multiuser field of view display device presented here, which is designed and set up to automatically carry out this method. For this purpose, for example, a corresponding computer program can be installed in the control unit and run in a processor of the control unit during operation of the field of view display device in order to carry out the method mentioned. The control unit can in particular be designed as a component of the field of view display device and, for example, be integrated into its imaging unit. Alternatively or additionally, it can also be a separate control unit, which can also be implemented, for example, as a subsequently installed or integral part of a control unit of a vehicle in which the field of view display device is mounted.

According to a further aspect, a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle or any other land, air or water vehicle, is provided. The spatial orientation terms used here such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “front”, “rear”, “side”, etc. can always refer in particular to the usual vehicle-fixed Cartesian coordinate system with mutually perpendicular longitudinal , transverse and vertical directions of the vehicle.

The vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a vehicle window that at least partially limits it to the outside, in particular a windshield. Furthermore, a multi-user field of view display device of the type presented here is installed in the vehicle, the imaging unit of which is arranged in the passenger compartment and the reflection disk of which is designed as part of the vehicle window mentioned or as a combiner disk arranged specially in the passenger compartment. They are for the individual eyeboxes of the field of view display device provided for at least two users are offset from one another in relation to the longitudinal and/or transverse and/or height direction of the vehicle. In particular, the vehicle can also have the above-mentioned control unit.

In the passenger compartment of the vehicle, in particular, several vehicle seats can be provided for the at least two users and the reflection disk of the field of view display device mentioned or its segmented reflection layer extend in a spatial area opposite only one of these seats, for example only directly in front of the driver, or alternatively also in front of and / or extend between two or more seats or in particular over a large part of one of the vehicle windows in order to enable a panoramic virtual display image for each of the at least two users. In particular, the reflection layer can extend over the entire length of the windshield from one A-pillar to the other.

• 1 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Fahrzeugs mit einer Multiuser-Blickfeldanzeigevorrichtung gemäß der ersten Variante der Erfindung für Fahrer und Beifahrer, in Draufsicht;
• 2 ein vergrößerter Ausschnitt der Blickfeldanzeigevorrichtung der 1, deren Reflexionsscheibe und bildgebende Einheit durch schematische Querschnittsdarstellungen veranschaulicht sind;
• 3 ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines Fahrzeugs mit einer Multiuser-Blickfeldanzeigevorrichtung gemäß der ersten Variante der Erfindung für Fahrer und Beifahrer, in Draufsicht;
• 4a ein vergrößerter Ausschnitt der Blickfeldanzeigevorrichtung der 3, deren Reflexionsscheibe und bildgebende Einheit durch schematische Querschnittsdarstellungen veranschaulicht sind;
• 4b-4c Ausschnitte der 4a, die jeweils ein Prisma umfassen, das ein Flächensegment in zwei verschiedenen Flächenabschnitten der Reflexionsschicht bildet;
• 5 ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Fahrzeugs mit einer Multiuser-Blickfeldanzeigevorrichtung gemäß der zweiten Variante der Erfindung für Fahrer und Beifahrer, in Draufsicht;
• 6a ein vergrößerter Ausschnitt einer Reflexionsscheibe der Blickfeldanzeigevorrichtung der 5 in einer schematischen Querschnittsdarstellung mit schaltbaren Reflexionselementen in deren Reflexionszustand, der dem Fahrer zugeordnet ist; und
• 6b derselbe Ausschnitt der Reflexionsscheibe der 6a in der gleichen Querschnittsdarstellung mit den schaltbaren Reflexionselementen in deren Reflexionszustand, der dem Beifahrer zugeordnet ist.

The above aspects of the invention and their embodiments and specific configurations are explained in more detail below using the examples shown in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are to be understood as purely schematic illustrations of the basic construction and functional principle, ie not as true to scale. Show it:

• 1 an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with a multi-user field of view display device according to the first variant of the invention for the driver and front passenger, in plan view;
• 2 an enlarged section of the field of view display device 1 , whose reflection disk and imaging unit are illustrated by schematic cross-sectional representations;
• 3 a further exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with a multi-user field of view display device according to the first variant of the invention for the driver and front passenger, in plan view;
• 4a an enlarged section of the field of view display device 3 , whose reflection disk and imaging unit are illustrated by schematic cross-sectional representations;
• 4b-4c Excerpts from the 4a , each comprising a prism that forms a surface segment in two different surface portions of the reflection layer;
• 5 an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle with a multi-user field of view display device according to the second variant of the invention for the driver and front passenger, in plan view;
• 6a an enlarged section of a reflection disk of the field of view display device 5 in a schematic cross-sectional representation with switchable reflection elements in their reflection state, which is assigned to the driver; and
• 6b the same section of the reflection disk 6a in the same cross-sectional view with the switchable reflection elements in their reflection state, which is assigned to the front passenger.

All of the various embodiments, variants and specific design features of the field of view display device, the method for its operation, the control unit and the vehicle according to the above aspects of the invention mentioned above in the description and in the following claims can be used in the 1 until 6b Examples shown, in particular alternatively or in addition to the features shown therein, can be implemented. They will therefore not all be repeated again below. The same applies accordingly to the definitions and effects already given above in relation to individual features that are in the 1-6b are shown.

1 shows, in a highly simplified schematic top view, a section of a vehicle 1 with a multi-user field of view display device 2 according to an exemplary embodiment according to the above-mentioned first embodiment variant of the invention. The field of view display device 2 is designed here purely as an example as a head-up display (HUD). The spatial orientation terms used in the description of this and the other examples such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “above”, “below”, “front”, “rear”, “side” etc. refer to the usual Cartesian fixed to the vehicle Coordinate system with mutually perpendicular longitudinal, transverse and height directions of the vehicle 1.

In this example, the field of view display device 2 is designed to generate its own virtual display image V1 and V2 for exactly two users, namely a driver 3 and a passenger 4 of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 is purely an example of a motor vehicle. It is in 1 solely through its windshield 5 and two vehicle seats that are offset from one another in the transverse direction of the vehicle 1 - a driver's seat 6 and a passenger seat 7, which are in 1 are symbolically represented by the respective headrest, - indicated.

Below the windshield 5, an imaging unit 8 of the field of view display device 2 is housed in or on an instrument panel (not shown) of the vehicle 1. The imaging unit 8 is in 1 also only indicated symbolically and, as shown, can extend over an entire area in front of the two vehicle seats 6 and 7 or alternatively only over a partial area of this area, for example only directly in front of the driver's seat 6 etc.

The field of view display device 2 is designed to generate its own virtual display image V1 (for the driver 3) and V2 (for the front passenger 4) in their field of vision when looking through the windshield 5. The virtual display images V1 (symbolically indicated as a seven-pointed star) and V2 (symbolically indicated as a four-pointed star) are from the spatial areas predetermined for this purpose, i.e. H. the eyeboxes E1 (for the driver 3) and E2 (for the front passenger 4) of the field of view display device 2 visible in the intended display quality. The two eyeboxes E1 and E2 are thus offset from one another in a direction transverse to the beam propagation direction of the field of view display device 2 and, in this example, are each limited to a space area in front of the associated headrest of the driver's seat 6 and the passenger seat 7, which corresponds approximately to the head size of a user.

The imaging unit 8 is designed and is also controlled accordingly during operation of the field of view display device 2 in such a way that it alternately displays the individual display contents A1 and A2 required for this purpose for the driver 3 and the front passenger 4 at an image generation frequency that is unresolvable for the human eye (for example higher than 48 Hz) and thereby emits a light beam L1 or L2, which transports this display content A1 or A2 to the associated eyebox E1 or E2.

For this purpose, the field of view display device 2 further comprises a reflection disk, which is arranged in the beam path of the light beam L1 or L2 emitted by the imaging unit 8 and is formed in this example by the windshield 5 of the vehicle 1 or at least its suitable section. The reflection disk is designed and positioned relative to the imaging unit 8 in such a way that it reflects the light beam bundles L1 and L2 intended for the individual users to their eyeboxes E1 and E2. For this purpose, the reflection disk comprises a segmented reflection layer 9 (only in 2 shown) with several surface segments lying next to one another in the beam cross section of the light beam bundles L1 and L2, in each of which a prism P is arranged. The functionality of the segmented reflection layer 9 in interaction with the imaging unit 8 is explained below based on 2 described:

2 shows an enlarged section of the field of view display device 2 1 , in which the functionality of the windshield 5 with the segmented reflection layer 9 and the imaging unit 8 are illustrated by highly simplified schematic cross-sectional representations. In this exemplary embodiment, the mutually angled boundary surfaces of each prism P form two partial reflection surfaces 10 and 11, the partial reflection surface 10 being designed to reflect only the light beam L1 with the display content A1 intended for the driver 3 to his eyebox E1, while the reflection partial surface 11 is designed to reflect only the light beam L2 with the display content A2 intended for the front passenger 4 to his eyebox E2. For this purpose, the reflection partial surfaces 10 and 11 differ, apart from their different inclinations, in that they reflect light with different cyclic polarizations (for example by means of a suitable coating).

In order to select the light beam bundles L1 and L2 in the reflection layer 9 according to their polarization states, the field of view display device 2 includes an assignment device 12 in the beam path of the light beam bundles L1 and L2 in front of the reflection layer 9, which corresponds to the light beam bundles L1 and L2 synchronously with the alternating generation of the display contents A1 and A2 imposes an associated polarization state (in this example, different cyclic polarization), for the selective reflection of which the associated partial reflection surface 10 or 11 is designed. In this example, the assignment device 12 is designed as a polarization film that can be switched at the same frequency as the alternating display image generation, which is arranged in the imaging unit 8 in the beam path of the light beam L1 and L2 and whose light is cyclically polarized differently synchronously with the generation of the display contents A1 and A2 . In this example, the control required for this is carried out by a control unit 13, which can be integrated in the imaging unit 8 or at another location in the vehicle 1.

In this example, the prisms P are arranged between two transparent surface layers 14 of the segmented reflection layer 9, and the individual segments in which the respective prism P lies are at least partially separated from one another by spacers 15. The spacers 15 extend like a web between the surface layers 14 to stabilize the segmented reflection layer 9 and/or the one individual segments and/or to suppress disturbing reflections and/or scattered light. The spacers 15 can be connected to one another to form a polygonal, in particular a rectangular or a particularly stable hexagonal or honeycomb-shaped spacer structure (not visible in the cross-sectional view shown).

In this example, the segmented reflection layer 9 is laminated into the front window 5, which serves as a reflection pane, and extends between an outer glass or plastic pane 16 and an inner glass or plastic pane 17, which is formed by at least one connecting layer 18, in this example a film made of one Hot melt adhesive such as PVB (polyvinyl butyral), are connected to each other and to the reflection layer 9 to form a pane composite forming the windshield 5.

For further details and possible modifications of the in 1 and 2 In order to avoid repetitions, the field of view display device 2 shown is referred to the more detailed description of the embodiments given above, the example of which is shown in 1 and 2 is illustrated, referenced.

3-4c show a further development of the in 1 and 2 illustrated embodiment of the multi-user field of view display device 2 according to the above-mentioned first variant of the invention, in order to avoid repetitions, only the differences are given below 1 and 2 to be discribed. The way in which the individual features of the vehicle 1 and the field of view display device 2 in 3 and 4a are shown corresponds exactly to the type of representation that is also shown in 1 and 2 has been used.

• Dabei sind die Prismen P2 und damit die Reflexions-Teilflächen 10 und 11 in jedem Segment der Reflexionsfläche 9 im Flächenabschnitt 20 genauso ausgebildet wie in 2. Die Grenzflächen jedes Prismas P2, die als Reflexions-Teilflächen 10 und 11 dienen, bilden einen Öffnungswinkel α₂ des Prismas P2. Dabei liegt die Reflexions-Teilfläche 10 an der äußeren Oberflächenschicht 14 an, was in 4c als Rotationswinkel Ω₂ = 0° des Prismas P2 bezüglich der äußeren Oberflächenschicht 14 gekennzeichnet ist. Wie auch mit Bezug auf 1 und 2 beschrieben, wird dem Fahrer 3 und dem Beifahrer 4 über Reflexion der Lichtstrahlenbündel L1 und L2 mit den zugehörigen Anzeigeinhalten A1 und A2 an dem Flächenabschnitt 20 der Frontscheibe 5 das zugehörige virtuelle Anzeigebild V1 bzw. V2 dargestellt.

As in 4a As can be seen in the cross-sectional view, the windshield 5 is divided into surface sections with different properties of the segmented reflection layer 9, of which in 4a purely as an example, only two surface sections 19 and 20 are shown. Each of the surface sections 19 and 20 comprises several segments with prisms P1 in the surface section 19 and prisms P2 in the surface section 20 which are identical to one another. The differences in the design of the prisms P1 and P2 are explained below using a respective section according to 4b and 4c described:

• The prisms P2 and thus the partial reflection surfaces 10 and 11 in each segment of the reflection surface 9 in the surface section 20 are designed in the same way as in 2 . The boundary surfaces of each prism P2, which serve as partial reflection surfaces 10 and 11, form an opening angle α ₂ of the prism P2. The reflection partial surface 10 rests on the outer surface layer 14, which in 4c is characterized as the rotation angle Ω ₂ = 0° of the prism P2 with respect to the outer surface layer 14. As with reference to 1 and 2 described, the driver 3 and the front passenger 4 are shown the associated virtual display image V1 and V2 via reflection of the light beams L1 and L2 with the associated display contents A1 and A2 on the surface section 20 of the windshield 5.

In order to take into account varying display requirements or conditions along the windshield 5, such as its varying pane curvature, the prisms P1 of the surface section 19 differ from the prisms P2 of the surface section 20 by a smaller opening angle α ₁ <α ₂ . In addition, in contrast to prisms P2, prisms P1 are oriented obliquely with respect to the outer surface layer 14 of the reflection surface 9 according to a rotation angle Ω ₁ > 0°. The resulting partial reflection surfaces 21 and 22 for the driver 3 and the front passenger 4 are used to display virtual display images V3 (for the driver 3) and V4 (for the front passenger 4) via reflection of associated light beam bundles L3 and L4 with display content A3 (symbolically as indicated by a square) for the driver 3 and A4 (indicated symbolically as a triangle) for the front passenger 4 in the surface section 19 of the windshield 5.

5-6b show an exemplary embodiment of a multi-user field of view display device 2 according to the above-mentioned second variant of the invention, in order to avoid repetitions, only the differences are shown below 1 and 2 to be discribed. The way in which the individual elements of the vehicle 1 and the field of view display device 2 in 5 and the front window 5 in., which serves as a reflection pane 6a-6b are shown here also corresponds to the type of representation used for these elements in 1 and 2 has been used.

As in 6a and 6b As can be seen from a cross-sectional view of the windshield 5, the field of view display device 2 differs 5 from that of 1-2 only in that an electrically switchable reflection element 23 with a reflective interface 24 that can be aligned/rotated by this switching is provided in each segment of the reflection layer 9, which is synchronous with an in 5 outlined alternating generation of the individual display contents A1 and A2 for the driver 3 and the passenger 4 between its first reflection state 6a and according to its second state of reflection 6b is switchable. The switchable reflection elements 23 are in 6a-6b instead of the reflection partial surfaces 10 and 11 and the allocation device 12 2 intended.

For this purpose, the respective reflection element 23 can be designed, for example, on a polymer, liquid crystal or micromirror basis and can be designed essentially the same or differently in each segment of the reflection layer 9. In this example, its reflective interface 24 can be adjusted by varying an electromagnetic field generated in the reflection layer 9 about at least one spatial axis, here one in the plane of the drawing 6a and 6b pointing axis of rotation, rotate as indicated by rotation arrows. At the in 6a In the first reflection state shown, the reflective interfaces 24 of all reflection elements 23 in the reflection layer 9 are aligned so that they reflect the light beam L1 generated at this time with the display content A1 intended for the driver 3 to his eyebox E1. At the in 6b In the second reflection state shown, the reflective interfaces 24 of all reflection elements 23 in the reflection layer 9 are aligned so that they reflect the light beam L2 generated at this time with the display content A2 intended for the front passenger 4 to his eyebox E2. The alternating generation of the individual display contents A1 and A2 in the imaging unit 8 (and thus also the described switching of the reflection elements 23) is also implemented here with an image generation frequency of, for example, more than 48 Hz, which is unresolvable for the human eye, by means of the control unit 13.

Furthermore, there are 6a-6b in the 2 illustrated optional surface layers 14 of the segmented reflection layer 9 are omitted, while here too the individual segments are at least partially separated from one another by the web-like spacers 15. Similar to 2 The spacers 15 serve to stabilize the segmented reflection layer 9 and/or the individual segments and/or to suppress disturbing reflections and/or scattered light and can be connected to one another to form a polygonal, in particular rectangular or particularly stable hexagonal or honeycomb-shaped spacer structure (in the not visible in the cross-sectional view shown).

Like in the 1 , 3 and 5 indicated, in these examples the individual virtual display images V1 and V2 (or V3 and V4) can appear to the driver 3 and the front passenger 4 to be floating at approximately the same virtual display location, which is behind the windshield 5. Everyone only sees the virtual display image created for them.

Reference symbol list

1

vehicle

2

Multi-user field of view display device

3

first user, especially driver

4

second user, especially passenger

5

Windshield as a reflection window

6

Driver's seat

7

Passenger seat

8th

imaging unit

9

segmented reflection layer of the reflection disk

10, 21

Reflective areas assigned to the driver

11, 22

Reflective partial surfaces that are assigned to the passenger

12

Mapping facility

13

Control unit

14

Surface layers of the segmented reflection layer

15

Spacer between the surface layers that separates adjacent segments of the reflective layer

16

outer glass or plastic pane of the windshield

17

inner glass or plastic pane of the windshield

18

Connection layer

19, 20

Surface sections of the windshield with different prisms

23

switchable reflection element

24

reflective interface of the reflection element

L1

Light beam bundle with the display content generated for the driver

L2

Light beam bundle with the display content generated for the passenger

V1

virtual display image for the driver

V2

virtual display image for the passenger

E1

Driver eyebox

E2

Passenger eyebox

A1

Display content generated for the driver

A2

Display content generated for the passenger

P

Prism of a surface segment of the reflection layer

P1, P2

different prisms

Claims (10)

Multi-user field of view display device (2), in particular for a vehicle (1), which is designed to generate, at least for the human eye, its own virtual display image (V1, V2) in the field of vision of at least two users (3, 4), their eyeboxes (E1, E2) are offset from one another in a direction transverse to the beam propagation direction of the field of view display device (2), comprising: - an imaging unit (8) which is designed to generate individual display content (A1, A2) and a light beam (L1, L2) transporting it for each of the at least two users (3, 4); - a reflection disk in the beam path of the light beam bundle (L1, L2) emitted by the imaging unit (8), which has a segmented reflection layer (9) with several surface segments lying next to one another in the beam cross section, each segment being suitable for all of the at least two users (3, 4 ) each has an associated reflection partial surface (10, 11; 21, 22); and - an assignment device (12) arranged in the beam path in front of the reflection layer (9), which is designed to equip the light beam bundles (L1, L2) intended for the individual users (3, 4) with predetermined optical or electromagnetic properties that differ from one another, such that each reflection partial surface (10, 11; 21, 22) only reflects the light beam (L1, L2) with the display content intended for the associated user (3, 4) to its eyebox (E1, E2). Multiuser field of view display device (2). Claim 1 , wherein: - the imaging unit (8) is designed to generate the individual display contents (A1, A2) for the individual users (3, 4) alternately and with an image generation frequency that is unresolvable for each user (3, 4); - the partial reflection surfaces (10, 11; 21, 22) assigned to the individual users (3, 4) in each segment differ from one another in that they are designed to reflect the light with different predetermined polarization states; and - the assignment device (12) is designed as an electrically controllable polarization switch to switch the light beam bundles (L1, L2) into the associated predetermined polarization states synchronously with the alternating generation of the individual display contents (A1, A2) for the individual users (3, 4). to switch, whereby each reflection partial surface (10, 11; 21, 22) only sends the light beam (L1, L2) with the display content (A1, A2) intended for the associated user (3, 4) to its eyebox (E1, E2 ) reflected. Multiuser field of view display device (2). Claim 1 or 2 , wherein: - geometric and / or optical properties of the individual partial reflection surfaces (10, 11; 21, 22) vary from segment to segment or between predetermined surface sections of the reflection layer (9), each of which comprises several segments of the same design, in a predetermined manner differentiate. Multiuser field of view display device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: - The partial reflection surfaces (10, 11; 21, 22) assigned to the individual users (3, 4) in the respective surface segment of the reflection layer (9) are formed by individual boundary surfaces of a prism (P; P1, P2), which is in this Segment is included or forms this segment. Multi-user field of view display device (2), in particular for a vehicle (1), which is designed to generate, at least for the human eye, its own virtual display image (V1, V2) in the field of vision of at least two users (3, 4), their eyeboxes (E1, E2) are offset from one another in a direction transverse to the beam propagation direction of the field of view display device (2), comprising: - an imaging unit (8) which is used to alternately generate an individual display content (A1, A2) and a light beam bundle (L1 , L2) is designed for each of the at least two users (3, 4) with an image generation frequency that is unresolvable for each user (3, 4); and - a reflection disk in the beam path of the light beam bundle (L1, L2) emitted by the imaging unit (8), which has a segmented reflection layer (9) with a plurality of surface segments lying next to one another in the beam cross section; - Each segment has an electrically switchable reflection element (23) which, synchronously with the alternating generation of the individual display contents (A1, A2) for the at least two users (3, 4), switches between such reflection states assigned to only one user (3, 4). What is switchable is that the light beam (L1, L2) with the display content (A1, A2) intended for the respective user (3, 4) is reflected exclusively to his eyebox (E1, E2). Multiuser field of view display device (2). Claim 5 , wherein - each reflection element (23) or its reflective interface (24) can be rotated about at least one spatial axis by varying an electromagnetic field generated in the reflection layer (9), whereby the reflection element (23) can be rotated between its individual users (3, 4). assigned reflection states can be switched. Multiuser field of view display device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein: - The segmented reflection layer (9) further has a spacer structure made of web-shaped spacers (15), each of which extends between the adjacent surface segments of the reflection layer (9) in a direction perpendicular to its surface. Method for operating a multiuser field-of-view display device (2) according to one of the preceding claims in connection with Claim 2 or 5 , comprising the steps: - Controlling the imaging unit (8) to alternately generate individual display content (A1, A2) and a light beam (L1, L2) transporting it for each of the at least two users (3, 4) with one for each user (3, 4) unresolvable image generation frequency; and - controlling the assignment device (12) designed as a polarization switch to switch the generated light beam bundles (L1, L2) between the individual users synchronously with the alternating generation of the individual display contents (A1, A2) for the at least two users (3, 4). (3, 4) associated polarization states; or a synchronous switching of the reflection elements (23) between the reflection states assigned to the individual users (3, 4) with the alternating generation of the individual display contents (A1, A2) for the at least two users (3, 4); - so that the light beam (L1, L2) with the display content (A1, A2) intended for the respective user (3, 4) is reflected by the reflection disk exclusively to his eyebox (E1, E2). Control unit (13) for operating a multi-user field of view display device (2) according to one of Claims 1 until 7 combined with Claim 2 or 5 , which leads to an automatic execution of the procedure Claim 8 trained and equipped. Vehicle (1), in particular a motor vehicle, with mutually perpendicular longitudinal, transverse and height directions of a vehicle's own Cartesian coordinate system, comprising: - a passenger compartment and a vehicle window which at least partially delimits it to the outside, in particular a windscreen (5); - a field of view display device (2) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , whose imaging unit (8) is arranged in the passenger compartment and whose reflection disk is designed as part of the vehicle window or as a combiner disk arranged specially in the passenger compartment; wherein the eyeboxes (E1, E2) provided for each of the at least two users (3, 4) are offset from one another with respect to the longitudinal and/or transverse and/or height direction of the vehicle's own Cartesian coordinate system; and - preferably also a control unit (13). Claim 9 .

Images