HEAD-UP DISPLAY FOR VEHICLE HAVING IMPROVED COUPLING STRUCTURE

A head-up display for a vehicle having an improved coupling structure between a screen, and a folding mirror and an aspheric mirror. The head-up display for a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a screen and a folding mirror snap-fit-coupled and fixed to the screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0172513, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

Exemplary embodiments relate to a head-up display for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a head-up display device for a vehicle having an improved coupling structure between a screen, and a folding mirror and an aspheric mirror.

Discussion of the Background

In recent years, the automobile market is rapidly growing with the trend of favoring intelligent vehicles equipped with advanced information technology (IT) and convenient functions as well as the improvement of original functions of vehicles. In such a trend, with the spreading of the electronic equipment of vehicles, functions, in which IT and wireless communication technology are integrated, are rapidly increasing.

In particular, products that support the driver's stability and convenience are being released, and as one of the products, a head-up display (HUD) for a vehicle is attracting attention as a variety of product lines.

In general, a vehicle head-up display is a device that displays an image including vehicle speed, a fuel level, road guidance information, and the like on a windshield that is a front window of a vehicle.

Among components constituting such a vehicle head-up display, a folding mirror may be deformed according to a push position and a push force for the folding mirror, and image distortion may occur due to the deformation thereof.

On the other hand, in the conventional aspheric mirror mounting structure, one side of an elastic body for pressing a spherical mount portion has a hook shape, and the other side thereof often has a shape for screw coupling.

Such a structure has a problem in that a gap may occur in an aspheric mirror due to permanent deformation of an elastic body when an unexpected large impact or the like is applied to the aspheric mirror.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an improved coupling structure between a screen, and a folding mirror, and an aspheric mirror, thereby preventing deformation of the folding mirror and allowing a spherical mount of the aspheric mirror to maintain a fixing force.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a head-up display for a vehicle having an improved coupling structure including a screen, and a folding mirror snap-fit-coupled to the screen.

The screen may include an opening formed to pass through a portion thereof connected to the folding mirror, stoppers disposed around the opening to hold side surfaces of the folding mirror, and fixing holders disposed at peripheries of the stoppers to hold an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface of the folding mirror.

A portion of the fixing holder may protrude inward toward the opening and may be forcibly fitted into the folding mirror.

The fixing holder may have a “” shape in which an upper end thereof is gradually inclined toward a lower portion thereof.

The fixing holder may have a shape in which an upper end thereof is gradually inclined toward a lower portion thereof, and a portion thereof configured to hold the folding mirror may be formed in a “⊏” shape so as to fix a side end of the folding mirror.

The fixing holder may include an upper frame configured to hold the upper surface of the folding mirror, a side frame configured to hold the side surface of the folding mirror, and a lower frame configured to hold the lower surface of the folding mirror.

An upper end of the upper frame may have a chamfered structure.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a head-up display for a vehicle having an improved coupling structure including a screen and a folding mirror cover snap-fit-coupled to the screen, and a folding mirror fixed between the screen and the folding mirror cover.

The screen may include an opening of which one side is open, stoppers disposed around the opening and in contact with the folding mirror, and connection parts disposed at peripheries of the stoppers and coupled to the folding mirror cover through concave-convex coupling.

The connection part may include a fixing step formed to protrude outward and a grip member formed to protrude at a periphery of the fixing step.

The folding mirror cover may include a fixing latch fitted on and coupled to the fixing step and a fixing bar fitted into and coupled to the grip member.

The screen may further include seating surfaces which are disposed between the opening and the stoppers and are in surface contact with lower surfaces of side ends of the folding mirror.

The folding mirror cover may include a pushing member formed at a position facing the seating surface and in surface contact with the folding mirror.

The folding mirror cover may have a fixing hole formed to pass therethrough at a position corresponding to the seating surface, and the pushing member may be connected to a lower end of the fixing hole and may reciprocate in a forward direction toward the seating surface and a rearward direction opposite to the seating surface.

The pushing member may include a fixing part connected to the lower end of the fixing hole, and a pressing part which is formed to extend from the fixing part and reciprocates in the forward and backward directions of the fixing hole in a state of being fixed to the fixing hole.

The pressing part may be in surface contact with the folding mirror.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a head-up display for a vehicle having an improved coupling structure including a lower case, an aspheric mirror including spherical mounts formed at both ends thereof so as to be rotatably connected to the lower case, and a screen connected to the lower case and including a leaf spring configured to limit a displacement of the spherical mount with a predetermined fixing force.

The lower case may include a vertical coupling groove having a height relatively greater than a diameter of the spherical mount, and the vertical coupling groove may be bolt-coupled to the screen.

The leaf spring may fix the spherical mount by protruding in a direction, in which the leaf spring is in contact with the spherical mount, by as much as a difference between the height of the vertical coupling groove and the diameter of the spherical mount.

The leaf spring may have a snap-fit coupling structure detachably coupled to a coupling hole formed in the screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The advantages and features of the present invention and methods for accomplishing the same will be more clearly understood from embodiments to be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments but may be implemented in various different forms. Rather, these embodiments are provided only to complete the disclosure of the present invention and to allow those skilled in the art to understand the category of the present invention. The present invention is defined by the category of the claims. Meanwhile, terms used in this specification are to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, singular expressions, unless defined otherwise in context, include plural expressions. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated components, steps, operations, and/or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and/or elements.

A head-up display for a vehicle according to the present invention is basically provided in a vehicle and is installed at a lower portion of a windshield. In the present invention, a coupling structure between components of such a head-up display for a vehicle will be described through first to third embodiments.

Accordingly, components related to the features of the present invention will be mainly described, and components separate from the features will be omitted.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a schematic view for describing a head-up display for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 1, a head-up display100for a vehicle is a device that provides head-up display (HUD) information (vehicle operation information such as vehicle driving information or navigation information) within a range that does not deviate from a driver's front visual field, that is, a driver's main visual field.

The head-up display100for a vehicle includes a cover lens110, an upper case120, a screen130, a folding mirror140, an aspheric mirror160, a board assembly170, a lower case180, and a light-emitting diode (LED) assembly190.

Here, the head-up display100for a vehicle according to the first embodiment relates to a coupling structure between the screen130and the folding mirror140and has a structure that does not require a folding mirror cover (not shown inFIG. 1).

Accordingly, the head-up display100for a vehicle according to the first embodiment provides an improved coupling structure by applying a snap-fit structure between the screen130and the folding mirror140.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the separate folding mirror cover is not required to fix the folding mirror140, thereby reducing costs.

Furthermore, descriptions of general components constituting the head-up display100for a vehicle will be omitted, and the screen130and the folding mirror140featured in the first embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2is a view illustrating the screen in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 3is a view illustrating a coupling state between the screen and the folding mirror.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3together, the screen130is connected to the folding mirror140in a snap-fit coupling structure. In this case, the screen130includes an opening131, stoppers132, and fixing holders133.

The opening131is formed to pass through a portion connected to the folding mirror140. In this case, the opening131has a width relatively smaller than a width of the folding mirror140. This is to seat side ends of the folding mirror140.

Here, the width of the opening131refers to a size within a range that does not limit a reflection path of the folding mirror140.

The stoppers132are provided to hold side surfaces of the folding mirror140around the opening131. In this case, in terms of fixing the folding mirror140, the plurality of stoppers132may be formed at intervals.

The interval between the stoppers132may correspond to the width of the folding mirror140.

The plurality of fixing holders133are disposed at peripheries of the stoppers132. The fixing holder133has a structure in which a portion of the fixing holder133protrudes inward toward the opening131so that the folding mirror140is forcibly fitted into the fixing holder133.

The fixing holders133hold upper, lower, and side surfaces of the folding mirror140. This is to prevent the deformation of the folding mirror140.

As a result, the fixing holders133effectively fix the three surfaces (upper, lower, and side surfaces) of the folding mirror140to prevent the deformation of the folding mirror140.

Describing the fixing holders133in a direction shown inFIG. 3, the fixing holders133disposed at a right side push and fix the folding mirror140in two push directions P1and P2.

In this case, the folding mirror140pushed from the fixing holders133at the right side is fixed in a fixed line in which the fixing holders133at a left side are disposed.

FIG. 4is a view illustrating a process in which the folding mirror is mounted on the screen in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 4A to 4C, in a state in which the folding mirror140is fitted into the left fixing holders133of the screen130, the folding mirror140is moved downward so as to be fitted into the right fixing holders133.

Here, the fixing holders133may be divided into push portions P formed at an interval at one side (right side) to fix the folding mirror140and holder portions H formed at an interval at the other side (left side) to seat the folding mirror140.

In this case, the folding mirror140has a structure in which the folding mirror140is fixed by being pushed leftward from the push portions P in a state of being seated in the holder portions H.

That is, the fixing holder133pushes the folding mirror140in a direction from one (right) side to the other (left) side to fix the folding mirror140.

The fixing holder133may have a “” shape in which an upper end thereof is gradually inclined toward a lower portion thereof. This is to enable the folding mirror140to be forcibly fixed into the fixing holder133smoothly.

FIG. 5is a view illustrating the fixing holder of the screen for fixing the folding mirror in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 6is a view illustrating a push structure of the fixing holder for fixing the folding mirror.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6together, the fixing holder133has a shape in which the upper end is gradually inclined toward the lower portion. This is to enable the folding mirror140to be moved from an upper portion to the lower portion of the fixing holder133and forcibly fitted into the fixing holder133.

In this case, in the fixing holder133, an (inner) portion thereof for holding the folding mirror may be formed in a “” shape so as to fix a side end of the folding mirror140.

Here, the fixing holder133may include an upper frame133a, a side frame133b, and a lower frame133c.

The upper frame133ais a section that holds an upper surface of the folding mirror140and has a chamfered structure.

A lower end of the upper frame133amay be in surface contact with the upper surface of the folding mirror140. Accordingly, the lower end of the upper frame133ais parallel to the upper surface of the folding mirror140.

As a result, the upper frame133acan firmly seat the upper surface of the folding mirror140so as to not be shaken.

The side frame133bis a section that holds the side surface of the folding mirror140.

The lower frame133cis a section that holds a lower surface of the folding mirror140. In this case, the lower frame133cis formed in a flat shape like the upper frame133a.

Accordingly, the fixing holders133may stably seat and fix the upper surface, the side surface, and the lower surface of the folding mirror140. As a result, the fixing holder133can prevent the deformation of the folding mirror140.

As shown inFIG. 6, the fixing holder133can secure an overlap amount according to the push form thereof. Here, the overlap amount refers to an allowable displacement amount of the fixing holder133.

Since the fixing holder133has a structure that pushes and fixes the folding mirror140, it is possible to secure an upper surface overlap amount d1and a side surface overlap amount d2.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7is a schematic view illustrating a folding mirror cover for fixing a folding mirror and a screen in a head-up display for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 7, unlike the first embodiment, a folding mirror cover150is applied to the second embodiment of the present invention. The folding mirror cover150is snap-fit-coupled to a screen130with a folding mirror140interposed therebetween.

FIG. 8is a view illustrating a reference position of the folding mirror mounted on the screen in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 8, the screen130includes stoppers132that are disposed around an opening (see131ofFIG. 14) and are in contact with the folding mirror140.

The stoppers132serve to fix side surfaces of the folding mirror140and provide a reference position for mounting the folding mirror140.

That is, when the folding mirror140is pushed in a side push direction P3, the stopper132fixes the side surface of the folding mirror140.

The screen130includes connection parts134formed at a periphery of the stopper132.

In this case, the connection part134includes a fixing step134aand a grip member134b.

The fixing step134ais formed to protrude outward from the opening.

The grip member134bis formed to protrude from a periphery of the fixing step134a. The grip member134bis formed in a “” shape and has a structure that allows an object to be surrounded.

The connection part134is coupled with the folding mirror cover (see150ofFIG. 9) to be described through concave-convex coupling. Such a coupling relationship will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 9 to 13are views illustrating a state in which the folding mirror cover and the screen are coupled to each other with the folding mirror interposed therebetween in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 14is a view illustrating the screen in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The fixing latch153is fitted on and coupled to the fixing step134aand has a ring shape. The fixing latch153may be bent and formed to correspond to a portion of the screen130to which the fixing latch153is coupled.

A sequence of coupling the folding mirror cover150will be described based on a direction shown inFIG. 9.

First, the fixing latch153at a right side is fitted on and coupled to the fixing step134aat a right side.

Second, a lower end of the folding mirror cover150is connected to a connection part disposed at a lower end of the screen130.

Third, the fixing latch153at a left side is fitted on and coupled to the fixing step134aat a left side.

In this case, the folding mirror cover150and the screen130are in surface contact with each other in the first and second sequences above and are in line contact with each other in the third sequence.

Meanwhile, as shown inFIGS. 12 to 14, the screen130includes a plurality of seating surfaces135that are disposed between the opening131and the stoppers132and are in surface contact with lower surfaces of side ends of the folding mirror140.

In this case, a surface contact direction of the seating surface135is described as an example for ease of description, and when a portion, at which the folding mirror140and the folding mirror cover150are in contact with each other, is a lower surface of a side end, the surface contact direction of the seating surface135is a direction of an upper surface of the side end.

In other words, the surface contact direction of the seating surface135is only a direction opposite to the folding mirror cover150and is not limited to the upper surface or the lower surface.

An uneven portion (not shown) may be formed at a portion of the seating surface135, which is in surface contact with the folding mirror140, so as to have predetermined surface roughness.

The folding mirror cover150may include a pushing member151that is formed at a position facing the seating surface135and is in surface contact with the folding mirror140.

FIG. 15is a view illustrating the folding mirror cover in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 15, the folding mirror cover150has fixing holes152formed to pass therethrough at positions corresponding to the seating surfaces135.

In this case, the pushing member151is connected to a lower end of the fixing hole152. The pushing member151may reciprocate in a forward direction toward the seating surface135and a rearward direction opposite to the seating surface135.

That is, the pushing member151has a shape in which an upper end of the pushing member151is movable in forward and rearward directions of the fixing hole152in a state in which a lower end thereof is fixed to the fixing hole152.

The pushing member151includes a fixing part151aand a pressing part151b.

The fixing part151ais connected to the lower end of the fixing hole152.

The pressing part151bis formed to extend from the fixing part151a. The pressing part151bmay reciprocate in the forward and rearward directions of the fixing hole152in a state in which the fixing part151ais fixed to the fixing hole152.

In this case, the pressing part151bmay be in surface contact with the folding mirror (see140ofFIG. 13).

Meanwhile, the folding mirror cover150provides dimension measurement surfaces (not shown) in three areas thereof in order to facilitate dimension measurement. Here, the dimension measurement surfaces in the three areas may be formed at an interval in partial sections of an upper end portion and side portions of the folding mirror cover150in which the pushing members151are formed.

Third Embodiment

FIGS. 16 and 17A to 17Care views illustrating a mounting state between an aspheric mirror and a lower case in a head-up display for a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 16 and 17A to 17Ctogether, an aspheric mirror160includes spherical mounts161formed at both ends thereof so as to be rotatably connected to a lower case180.

The lower case180includes a V block formed at a portion corresponding to the spherical mount161. In this case, x, y, and z-axis rotation directions and β and γ rotation directions of the aspheric mirror160are constrained. That is, the aspheric mirror160is allowed to be rotated only in an a rotation direction.

FIGS. 18 and 19A to 19Bare views illustrating a state in which a leaf spring is mounted on a screen in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 18 and 19A to 19Btogether, a screen130is connected to the lower case (see180ofFIGS. 16 and 17A to 17C).

In this case, the screen130is provided with a leaf spring137in order to limit a displacement of the spherical mount (see161ofFIGS. 16 and 17A to 17C) of the aspheric mirror (see160ofFIGS. 16 and 17A to 17C).

The leaf spring137has a snap-fit coupling structure detachably coupled to a coupling hole136formed in the screen130.

The leaf spring137includes a pressing portion137aand a hook portion137b.

The pressing portion137ais a portion that protrudes downward from the coupling hole136by a predetermined interval and is in direct contact with the spherical mount (see of161inFIGS. 16 and 17A to 17C).

The hook portion137bis snap-fit-coupled to the coupling hole136so that the leaf spring137is firmly fixed to the coupling hole136.

FIG. 20is a view illustrating a state in which the screen mounted with the leaf spring and the lower case are coupled to each other with the aspheric mirror interposed therebetween in the head-up display for a vehicle according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 20, the leaf spring137of the screen130limits the displacement of the spherical mount161of the aspheric mirror160with a predetermined fixing force.

In this case, the lower case180has a vertical coupling groove181having a height L2relatively greater than a diameter D of the spherical mount161.

The vertical coupling groove181is bolt-coupled to the screen130.

The lower case180includes a seating block182positioned to be vertically collinear with the leaf spring137with the spherical mount161interposed therebetween.

The seating block182seats the aspheric mirror160under the aspheric mirror160to have a function of preventing a gap from occurring at a joint of the aspheric mirror160and also allowing the aspheric mirror160to be rotated only in a rotation direction.

That is, the seating block182serves to prevent a gap from occurring when the spherical mount161rotates.

Accordingly, the seating block182has a shape corresponding to the spherical mount161. For example, the seating block182may have a shape such as a “V” shape capable of stably seating the spherical mount161under the spherical mount161.

Here, the leaf spring137protrudes in a direction, in which the leaf spring137is in contact with the spherical mount161, by as much as a difference between the height L2of the vertical coupling groove181and the diameter D of the spherical mount161.

That is, the leaf spring137fixes the spherical mount161with a force F corresponding to a protruding length L1.

In other words, when the screen130to which the leaf spring137is assembled is coupled to the lower case180using a bolt B, unless an amount of impact is applied sufficiently to damage the bolt coupling, the spherical mount161of the aspheric mirror160is moved only by as much as the protruding length L1.

Here, the force F corresponding to the protruding length L1, which is an overlap amount of the leaf spring137, acts as a fixing force for the aspheric mirror160.

As described above, according to the present invention, a coupling structure between a screen, and a folding mirror and a folding mirror cover can be improved to prevent the deformation of the folding mirror.

In particular, according to the present invention, a snap-fit structure is applied between the screen and the folding mirror to form an integrated structure, thereby providing an improved coupling structure.

In addition, the present invention provides a structure capable of coupling a folding mirror according to the presence or absence of a folding mirror cover.

In this case, when the folding mirror cover is present, the push position of the folding mirror coincides with a seating surface of the folding mirror. Accordingly, the deformation of the folding mirror can be prevented, thereby preventing the distortion of a head-up display (HUD) image.

On the other hand, when the folding mirror cover is not present, the folding mirror is formed in response to the absent of the folding mirror cover, thereby reducing costs.

In addition, according to the present invention, unless an amount of impact is applied sufficiently to damage bolt coupling, a displacement of the aspheric mirror is limited by as much as an overlap amount of a leaf spring, thereby effectively fixing a fixed portion of the aspheric mirror without a gap.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be variously modified and implemented without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.