Patent Publication Number: US-2021165218-A1

Title: Optical imaging device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an imaging device, and particularly to an optical imaging device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A head-up display (HUD) is an optical imaging device. It is first applied to military aircrafts for preventing pilots from reading dashboard information by bowing his head. In addition, without bowing his head, a pilot&#39;s attention or situation awareness will not be lost. Owing to its convenience and improved safety without reading dashboard by bowing a pilot&#39;s head, currently civilian aircrafts and automobiles have adopted HUDs extensively. 
     In the past, an automotive HUD is installed in the limited space behind the dashboard and between the dashboard and the windshield. A decorative lid is disposed above the HUD for integrating with the car design. A display window is opened on the decorative lid for allowing the HUD to project the display content to the windshield. In addition, a maintenance window is disposed below the decorative lid for a maintenance staff to maintain the HUD. 
     When the HUD is failed, the maintenance staff can remove the decorative lid and repair the HUD through the maintenance window below the decorative lid. Because the overall size of the main structure of the HUD is large, the main structure of the HUD is formed integrally, and the space behind the dashboard is limited, the maintenance window is smaller than the overall size of the HUD. Consequently, only simple examination and maintenance can be performed. 
     Since the maintenance window is smaller than the overall size of the HUD, when the malfunction of the HUD cannot be solved and the HUD should be withdrawn for complicated repair or replacement, it is required to disassemble the whole machine and electronic equipment in front of the driver seat and the front passenger seat first. Due to its serious inconvenience and time consumption, the maintenance cost is high. 
     Accordingly, how to design an optical imaging device that can lower the difficulty in maintenance has become a major challenge in the field. 
     SUMMARY 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide an optical imaging device. Thanks to its nonintegral design, maintenance staffs may disassemble the optical imaging device and hence improving and lowering the difficulty in maintaining it. Accordingly, the problems in the optical imaging device according to prior art, including the requirement of disassembling many components in an automobile, the difficulty in maintenance, high maintenance cost, and long maintenance time, may be solved. 
     To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an optical imaging device, which comprises a plurality of module structures assembled to form an integral device. When not assembled, each of the module structures is an independent structure, respectively. The module structures include an optical module. When assembled, the optical module reflects an image and projects the reflected image. Since the optical imaging device according to the present invention comprises the module structures for assembling to form an integral device, the optical imaging device according to the present invention is not formed integrally. Accordingly, when the optical imaging device according to the present invention is disposed in a limited space and maintenance staffs need to maintain the optical imaging device, the module structures may be disassembled so that a portion of the module structures may be withdrawn from the limited space for facilitating maintenance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a stereoscopic schematic diagram of the optical imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the optical imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic diagram of the optical imaging device installed to an automobile according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the optical imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a stereoscopic schematic diagram of the frame module structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows another stereoscopic schematic diagram of the frame module structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a schematic diagram of the optical module structure assembled to the frame module structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows a schematic diagram of the optical module structure producing backlight and projecting images according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows a stereoscopic schematic diagram of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows an exploded view of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  shows a stereoscopic schematic diagram of the frame module structure of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  shows an exploded view of the bottom-housing module structure of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  shows an exploded view of the optical module structure of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  shows an enlarged view of the control assembly of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  shows a schematic diagram of the optical module structure assembled to the frame module structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  shows a cross-sectional view of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 17  shows an exploded view of the optical imaging device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The optical imaging device according to the prior art is installed in a limited space. For example, HUDs are installed in the limited space behind the dashboard of automobile. If the optical imaging device should be withdrawn from the limited space for replacement or complicated repair, it is required to disassemble many machine structures and electronic equipment inside the automobile first, leading to serious inconvenience and time consumption. 
     The optical imaging device according to the present invention is not formed integrally. Thereby, maintenance staffs may disassemble the optical imaging device according to the present invention under limited space and withdraw a portion or all structures of the optical imaging device. Hence, the difficulty in maintain the optical imaging device may be improved and lowered and thus further reducing the maintenance cost. 
     In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described using figures for describing the present invention in detail. Nonetheless, the concepts of the present invention may be embodied by various forms. Those embodiments are not used to limit the scope and range of the present invention. 
     First, please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , which show a stereoscopic schematic diagram and an exploded view of the optical imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the optical imaging device  100  according to the present invention comprises a plurality of module structures, which include an optical module structure  110  and a frame module structure  120 . The module structures are assembled to form an integral device. In other words, the optical module structure  110  and the frame module structure  120  are assembled to form the optical imaging device  100 . Nonetheless, the optical imaging device  100  is not limited to include the optical module structure  110  and the frame module structure  120  only. When the module structures are not assembled, each of them is an independent structure. As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the optical module structure  110  and the frame module structure  120  are not assembled, they are independent structures, meaning that the optical imaging device  100  is not formed integrally. The module structures include an optical module  114 . When the module structures are assembled to form an integral device, the optical module  114  reflects an image (not shown in the figure) and projects the reflected image. 
     Furthermore, to separate the module structures that are assembled as whole one, one of the module structures is detached from another module structure in the module structures. The optical module structure  110  and the frame module structure  120  are assembled to form the optical imaging device  110  and installed to the space behind the dashboard  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3  and located between the dashboard  10  and the windshield  20  of the automobile for projecting an image to the windshield  20 . The image is reflected by the windshield  20  to the driver&#39;s eyes. To withdraw the optical imaging device  100 , the maintenance staff may detach the optical module structure  110  through a maintenance window  12  above the dashboard  10  or a meter installation window  14  of the dashboard  10  from the frame module structure  120 . In addition, the size of each of the module structures is smaller than a predetermined size, for example, the size of the maintenance window  12  or the meter installation window  14 . Thereby, the detached module structure, for example, the optical module structure  110  or the frame module structure  120 , may be withdrawn from the space behind the dashboard  10  through the maintenance window  12  or the meter installation window  14 . 
     The optical module structure  110  includes a main housing  112  and the optical module  114 . The optical module  114  is disposed in the main housing  112 . A plurality of fixing bases  116  are disposed on both outer sides of the main housing  112 . The fixing bases  116  include a penetrating hole  1162 , respectively. The frame module structure  120  includes at least one fixing frame  122 . According to the present embodiment, the frame module structure  120  includes two fixing frames  122 . The two fixing frames  122  correspond to both outer sides of the main housing  112 , respectively. Each fixing frame  122  includes a plurality of fixing holes  1221 . The fixing holes  1221  correspond to the penetrating holes  1162  of the fixing bases  116 , respectively. A plurality of fixing members (not shown in the figure), for example, screws, pass through the penetrating holes  1162  and the fixing holes  1221 . Thereby, the optical module structure  110  and the frame module structure  120  are assembled to form an integral device. Contrarily, removing the fixing members may separate the optical module structure  110  and the frame module structure  120 . Besides, at least one fixing base  124  is disposed on the outer side of each fixing frame  122 . According to the present embodiment, two fixing bases  124  are disposed on each fixing frame  122 . The fixing bases  124  include a hole  1244 , respectively. The fixing bases  124 , as well as the fixing members such as screws, are used for fixing the frame module structure  120  to the installation space. For example, the frame module structure  120  is fixed to the space behind the dashboard  10  shown in  FIG. 3  for disposing the optical imaging device  100 . 
     Furthermore, please refer to  FIG. 4 , which shows a cross-sectional view of the optical imaging device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the optical module structure  110  further includes a mainboard  111  and a display  113  disposed at the bottom of the main housing  112 . The display  113  is coupled to the mainboard  111  for receiving the display information transmitted by the mainboard  111  and displaying images. The optical module structure  110  further includes a cover  118  disposed at the bottom of the main housing  112  for covering the mainboard  111  and the display  113 . In addition, the optical module structure  110  further includes a transmission module  115  disposed at the bottom of the min housing  112  and adjacent to the display  113 . The transmission module  115  includes a first connection device  1152 , a second connection device  1154 , and a circuit board  1156 . The first connection device  1154  and the second connection device  1154  are both disposed on the circuit board  1156  and connected electrically through the circuit board  1156 . A third connection device  1112  is disposed on the mainboard  111 . A transmission line (not shown in the figure) may be connected to the third connection device  1112  and the second connection device  1154 . Thereby, the transmission module  115  is connected electrically to the mainboard  111  for transmitting power or signals. The first connection device  1152 , the second connection device  1154 , and the third connection device  1112  as described above may be connectors. 
     Please refer again to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 8 . The optical module  114  includes a reflection element  1142  and a projection element  1144  both disposed inside the main housing  112 . The reflection element  1142  is opposing to the display  113  for reflecting images displayed on the display  113 . The projection element  1144  is opposing to the reflection element  1142  and located on the optical reflection path of the reflection element  1142  for projecting the images reflected by the reflection element  1142 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reflection element  1142  may be a reflective mirror; the projection element  1144  may be a spherical mirror. 
     In addition, please refer to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , which show stereoscopic schematic diagrams of the frame module structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the frame module structure  120  includes a backlight module  121  and a heat sink  125 . The backlight module  121  provides backlight to the display  113  and is disposed on the heat sink  125 . The backlight module  121  includes a circuit board  1211 , a plurality of light-emitting members  1214 , and a light guide structure  1215 . The circuit board  1211  is disposed on one side of the heat sink  125 . The light-emitting members  1214  are disposed on the circuit board  1211  for producing light as the backlight. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light-emitting members  1214  may be light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Since the light-emitting members  1214  will generate heat in the process of producing light, the heat sink  125  may dissipate the heat generated by the light-emitting members  1214 . The heat sink  125  is disposed at the fixing frame  122 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , a light inlet  12150  of the light guide structure  1215  is opposing to the light-emitting members  1214 . A light outlet  12157  of the light guide structure  1215  is opposing to the display  113 . The light-emitting members  1214  produce light, which will enter the light guide structure  1215  via the light inlet  12150 . The light guide structure  1215  guides the light to the light outlet  12157  for providing the light to the display  113  as the backlight. The light guide structure  1215  includes a housing  12151 , a reflection element  12153 , and a diffuser  12155 . The housing  12151  include the light inlet  12150  and the light outlet  12157 . The reflection element  12153  is disposed inside the housing  12151 , and is able to reflect the light produced by the light-emitting members  1214  and guide the light to the light outlet  12157 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reflection element  12153  may be a reflective film or the inner surface of the housing  12151 . After some surface treatment, such as polishing, the inner surface of the housing  12151  may reflect light. The diffuser  12155  is disposed at the housing  12151  and located at the light outlet  12157  and opposing to the display  113 . The diffuser  12155  may diffuse light and provide uniform light to the display  113 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the diffuser  12155  may be a diffusion film. 
     Please refer again to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . The frame module structure  120  may further include a frame  126  and a transmission module  128 . The frame  126  is disposed on one side of the heat sink  125  and adjacent to the circuit board  1211 . The transmission module  128  is disposed on the frame  126  and includes a fourth connection device  1282 , a fifth connection device  1284 , and a circuit board  1286 . The fourth connection device  1282  and the fifth connection device  1284  are disposed on the circuit board  1286  and connected electrically through the circuit board  1286 . A sixth connection device  1218  is disposed on the circuit board  1211 . A transmission line (not shown in the figure) may be connected to the sixth connection device  1218  and the fifth connection device  1284 . Thereby, the transmission module  128  is connected electrically to the circuit board  1211  for transmitting power to the circuit board  1211  and driving the light-emitting members  1214  to produce light. The fourth connection device  1282 , the fifth connection device  1284 , and the sixth connection device  1218  may be connectors. 
     Please refer again to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 . The mainboard  111  supplies power to the light-emitting members  1214 . When the optical module structure  110  is assembled to the frame module structure  120 , the first connection device  1152  of the optical module structure  110  inserts to the fourth connection device  1282  of the frame module structure  120 . Thereby, the power output by the mainboard  111  is transmitted to the circuit board  1211  via the third connection device  111 , the second connection device  1154 , the circuit board  1156 , the first connection device  1152 , the fourth connection device  1282 , the circuit board  1286 , the fifth connection device  1284 , and the sixth connection device  1218 . Accordingly, the power of the mainboard  111  may be supplied to the circuit board  1211  for driving the light-emitting members  1214  to produce light. 
     Please refer again to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The module structure may further include a top-housing module structure  130 , which includes a top housing  132  and a lid plate  134 . The top-housing module structure  130  is assembled to the optical module structure  110 . The top housing  132  is located on the top of the main housing  112 . The lid plate  134  is disposed on the top of the top housing  132 . The lid plate  134  is transparent. The top housing  132  may be assembled to the main housing  112  by screwing or buckling. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the images projected by the optical module  114  may pass through the top-housing module structure  130  and be projected to the windshield  20  as shown in  FIG. 3  for providing images to the driver. 
     To withdraw the optical imaging device  100  according to the present invention for repair or replacement, the fixing members fixed to the optical module structure  110  and the frame module structure  120  are loosened first. Then the optical module structure  110  may be separated from the frame module structure  120  and withdrawn. Before the separation, the top-housing module structure  130  is withdrawn first. Afterwards, the optical module structure  110  is withdrawn for examination or repair. Besides, the frame module structure  120  may be withdrawn for examination or repair as well. The optical imaging device  100  according to the present invention may substantially solve the problem of disassembling most components in the repair or replacement process. Consequently, the time consumption is short and maintenance cost is low. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , which show a stereoscopic schematic diagram of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention and an exploded view of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the optical imaging device  200  according to the second embodiment comprises a plurality module structures, which include an optical module structure  210 , a frame module structure  220 , and a bottom-housing module structure  240 . The module structures are assembled to form an integral device. In other words, the optical module structure  210 , the frame module structure  220 , and the bottom-housing module structure  240  are assembled to form the optical imaging device  200 . Nonetheless, the optical imaging device  200  is not limited to include the optical module structure  210 , the frame module structure  220 , and the bottom-housing module structure  240  only. When the module structures are not assembled, each of them is an independent structure. As shown in  FIG. 10 , when the optical module structure  210 , the frame module structure  220 , and the bottom-housing module structure  240  are not assembled, they are independent structures, meaning that the optical imaging device  200  is not formed integrally. The module structures include an optical module  214 . When the module structures are assembled to form an integral device, the optical module  214  reflects an image (not shown in the figure) and projects the reflected image. 
     The optical module structure  210  includes a main housing  212  and the optical module  214 . The optical module  214  is disposed in the main housing  212 . A plurality of fixing bases  218  are disposed on both outer sides of the main housing  212 . The fixing bases  218  include a penetrating hole (not shown in the figures), respectively. Furthermore, the bottom-housing module structure  240  includes a mainboard  242  and a display  244 . The mainboard  242  further includes a transmission module  241 . The frame module structure  220  includes at least one fixing frame  222 . According to the present embodiment, the bottom-housing module structure  240  is fixed to the optical module structure  210  by buckling. The frame module structure  220  includes two fixing frames  222 . The two fixing frames  222  correspond to both outer sides of the main housing  212  after assembling, respectively. Each fixing frame  222  includes a fixing hole  2221 . The fixing holes  2221  correspond to the penetrating holes of the fixing bases  218 , respectively. A plurality of fixing members, for example, screws, pass through the penetrating holes and the fixing holes  2221 . Thereby, the optical module structure  210 , the frame module structure  120 , and the bottom-housing module structure  240  are assembled to form an integral device. Contrarily, removing the fixing members may separate the optical module structure  210  and the frame module structure  220 . Besides, at least one fixing base  224  is disposed on the outer side of each fixing frame  222 . According to the present embodiment, the fixing bases  224  are disposed on each fixing frame  222 . The fixing bases  224  include a hole  2244 , respectively. The fixing bases  224 , as well as the fixing members such as screws, are used for fixing the frame module structure  220  to the installation space. For example, the frame module structure  220  is fixed to the space behind the dashboard  10  shown in  FIG. 3  for disposing the optical imaging device  200 . 
     Next, please refer to  FIG. 11 , which shows a stereoscopic schematic diagram of the frame module structure of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the frame module structure  220  includes a backlight module  221  and a heat sink  225 . The backlight module  221  provides backlight to the display  244 . The method of the backlight module  221  providing backlight is identical the one according to the first embodiment. Hence, the details will not be repeated. The frame module structure  220  further includes a transmission module  228 . The frame module structure  220  is connected electrically to the transmission module  241  via the transmission module  228 . Thereby, the backlight module  221  and the mainboard  242  are connected. 
     Furthermore, please refer to  FIG. 12 , which shows an exploded view of the bottom-housing module structure of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the bottom-housing module structure  240  further includes a housing  229 , the transmission module  241 , a connection device  248 , the mainboard  242 , and the display  244 . The display  244  is connected electrically to the mainboard  242  via the transmission line. The transmission module  241  includes further a seventh connection device  2412 , an eighth connection device  2414 , and a circuit board  2416 . The seventh connection device  2412  and the eighth connection device  2414  are both disposed on the circuit board  2416  and connected electrically through the circuit board  2416 . A nineth connection device  2421  is disposed on the mainboard  242 . A transmission line (not shown in the figure) may be connected to the nineth connection device  2421  and the eighth connection device  2414 . Thereby, the transmission module  241  is connected electrically to the mainboard  242  for transmitting power or signals. The seventh connection device  2412 , the eighth connection device  2414 , and the nineth connection device  2421  as described above may be connectors. 
     Next, please refer to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 , which show an exploded view of the optical module structure of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention and an enlarged view of the control assembly of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the optical module  214  includes a reflection element  2142  and a projection element  2144 , a frame  211 , and a control assembly  216 . The reflection element  2142  and a projection element  2144  are both disposed inside the main housing  212 . The reflection element  2142  is opposing to the display  244  for reflecting images displayed on the display  244 . The projection element  2144  is opposing to the reflection element  2142  and located on the optical reflection path of the reflection element  2142  for projecting the images reflected by the reflection element  2142 . The frame  211  is disposed inside the main housing  212 . The projection element  2144  is disposed rotatably at the frame  211  for adjusting the projection angle of the projection element  2144 . 
     Furthermore, the control assembly  216  is disposed at the main housing  212  and connected to the projection element  2144  for controlling the rotation of the projection element  2144  and thus adjusting the projection angle of the projection element  2144 . The control assembly  216  includes a driving device  2161 , a first connection device  2162 , a sensing module  2163 , a second connection device  2164 , a third connection device  2166 , and a fourth connection device  2167 . The driving device  2161  may drive the projection element  2144  to rotate. Please refer to  FIG. 15 , which shows a schematic diagram of the optical module structure assembled to the frame module structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the fourth connection device  2167  and the connection device  248  are connected electrically (as the arrow shown in the Figure). In other words, the fourth connection device  2167  is connected electrically to the mainboard  242  for receiving the signals form the mainboard  242  or transmitting signals to the mainboard  242 . Furthermore, the connection device  2162  and the third connection device  2166  may be connected electrically via the transmission line (not shown in the figure). The second connection device  2164  may be connected electrically to the driving device  2161  via the transmission line. The first connection device  2162  and the second connection device  2164  may be connected electrically to the fourth connection device  2167  via a circuit board  2169 . 
     The sensing module  2163  may sense the rotational position of the projection element  2144 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensing module  2163  may be an optical sensing module, which includes a transmitter  21631  and a receiver  21633  opposing to each other. The transmitter  21631  transmits light; the receiver  21633  may receive light. A shade member  2165  is disposed at the projection element  2144 . When the projection element  2144  rotates, the projection element  2144  will drive the shade member  2165  to move. The shade member  2165  will be located at the sensing module  2163 , for example, between the transmitter  21631  and the receiver  21633 . Thereby, the shade member  2165  will shade the light transmitted by the transmitter  21631 . The receiver  21633  will not receive the light. By judging if the receiver  21633  receives the light transmitted by the transmitter  21631 , it is known if the projection element  2144  is located at the predetermined location and projects images at the predetermined angle. The sensing module  2163  senses the rotational position of the projection element  2144  and generates a sensing signal, which is transmitted to the third connection device  2166  and then to the first connection device  2162 . The sensing signal is then transmitted to the mainboard  242 . The mainboard  242  generates a control signal according to the sensing signal, which is transmitted to the driving device  2161  via the fourth connection device  2167  and the second connection device  2164  for controlling the driving device  2161  to rotate the projection element  2144 . 
     Moreover, a backlash spring  2168  is connected to the frame  211  and the projection element  2144 . While installing the projection element  2144  to the frame  211 , a gap might occur. Thereby, when the projection element  2144  is fixed to the predetermined location and the projection angle is fixed to the predetermined angle, the projection element  2144  might shake owing to the gap, influencing the projection angle. By using the backlash spring  2168 , the shake of the projection element  2144  may be avoided, which is equivalent to eliminating the gap and fixing the projection angle. 
     Next, please refer to  FIG. 16 , which shows a cross-sectional view of the optical imaging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, after the module structures are assembled, the mainboard  242  may control the angle of the projection element  2144 , the content of the display  244 , the backlight, and the brightness of the backlight completely. No functional operation is sacrificed. Thereby, by dividing the optical imaging device into the module structures, the requirement for the overall space may be lowered effectively. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 17 , which shows an exploded view of the optical imaging device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the bottom-housing module structure  240  and the frame module structure  220  according to the embodiment in  FIG. 10  may be designed integrally and becoming another module structure  250 . In other words, the circuit board and the display are disposed at the frame module structure  250 . This design may reduce the number of module structures. According to the above description, the optical imaging device may be divided according to requirements and not limited to the above three embodiments. 
     According to the above embodiment, the optical imaging device according to the present invention is not formed integrally. Thereby, maintenance staffs may disassemble the optical imaging device according to the present invention under limited space and withdraw a portion or all structures of the optical imaging device. Hence, the difficulty in maintain the optical imaging device may be improved and lowered and thus further reducing the maintenance cost.