Information display device
Provided is a small-sized information display device displaying video image information as a virtual image by use of an eyepiece optical system including a concave mirror having desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, where a liquid crystal display panel is used as a video image light source. The information display device has a liquid crystal display panel as a flat display forming video image information disposed therein, and includes a virtual image optical system including a member to be projected for displaying virtual images in front of a vehicle by making a video image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel reflect on the member to be projected. The virtual image optical system includes a concave mirror, and a reflective film of the concave mirror has desired reflection characteristics in a specific polarization direction, so that virtual images having uniform brightness and chromaticity can be obtained.
1. A head-up display device comprising:
a display element displaying video image information; and
a virtual image optical system displaying a virtual image in front of a vehicle as viewed from a driver's point of view by reflecting image light emitted from the display element on a glass of the vehicle,
wherein the virtual image optical system includes: a concave mirror disposed on an optical path of the image light and between the display element and the glass; and an optical element disposed on the optical path and between the display element and the concave mirror,
wherein the optical element is disposed such that each virtual image of a plurality of virtual images is established at a plurality of positions which include a distal position, an intermediate position and a proximal position as viewed from the driver's point of view, and such that light flux of the virtual image corresponding to the distal position, the intermediate position and the proximal position respectively differ in distance regarding the optical path passing therethrough, and
wherein the virtual image optical system further includes a cylinder mirror, disposed on the optical path, between the display element and the concave mirror, and behind the optical element.
2. The head-up display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the optical element includes: a first portion having a first thickness for establishing a first virtual image to be formed at the proximal position; a second portion having a second thickness for establishing a second virtual image to be formed at the intermediate position; and a third portion having no thickness for establishing a third virtual image to be formed at the distal position.
3. The head-up display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein, in the virtual image optical system, a first lens having a positive refractive power and a second lens having a negative refractive power are independently disposed in this order in a direction from the display element to the concave mirror, on the optical path, between the display element and the concave mirror, and behind the optical element.
4. The head-up display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the display element displays the video image information as a plurality of video image information on a plurality of divided regions or a plurality of display elements so as to correspond to the plurality of virtual images.
5. The head-up display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the head-up display device further detects a position of the driver's point of view, and corrects an image of the video image information on the display element such that distortion of the virtual image is corrected in accordance with the detected position of the driver's point of view.
6. The head-up display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the display element includes a light source including: a solid light source; an optical element reducing a divergence angle of diverging light from the solid light source; an optical member polarizing and converting the diverging light, the divergence angle of which is reduced by the optical element; and an illumination light source section allowing light in a desired polarization direction to be incident on the display element.
7. The head-up display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein a λ/4 plate is provided on a side of the virtual image optical system of the display element.
8. The head-up display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein an optical member reflecting an ultraviolet ray, an infrared ray, or both is provided on a side of the virtual image optical system of the display element.