JPH04220689A - Dimmer type head up display - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain good visibility in a back light condition where solar beam is dazzling as well as in a bright snow path by forming a display screen out of sheet-like article having photochromic character. CONSTITUTION:A display screen 4 of a dimmer type head up display for displaying the information displayed by irradiating a light source 2 for display on a display screen 4 provided on a front glass 5, by means of image formation in the front sight of a driver, is formed out of sheet-like article having photochromic character. A photochromic compound is included in the sheet-like article, and either organic or inorganic photochromic compound can be applied. The display screen 4 can be colored by ultraviolet, and the contrast of the information displayed can thus be increased.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a head-up display with improved visibility.

0002

[Prior art] Head-up display (hereinafter referred to as HU)
D) is a device that allows the pilot to check necessary information in the cockpit of an airplane, for example, without the pilot having to turn his/her line of sight from the flight direction to the dashboard. ) and US Pat. No. 421,811 (1980) are known.

In a HUD, the visibility of information displayed on the inside of the windshield is closely related to the brightness of the scenery ahead while driving, and with conventional HUDs, this is difficult to see when driving at night or on cloudy days. The visibility of the information is good and there are no problems, but on sunny days, especially when driving in conditions with bright visibility such as snowy scenery, the contrast between the information displayed on this display screen and the background may be insufficient. There was a major problem with driving due to poor visibility.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention attempts to solve this problem, and aims to provide a dimmable head-up display that has good visibility even in bright conditions. .

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has the following configuration to achieve the above object.

[0006] In a dimmable head-up display that displays information by illuminating a display screen provided on the windshield with a display light source and forming an image in the driver's forward field of vision, the display screen is A dimmable head-up display comprising a sheet-like article having photochromic properties.'' The display light source used in the present invention is a display screen provided on the windshield that displays information necessary during driving. Any type of light source can be used as long as it can be displayed; for example, a light source with spectral characteristics of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, or various polarizing means can be used to make the displayed image appear double. A variety of conventional mechanisms can be used, such as a light source that prevents this.

[0007] In the present invention, since the display screen is made of a sheet-like article having photochromic properties, it can be colored by ultraviolet light, making it possible to increase the contrast of displayed information.

The sheet-shaped article having photochromic properties used in the present invention is a sheet-shaped article containing a compound having photochromic properties (hereinafter referred to as a photochromic compound), and photochromic compounds include organic and inorganic compounds. Various types of the above are applicable and are appropriately selected depending on the specifications and required characteristics of the HUD device.

As the inorganic photochromic compound, conventionally known ones are widely used, and for example, silver halide is preferably used. On the other hand, the organic photochromic compound is not particularly limited, and examples include spirooxazine, spiropyran, diallylethene, viologen, stilbene, fulgide, azobenzene, salicylideneaniline, and triarylmethane. Among these, spirooxazines are particularly excellent in terms of color density and durability, and are therefore preferably used.

[0010] As a sheet-like article having photochromic properties, even if it is a sheet-like article consisting of a single layer containing a photochromic compound, a composition containing a photochromic compound is coated on a base material such as a film. , a layer containing a photochromic compound (hereinafter referred to as
It may also be an article made of a base material having a photochromic layer (referred to as a photochromic layer), and both are included in the sheet-like article having photochromic properties in the present invention.

[0011] Examples of the above-mentioned sheet-like article using an inorganic photochromic compound include a sheet-like article in which a photochromic compound is melted and dispersed in glass, or a sheet-like article in which a photochromic compound is melted and dispersed in glass and made into fine particles. Examples include sheet-like articles in which a film or the like is coated with these fine particles using an organic binder.

[0012] Furthermore, as an organic photochromic layer,
It is possible to use a polymer in which the organic photochromic compound is simply monodispersed, or a polymer in which the organic photochromic compound is contained in the polymer through a covalent bond.

[0013] Simply monodispersing the organic photochromic compound in the polymer is useful because it allows the easy production of an organic photochromic compound-containing polymer. Examples of polymers that can be used to disperse the organic photochromic compound include styrene resins, acrylic resins, vinyl resins, polyester resins, urethane resins, epoxy resins, polyamide resins, and cellulose derivatives. These include, but are not limited to. These polymers may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0014] Furthermore, the method of incorporating an organic photochromic compound, particularly a spirooxazine type photochromic compound with excellent properties, into a polymer by covalent bonding allows the addition amount of the photochromic compound to be increased, which increases the color density. Moreover, it is particularly suitable in that it is possible to prevent the photochromic compound from bleeding out from the photochromic material and to improve the light resistance.

As a method for making the covalent bond, a method using vinyl polymerization is advantageous in terms of the performance and manufacturing cost of the sheet-like article.

For vinyl polymerization, spirooxazine compounds provided with a polymerizable unsaturated functional group are preferably used. Such compounds include, but are not limited to, 1-(meth)acryloxyethyl-3,3-
Dimethylindolinospironaphthoxazine, 1-(meth)acrylamidoethyl-3,3-dimethylindolinospironaphthoxazine, 1,3,3-trimethyl-
9′-(meth)acryloxyindolinospironaphthoxazine, 1,3,3-trimethyl-5′-(meth)acryloxymethylindolinospironaphthoxazine,
Examples include 1,3,3-trimethyl-9'-vinylbenzoyloxyindolinospironaphthoxazine.

Further, as a preferable example of the spirooxazine compound having a polymerizable functional group, the following general formula (A
) can be mentioned.

[0018]

[Chemical formula 1]

(In the formula, α ring is a five- or six-membered ring containing one nitrogen atom, or a five- or six-membered ring containing one nitrogen atom connected to a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, or pyridine ring. It is one type selected from rings, and the nitrogen atom in the α ring exists bonded to the organic group R1.

Here, R1 represents a substituent selected from an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms.

R2 is an amino group having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aralkoxy group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or an aryloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms.
20 acyloxy groups, alkyl groups having 1 to 20 carbon atoms,
It represents a substituent selected from an aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms and an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and having at least one addition-polymerizable functional group.

R3 is hydrogen, an amino group having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aralkoxy group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or an acyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. group, alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and 6 to 20 carbon atoms
Represents a substituent selected from 20 aryl groups.

[0023] The β ring is selected from a hydrocarbon ring including an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon ring having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon ring having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, and a heteroaromatic ring having 3 to 16 carbon atoms. It is one of a kind.

[0024] X represents O or S. ) General formula (A)
In the spirooxazine compound represented by, the α ring is a five-membered or six-membered ring containing one nitrogen atom, and
1 selected from a five-membered ring or a six-membered ring containing one nitrogen atom connected to a benzene ring, naphthalene ring, or pyridine ring
It is a seed. Specific examples thereof include pyrrolidine ring, pyrrole ring, piperidine ring, tetrahydropyridine ring, dihydropyridine ring, indoline ring, benzindoline ring, tetrahydroquinoline ring, acridine ring, benzothiazoline ring, benzoxazoline ring, and pyridopyrrolidine ring. Can be mentioned.

The nitrogen atom contained in this α ring is an organic group R
It exists in combination with 1. R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms;
represents a substituent selected from 20 aralkyl groups and aryl groups having 6 to 20 carbon atoms. As a specific example of R1,
Chain alkyl groups such as methyl, ethyl, and octadecyl groups, branched alkyl groups such as isopropyl and 2-methylpentyl groups, cycloalkyl groups such as cyclohexyl, norbornyl, and adamantyl groups, vinyl groups, and allyl groups. , isopropenyl group, alkenyl group such as 1,3-butadienyl group, aralkyl group such as benzyl group, phenethyl group, (2-naphthyl)methyl group, phenyl group, 1
-Aryl groups such as naphthyl groups are mentioned.

When R1 is substituted, specific examples of the substituent include a hydroxy group; an amino group such as an amino group, a dibenzylamino group, and a (2-methacryloxyethyl) amino group; a methoxy group, a tert-butoxy group; alkoxy groups such as benzyloxy groups and phenethyloxy groups; aryloxy groups such as phenoxy groups and 2-naphthyloxy groups; acyloxy groups such as acetoxy groups, benzyloxy groups, and methacryloxy groups; N-phenylcarbamoyloxy groups, N- Carbamoyloxy groups such as (2-methacryloxyethyl)carbamoyloxy; alkyl groups such as methyl, trifluoromethyl, and glycidyl; aralkyl groups such as benzyl and phenethyl; phenyl and 1-naphthyl groups; Aryl group; halogen group such as chloro group, bromo group; cyano group;
Carboxylic acid groups such as carboxylic acid groups, sodium carboxylic acid groups, ethoxycarbonyl groups, (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino)oxycarboxy groups; nitro groups; acyl groups such as acrylic groups and methacryl groups; Examples include carbamoyl groups such as N-methylcarbamoyl groups; sulfonic acid groups such as sodium sulfonate groups and sulfonic acid groups; and sulfamoyl groups.

When the α ring is substituted, preferred examples of the substituent include the same substituents as those for R1.

R2 is an amino group having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aralkoxy group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or an aryloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. Acyloxy group, alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and 6 carbon atoms
A substituent selected from ~20 aryl groups, such as hydrogen; amino group, piperidino group, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroisoquinolyl group,
Amino groups such as diethylamino group and (2-methacryloxyethyl)amino group; Alkoxy groups such as methoxy group and tert-butoxy group; aralkoxy groups such as benzyloxy group and phenethyloxy group; aryloxy groups such as phenoxy group and 2-naphthyloxy group ;Acyloxy groups such as acetoxy groups, benzyloxy groups, methacryloxy groups;
Examples include alkyl groups such as methyl group and trifluoromethyl group; aralkyl groups such as benzyl group and phenethyl group; and aryl groups such as phenyl group and 1-naphthyl group. It is necessary that at least one group is included.

Examples of the addition polymerizable functional group contained in R2 include radical polymerizable functional groups and ring-opening polymerizable functional groups. Specific examples include acrylic groups,
Acryloxy group, acrylamide group, methacryloxy group, N-(2-methacryloxyethyl) carbomoyloxy group, p-vinylbenzyl group, 3,4-epoxybutyl group, 4-acryloxypiperidino group, 4 -methacryloxypiperidino group, 4,4-dimethacryloxypiperidino group, 3-[N-(2-methacryloxyethyl)carbamoyloxy]piperidino group, 2-methacryloxymethylpiperidino group, 2- methacryloxyethyl group, 2-glycidyloxyethoxy group, 3-allyloxypiperidino group, 4-methacrylpiperazino group,
Examples include 4-(2-methacryloxyethyl)piperazino group.

R3 is hydrogen, an amino group having 0 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, an aralkoxy group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms, or an acyloxy group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms. group, alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, aralkyl group having 7 to 20 carbon atoms, and 6 to 20 carbon atoms
Represents a substituent selected from 20 aryl groups.

On the other hand, the β ring is a hydrocarbon ring containing an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon ring having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon ring having 6 to 18 carbon atoms, or a heteroaromatic ring having 3 to 16 carbon atoms. This is the type of choice. A hydrocarbon ring containing an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon ring having 4 to 10 carbon atoms refers to an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon ring having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, or an aromatic ring and an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon ring connected to each other. and means a hydrocarbon ring having 4 to 10 carbon atoms.

Specific examples of the β ring include a cyclohexene ring, a cyclooctene ring, a cyclooctadiene ring, a cyclodecene ring, a norbornene ring, a bicyclo[2,2,2-]octene ring, a dihydronaphthalene ring, a benzene ring, and a naphthalene ring. , anthracene ring, phenanthrene ring, quinoline ring, dibenzofuran ring, dibenzonaphthothiophene ring,
Examples include a benzofuran ring, an indole ring, a pyridine ring, and a pyrimidine ring. Furthermore, in general formula (A), X
represents O or S.

[0033] Similarly, as a copolymerizable component with the photochromic compound having a polymerizable unsaturated functional group, a monomer having a vinyl group is preferable. Specific examples of such monomers include styrene, styrene derivatives, (
meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid hydroxyalkyl ester, (meth)acrylic acid,
(meth)acrylamide, alkyl-substituted (meth)acrylamide, N-substituted maleimide, maleic anhydride, (meth)acrylonitrile, methyl vinyl ketone, vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride, divinylbenzene, ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, and other polyfunctional (meta)
Examples include acrylic ester compounds.

The content of the photochromic compound contained in the polymer forming the photochromic layer of the present invention should be determined depending on the type of photochromic compound used, the characteristics of the designed HUD device, etc. Usually, it is preferably used in a range of 0.5 wt% to 50 wt%.

[0035] In the formation of the photochromic layer in the present invention, the solvent for the photochromic polymer used when coating the photochromic polymer on a substrate such as a film includes methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and n-butyl. Alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, tertiary butyl alcohol and other alcohol solvents; methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, isopropyl cellosolve, butyl cellosolve, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and other glycol ether solvents; ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate and other ester solvents , aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents such as normal hexane, normal heptane, and normal octane, alicyclic hydrocarbon solvents such as cyclohexane and ethylcyclohexane, petroleum solvents such as mineral spirit, and ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and methyl isobutyl ketone. Examples include various solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbon solvents such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, and these can be used alone or in combination.

[0036] The solid content concentration in the solution used for coating the photochromic polymer varies depending on the applied coating method and coating conditions, but ranges from 5 wt% to 50 wt%.
A range of % is preferred.

Coating methods for photochromic polymers include the commonly used dipping method, spraying method, roller coating method, flow coating method, offset printing method, and screen printing method. A roller coating method is preferably used from the viewpoint of expected productivity. The thickness of such a photochromic layer is determined by the type of photochromic layer used and the characteristics required for the HUD device, but is usually from 2 μm to 50 μm.
It is preferably used within the range of .

Furthermore, in order to further improve the photochromic light resistance of the dimming head-up display of the present invention, it is effective to use a copolymerizable light stabilizer in the photochromic layer. For example, (meth)acrylate having ultraviolet absorbing ability and (meth)acrylate having a dimethylamino group, more preferably 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl (meth)acrylate having a hindered amino group. , 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl (meth)acrylate and the like are preferably copolymerized with the photochromic compound.

Furthermore, in order to further improve the durability and product characteristics of these photochromic layers, it is preferable to crosslink the photochromic polymer, and for crosslinking, various known crosslinking agents and crosslinking accelerators can be used. Examples include epoxy resins, melamine resins, urea resins, polybasic acid anhydrides, amino resins and their complexes, metal chlorides, metal complexes, isocyanate compounds, polyfunctional mercapto compounds, and imidazole compounds. The photochromic layer of the present invention is usually obtained by heating and drying a liquid composition.
This is carried out by a generally known method.

In the present invention, as the base material of the sheet-like article, a film, glass, an interlayer film made of polyvinyl butyrate, etc. are used, and the material of the film is polyester, PPS, polypropylene, polyethylene,
Polyvinyl chloride, acetate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, nylon, and the like are preferably used, and polyester film is particularly preferably used from the viewpoint of durability and transparency.

[0041] The sheet-like article having photochromic properties of the present invention may be provided on the inside of the windshield, or in the middle layer if the windshield is made of laminated glass. It is also possible. When used as an intermediate layer of laminated glass, the ultraviolet rays of sunlight tend to be absorbed and the coloring density tends to decrease due to the influence of the ultraviolet absorber generally blended into the intermediate layer of laminated glass. Therefore, as a photochromic compound, it is more preferable that the sensitive wavelength band is on the longer wavelength side than the absorption band of the ultraviolet absorber for the purpose of improving the coloring density. Examples of compounds on the longer wavelength side include:

The sheet-like article of the present invention can also be used as a sheet with a two-layer structure in which a base film is simply coated with a photochromic polymer, but in order to further improve light resistance and durability, this photochromic layer A three-layer structure in which the protective film is further covered with a protective film is preferably used. Preferred methods for attaching this sheet-like article to the windshield include pasting with an adhesive and fixing with an attachment frame, but are not particularly limited to these.

[0043]

EXAMPLES Examples are shown below to clarify the gist of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 (1) Polymerization of photochromic polymer 30 parts by weight of n-butyl methacrylate, 30 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate, 30 parts by weight of lauryl methacrylate, 1,3,3-
Trimethyl-4,7-dichloro-2'-[4-methacryloylxy-1-piperidyl)spiro[indoline-
2,3'-[3H]-naphtho[2,1-6](1,4
) Oxazine] 10 parts by weight of monomers consisting of four types, 1 part by weight of azobisdimethylvaleronitrile, 100 parts by weight of initiator
Polymerization temperature 70° C. for 10 hours in toluene as parts by weight,
Polymerization was carried out under nitrogen atmosphere.

(2) Preparation of sheet-like article The obtained photochromic polymer solution was diluted to a solid content concentration of 30 wt% with a diluted solution of toluene/xylene/butyl cellosolve=1/1/1 (weight ratio). This diluted photochromic polymer solution was treated with “Lumirror” 10 to facilitate adhesion.
0-976 (manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc., 100 μm thick) using bar coater #24, and then dried at 100° C. for 3 minutes. On the other hand, "SK Dyne" (adhesive) manufactured by Souken Kagaku Co., Ltd. was applied to the back side of "Lumirror" (60 μm thick), which had previously been provided with a reflection increasing film by vacuum evaporation of aluminum. A sheet-like article of the present invention was produced by laminating a photochromic layer.

(3) As shown in FIG. 1, the obtained sheet-like article was pasted on the inside of an automobile windshield with the reflection-increasing film surface facing the driver to form a HUD device for an automobile. HUD in Figure 1
In the device, an electronic shutter LCD 1 that displays information, a light source 2 that illuminates the electronic shutter LCD 1 from the back side, and an electronic shutter LCD 1 are provided in the dashboard.
An optical system 3 for enlarging the displayed image is provided, and a display screen 4 is adhered to the inner surface of a windshield 5.

When the display screen was irradiated with sunlight on a clear day, it was colored red and exhibited a transmittance of 55%. Furthermore, as a result of conducting an actual vehicle test by illuminating this display screen with a display light source, good contrast was obtained, and sufficient visibility was confirmed even when driving in backlit conditions.

Comparative Example 1 In Example 1, as a component of the photochromic layer,
1,3,3-trimethyl-4,7-dichloro-2' -
[4-Methacryloylxy-1-piperidyl) Spiro [
Indoline-2,3'-[3H]-naphtho[2,1-
A HUD device was formed in exactly the same manner except that only 6](1,4)oxazine] was removed.

As a result, although almost good contrast could be obtained during normal driving, good visibility could not be obtained when driving in backlight conditions or in clear snowy scenery.

[0050]

As described above, according to the head-up display of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the visibility of information necessary for driving even in backlit conditions where the sun's rays are strong and dazzling and on bright snowy roads.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a HUD formed in Example 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1...Electronic shutter LCD, 2...Light source, 3...Optical system, 4
...display screen, 5...windshield

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1. A dimmable head-up display that displays information displayed by illuminating a display screen provided on a windshield with a display light source, forming an image in the driver's forward field of vision, wherein the display screen A dimmable head-up display comprising a sheet-like article having photochromic properties.