CN113383262A - Glass vehicle roof with projected transparent screen - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle glazing and display system (1) comprising: vehicle composite glazing unit (10; 10 '; 10' ', 10' '')^iv) Comprising a layer or surface (12 a; 12 b; 14) and having a maximum gain in the range of 0.1 to 0.8, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6, and an intrinsic viewing angle a for real image elements generated within the glazing surface and/or the cover unit, which intrinsic viewing angle a is larger than 60 ° in a first direction and larger than 30 ° in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and at least two projectors (4) for projecting images onto the vehicle glazing unit or cover unit to generate real images in the plane of the glazing unit or cover unit, and wherein the vehicle composite glazingThe window unit (10; 10 '; 10' ', 10' '', 10 iv) is a glass ceiling.

Description

Glass vehicle roof with projected transparent screen

Technical Field

The present invention is in the field of displaying information on a glazing element or cover unit of a vehicle. More specifically, the invention is in the automotive field, but is not limited to this field, but may be implemented in buses, railway vehicles, boats, aircraft or other vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a vehicle glazing and display system comprising a vehicle composite glazing unit and a projector for projecting an image onto the glazing unit.

Background

In this field of technology, there are many patents or patent applications which are to some extent the background of the present invention.

US 7157133 discloses the basic concept of diffuse reflection with an embedded diffusing surface.

EP 2185966 discloses an element having a diffusing surface on which a reflective layer is deposited, entirely in an envelope (envelope) of the same refractive index as the diffusing element. This component is designated as a reflective working numerical aperture expander (numerical aperture expander) that appears functionally to be a diffuser and a transparent element in transmission. In this patent, the integration of such elements in a head-up display (HUD) projection system for generating a virtual image is mentioned.

US 8519362B 2 belonging to Saint-Gobain describes a HUD system assembled into a car (car). It is based on a laminated windscreen, wherein the HUD function comes from the layer of luminophore material. US 7230767B 2 describes a display system in a passenger glass pane (pane) that uses a light emitting material that projects an image to the driver. The image is a virtual image focused several meters from the eyes of the driver and from the windshield.

The preparation of HUD systems integrated into laminated glass panes is described in patent EP 2883693 owned by Saint-Gobain.

As regards the general concept of transparent glazing units with a certain degree of diffuse reflection, there are several patent publications by Saint-Gobain, such as EP 2670594, EP 2856256, EP 2856533, EP 2872328, EP 3063002, WO 2012104547, WO 2018015702 and FR 305417. In these patent documents it is inter alia disclosed that such diffusely reflecting glazing may comprise a rough inner surface and a coating provided thereon, and that such glazing may be used for OLED display solutions or for projection-based display solutions.

EP 3395908 a1 discloses a transmission type screen as a head-up display for automotive applications, wherein the screen is particle based.

In EP 3151062 a1, a video projection arrangement for integration into a vehicle window is presented, wherein the window comprises a reflective film applied on a surface having random irregularities.

JP 20169271 a discloses a video display system equipped with a detection device to detect movement of an observer, wherein the display system can be operated by the movement of the observer.

DE 102004051607 a1 discloses a device and a method for displaying digital images onto geometric and photometric non-trivial surfaces. In particular, this document discloses projecting an image onto a non-planar surface using one or more projectors. In particular, the projection method comprises a calibration with a camera connected to a control system adapted to control said one or more projectors for adjusting the projection of the image for each displayed pixel of the image.

In US 2014168608 a1, an image projection system for a road vehicle is disclosed which projects a moving picture on the inner surface of the vehicle. The area of the window glass of the vehicle can be changed from transparent to a screen for image projection by either a change in the properties of the window glass or by the image reflecting surface covering the area of the window glass.

In US 20190351654 a1, a light emitting display system is described which should display information on a wide area with a predetermined brightness. The light emitting display system includes a light emitting resin film including a thermoplastic resin and a light emitting material.

US 20100253594 a1 discloses a method to selectively project a graphical image on a transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle based on visual information present in a peripheral vision zone.

A head-up display device with a transmissive screen is disclosed in US 20180348512 a 1. The transmission type screen includes a first surface provided with a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses, and a second surface opposite to the first surface provided with a light diffusion surface.

CN 108312975 a discloses a vehicle having a sunroof as a display screen, wherein the sunroof comprises an electrochromic layer, and wherein two projection devices are embedded in a B-pillar of the vehicle. These projection devices may be flipped over from the corresponding B-pillars to project an image onto the skylight. The louver with the electrochromic layer can be switched from a transparent state with a visible light transmission of at least 70% to an opaque state with a visible light transmission of at most 8%. The opaque state is used within the projection mode. Thus, during projection, the exterior of the vehicle is not visible to the occupants.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle glazing and display system and corresponding vehicle composite glazing unit that are suitable for a wide range of applications in future mobile solutions. More specifically, it is an object to provide a system which makes it possible to display rich content to substantially all persons using the vehicle, or at least to all those persons sitting close to the respective glazing unit. Furthermore, there is a need for a solution that can be implemented largely on the basis of available technology and that is safe, reliable and cost-effective.

These and further objects are solved by a vehicle glazing and display system according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

A vehicle glazing and display system according to the invention comprises: a vehicle composite glazing unit comprising a layer or surface that diffusely reflects incident light directed to the glazing unit from the interior of the vehicle; and at least two projectors for projecting an image onto a vehicle glazing unit to generate a real image in the plane of the glazing unit. Optionally, the vehicle composite glazing unit may additionally comprise a cover unit. If this is the case, the image may additionally be projected onto the cover unit, and the vehicle composite glazing unit comprises a layer or surface that diffusely reflects incident light directed to the glazing unit from the interior of the cover unit, and the at least two projectors are for projecting the image onto the cover unit to generate a real image in the plane of the cover unit. The composite glazing unit is a glass roof of a vehicle. The cover unit may be a cover of a lining, in particular a lining comprising a plastic layer or a textile lining, for covering or screening a glass ceiling or a vehicle roof. The cover unit may comprise a textile curtain or a textile lining, in particular having a light color. Vehicle glazings with display systems exhibit a maximum gain (also referred to as peak gain) in the range 0.1 to 0.8, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6. A vehicle composite glazing unit comprises an inner glass or plastic pane, an outer glass or plastic pane, and a diffusely reflective plastic sheet laminated between the inner glass or plastic pane and the outer glass or plastic pane. The diffusely reflective sheet is an adhesive sheet or is embedded between two adhesive films or layers for bonding the inner glass or plastic pane to the outer glass or plastic pane. The intrinsic viewing angle α of the real image element generated in the plane of the glazing is greater than 40 °, preferably greater than 60 ° and more preferably greater than 70 ° or greater in a first direction, and greater than 20 °, preferably greater than 30 °, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. When these intrinsic viewing angles are used under standard environmental conditions within practical applications, an actual viewing angle of more than 60 °, preferably more than 90 ° and more preferably more than 120 ° or more in a first direction, and more than 30 °, preferably more than 45 ° in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction can be achieved. The actual viewing angle depends on both the lighting environment and the projector used. Nevertheless, the actual viewing angle is a common feature of screen specifications and may be determined for selected environmental conditions associated with a particular use case. For standard environmental conditions and projector specifications, the following values may be used:

exterior illuminance 2200 Lux (car exterior); interior illuminance 100 Lux (car interior); flux from projector 3500 lumens; projection surface: 16:9 screen, 9 ″ diagonal (20 cm wide); the actual viewing angle can then be extracted from the gain curve via a mathematical formula.

The actual viewing angle was studied based on the contrast of the screen. The contrast of the screen is generally defined as the luminance ratio between white and black pictures, wherein a minimum ratio of 4.5:1 (white picture: black picture) is considered necessary for information reading. Based on this, the actual viewing angle can be derived as the viewing angle θ within a position that achieves at least a minimum contrast of 4.5: 1.

The intrinsic viewing angle alpha of the projection screen is measured at the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the peak near the gain maximum, regardless of the value of the observation angle theta at the center of the peak. The θ =0 ° reference used for gain curve measurement corresponds to the specular reflection direction. Therefore, the intrinsic viewing angle α is a property of the screen and does not depend on the ambient brightness and projector specifications. Therefore, since the maximum value of the gain curve often occurs at θ =0 °, the intrinsic viewing angle can also be defined in this case as twice the observation angle θ at the gain curve position where the half-peak width (half maximum width) of the gain curve is achieved.

The viewing angle (intrinsic and actual) should be maximized because a large viewing angle is necessary to ensure that all passengers of the vehicle can clearly see the projected content at the same time (independent of the seat occupied by the individual). However, at a given total screen reflectivity, a compromise between high peak gain and large viewing angle must be found. Vehicle glazings according to the present invention provide such a good compromise between peak gain and viewing angle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transparent screen of the vehicle glazing has a maximum gain between 0.1 and 0.8 and an actual viewing angle in one direction of more than 60 ° and in the other direction of more than 30 °. Typically, actual viewing angle values between 120 ° and 150 ° in the horizontal plane and between 30 and 180 ° in the vertical plane are derived. Within the intrinsic angle definition, intrinsic viewing angles are derived which are more than 40 °, more preferably more than 60 °, even more preferably between 70 ° and 150 ° in the horizontal plane, and between 20 ° and 180 °, preferably between 30 ° and 180 ° in the vertical plane. The vertical and horizontal planes are defined in the assembled condition of the vehicle glazing in the body of a passenger car.

Due to the mentioned actual and inherent viewing angle, all occupants in the vehicle can see the display content when the projector is on. According to a further aspect of the invention, the displayed image is a real image. A real image differs from a virtual image in terms of the focal plane. For virtual images, the focal plane is at a distance from the projection screen, e.g. 1 meter or up to several meters. In contrast, for real images, the focal plane is close to the screen. In sections, the focal plane of the real image according to the invention has a maximum distance of 30 cm from the projection screen.

When the projector is off, the glazing is optically similar to a conventional glazing, maintaining transparency with slightly higher haze values. Typical haze values for such glazing, measured according to the standard ASTM D1003, are between 1% and 6%, preferably between 2.5% and 4.5%. Turbidity measures the fraction of transmitted light that deviates from a straight path at an angle of greater than 2.5 °. A high haze value corresponds to a loss of contrast of the image projected on the screen. In the given range of low haze values, good transparency of the screen is obtained.

According to a further preferred aspect, the reflective layer or surface within the glazing unit has a visible light transmission of greater than 60%, preferably 70% or greater (e.g. 80% or greater). These transmittance values (also called the global luminescence transmittance T)_L) Quantifying the ability of a reflective layer or surface to transmit light having a wavelength between 400 nm and 800 nm, which is the spectral range visible to the human eye. For those measurements, it is not necessary to distinguish between diffuse and non-diffuse light. Go toAs such, the technique according to the present invention is also applicable to a glass window requiring lower light transmittance. The screen ensemble (ensemble) of the present invention is intended for use in a glass ceiling for a vehicle, which typically comprises tinted glass or plastic parts and has a total transmission of visible light of less than 30%. This application is particularly interesting in connection with autonomous driving techniques. In this case, the ceiling may be used, for example, as an entertainment screen.

To measure the gain and determine the appropriate viewing angle of the transparent screen, the brightness of the screen must be measured with the viewing angle with the projector illuminating the screen at normal incidence (0 °). The brightness of an ideal screen (referred to as the lambertian reference for Spectralon) was measured under the same conditions. An ideal screen is defined as a screen whose brightness does not depend on the projection or viewing angle and whose reflectivity is 100%. A lambertian reference screen is a surface that perfectly follows the lambertian cosine law, which states that: the luminous intensity observed from an ideal diffusely reflecting surface is proportional to the cosine of the angle between the direction of the incident light and the surface normal. The human eye can only recognize brightness, which is a measure of the luminous intensity per unit area of light traveling in a given direction and describes the amount of light reflected from a particular area. Therefore, a lambertian surface with ideal diffuse reflection is seen by the human eye as exhibiting the same brightness and brightness (brightness) regardless of the observation angle at which it is observed. An ideal lambertian diffuser can be obtained experimentally with a commercially available reference material called "Spectralon" made of sintered Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). To retrieve the screen gain at each observation angle, a ratio between the screen brightness and the ideal screen brightness is calculated. The peak gain of the screen is the maximum gain value achievable by the screen. The maximum gain (also called peak gain) is often measured at 0 °, but some specially designed screens may have their maximum gain at other observation angles. It is noted that for a transparent screen, the values at 0 ° may not be measurable due to hot spots (specular reflection of the projector's light on the outer flat glazing surface), and are therefore extrapolated from the gain at small angles.

The preferred intrinsic viewing angle is defined in terms of gain as being within the full width half maximum of the gain curve (see fig. 2). This definition is an inherent definition. Gain represents the brightness of the projection screen relative to the brightness of an ideal screen (which is a perfect lambertian diffuser).

An alternative, more practical definition of viewing angle would be to define the actual viewing angle as one in which the contrast is below 4.5:1, but this definition depends on the viewing and lighting conditions and the projector. Thus, the intrinsic definition of viewing angle within the full width at half maximum of the gain curve is preferred. The gain curve may be determined as already described and has the shape of a gaussian curve, for example.

The inventors have detected that observation angles that are not just below half the intrinsic viewing angle (i.e., within the full width at half maximum of the gain curve) are suitable for practical applications of transparent screens. Sufficient observation results can be achieved at observation angles lower than half of the actual viewing angle in the range of 120 ° to 180 ° in the horizontal plane, preferably 120 ° to 150 ° in the horizontal plane, and 30 ° to 180 ° in the vertical plane.

To achieve sufficient contrast, the projector should have an output flux higher than 1000 lumens, better higher than 3000, ideally between 2000 and 10' 000. The optimum projector flux value must be selected depending on the environmental conditions.

The projection screen size may be large, depending on the projector brightness; position and screen gain and viewing angle. In operation of the system, typical image sizes are greater than 10 "(25 cm), typically between 10" (25 cm) and 60 "(152 cm), with between 30" (76 cm) and 50 "(127 cm) being preferred for a projector. Image size is measured as a diagonal dimension in inches, which is common in the field of screen technology. In the case where two or more projectors are used for a glass ceiling, the size of the glazing unit for displaying the image may be at least 1.5 m × 1.5 m, more preferably at least 2 m × 2 m, more preferably 2 m × 4 m. In the case of public transport, even sizes of about 2 to 4 m x 10 to 50 m are possible.

Since the available distance (projection distance) between the projector and the glazing in a direction orthogonal to the glass surface is typically between 2 cm and 60 cm, preferably between 7 cm and 40 cm, the preference is to use a short-throw (short-throw) projector. For short throw projectors, the throw ratio (size of the image/distance between the projector and the screen) is typically large. In short throw projectors, there is often folding optics (folding optics) so that the projector image can be displayed in a plane perpendicular to the output lens. The projector may be a projector having a conventional lamp, an LED, or a LASER as an illumination device.

In the present case, the projector is preferably arranged in or at a frame element, which is preferably arranged along a side edge of the ceiling. In an alternative embodiment, the projector may be arranged at a pillar of the vehicle body, in particular below a lining of such a pillar. To reduce the dazzling of the vehicle occupants, the projector is arranged along a side edge of the roof, which is substantially parallel to the driving direction of the vehicle. In an advantageous embodiment, the projectors are arranged along two side edges parallel to the driving direction of the vehicle. The system may include three, four, five, six, seven, eight or more projectors. In the case of an even number of projectors, the projectors are preferably arranged in pairs facing each other. In the case of an odd number of projectors, the projectors are preferably arranged alternately on one side and on the other side. In a preferred embodiment, the projectors are arranged evenly along the side edges to have equal distance between adjacent projectors.

The projector is preferentially connected with a projector control unit that controls the projector so that a combined image is displayed for the two or more projectors. In particular, the projector control unit comprises a camera for calibrating the combined image such that the single image appears to be projected. The projector control unit is likewise adapted to correct the projection of the image for the curvature of the ceiling. The projector control unit (in particular with a camera) may equally be adapted to calibrate the image projected onto the textured surface (in particular the cover unit with the textile lining).

The above-referenced generation of hot spots in glazing units can be suppressed to some extent by suitable arrangement of the respective (inner and outer) surfaces of the glazing unit and in particular the diffuse reflective sheet coating or surface, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the projectors are arranged such that possible hot spots are located above the frame in which the projectors are arranged. With this arrangement, possible generated hot spots are not visible from the seating position inside the vehicle. As an additional means for suppressing hot spots, at least one local blinder (blind) may be arranged in a suitably predefined position close to the output lens of the projector.

Additionally or alternatively, if the incident light at the glazing unit is polarized (in particular p-polarized), the incident light can be suppressed when the angle of incidence is close to brewster's angle.

The image projected on the transparent screen is due to diffuse reflection. The reflection of a glazing is defined as the diffuse reflection when incident radiation having a given angle of incidence on the glazing is reflected in multiple directions. Specular reflection occurs when incident radiation on a glazing with a given angle of incidence is reflected at an angle of reflection equal to the angle of incidence. Likewise, transmission is defined as specular when incident radiation having a given angle of incidence is transmitted at a transmission angle equal to the angle of incidence. However, in order to maintain transparency across the glass window, the inner and outer faces of the glass window are flat and therefore cause specular reflection from the projector beam. To achieve this experience, the light reaching the eyes of the vehicle occupants should be provided by "diffuse reflection" of the projected image on the glass. Specular reflections on the inner and outer faces of the glazing should be avoided. Specular reflections, also referred to as "hot spots," emit glaring light to an observer when directed at the observer. The direction of the hot spot can be obtained via the reflection law, which states that: the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incidence. In order to avoid glaring light being emitted to the observer through the hot spot, the hot spot and the viewing direction of all passengers of the vehicle preferably exhibit an angular distance of at least 5 °, more preferably at least 10 °, most preferably at least 20 °. With regard to the configuration of a vehicular composite glazing unit, according to a first aspect of the invention, the glazing unit comprises an inner glass or plastic pane, an outer glass or plastic pane, and a diffusely reflective plastic sheet laminated between the inner glass or plastic pane and the outer glass or plastic pane.

In embodiments of this aspect, the diffusely reflective sheet is an adhesive sheet or is embedded between two adhesive films or layers for bonding the inner glass or plastic pane to the outer glass or plastic pane.

According to another aspect of the invention, a glazing unit comprises an inner glass or plastic pane, an outer glass or plastic pane, and an adhesive film or layer for bonding the inner glass or plastic pane to the outer glass or plastic pane. Herein, the inner surface of the contact adhesive film or layer of the inner or outer glass or plastic pane, respectively, comprises a diffuse reflective coating or is treated to make the surface a diffuse reflector, for example by using textured glass. In other words, glass that is structured on one side can be laminated with a structured surface against flat glass (flat glass) by means of an adhesive film or layer. Thus, according to this aspect, rather than laminating a separate diffusely reflective sheet into the composite glazing unit, diffuse reflectivity is imparted on one of the base components of the glazing unit (i.e. on one of the glass (or plastic) panes). Due to the low number of necessary layers, the production costs and the number of production steps are reduced.

In embodiments according to both aspects, the diffuse reflective coating of the diffuse reflective plastic sheet or coated glass or plastic pane comprises nanoparticles or microparticles within a transparent substrate. More specifically, the nanoparticles or microparticles are silica or polymer or liquid crystal particles. Metal or metal oxide particles may also be used. More specifically, the nanoparticles or microparticles may have a spherical shape and/or be transparent or translucent.

Having a composition comprising titanium oxide TiO_xPlastic sheets with a diffuse reflective coating of particles or silver particles and plastic sheets with an organic diffuse reflective coating comprising cholesteric liquid crystals have proved to be particularly suitable for screen applications according to the invention. Most preferably, the diffusely reflective plastic sheet comprises liquid crystal particles aligned within a matrix.

In another embodiment, one surface of the diffusely reflective plastic sheet includes random nano-or microstructures, and particularly, the other surface is polished.

Preferably, the diffuse reflective plastic sheet comprises a Polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), triacetyl cellulose (TAC), or polycarbonate sheet. Such sheets are essentially commercially available or may be manufactured at the request of the manufacturer of the vehicle composite glazing unit, which is tailored to meet the specific optical requirements according to the invention.

From a manufacturing point of view, less material is needed, since the interlayer used for windshield lamination is responsible for transparency and does not require a specific planarization layer protected by a counter-film (counter-film).

Furthermore, for some texturing techniques (e.g., embossing), random textures may be selected such that the viewing angle is sufficiently large. The random texture of the transparent screen even has some statistical parameters (according to standard ISO 4287), wherein a good choice of these parameters (in particular the root mean square slope of the textured layer) enables the adjustment of the intrinsic viewing angle.

The use of a rough plastic film with a textured layer yields good values of clarity and haze on the one hand and gain on the other hand, compared to solutions where the particles are embedded in a transparent matrix. For particle embedding solutions, a compromise between those solutions is always necessary. Uncoated plastic sheets must be taken into account for index matching of the refractive index of the sheet. As described in WO 2012/104547, thin layers coated on the textured surface need to have different refractive indices to achieve reflective properties, but transparency is obtained as long as the outer layers (here plastic sheet and interlayer) have the same refractive index and all textured interfaces are parallel.

The diffuse reflection plastic sheet has the advantages that: they can be inserted only at screen locations and are therefore easier to adjust.

In an alternative embodiment, a rough glass sheet may be used instead of a rough plastic film. This has the advantages of: the glass sheets can be integrated in a standard lamination process.

The system of the invention brings significant advantages, at least in embodiments, which opens up a wide range of applications in future mobile concepts, including driver driven or autonomous cars, buses, trains or subway vehicles, boats, airplanes and helicopters.

Within the framework of this concept, users will require a wide range of information to be displayed to all of them (not just the driver) in a convenient and flexible way, and large-size displays implemented by means of the invention are very attractive in this respect. On the other hand, the glass window used for displaying the information is still completely transparent and may direct the projection of light to the outside of the vehicle-which may disturb outside persons or even be dangerous-outside the intended eye movement range of other road users.

The main application of the invention is to display content on glass in vehicles (also autonomous vehicles, buses, taxis, trains, tractors, airplanes). This can be used to provide information internally to the driver and vehicle occupants. We can also think of infotainment systems integrated into glass to enable use in mixed reality environments: this means that the eyes of the occupant will see an image of the external environment combined with the image projected on the glazing. This is some kind of "augmented reality".

In the same way, security information, travel information, entertainment, video-like (like video) and advertising may be shown on the glass pane. This can result in the use of the glazing surface of the vehicle as an advertising surface while maintaining transparency.

Some security features can be introduced by this technique: the images are surprisingly visible from both the interior and exterior of the vehicle, and may display some information to the interior or exterior user, depending on the need. It is to be noted that such an image visible from outside the vehicle corresponds to diffuse light and therefore does not give off dazzling light to other road users and is therefore not in contradiction to the requirements of the inventors. In the context of public transportation, we can think of information about routes, transportation purposes, next stops, final destinations on the windows of buses, trains, etc.

As such, the advertising industry would have a great interest in client targeting and context enhancement (context enhancement).

The present invention can be combined with other technologies such as, for example, HUD, any specific coating, Smart-WS, etc. It is possible to include this technology (transparent display in the glazing) in other more complex systems, such as integrating a camera for interaction with the vehicle occupants (e.g. skype conversation with the party projected on the glazing).

In the following, some preferred embodiments of the invention are described.

A vehicle glazing and display system comprising: a vehicle composite glazing unit comprising a layer or surface that diffusely reflects incident light directed to the glazing unit from the interior of the vehicle and having a maximum gain in the range 0.1 to 0.8, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6, and a viewing angle for real image elements generated within the glazing surface and/or the cover unit that is greater than 60 °, preferably greater than 90 °, and more preferably 120 ° or greater in a first direction and greater than 30 °, preferably greater than 45 °, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and at least two projectors for projecting an image onto a vehicle glazing unit or cover unit to generate a real image in the plane of the glazing unit or cover unit. The glazing surface of the glazing unit is a glass roof. In particular, the glass ceiling may be a curved or convex glass ceiling. Thus, the glazing surface may be planar or curved.

Preferably, the cover unit is arranged retractably below the glass ceiling, having: a retracted state in which the cover unit does not cover the vehicle composite glazing unit; and a covering state in which the cover unit covers the vehicle composite glass window unit. There may be an intermediate state between the retracted state and the covered state. The cover unit may be a conventional curtain (sunblind) for a glass ceiling.

Preferably, the glazing unit has a typical haze value in the range 1% to 6%, preferably between 2.5% and 4.5%, and/or the reflective layer or surface within the glazing unit has a visible light transmission of greater than 70%, preferably 80% or more.

Preferably, the vehicle glazing and display system is suitable as a heads-up overhead display HUD in a car, boat or airplane/helicopter.

Preferably, the vehicle glazing and display system further comprises a projector control unit connected to said at least two projectors, adapted to calibrate the projection of the image on a pixel basis. The projector control unit may comprise a camera.

Preferably, the projectors are adapted to be arranged at two opposite sides of the ceiling, in particular in a frame arranged at least partially in a circumferential direction under an outer area of the ceiling.

Preferably, the at least one partial camouflage is arranged close to the output lens of the projector such that hot spots are avoided in the glazing surface of the glazing unit.

Preferably, the projector is adapted to provide an output flux of at least 1,000 lumens, preferably 3000 lumens or more.

Preferably, the vehicle glazing and display system is adapted to generate, in its assembled state, a real image in the glazing surface having a horizontal extension of at least 25 cm, preferably between 40 cm and 60 cm.

Preferably, at least three projectors, preferably four projectors, preferably six or eight projectors are arranged in two rows along both longitudinal sides of the ceiling.

Preferably, the glazing unit comprises an inner glass or plastic pane, an outer glass or plastic pane, and a diffusely reflective plastic sheet laminated between the inner glass or plastic pane and the outer glass or plastic pane.

Preferably, the diffusely reflective sheet is an adhesive sheet or is embedded between two adhesive films or layers for bonding the inner glass or plastic pane to the outer glass or plastic pane.

Preferably, the glazing unit comprises an inner glass or plastic pane, an outer glass or plastic pane, and an adhesive film or layer for bonding the inner glass or plastic pane to the outer glass or plastic pane, wherein the inner surface of the inner or outer glass or plastic pane contacting the adhesive film or layer, respectively, comprises a diffuse reflective coating or is treated to render that surface a diffuse reflector.

Preferably, the diffuse reflective coating of the diffuse reflective plastic sheet or coated glass or plastic pane comprises nanoparticles or microparticles within a transparent substrate.

Preferably, the nanoparticles or microparticles are silica or polymer or liquid crystal particles.

Preferably, the nanoparticles or microparticles have a spherical shape and/or are transparent or translucent.

Preferably, one surface of the diffusely reflective plastic sheet includes random nano-or microstructures, and particularly, the other surface is polished.

Preferably, the diffusely reflective plastic sheet comprises a PE, PET, TAC, PVB, PMMA or polycarbonate sheet.

Preferably, the vehicle glazing and display system are integrated into a vehicle.

Drawings

Embodiments and aspects of the invention are illustrated in the drawings. Shown in the drawings are:

figure 1 is a schematic cross-section of a vehicle glazing and display system according to an embodiment of the invention,

figure 2 is a diagram for explaining the definition of the term "gain" in the context of the present invention,

figure 3 is a schematic view of a possible arrangement of a vehicle glazing and display system,

figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an embodiment of a vehicle composite glazing unit,

fig. 5A to 5E are schematic views of a vehicle glazing and a display unit.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary arrangement of a vehicle glazing and display system 1 in a passenger car 2 for projecting an image onto the glass roof 3 of the passenger car by means of a first projector 4a and a second projector 4b arranged in the frame of the vehicle (not shown). The glazing surface as depicted need not be a flat plane but may be curved in the depicted embodiment.

In an exemplary geometry, the projector may be a commercially available short throw projector having a brightness of 3500 lumens and a contrast ratio of 13' 000:1 and disposed inside the frame structure of the vehicle at or below the ceiling. The two projectors 4a, 4b are arranged facing each other. As seen from the rear, the first projector 4a is disposed on the left side of the vehicle. The second projector 4b is disposed on the right side of the vehicle. The first projector 4a projects mainly to the right side of the ceiling, wherein the second projector projects mainly to the left side of the ceiling. In the middle of the ceiling, the projections of the two projectors overlap. By calibrating these projectors, it is possible to present the image as a single image projected by both projectors. The images are shown as being visible to both a seated vehicle occupant 20a and a partially recumbent occupant 20b of the vehicle. In principle, any desired position of the vehicle seat, or the occupant 20 standing in the case of a public vehicle, is suitable for viewing images on a glass ceiling.

Exemplary structures of the glass ceiling 3 are: 2.1 mm clear glass (clear glass), thin PVB (0.38 mm), transparent diffuse reflection screen foil (0.045 mm), extremely thin PVB (0.05 mm), 2.1 mm green glass. The glass ceiling may have the following parameters:

transparency: more than 70% TL-A

And (3) measuring by a turbidimeter: light transmittance is 81.3%; turbidity 3.4% (measured according to standard ISO 14782); clarity 99.7% (measured with a haze meter HazeGuard Plus from Byk-Gardner)

The screen properties are as follows: the intrinsic viewing angle is 70 ° and the maximum gain is 0.27. In practice, the "available" actual viewing angle of ca 170 ° can be observed in the horizontal plane (see previous definitions of gain and viewing angle).

It is also possible to project the screen on only a portion of the glass pane using optical elements that directly control light from the source (projector) or change the characteristics of the projector. The invention may include the use of a darker interlayer foil or any darker element that will help increase contrast by reducing transmission while maintaining transparency.

The required brightness and the flux of light to be transmitted by the projector vary depending on the projection direction.

If the system must be integrated in an existing car, it is sometimes impossible to avoid hot spots due to packaging and space limitations, and it is therefore necessary to resort to other methods to avoid hot spots for the passengers.

Since hot spots are caused by specular reflection of light projected by the projector and reaching the eyes of the occupant, one way to eliminate hot spots is to disturb some of the light from the projector, for example placing an opaque non-reflective barrier that partially reduces or captures the projection surface on the glass. Hot spots can also be avoided by reducing the image size, so that the angular area where (hit) specular reflection can be encountered by an observer can be reduced.

In an embodiment, the elimination of hot spots is performed by identifying the hot spot locations of all occupants, and then placing a non-reflective optical surface (a piece of dark paper or a piece of dark material) between the projector and the portion of the glass ceiling where the hot spots occur.

Fig. 2 shows a diagram for explaining an important parameter "gain" with respect to a screen (e.g., the glass ceiling 3 in fig. 1), which is referred to for further explanation above. The gain measurement is performed using a luminance meter and a video projector. For a given angle of incidence of the projected light, the brightness was measured at various observation angles. The projection angle is set as close to 0 ° (orthogonal to the screen) as possible. When the projection angle is kept fixed, the gain depends only on the observation angle θ. Therefore, the luminance meter position is adjusted so that the luminance meter is aligned with the specular reflection when the observation angle is set to 0 ° in the horizontal plane; since the mirror direction is taken as a reference for the observation angle measurement, the observation angle is therefore indeed equal to 0 °. Brightness measurements (measured in the horizontal plane) are performed from 5 ° to 75 ° every five degrees in an unlit environment isolated from any light source other than the video projector. Spectralon measured under the same conditions was used to normalize the brightness measurements and extract the gain from them. The intrinsic viewing angle α can be derived from these measurements as the full width at half maximum of the gain curve and depicts an angular width that causes the gain to exceed half the peak gain.

Fig. 3 shows an exemplary arrangement of six projectors for a glass roof of a vehicle. Three of these projectors 4 are placed on the left side of the vehicle, below the ceiling, and the other three projectors 4 are placed on the opposite right side of the vehicle, below the glass ceiling within the vehicle interior. The projectors are arranged in pairs facing each other. The projector on the left side projects to the right side of the ceiling, wherein the projector on the right side projects on the left side of the ceiling. The projections of the projectors arranged facing each other overlap in the first region. The projections of the projectors arranged adjacent to each other at the same side overlap in the second area. All projectors are calibrated in this manner to form an image such that it appears to be a uniform image. For this calibration, the six projectors are connected to a projector control unit (not shown) which presents the projected images. The projector control unit may preferably comprise a camera or may be connected to a camera. Such a camera may be a mobile camera or may be adapted to be mounted facing a glass ceiling. An image generated by a projector in the glazing surface of a vehicle composite glazing unit 10 integrated in the ceiling is shown and designated by the numeral 6.

The image projected on the transparent screen is due to diffuse reflection. However, in order to maintain transparency across the glazing, the inner face (face IV) and outer face (face I) of the glazing are smooth and therefore cause specular reflection from the projector beam. In this context, a smooth surface is a surface without 3-dimensional structuring. Of course, the outer and inner panes exhibit a 3-dimensional curvature as is typical for a ceiling. To achieve this experience, the light reaching the eyes of the vehicle occupants should be given by "diffuse reflection" of the projected image on the glass, and specular reflection (on the inside and outside of the glazing) should be avoided. Depending on the embodiment of the transparent screen, the inner faces (face II and face III) of the glazing may be textured or smooth, wherein the smooth surface induces specular reflection and the structured surface causes diffuse reflection, which is explained in more detail in fig. 5A to 5E.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary placement of two projectors 4 with respect to a ceiling. The first projector 4a of the projectors 4 is placed on the left side of the figure, which is also assumed to be the left side of the vehicle in the driving direction. The projector 4a is arranged at the edge of the ceiling with the projection direction mainly towards the middle and the right side of the ceiling. The light beam emitted from the projector 4a is transmitted through the inner face of the glazing and the display unit and may be slightly deviated in its direction by entering the first layer of the glazing and the display unit, which is in particular the inner glass. Continuing on to the glazing layer where the light beam is reflected. The glass layer has a structured surface with various local surface normals. The light beam of projector 4a is reflected towards the eyes of the occupant 20 at a point of the glazing layer having a local surface normal NL 2. The second projector 4b of the projectors 4 is placed on the right side of the figure, which is also assumed to be the right side of the vehicle in the driving direction. The light beam emitted from the projector 4b is transmitted through the inner face of the glazing and display unit 10 and may be slightly deviated in its direction by entering the first layer of the glazing and display unit 10 (which is in particular the inner glass). Continuing on to the glazing layer where the light beam is reflected. The light beam of projector 4b is reflected towards the eyes of the occupant 20 at a point of the glazing layer having a local surface normal NL 1.

Fig. 5A-5E illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle composite glazing unit (or a laminated glazing unit) according to the present invention.

Fig. 5A shows a glazing unit 10 of substantially conventional construction, i.e. consisting of an inner pane of glass 11 and an outer pane of glass 12 bonded together by means of a thermoplastic interlayer 13, preferably a thin sheet of PVB. The outer glass pane 12 includes an outer surface (also denoted as face I) and an inner surface (also denoted as face II). The outer glass may be transparent glass or colored glass, and the inner glass may be transparent glass or colored glass. The inner glass pane 11 also comprises an inner surface (face III) and an outer surface (face IV). The inner surface of the outer glass pane 12 (face II) and the inner surface of the inner glass pane 11 (face III) are bound to each other by a thermoplastic interlayer 13. The inner surface 12a (face II) of the outer glass pane 12 comprises random nano-or microstructures, respectively, which are adapted to provide viewing angles and sufficient diffuse reflection according to the description of the present invention while maintaining a sufficiently high transmittance. The structured inner surface 12a is provided with a thin reflective coating (not shown). Index matching of the refractive indices between the glass and the interlayer is necessary in order to achieve high transparency of the glazing. The two dielectric materials should have substantially the same refractive index, or their refractive indices should be substantially equal, which is defined as the absolute value of the difference between their refractive indices at 550 nm being less than or equal to 0.15. Preferably, the absolute value of the difference in refractive index at 550 nm between the constituent materials of the two layers is less than 0.05, more preferably less than 0.015. This applies not only to the particular embodiment of fig. 5A with PVB as the interlayer and the structured glass surface as the diffusing layer, but also to other embodiments similar thereto.

Fig. 5B shows a glazing unit 10' corresponding to a conventional laminated glazing unit comprising an inner glass pane 11 and an outer glass pane 12, and an interlayer joining the glass panes 11, 12 together. However, unlike the arrangement of fig. 5A, the intermediate layer 13 is a multilayer including: a first thermoplastic interlayer 13.1 (preferably a PVB sheet) and a second thermoplastic interlayer 13.2 (preferably a PVB sheet), and a diffusely reflective sheet 14, such as PET or PMMA, embedded between the two thermoplastic interlayers (PVB sheets).

The reflectivity of the sheet 14 is due to transparent or translucent nanoparticles or microparticles randomly distributed in the material of the sheet. These may be, for example, silica or glass beads or polymer or liquid crystal particles. In a modified embodiment, the sheet 14 may be a transparent sheet, but one surface thereof is provided with nano-or microstructures, similar to the surface 12a of the outer glass pane 12 in fig. 5A, and is also coated with a thin reflective coating as mentioned for the surface 12 a.

Fig. 5C shows a further exemplary laminated glazing unit 10 ″ comprising an inner glass pane 11 and an outer glass 12 laminated to each other by means of a thin PVB sheet as a thermoplastic interlayer 13. In this example, the inner surface 12a of the outer glass pane 12 has a diffuse reflective coating 12 b. Such a coating may comprise nanoparticles or microparticles as mentioned above with respect to fig. 5B in a transparent matrix.

Fig. 5D shows a further exemplary laminated glazing unit 10 "', comprising an inner glass pane 11 and an outer glass 12 bonded together by means of a thermoplastic interlayer 13, preferably a thin PVB sheet. The thin reflective coating at the inner surface 12a is depicted as layer 15, in comparison to 5 a. Layer 15 may be a metal coating.

FIG. 5E shows a further exemplary glazing unit 10^ivWhich corresponds to a conventional laminated glazing unit comprising an inner glass pane 11 and an outer glass pane 12, and an interlayer joining the glass panes 11, 12 together. The inner glass pane 11 and the outer glass pane 12 may be clear glass or tinted glass. As in fig. 5B, the intermediate layer 13 is a multilayer including: a first thermoplastic interlayer 13.1 (preferably a PVB sheet) and a second thermoplastic interlayer 13.2 (preferably a PVB sheet), and a diffusely reflective sheet 14, such as PET or PMMA, embedded between the two thermoplastic interlayers (PVB sheets). The diffuse reflective sheet 14 has a structured outer surface that is coated with a thin reflective coating 15. The second thermoplastic interlayer 13.2 has a structured inner surface adhered to the reflective coating 15.

Reference numerals

Vehicle glazing and display system

2 vehicle

3 ceiling

4. 4a, 4b projector

6 images on glazing units

10；10’；10’’、10’’、10^ivVehicle composite glazing unit

11 inner glass pane

12 outer glass pane

12a inner surface of outer glass pane

12b coating on outer glass pane

13; 13.1, 13.2 thermoplastic interlayer (preferably, PVB sheet)

14 diffuse reflection sheet

15 reflective coating

20. 20a, 20b occupant

Claims (13)

1. A vehicle glazing and display system (1) comprising: vehicle composite glazing unit (10; 10 '; 10' ', 10' '')^iv) Comprising at least one layer or surface (12 a; 12 b; 14) and having a maximum gain in the range of 0.1 to 0.8, preferably between 0.3 and 0.6, and an intrinsic viewing angle a for real image elements generated within the glazing surface, optionally the cover unit, which is greater than 60 ° in a first direction and greater than 30 ° in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and at least two projectors (4, 4a, 4 b) for projecting images to the vehicle glazing unit or the cover unit to generate real images in the plane of the glazing unit or the cover unit, and wherein the vehicle composite glazing unit (10; 10 '; 10' ', 10' '') 10^iv) Is a glass roof, wherein the vehicle composite glazing unit (10; 10'; 10', 10 ″^iv) Comprising an inner glass or plastic pane (11), an outer glass or plastic pane (12), and a diffusely reflective plastic sheet (14) laminated between the inner glass or plastic pane and the outer glass or plastic pane, and wherein the diffusely reflective sheet (14) is an adhesive sheet or is embedded between two adhesive films (13.1, 13.2) or layers for bonding the inner glass or plastic pane (11) to the outer glass or plastic pane (12).

2. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a projector control unit connected to said at least two projectors and adapted to calibrate the projection of said image on a pixel basis.

3. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least two projectors (4, 4a, 4 b) are adapted to be arranged at opposite sides of the roof (3).

4. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the projected distance as given by the direction orthogonal to the glass surface is between 2 cm and 60 cm.

5. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least three projectors (4), preferably four projectors (4), preferably six or eight projectors (4) are arranged in two rows along both longitudinal sides of the roof glazing surface.

6. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the projector (4) is adapted to provide an output flux of at least 1000 lumens, preferably 3000 lumens or more.

7. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, adapted to generate in its assembled state a real image in the glazing surface having a horizontal extension of at least 25 cm, preferably between 40 cm and 60 cm.

8. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, the glazing unit comprising an inner glass or plastic pane (11), an outer glass or plastic pane (12), and an adhesive film (13) or layer for bonding the inner glass or plastic pane to the outer glass or plastic pane, wherein the inner surface (12 a) of the inner or outer glass or plastic pane contacting the adhesive film or layer comprises a diffuse reflective coating (12 b) or is treated to make the surface a diffuse reflector, respectively.

9. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle composite glazing unit (10; 10';10’’、10’’’、10^iv) Comprising a diffusely reflective plastic sheet (14) comprising nano-or microparticles within a transparent substrate, or wherein the inner surface (12 a) of the inner or outer glass or plastic pane contacting the adhesive film or layer comprises a diffusely reflective coating (12 b), respectively, and the coated glass or plastic pane (12) comprises nano-or microparticles within a transparent substrate.

10. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to claim 9, wherein the nano-or microparticles are silica or polymer or liquid crystal particles.

11. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to claim 10, wherein the nano-or microparticles have a spherical shape and/or are transparent or translucent.

12. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one surface of the diffusely reflective plastic sheet (14) comprises random nano-or microstructures, and in particular the other surface is polished.

13. Vehicle glazing and display system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the diffusely reflective plastic sheet (14) comprises a PE, PET, TAC, PVB, PMMA or polycarbonate sheet.

Images