Compact HUD Optical Layout With Polarized Beam Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-up display (HUD) systems face challenges in miniaturization and modularization, particularly with the use of LED collimators for converting light into parallel light, which limits their efficiency and suitability for incorporation into narrow vehicle dashboard spaces.
Innovation Solution
A head-up display apparatus is designed with a solid light source, a collimating optical system, a lighting optical system that polarizes and expands the light beam, and a concave mirror to project image light onto a windshield or combiner, featuring a compact and efficient image display apparatus configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional LED collimator is used to convert LED light into substantially parallel light, then the light can be converted to parallel light, but the apparatus size cannot be sufficiently minimized and modularization is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the collimating optical system and lighting optical system into a single integrated image display apparatus. The collimating optical system converts LED light into substantially parallel light, while the lighting optical system simultaneously polarizes and expands the light beam. This integration reduces the number of separate components and enables modularization, directly addressing the contradiction between minimizing apparatus size and managing optical system complexity.
2Area of stationary object
If the HUD apparatus is placed in a narrow dashboard space, then it can be installed in the vehicle, but the available space for optical components is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a concave mirror positioned opposite the image display apparatus on the optical axis to project the expanded and polarized light beam onto the windshield or combiner. This dimensional arrangement allows the optical components to be efficiently packed in the narrow dashboard space while maintaining the necessary optical path length, effectively utilizing the third dimension (depth) to resolve the space constraint contradiction.
3Area of moving object
If the light beam is expanded in width, then the display area increases, but the optical system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting optical system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it polarizes the light beam to control light direction and expands the beam width to increase display area. By combining these functions into a single optical system rather than using separate polarization and expansion components, the patent increases display area while minimizing the increase in optical system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enables a downsized, cost-effective HUD system that can be easily integrated into narrow spaces like vehicle dashboards, improving light utilization efficiency and display characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a collimating optical system converting, into substantially parallel light, light from the solid light source
Implementation Method 2
an optical member, the optical member polarizing a direction of a light beam generated by the collimating optical system
Implementation Method 3
a concave mirror reflecting the image light corrected by the optical system to project it onto the windshield or combiner
Data Source
AI summary
A HUD system and light source apparatus can be manufactured with miniaturization at low cost. A head-up display apparatus includes: an image display apparatus generating image light to be projected; an optical system performing predetermined correction to the image light emitted from the image display apparatus; and a concave mirror reflecting the image light corrected by the optical system to project it onto a windshield or combiner. The image display apparatus includes: a solid light source; a collimating optical system converting, into parallel light, the light from the solid light source; a lighting optical system configured by an optical member that polarizes a direction of a light beam generated by the collimating optical system and simultaneously expands a width of the light beam; and a display apparatus, the image display apparatus being configured to be arranged across and opposite the optical system on an optical axis of the concave mirror.