Curved Electronic Paper Head-Up Display for Distortion-Free HUD

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional head-up displays face challenges in maintaining image clarity on curved windshields due to distortion and high energy consumption, especially when brightness needs to be significantly higher than ambient light levels.

Innovation Solution

The use of an electronic paper display with a curved image-generating surface that compensates for distortion and operates in reflective or transmissive modes with reduced power consumption, utilizing light-emitting diodes and adjustable colorimetric loci for efficient image generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a conventional LCD display is used with high background lighting to achieve sufficient image brightness, then the image visibility is improved, but the energy consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage brightnessVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic paper display utilizes bistable technology where pixels maintain their state without continuous power supply. Image renewal occurs periodically only when content changes, rather than continuously refreshing like conventional LCDs. This periodic update mechanism dramatically reduces energy consumption while maintaining visible images

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from conventional LCD technology with typical 10% transmission to electronic paper display with at least 30% transmission (preferably at least 40%). This parameter change in light transmission efficiency allows the display to achieve sufficient brightness with significantly reduced backlight intensity and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If a planar display device is used for head-up display, then the device structure is simple, but image distortion occurs on curved windshields

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay structureVSAvoidimage distortion
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature to the image-generating surface of the electronic paper display to match the curved geometry of the windshield. This curvature compensation ensures that the projected image remains undistorted when viewed through the curved windowpane, solving the distortion problem without requiring complex optical correction systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Loss of information

If an electronic paper display with curved surface is used to compensate distortion, then image quality on curved surfaces is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage distortion compensationVSAvoiddisplay manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic paper display utilizes flexible substrate technology that allows the display surface to be curved without requiring complex rigid structural components. This flexibility enables the display to conform to curved windshields while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as flexible displays can be manufactured using standard flexible substrate processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution reduces energy consumption by up to 50% compared to conventional displays, maintains image clarity, and allows for distortion-free viewing on curved surfaces, even in bright environments and with polarized sunglasses.

Implementation Method 1

the radiation generated by the lighting source can be reflected or transmitted by the display device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

the radiation generated by the lighting source can be reflected or transmitted by the display device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransmission:

Implementation Method 3

the lighting source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight-emitting diode: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP2863115B1Head-up electronic-paper display system
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
  • EP2863115B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2863115B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2863115B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Head-up display system (10) having an image-generating display device (2) and an optical system (3) for deflecting the generated image onto a windowpane (100), wherein said display device (2) is an electronic paper display device. The image-generating display surface (20) can be adjustably curved, thereby compensating for the image distortion due to the windowpane (100).