Curved HUD Display Compensation for User-Relative Viewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automotive heads-up displays (HUDs) have a limited field of view due to the crowded space around the steering column and the use of planar display units, preventing the installation of larger light-emitting surfaces that could provide a wider field of view.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that incorporates display curvature compensation based on the relative location of the user's eyes, using a curved display unit and an optical combiner to correct geometrical aberrations, allowing for a larger field of view and integration into vehicle dashboards, including support for light field display units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a planar display unit is used in conventional HUDs, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the field of view remains small (10×5 to 20×10 degrees) and cannot be enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature to the light-emitting surface of the display unit, transforming it from a planar to a curved geometry. This curved surface enables a larger field of view (20×20 to 60×25 degrees) by conforming to the dashboard's curved surface, while the system compensates for geometric aberrations through software processing of the display image before it is rendered on the curved surface.
2Area of moving object
If a larger light-emitting surface is installed to provide a large field of view, then the field of view increases (20×20 to 60×25 degrees), but the dashboard curvature prevents installation of such display units
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit's light-emitting surface is designed with curvature that matches the dashboard's curved surface, enabling installation in the limited space around the steering column. This curved geometry allows the display to conform to the dashboard contour while maintaining a large light-emitting surface area for an expanded field of view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the display unit by transitioning from a planar to a curved light-emitting surface. This parameter change enables the display to adapt to the dashboard's curvature constraints while maintaining large surface area for expanded field of view.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the space around the steering column is utilized for HUD installation, then the device can be integrated into the vehicle dashboard, but the available space is very crowded and limited
Solution Approach 1:
The curved light-emitting surface allows the display unit to conform to the crowded dashboard space around the steering column, maximizing utilization of the available installation area while maintaining dashboard integration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The display unit is designed to nest within the limited dashboard space, with the curved surface allowing it to fit into the contours of the crowded area around the steering column, effectively utilizing the available volume.
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
Enables a large field of view (20-60 degrees×25 degrees) for presenting virtual content, enhancing user experience with realistic and high-quality synthetic light fields that augment real-world views, and supports integration with various dashboard designs.
Implementation Method 1
The optical combiner is arranged on an optical path of the display unit and on an optical path of real-world light emanating from a real-world environment
Data Source
AI summary
Tracking means is utilised to determine a relative location of eyes of at least one user with respect to an optical combiner. The optical combiner is arranged on an optical path of a display unit and on an optical path of real-world light emanating from a real-world environment. A display image is generated, based on a curvature of a light-emitting surface of the display unit, a relative location of the optical combiner with respect to the display unit, and the relative location of the eyes of the at least one user with respect to the optical combiner. The display image is displayed via the display unit. The optical combiner is employed to reflect light emanating from the light-emitting surface of the display unit towards the eyes of the at least one user, whilst optically combining said light with the real-world light.