Dynamic Concave Mirror HUD for Driver Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Head-Up Display (HUD) devices for vehicles face challenges in minimizing volume while maintaining a large view box, as increasing the size of the virtual image requires a larger concave mirror, which increases the device's volume, and reducing the mirror size compromises the driver's view box.

Innovation Solution

A display device with a sensing unit to track the driver's position, a drive unit to adjust the concave mirror's angle and position, and a controller to maintain the view box size by correcting the virtual image's position and magnification, ensuring the image remains visible and undistorted despite driver movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the size of the concave mirror is increased to increase the size of the virtual image, then the view box size is improved, but the volume of the HUD device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveview box sizeVSAvoidHUD device volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the concave mirror rotatable around its optical axis. The mirror's angle of rotation is dynamically adjusted based on the driver's eye position, allowing the same physical mirror surface to present different effective areas to the driver. This dynamic adjustment enables a smaller mirror to provide a larger effective view box area by optimizing the reflection angle according to the driver's position, thereby resolving the contradiction between view box size and device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Volume of stationary object

If the size of the concave mirror is reduced to minimize the volume of the HUD device, then the device volume is improved, but the driver's view box is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHUD device volumeVSAvoiddriver's view box
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs the dynamics principle by implementing a rotational mechanism for the concave mirror that allows it to adjust its orientation based on the detected position of the driver's eyes. This dynamic adjustment ensures that even with a smaller mirror surface area, the effective viewing area (view box) is maximized by directing the reflected image optimally toward the driver's line of sight, thus maintaining a large view box while minimizing device volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the parameter changes principle by varying the rotational angle of the concave mirror as a controllable parameter. The control unit adjusts this angular parameter in response to changes in the driver's eye position, thereby optimizing the relationship between the mirror's physical size and the effective view box area. This parameter adjustment allows a smaller mirror to achieve the same or larger effective viewing area compared to a static, larger mirror.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the position of the driver varies, then the viewing comfort is improved through tracking, but the image position and magnification require dynamic correction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveviewing comfortVSAvoidimage correction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements the feedback principle by using a sensor to detect the driver's eye position and feeding this information back to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the rotational angle of the concave mirror and the display panel's output parameters based on this feedback, dynamically correcting the image position and magnification. This closed-loop feedback system maintains viewing comfort across different driver positions while automating the correction process, thereby managing device complexity through intelligent control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the mechanics substitution principle by replacing manual or mechanical image adjustment mechanisms with an electronically controlled system. The control unit electronically adjusts the display panel's image parameters and electrically actuates the mirror's rotation, substituting complex mechanical adjustment systems with more compact and controllable electronic mechanisms, thus managing overall device complexity while achieving dynamic image correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

The solution allows for a reduced volume HUD device that maintains a comparable view box size to conventional systems, ensuring the driver's visibility and information accessibility without compromising the driver's field of view.

Implementation Method 1

a concave mirror configured to reflect the image to a windshield

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3128357B1Display device
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3128357B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3128357B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3128357B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a display device including a display panel configured to provide an image containing driving information, a concave mirror configured to reflect the image to a windshield, so as to cause a driver to view a virtual image via the windshield, a sensing unit configured to sense a position of the driver, a drive unit configured to move the concave mirror, and a controller connected to the display panel, the sensing unit, and the drive unit. The controller controls the drive unit so as to move the concave mirror in order to move a view box when the sensing unit senses variation in the position of the driver, the view box being an area in which the entire image containing the driving information is seen by the driver.