Floating Projection Optics With Directional Light for Wider Viewing Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle head-up displays using non-directional backlight sources result in insufficient brightness, high energy consumption, and increased costs due to the need for large-area imaging concave mirrors, which also occupy more space.
Innovation Solution
A multi-viewing angle floating projection device employing multiple directional light sources and a shared imaging concave mirror, with optional adjusting reflectors, to create overlapping directional image beams that provide a wider viewing angle while reducing the mirror's area and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a non-directional backlight source is used to illuminate the display panel, then the real image can be projected to multiple observers, but the brightness is insufficient and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single backlight illumination into multiple directional light sources (first directional light source and second directional light source), each illuminating specific regions of the display panel. This segmentation allows concentrated light delivery to specific viewing angles, improving brightness efficiency while reducing total energy consumption compared to omnidirectional backlighting.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the display panel are illuminated by directional light sources with different angles, creating localized illumination quality optimized for specific observer positions. The first directional light source illuminates for the first observer, while the second directional light source illuminates for the second observer, providing tailored light delivery that improves perceived brightness without increasing overall energy consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large-area imaging concave mirror is used to allow wide viewing angle, then multiple observers can view the real image simultaneously, but the device occupies more space and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging function by using a smaller imaging concave mirror in combination with multiple directional light sources. Instead of relying on a single large mirror to provide wide viewing angle, the system uses multiple smaller angular contributions from directional light sources, each reflected by the smaller mirror to reach different observers. This reduces the required mirror area while maintaining multi-observer capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple light sources with a single smaller imaging concave mirror to achieve what would otherwise require a large mirror. By combining the reflected light from multiple directional sources at different angles, the system achieves wide effective viewing angle coverage while using a compact mirror, reducing space occupation and cost.
3Illumination intensity
If a high-power backlight source is used to improve brightness, then the illumination intensity increases, but energy consumption and heat generation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination function into multiple directional light sources that deliver concentrated light to specific regions and angles. This segmentation allows each light source to operate at lower power while achieving sufficient local brightness through directional concentration, avoiding the need for high-power omnidirectional sources that generate excessive heat.
Solution Approach 2:
The directional light sources provide localized high-intensity illumination optimized for specific observer positions rather than diffuse illumination. This local quality approach delivers sufficient brightness to where it is needed (at the observers' eyes) without requiring high overall power output, thereby reducing heat generation while maintaining perceived brightness.
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 achieves clear, bright, and cost-effective floating projections with reduced space requirements, allowing multiple observers to view images simultaneously with a larger viewing angle difference, while minimizing energy usage and heat generation.
Implementation Method 1
The light of the signal source is amplified by reflection of the concave mirror and then projected to the screen
Implementation Method 2
the image light rays projected from any point of the display panel 2 would be reflected by the imaging concave mirror 3 and are converged at the imaging point
Implementation Method 3
each of the directional light sources is adapted to emit a directional light beam
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-viewing angle floating projection device including multiple directional light sources, a display panel and an imaging concave mirror is disclosed. The multiple directional light sources emit multiple directional light beams for illuminating the display panel to form multiple directional image beams. The multiple directional image beams are reflected by a reflector to the concave mirror. Then, the multiple directional image beams are respectively reflected by the concave mirror to multiple viewing areas with different viewing angles to form multiple floating projected real images. The illuminated regions of the multiple directional light beams on the display panel are almost the same, or the illuminated regions of the multiple directional image beams on the imaging concave mirror are almost the same, providing a larger viewing angle difference between the multiple viewing areas.