Head-Up Display Image Generator Cooling for Sunlight Heat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Head-up displays experience significant temperature increases due to high power requirements and sunlight exposure, leading to potential irreversible damage, particularly in the image generation device and optical systems.
Innovation Solution
A head-up display system incorporating a partially transparent plate in contact with a variable transmittance element array, coupled with a thermoelectric cooling module to dissipate heat, and passive heat sinks to manage temperature, ensuring robustness against high temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If high power is used to show brighter images from greater distance, then image brightness and display distance are improved, but temperature increase in the image generation device worsens
Solution Approach 1:
A partially transparent plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the variable transmittance element array and the external environment. This plate serves as a thermal barrier that blocks sunlight and reduces heat transfer to the LCD screen, thereby mitigating temperature increase while allowing the high power imaging system to continue producing bright images from greater distances
2Length of stationary object
If optical system magnification is increased to show images from greater distance, then display distance is improved, but temperature increase from focused sunlight worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of focused sunlight into a beneficial thermal management solution. By positioning the partially transparent plate to intercept and block the focused sunlight before it reaches the variable transmittance element array, the system transforms what would be a damaging concentrated heat source into a protected state, allowing the optical system to maintain high magnification for extended display distances
3Temperature
If thermoelectric cooling module is added to dissipate heat, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The thermoelectric cooling module is strategically positioned to utilize the existing structural components of the head-up display system. The module leverages the partially transparent plate and existing housing structures as part of its thermal management architecture, allowing it to dissipate heat from the variable transmittance element array while integrating seamlessly into the existing device framework, thereby minimizing the increase in overall 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
The system effectively dissipates heat from the variable transmittance element array, enhancing the display's resistance to temperature fluctuations and preventing damage, while maintaining image clarity and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a downstream face of the partially transparent plate is in contact with a cold face of a thermoelectric cooling module
Implementation Method 2
a downstream face of the variable transmittance element array formed by the second polarizer is in contact with an upstream face of a plate at least partially transparent configured to limit heating of the variable transmittance element array
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an image generating device comprising a light source (8) configured to produce an upstream light beam (9) and an array of elements (10) with variable transmittance configured to selectively receive and transmit the upstream light beam (9) so as to form a downstream light beam (5) forming an image (2), a downstream face of the array of variable transmittance elements (10) being in contact with an at least partially transparent plate (21) configured to limit heating of the array of variable transmittance elements (10), characterised in that a downstream face of the partially transparent plate (21) is in contact with a cold face of a thermoelectric cooling module (22). The invention also relates to a head-up display comprising such a device.