Head-Up Display Guide Lights for Shift Position Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers face difficulty in readily grasping the current shift position of a vehicle's transmission while driving, as existing head-up display devices do not effectively notify them of changes in shift positions without diverting their attention or adjusting their focus.
Innovation Solution
A head-up display device with a projector and light sources that project guide lights onto a reflecting plate, where the lighting states and order change based on the transmission shift position, allowing the driver to visually recognize the shift position without significant line movement or focus adjustment, using a controller to manage the lighting of first and second light sources and their optical path lengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a conventional head-up display device is used to show transmission shift position, then the display information is projected onto the combiner, but the driver cannot readily grasp the shift position without diverting attention or adjusting focus
Solution Approach 1:
The display device segments the guide lights into multiple individual light sources (first guide lights and second guide lights) arranged in sequences. Each light source can be independently controlled to light up in a specific order, creating a dynamic visual indication of shift position that captures the driver's attention without requiring full visual diversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic lighting action where the guide lights light up in sequential order along the light guide path. This periodic illumination pattern creates a dynamic visual effect that naturally attracts the driver's attention and clearly indicates the current shift position through the progression of light along the guide path.
2Measurement precision
If static display information is projected on the combiner, then the display is simple, but the driver cannot easily distinguish current shift position among multiple possible positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static display into a dynamic system where guide lights illuminate in sequential order along the light guide path. The dynamic lighting pattern progresses through different positions to indicate the current shift position, making it easily distinguishable from other positions while using a relatively simple light source control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in light intensity and illumination patterns (analogous to color changes) to indicate different shift positions. The sequential lighting of guide lights creates distinct visual patterns for each shift position, enabling precise identification without requiring complex multi-color light sources.
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 the driver to easily identify the current shift position by changing the lighting states and order of guide lights, enhancing situational awareness without diverting attention from the road, and providing clear differentiation between forward and backward moving states.
Implementation Method 1
the display light from the projector is reflected by the reflecting plate in a viewing direction to define a display area on the reflecting plate, the emitted light from the first light sources is reflected by the reflecting plate in the viewing direction to display a pair of first guide lights side by side adjacent to the display area on the reflecting plate
Data Source
AI summary
Emitted light from first light sources cause a pair of first guide lights to be displayed on a combiner side by side at positions adjacent to a HUD display area. Emitted light from second light sources cause a pair of second guide lights to be displayed such that the pair of first guide lights are interposed between the pair of second guide lights. At least one of number of light sources to be lit, lighting cycle, and lighting order of the first and the second light sources is changed in accordance with a current vehicle speed and a change in shift position of a transmission of a vehicle.