HUD Inspection Device Without Concave Mirror

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HUD device inspection methods relying on concave mirrors are cumbersome and reduce inspection accuracy when the eye point moves, as they fail to accurately project and inspect virtual images without coinciding with the image projected via the concave mirror.

Innovation Solution

An inspection device that projects images directly onto a windshield without a concave mirror, using a projection unit, an inspection unit, and a storage unit to calculate and correct image distortions, ensuring accurate inspection across varying eye points by adjusting the imaging unit's position and applying image distortion corrections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a concave mirror is used to project images for inspection, then the final image quality can be inspected, but the device configuration becomes extensive and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinspection accuracyVSAvoiddevice configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the concave mirror from the inspection device, extracting the problematic component that caused device complexity while preserving the essential inspection function through direct projection onto the windshield

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the concave mirror's optical effect by using image processing algorithms to simulate the distorted image that would be produced by the concave mirror, eliminating the need for the physical mirror while maintaining inspection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Device complexity

If images are projected without a concave mirror, then the device configuration is simplified, but inspection accuracy is reduced when the eye point moves

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice configurationVSAvoidinspection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic inspection system where the imaging unit can move to different positions corresponding to different eye points, and the control unit dynamically adjusts the projection position and image processing parameters to maintain accurate inspection across multiple viewing positions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the projection system by adjusting the projection position, imaging unit position, and image processing parameters based on the eye point position, allowing the simplified device to maintain inspection accuracy across different viewing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3444584B1Inspecting device and inspecting method
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 AGC INC
  • EP3444584B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3444584B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3444584B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An inspection device for inspecting a virtual image for a head-up display device, includes a windshield; a display unit for generating an image and projecting the image onto the windshield without using a concave mirror; an imaging unit for capturing a virtual image of the image; a storage unit for storing data of a shape of the windshield and a relative position between the windshield, the display unit, and the imaging unit; an imaging unit position control unit for moving the imaging unit to a predetermined position; a display control unit for calculating an image distortion correction due to the concave mirror, based on the data corresponding to a position of the imaging unit after moving, and for controlling the display unit to generate the image taking into account the image distortion correction; and an image inspection unit for inspecting a distortion of the virtual image.