HUD Optical Shutter for Sunlight Heat Protection and Image Brightness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image irradiation devices face a trade-off between suppressing heat damage from external light and maintaining the quality of virtual images, as reducing external light intake also diminishes the image intensity.
Innovation Solution
An image irradiation device with a movable optical member that shields external light from reaching the image generation unit only when not in use, allowing for the display of virtual images at different distances without compromising image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an optical filter is provided on the optical path to reduce external light incident on the image generation unit, then heat damage due to external light is suppressed, but the amount of light constituting the image emitted from the image generation unit is also reduced, causing deterioration of virtual image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable optical member (shutter) that can dynamically change its position between blocking and non-blocking states relative to the optical path. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to adaptively control external light intrusion only when necessary (e.g., during sunlight conditions), while maintaining full light transmission during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between heat damage suppression and image quality maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The optical member is controlled to move periodically or conditionally based on detected external light conditions. When strong external light is detected, the optical member moves to block the light path; when external light is weak or absent, it moves away to allow full light transmission. This periodic/conditional action pattern enables the system to suppress heat damage only when needed while preserving image quality during normal operation
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a movable optical member is introduced to dynamically block external light, then heat damage suppression is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light-blocking function into a separate, dedicated optical member (shutter) that can be independently controlled. This extracted component works in conjunction with a simple detection mechanism to determine when blocking is necessary, thereby achieving heat damage suppression through a relatively simple added mechanism rather than complexing the entire optical system
Solution Approach 2:
The optical member serves as an intermediary element between the external light source and the image generation unit. This mediator can be selectively positioned to block or transmit light based on external conditions, providing a simple control mechanism that resolves the contradiction without requiring complex system-wide modifications
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
Effectively prevents heat damage to the image generation unit while maintaining the quality of virtual images by dynamically controlling the optical member's position to block external light during image projection.
Implementation Method 1
an optical member configured to be able to reduce an amount of external light incident on the image generation unit
Implementation Method 2
a position through which first light constituting the first image emitted from the image generation unit passes
Data Source
AI summary
A HUD 10 is configured to be able to display a plurality of virtual images at different distances. The HUD 10 includes an image generation unit 12 and a shielding member 14. The image generation unit 12 generates a first image for forming a first virtual image and a second image for forming a second virtual image to be displayed nearer than the first virtual image. The shielding member 14 can reduce an amount of external light incident on the image generation unit 12. The shielding member 14 is movable between a position through which first light constituting the first image emitted from the image generation unit 12 passes and a position through which the first light does not pass.