Head-Up Display Positioning to Minimize Windshield Obstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Head-up displays in vehicle cockpits obstruct the driver's view of the external environment due to their size, potentially leading to dangerous situations as drivers need to momentarily look away from the road to consult dashboard information.

Innovation Solution

An optimization method for positioning the head-up display that uses data on virtual cylinders and driver models to determine optimal placement, ensuring the display does not obstruct the driver's view, by calculating specific positions and criteria for the housing and blade to minimize obstruction across a range of driver sizes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the head-up display is integrated into the dashboard, then the driver can view dashboard information without taking eyes off the road, but the display elements mask part of the windshield and external environment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriving safetyVSAvoidwindshield obstruction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the head-up display in the longitudinal extension of the cockpit rather than integrating it into the dashboard plane. The housing is placed in front of the cockpit along the longitudinal axis, projecting images through the windshield from a distance, thereby removing the display elements from the dashboard space that would obstruct the windshield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual cylinder as an intermediary model representing the driver's field of vision through the windshield. By calculating the position of the housing relative to this virtual cylinder and using driver model eye positions, the system determines optimal placement that avoids obstructing the driver's view while maintaining effective image projection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the head-up display housing is positioned to avoid obstructing the driver's view, then visibility is improved, but the positioning becomes complex requiring optimization calculations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewindshield obstructionVSAvoidpositioning calculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary positioning calculations before actual installation by creating a virtual model of the cockpit environment. The method pre-calculates the optimal housing position by modeling the driver's eye positions and the virtual cylinder representing the field of vision, allowing the housing to be positioned correctly from the start without requiring complex adjustments during installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by varying the position of the housing along the longitudinal axis and adjusting its orientation based on calculated optimal values. The method modifies spatial parameters (position and angle) of the housing to achieve the best balance between avoiding windshield obstruction and maintaining effective image projection for different driver sizes and positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method allows drivers to view critical dashboard information without diverting attention from the road, reducing collision and accident risks while ensuring unobstructed visibility of the external environment.

Implementation Method 1

The projector is capable of producing a light beam directed towards the blade with a view to projecting images in the form of a virtual image in the driver's field of vision

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight beam propagation: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3343269B1A method for optimizing the positioning of a head up display
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 ALSTOM TRANSPORT TECH SAS
  • EP3343269B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3343269B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for optimizing the positioning of a head-up display (18) in the driver's cab (10) of a vehicle, the head-up display (18) comprising a housing (18A) including a blade (22), the method comprising the steps of: - providing first data relating to the dimensions and distance of an element from the cab (10), - providing second data relating to the dimensions and posture of a driver model, - determining a first position (P1) from the first data, - determining a second position (P2) from the second data, the first position (P1) and the second position (P2) defining a first line (D1), and - determining a first criterion stipulating that the housing (18A) is below the first line (D1) and that the first line (D1) intersects the blade, preferably the base of the blade (22).