Vehicle Head-Up Display Prism Light Path Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing head-up display (HUD) devices for vehicles face challenges in placement due to limited space, leading to issues with display light shifting and obstruction of the front view, and are often limited by attachment conditions, making it difficult to mount on various vehicle types with different instrument panel shapes.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a prism positioned between the display source and the instrument panel aperture, refracting display light to a predetermined projection area on the windshield, and a light shield wall to manage external light, allowing for adjustable placement and prevention of ghost images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the device body is placed at the rear of the vehicle to accommodate limited space, then there is room for placement, but the display light is shifted from the original reflection point causing the virtual image to be shifted from the best display position
Solution Approach 1:
A prism is introduced as an intermediary optical element between the display source and the windshield. The prism refracts the display light to compensate for the positional shift caused by rear placement of the device body, thereby redirecting the light to the correct reflection point on the windshield and restoring the virtual image to its proper display position.
Solution Approach 2:
The prism changes the optical path parameters by refracting the display light at specific angles. This parameter change in light direction compensates for the spatial displacement caused by rear placement, maintaining accurate display positioning despite the altered physical location of the display device.
2Manufacturing precision
If the device body is moved toward the upper part of the vehicle along the optical axis to correct display light positioning, then the display light reaches the original reflection point, but the front field of vision is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The prism serves as a mediating optical element that enables the display device to be positioned at the rear without requiring upward movement. By refracting the light path, the prism allows the device to remain in a position that does not obstruct the driver's field of vision while still achieving accurate display positioning on the windshield.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving the device body upward in the vertical dimension (which causes obstruction), the solution uses the prism to manipulate light in the optical dimension, achieving positioning accuracy through light refraction rather than physical displacement of the device body.
3Manufacturing precision
If a prism is used to adjust the light reflected by the reflecting member toward the reflection point, then the display light positioning is corrected, but external light such as sun light may be reflected by the prism onto the windshield
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting member is designed with selective reflectivity - it reflects display light toward the prism while having low reflectivity for external light. This local quality differentiation ensures that the prism receives display light for proper positioning without receiving excessive external light that would cause glare on the windshield.
Solution Approach 2:
The low-reflectivity property of the reflecting member, which initially seemed to reduce light efficiency, actually prevents harmful external light reflection. By not reflecting external light, the system converts a potential harmful effect into a beneficial one, eliminating glare while maintaining display light transmission.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the display device is designed with fixed attachment position, then the optical path is stable, but the device cannot be mounted on various vehicle types with different attachment limiting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates adjustable components including the prism position and angle, and the reflecting member position and angle. These dynamic adjustments allow the optical path to be reconfigured for different vehicle types and attachment positions while maintaining stable and accurate display positioning on the windshield for each specific configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The display device is designed with universal adaptability through adjustable optical components. The same device can be mounted on various vehicle types at different positions, and the prism and reflecting member can be adjusted to achieve proper optical alignment for each application, making the system universally applicable across different vehicle platforms.
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 flexible mounting on different vehicle types by altering the attaching position based on vehicle constraints, preventing light interference and ensuring clear visibility by shielding external light and reducing the risk of ghost images.
Implementation Method 1
a prism provided on a light path between the display source and an aperture of the instrument panel and refracting display light of an image displayed on the display source backward in the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the prism is formed in a shape inclined upward in a backward direction of the vehicle so that external light reflected on upper and lower surfaces of the prism goes toward the light shield wall
Data Source
AI summary
A display device for a vehicle is provided, by which an attaching position thereof can be altered depending upon an attachment limiting condition of the vehicle. The display device includes: a display source provided in an instrument panel of the vehicle; and a prism provided on a light path between the display source and an aperture of the instrument panel and refracting display light of an image displayed on the display source backward in the vehicle, wherein the prism is formed in a shape inclined upward in a backward direction of the vehicle, wherein (a) a virtual image of the image projected on a projection area of a windshield of the vehicle, onto which area the display image from the prism is projected and (b) a front view of the vehicle to be seen from an eye point of the vehicle through the windshield are seen in a superimposed manner.