Helmet HUD Projection Unit Internal Cover Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-up display (HUD) devices mounted on helmets suffer from blurring and reduced visual recognizability due to dirt accumulation and external light reflection, especially when the cover member is exposed and prone to touch or affected by varying light transmittance shields, leading to impaired display image clarity.
Innovation Solution
The HUD device incorporates a projection unit with a cover member positioned internally within the helmet, oriented to prevent external touch and external light reflection, utilizing a cylindrical optical path and a hydrophilic coating to minimize dirt and moisture accumulation, and adjusts display brightness based on external light conditions detected by an external light sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cover member is located at the outer surface of the helmet, then the projection unit size is reduced, but dirt accumulates on the cover member surface causing blurring in the display image
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is repositioned from the outer surface to an internal location within the helmet, changing its spatial dimension from external to internal. This dimensional transition removes the cover member from the harmful external environment while maintaining its protective function for the projection unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is nested within the helmet interior, specifically positioned inside the projection unit housing. This nesting arrangement protects the cover member from external contamination while keeping it functional for the display system.
2Illumination intensity
If a colorless transparent cover plate is used, then light transmittance is maximized, but external light reflection causes dazzling and impairs visual recognizability
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is positioned at a specific internal angle and location where it can maintain high light transmittance for display light while simultaneously reflecting external light away from the user's line of sight. The local angular positioning creates different optical qualities for different light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to reduce the transmittance to prevent reflection, the solution inverts the approach by using the reflection property beneficially - directing reflected external light away from the user's eye while maintaining display light transmission through strategic angular positioning.
3Ease of operation
If the cover member is exposed and prone to touch, then accessibility is improved, but hands touch the cover member causing dirt attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member is relocated from the external accessible surface to an internal position within the helmet structure. This dimensional change naturally reduces accessibility to hands while maintaining the cover member's protective function for the optical components.
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
This configuration enhances the visual recognizability of the display image by reducing blurring and external light interference, maintaining clear and adjustable display brightness across varying light conditions, thereby improving user experience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The surface of the cover member 65 is provided with hydrophilia by the coating film 71
Implementation Method 2
The coating film 71 is made of, for example, silicate (xM12O·ySiO2), and is hydrophilic
Implementation Method 3
a combiner that reflects display light projected by the projection unit to an eye of the user
Implementation Method 4
The combiner is composed of a semitransparent mirror, is disposed at a position within the forward field of view of the user
Data Source
AI summary
In an HUD device (3) mounted on a helmet (101), a projection unit (39) configured to project display light to a combiner (73) includes a light emitter (57) configured to emit display light, a housing (61) having a projection opening (63) through which display light emitted from the light emitter passes, and a cover member (65) having transparency to light and disposed to cover the projection opening. The projection unit (39) is incorporated in a chin portion (113) of the helmet body such that display light to be projected to the combiner passes through an optical path portion (119) provided in a mouse cover (115) of the helmet body (105). The cover member is disposed at an inner side of an interior member than a surface of the interior member at which an end of the optical path portion at a light emission side is open.