Head-Up Display Optical Path Compactness via Segmented Reflectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-up display devices require a concave mirror with large curvature to make image light beams cross, leading to potential distortion and manufacturing difficulties in achieving compactness.
Innovation Solution
A head-up display device design where the first reflector has a concave free-form surface with varying curvature, allowing image light beams to cross while minimizing the overall optical system curvature, using a lens array and diffusion plate to adjust light paths and reduce refractive power, thus maintaining compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a concave mirror with large curvature is used to make image light beams cross, then the optical path can be made compact, but the virtual image becomes distorted and manufacturing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the optical system into multiple components: a first reflector (concave mirror) and a second reflector (convex mirror). By segmenting the light beam crossing function across multiple components rather than relying on a single highly curved concave mirror, the system achieves compact optical paths while maintaining manageable curvature for each individual component, thereby reducing manufacturing difficulty and image distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second reflector that works in conjunction with the first reflector to achieve light beam crossing. This adds another dimension to the optical path design, allowing the system to achieve compactness through multi-dimensional optical routing rather than relying solely on high curvature in a single component, thus reducing distortion and manufacturing complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If a concave mirror with large curvature is used to make image light beams cross, then the optical path can be made compact, but the device becomes difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light beam crossing function into two separate reflectors with moderate curvature rather than one highly curved concave mirror. This segmentation makes each component easier to manufacture with standard precision while achieving the same compact optical path effect through the combination of both components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the curvature parameters of the reflectors from a single large-curvature concave mirror to a combination of a concave mirror and a convex mirror, both with moderate curvatures. This parameter change makes the components more manufacturable while maintaining the compact optical path design through coordinated optical routing.
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
Prevents increased curvature of the optical system, reduces distortion, and achieves compactness in the head-up display device without manufacturing challenges.
Implementation Method 1
image light beams P1, P2, P3 from the display 501 are reflected by a first reflector 502 constituted by a concave mirror, and the image light beams P1, P2, P3 having been reflected by the first reflector 502 are reflected by a second reflector 503 constituted by a concave mirror
Implementation Method 2
a lens array (light distribution adjustment unit) 12 that adjusts distribution of illumination light beams 200 entering the display 14
Implementation Method 3
a diffusion plate 13 that diffuses the illumination light beams 200 emitted from the lens array 12
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention suppresses an increase in optical system curvature, thereby enabling miniaturization. An image forming unit 15 reflects image light beams 101, 102, 103, which were projected from each region along a first direction Y of a display 14, towards a reflection unit 16 so that the image light beams intersect between the image forming unit 15 and the reflection unit 16. A light distribution adjustment unit 12 is disposed between a light source 11 and a display 14, and in the first direction Y, adjusts the orientation of illumination light beams 201, 202, 203 projected from the light source 11 so that the illumination light beams are incident on the display 14 as convergence light.