Head-Up Display Sensor Mounting on PCB

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-up displays for vehicles face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively mounting and connecting light emitters and sensors, leading to complex assembly processes and increased manufacturing costs, while also requiring effective light management to adapt brightness to varying ambient conditions without disturbing the light sensor.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves mounting the light sensor on the same printed circuit support plate as the light emitters, which simplifies assembly and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for additional support plates and cables, and using a light guide to collect external light radiation while preventing emitted light from reaching the sensor, ensuring accurate brightness measurement and a clean exterior design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the light sensor is mounted on a separate printed circuit support plate from the light emitter, then the electrical connection and mechanical attachment are ensured, but the assembly process becomes complex and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidassembly process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the light sensor and light emitter mounting onto a single printed circuit support plate. This merging of previously separate components onto one substrate simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need for separate mounting operations and reduces the number of electrical connecting cables required, while still ensuring reliable electrical connections through the shared circuit board infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If the light sensor is mounted on the same printed circuit support plate as the light emitter, then the assembly process is simplified and manufacturing costs are reduced, but the light emitted by the emitter may reach the sensor and disturb the measurement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidambient luminosity measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts or removes the harmful light emitted by the light emitter from reaching the light sensor by positioning components and using the circuit board layout to block or redirect the light path. This separation of the harmful light effect from the sensor while maintaining physical mounting on the same plate prevents measurement disturbance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The printed circuit support plate itself acts as an intermediary element that both provides mechanical support and electrical connection while also serving as a light barrier. The plate's material and structure mediate between the light emitter and sensor, preventing direct light transmission while maintaining their functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If multiple printed circuit support plates are used for mounting the light emitter and light sensor, then the electrical connection is ensured, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidprinted circuit support plate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the mounting function for both the light emitter and light sensor onto a single printed circuit support plate, reducing the quantity of support plates required from two to one. This consolidation maintains all necessary electrical connections through the circuit board's conductive traces while eliminating redundant structural components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and effectively adapts image brightness to ambient conditions while maintaining the internal components' visibility from the user, enhancing the display's functionality and appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a light sensor adapted to deliver a signal representative of a light intensity that it receives

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a light guide configured to collect said light radiation to guide it to the light sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical guidance: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 3

an image generation unit comprising at least one light emitter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3449304B1Head-up display
Publication Date: 2022.10.19 VALEO COMFORT & DRIVING ASSISTANCE
  • EP3449304B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3449304B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a display (1) comprising: an image generation unit comprising at least one light emitter (23), a printed circuit support plate (22), on which said emitter (23) is mounted, and a light sensor (30) capable of delivering a signal representative of a light intensity received by same, the display (1) being adapted in such a way that the luminosity of an image generated by the image generation unit is controlled as a function of said signal. According to invention, the light sensor (30) is mounted on said printed circuit support plate (22).