Tolerance Compensation Part for HUD Alignment in Vehicles

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for attaching a head-up display (HUD) to a cross member or holder in a vehicle are cumbersome and time-consuming due to manufacturing tolerances, leading to difficulties in achieving correct alignment, which affects the visibility and accuracy of vehicle parameters projected onto the windshield.

Innovation Solution

A tolerance compensation part with a screw means is used, joined to the structural part using an adhesive or ultrasonic welding, allowing for position adjustment and compensation of manufacturing tolerances, enabling the HUD to be attached correctly to the tolerance compensation part rather than directly to the structural part.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the HUD is attached directly to the cross member using screws and centering pins, then the attachment structure is simple, but the alignment precision deteriorates due to manufacturing tolerances in the cross member bores

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment structureVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a holder as an intermediary component between the cross member and the HUD. The holder absorbs the manufacturing tolerances of the cross member bores through its own adjustment mechanisms (oblong holes and tolerance compensation element), thereby ensuring precise alignment of the HUD without requiring high-precision machining of the cross member itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system is segmented into multiple functional components: the cross member, the holder with adjustment mechanisms, and the HUD. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the cross member provides structural support, the holder provides positioning and tolerance compensation, and the HUD provides the optical function, thereby resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If adjustment mechanisms are added to compensate for tolerances, then the alignment precision improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidattachment structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holder incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms including oblong holes that allow positional adjustment and a tolerance compensation element with a helical support surface that enables rotational adjustment. These dynamic features allow the system to adapt to manufacturing tolerances while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure compared to fully rigid precision-machined alternatives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 method simplifies and accelerates the attachment process by compensating for manufacturing inaccuracies, ensuring the HUD is correctly aligned and positioned, reducing the need for subsequent adjustments and improving the visibility of vehicle parameters.

Implementation Method 1

Joining the tolerance compensation part to the structural part by means of a joining method in which a joining material is used, the joining method being selected from gluing using an adhesive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

ultrasonic welding using a plastic

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic welding: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2420433B1Method and fixing assembly for correct fixing of a device to a structural section of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2017.10.11 PROGRESS WERK OBERKIRCH AG
  • EP2420433B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2420433B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2420433B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

In a fastening arrangement (10) for correctly attaching a device (12) to a structural part (14) of a motor vehicle via at least one screw (16), the at least one screw (16) is arranged on a tolerance compensation part (22), wherein the tolerance compensation part (22) is fixed to the structural part (14) by means of a joining material (36) selected from an adhesive or a plastic liquefied by ultrasonic welding, and wherein the tolerance compensation part (22) is positionally adjusted relative to the structural part (14). Furthermore, a method for correctly attaching a device (12) to the structural part (14) of a motor vehicle via at least one screw (16) is described.