Head-up Display Waveguide Microstructures for Expanded Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional head-up displays have a limited field of view (FOV) of 6 to 8 degrees, which restricts the amount of auxiliary information that can be provided to drivers. Additionally, the use of slanted windshields in vehicles can lead to ghost images due to differences in the optical path, resulting in a blurred image and reduced optical effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The head-up display incorporates a waveguide glass with specific microstructures, including a first microstructure, a second microstructure, and a third microstructure. The third microstructure features tiling areas adjacent to each other with gaps less than half of the first microstructure's width, allowing for the expansion of light along multiple directions to increase the field of view and reduce ghost images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the field of view of the head-up display is increased, then more auxiliary information can be provided to drivers, but the overall volume of the head-up display must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide glass is divided into multiple microstructures (first, second, and third microstructures) with specific functions. The third microstructure contains multiple tiling areas that are adjacent to each other, creating a segmented pattern that expands the field of view without proportionally increasing the overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the thickness dimension of the waveguide glass to accommodate multiple microstructures at different positions. By arranging microstructures along the light propagation path and using varying thickness regions, the system achieves an expanded field of view while maintaining a compact overall volume.
2Ease of manufacture
If slanted windshields are used in vehicles, then the head-up display can be integrated into the vehicle structure, but ghost images are generated due to difference of optical path
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide glass acts as an intermediary optical element between the image generating unit and the driver's eye. It guides and transmits light through a controlled path that compensates for the slanted windshield geometry, eliminating ghost images while maintaining integration with the vehicle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustments (such as adjustable windshield angles or multiple optical components) with an optimized waveguide glass structure that inherently compensates for optical path differences, simplifying the system while eliminating ghost images.
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 field of view of the head-up display to 60 to 80 degrees, providing more auxiliary information to drivers and improving the optical effect by minimizing ghost images, resulting in a clearer and more effective display.
Implementation Method 1
emitting a light to a first microstructure of a waveguide glass by an image generating unit; transmitting the light to a second microstructure of the waveguide glass by the first microstructure of the waveguide glass
Implementation Method 2
a head-up display includes an image generating unit and a waveguide glass. The waveguide glass faces toward the image generating unit
Data Source
AI summary
A head-up display includes an image generating unit and a waveguide glass. The waveguide glass faces toward the image generating unit. The waveguide glass includes a first microstructure, a second microstructure and a third microstructure. The first microstructure has a first width. The second microstructure is adjacent to the first microstructure. The third microstructure is adjacent to the second microstructure. The third microstructure has tiling areas adjacent to each other. A gap between the two adjacent tiling areas is less than half of the first width.