Acute-Angled Image Light Control Film for Safer Windshield Displays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional information display systems for vehicles, such as head-up displays, face challenges in ensuring safety and visibility due to insufficient consideration of image light directly entering the observer's eyes, and they struggle with efficient light delivery and high-resolution image projection, especially when the windshield inclination is steep, leading to reduced light utilization efficiency and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
An information display system with a configuration that includes an image projection apparatus generating image light with a narrow diffusion angle and specific polarization, combined with a light direction changing unit and an image light control film, which restricts the emission direction of image light to prevent direct observation and enhances visibility by efficiently delivering high-resolution images to the observer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional projection display systems are used, then image information can be displayed on windshields, but image light may directly enter the observer's eyes causing safety issues and reduced visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the image light into multiple directional components using a light separating element. The element divides the light flux into a first light flux directed toward the observer and a second light flux directed away from the observer, preventing direct entry of harmful light into the observer's eyes while maintaining image visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A light separating element is introduced as an intermediary component between the projection display unit and the observer. This element mediates the light path by selectively directing different portions of the light flux, allowing the observer to see the projected image while blocking direct light that would cause eye strain or safety issues.
2Illumination intensity
If a light diffusion layer with binder and fine particles is used, then light diffusion is achieved, but light utilization efficiency decreases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the light diffusion function from the traditional binder-and-particle structure. Instead of using a diffusion layer with binder and fine particles, the patent employs a light separating element that achieves the desired light distribution effect without the light-absorbing binder material, thereby improving light utilization efficiency and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates an optical effect similar to diffusion by using the light separating element to redirect light paths. Rather than physically diffusing light through particles and binder, the system copies the visual effect of diffusion through precise light path manipulation, maintaining illumination uniformity while reducing energy loss.
3Device complexity
If image light is projected directly onto the windshield, then simple display is achieved, but light utilization efficiency is reduced especially with steep windshield inclination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses the windshield inclination problem by introducing a light separating element that operates in a different dimensional space. Instead of relying on direct projection geometry that is sensitive to windshield angle, the element separates light flux in multiple directions, effectively decoupling the projection efficiency from the windshield inclination angle and maintaining high light utilization efficiency across various configurations.
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
The system provides a safe and high-visibility information display with reduced power consumption by improving light utilization efficiency and preventing direct image light entry into the observer's eyes, allowing for effective image projection on vehicle windshields and other glass surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a light direction changing unit configured to direct a direction of the image light from the image projection apparatus toward the transparent sheet of the display region
Implementation Method 2
the image light reflected by the transparent sheet is recognized by the observer
Implementation Method 3
an image light control film configured to restrict an emission direction of the image light, so that the image light is not directly delivered to an observer
Data Source
AI summary
An information display system having acute-angled diffusion characteristics configured to display an image to inside or outside of a space via a transparent projected member, the information display system including an image projection apparatus, a transparent sheet provided on an inner surface of a display region set on a part of the projected member; and a light direction changing unit that directs a direction of image light toward the transparent sheet of the display region, the image projection apparatus including an image light characteristic converting unit, and an image light control film that restricts an emission direction of the image light being provided on an upper surface of the image projection apparatus, so that the image light is not directly delivered to an observer and the image light reflected by the transparent sheet is recognized by the observer.