Lateral Head-Up Display Image Generator for Thin Dashboards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-image-generator head-up displays require significant space due to their arrangement and dimensions, making them incompatible with vehicles having dashboards of reduced thickness, such as trucks, which limits their integration in vehicles with regulatory constraints on cabin dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The image generator is positioned laterally relative to the optical element, with the display surface parallel to the optical axis of projection and reflection, allowing for a more compact design that can be integrated into thinner dashboards by using a semi-reflective optical element and a mirror configuration that minimizes distortion and energy loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the image generator is disposed in the axis of the optical element, then the virtual image can be formed at the required distance, but the display requires significant space in the dashboard thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The image generator is positioned laterally offset from the optical element's optical axis, changing the spatial arrangement from a conventional axial configuration to a lateral configuration. This dimensional repositioning allows the optical path to be folded back onto itself using mirrors, achieving the required virtual image distance while minimizing the dashboard thickness requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical path is folded back onto itself using mirrors positioned at 45-degree angles, creating a nested arrangement where the light path returns through or near the original component positions. This nesting allows the optical system to achieve extended optical path length within a compact physical footprint, reducing dashboard thickness.
2Length of stationary object
If the image generator is positioned laterally, then the dashboard thickness is reduced, but complex mirror designs are required to return the image to the optical axis
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single complex curved mirror, the system employs multiple simpler mirrors positioned at specific locations (45-degree angles) to perform localized reflections. Each mirror has a simple planar geometry, but their coordinated arrangement achieves the overall function of returning the lateral image to the optical axis, reducing individual component complexity while maintaining system functionality.
3Length of stationary object
If the image generator is positioned laterally, then the dashboard thickness is reduced, but image quality and energy may be lost through multiple reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple simple planar mirrors instead of complex optical elements. While multiple reflections do occur, the use of standard high-reflectivity mirror coatings minimizes energy loss. The mirrors are positioned to achieve the required optical path folding with minimal reflection losses, accepting the trade-off of using simpler, more readily available components.
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 enables the integration of a high-image-generator head-up display in vehicles with limited dashboard space, maintaining image quality and reducing the complexity of mirror designs, while allowing for a compact and shallow display that can be used in trucks and similar vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a mirror (4) arranged at an angle of 45° with respect to the display surface (202) and configured to reflect a beam from the image generator (2) toward the optical element (3)
Implementation Method 2
a semi-reflective optical element (3) configured to form a virtual image of the generator image
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a head-up display (1) with a side image generator (2), particularly for motor vehicle. Said head-up display comprises: - an image generator (2) configured to display an image along a display axis (7); - a semi-reflective optical element (3) arranged spaced apart from the image generator (2) and configured to display a virtual image along a projection axis (9); and - at least one mirror (4) arranged on the display axis (7) so as to reflect the image from the image generator (2) towards the optical element (3) along a reflection axis (8). The display axis (7) of the image generator (2) is perpendicular to the projection axis (9) of the optical element.