Motorcycle Windshield Light Guide Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motorcycle drivers in the supersport segment often fail to notice shift light warnings due to high concentration on the road ahead, risking engine damage from exceeding critical engine speeds.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a display or warning device into the windshield, utilizing a light guide and light sources like LEDs to provide a centrally located warning signal that draws attention to the instrument cluster or headlight, ensuring the signal is more noticeable in the driver's field of vision.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the display device is integrated into the windshield, then the visibility and centrality of the warning signal in the driver's field of vision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of warning signalVSAvoidcomplexity of display device integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display device is merged with the windshield structure, integrating the warning signal functionality directly into the existing windshield component. This combines two separate elements (display device and windshield) into one unified structure, improving visibility while avoiding the addition of separate complex components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The windshield serves multiple functions: it provides structural protection and simultaneously acts as a display medium for warning signals. By making the windshield multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate display components, thereby improving signal visibility without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of time

If the warning device is placed higher in the driver's field of vision, then the promptness of driver response is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to driver distraction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse time of driverVSAvoidease of driving operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The warning signal is localized to a specific region of the windshield that is centrally positioned in the driver's field of vision. By concentrating the warning function in this specific local area, the signal becomes highly visible and prompts immediate response without requiring the driver to shift attention to a different location, thus maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The warning signal is positioned at an optimal height in the driver's field of vision where it is naturally visible without requiring the driver to change their viewing angle or focus. This creates an equipotential viewing condition where the warning signal and the road ahead are both within the driver's natural field of view, eliminating the need for additional attention shifts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #12Equipotentiality

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

Significantly reduces the risk of overlooking warning signals by placing the warning device higher and more centrally in the driver's field of vision, enhancing visibility and promptness of response to critical engine speed alerts.

Implementation Method 1

The light rays are reflected in the windshield 1 (total reflection) and propagate up to an upper edge 5 of the windshield 1

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTotal internal reflection: Total Internal Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP1916151B1Motor cycle with a display device
Publication Date: 2012.03.07 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP1916151B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The motorcycle has electronics, which monitors a condition parameter, and produces a signal during presence of a pre-defined condition parameter. The signal controls a display device, a part of which is integrated in a windscreen (1) or is formed by the windscreen. The part of the windscreen is formed by a light conductor (4), where the signal is a light signal, which is coupled into the conductor. The windscreen is made of a transparent, light-guiding material, where the display device has a light source e.g. LED (3), which couples the light into the conductor.