Polarization Adaptive Waveguide HUD for Windshield Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current head-up display (HUD) systems face challenges in accommodating varying windshield rake angles and polarized sunglasses, requiring unique designs for each automotive application due to the need to adjust the s-to-p polarization ratio, which limits their adaptability and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A head-up display system incorporating a waveguide with a glare control prism and a waveplate that includes an inorganic birefringent film or a liquid crystal lens, allowing for adjustable s-to-p polarization ratio, enabling the system to be tuned for different applications by modifying the waveplate without altering the waveguide or glare control prism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If HUD systems are designed with fixed polarization ratios for specific windshield rake angles, then optimal visibility for polarized sunglasses wearers is achieved, but the system lacks adaptability to varying automotive applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a liquid crystal waveplate that can dynamically adjust its polarization control characteristics in real-time. The liquid crystal material changes its optical properties when voltage is applied, allowing the HUD system to adapt the s-to-p polarization ratio dynamically to match different windshield rake angles and polarized sunglass configurations, transforming a static system into an adaptive one.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the polarization parameters (s-to-p ratio) by adjusting the liquid crystal waveplate's orientation and optical properties through voltage control. This allows the same HUD system to optimize visibility for different windshield angles and polarized sunglass types by simply changing the polarization parameters rather than redesigning the entire system.
2Ease of manufacture
If a standardized waveguide and glare control prism are used across applications, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but customization for different polarization requirements becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the HUD system into modular components: a standardized waveguide and glare control prism that can be manufactured universally, and a separate, adjustable liquid crystal waveplate module that handles application-specific polarization requirements. This segmentation allows mass production of common components while maintaining customization capability through the adjustable waveplate.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal waveplate serves multiple functions: it acts as a polarization controller, an adaptive optical element, and a customization interface. The same standardized waveguide and glare control prism can serve multiple automotive applications by simply changing or adjusting the liquid crystal waveplate parameters, making the core system universal while maintaining application-specific optimization.
3Illumination intensity
If the s-to-p polarization ratio is adjusted to accommodate polarized sunglasses, then visibility for sunglass wearers is improved, but the system requires unique designs for each windshield rake angle
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal waveplate provides dynamic adjustment of the polarization ratio, allowing the system to optimize visibility for polarized sunglasses wearers in real-time. By applying different voltages, the waveplate changes its birefringence properties to achieve the optimal s-to-p ratio for different windshield angles, eliminating the need for static, application-specific designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the polarization parameters (specifically the s-to-p ratio) by adjusting the liquid crystal waveplate's orientation and optical characteristics through voltage control. This allows the system to maintain optimal visibility across different windshield rake angles and polarized sunglass types by dynamically adjusting polarization parameters rather than requiring unique optical designs for each application.
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 solution allows for a standardized HUD system that can be adapted to various automotive applications by adjusting the polarization ratio, ensuring optimal visibility for drivers wearing polarized sunglasses across different windshield angles, while maintaining a compact projector location and expanded field of view.
Implementation Method 1
a waveplate positioned between the waveguide and the glare control prism, the waveplate adapted to adjust the polarization of the holographic image
Implementation Method 2
the waveplate includes an inorganic birefringent film
Implementation Method 3
the waveplate comprises a liquid crystal lens connected to a voltage source, wherein the birefringent characteristics of the liquid crystal lens vary as the voltage supplied to the liquid crystal lens is varied
Implementation Method 4
a hologram projector adapted to project a holographic image
Implementation Method 5
the light then propagates inside the waveguide and is extracted multiple times
Implementation Method 6
a glare control prism positioned in front of the waveguide assembly, and a waveplate positioned between the waveguide and the glare control prism
Data Source
AI summary
A head-up display system includes a hologram projector adapted to project a holographic image, a waveguide positioned in front of the hologram projector, wherein the holographic image projected by the hologram projector passes through the waveguide, a glare control prism positioned in front of the waveguide assembly, and a waveplate positioned between the waveguide and the glare control prism, the waveplate adapted to adjust the polarization of the holographic image.