Reflective Instrument Cluster Panel With Transparent Edge Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of large rectangular flat screens in motor vehicle instrument clusters limits styling possibilities and requires significant design effort, and the sudden transition between the opaque reflective blade and the dashboard can disturb the driver's gaze.
Innovation Solution
An instrument cluster with a digital display screen and a reflective blade where the side and lower portions are transparent, providing a smoother transition and aesthetic buoyancy, while maintaining the opaque central and upper portions for reflection, and incorporating transparent informative symbols and backlighting for enhanced visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the blade is made completely opaque and reflective, then the virtual image visibility is improved, but the transition between the blade and dashboard becomes abrupt causing visual disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is designed with spatially varying optical properties: the upper portion is opaque and reflective to ensure virtual image visibility, while the lower portion is transparent to create a smooth transition with the dashboard. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between image visibility and visual comfort.
2Area of stationary object
If a large rectangular flat screen is integrated into the dashboard, then the display capability is improved, but the styling possibilities are significantly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The display system is segmented into two functional components: a large rectangular digital display screen hidden from passengers for data presentation, and a separate opaque reflective blade positioned in the driver's field of view for virtual image display. This segmentation allows the screen to be optimized for display capability while the blade can be styled to match dashboard aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a direct-view planar display to a reflected virtual image in a different spatial dimension. The digital screen remains hidden in the dashboard plane, while the reflective blade creates a virtual image that appears floating in the driver's field of view, adding depth and styling flexibility.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the blade is made transparent, then the transition with dashboard is smoothed and aesthetic appeal is improved, but the virtual image visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The blade implements spatially differentiated optical properties where the upper portion maintains opacity for image visibility while the lower portion provides transparency for aesthetic integration. This local quality differentiation simultaneously achieves both image visibility and visual comfort.
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 solution allows for a more harmonious integration with the dashboard, reduces visual disturbance, and enhances the aesthetic appeal by minimizing the transition between the blade and the dashboard, while maintaining clear visibility of essential information.
Implementation Method 1
a blade (20) located below said digital display screen and of which at least the main central and upper portions are opaque and reflective, said blade being inclined with respect to said display screen so as to reflect said source image in the direction of said driver so that the latter perceives in his field of vision a virtual image located in front of said blade
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a motor vehicle instrument cluster, comprising a digital display screen which is intended to be hidden from the vehicle passengers and capable of displaying a source image containing a multitude of indicator modules for the driver of the vehicle, and a panel (20) located below the digital display screen, at least the main central (20A) and upper (20B) portions of said panel being opaque and reflective, the panel (20) being inclined relative to the display screen so as to reflect the source image towards the driver so that the latter perceives, in his/her field of vision, a virtual image located in front of the panel (20), characterised in that the lateral (20C) and lower (20D) portions of the panel (20) are transparent.