Shape Memory Actuator for Vehicle Display Thermal Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle display devices, such as HUDs, are vulnerable to damage from solar radiation due to their exposed location, leading to overheating and potential melting, and current solutions require numerous additional components like sensors and actuators, making them expensive and space-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a shape-memory material actuator that moves a reflector based on temperature changes, eliminating the need for current and additional components, providing effective protection without sensors or control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional sensors and actuators are used to protect the display from solar radiation, then the protection effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory alloy actuator automatically responds to temperature changes by deforming when a specific temperature is reached, moving the reflector to block solar radiation without requiring external sensors or control systems. The material's inherent phase transition properties enable self-regulated protection, eliminating the need for additional monitoring and control components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the temperature-dependent phase transition parameter of shape memory alloy materials. When the temperature reaches a predetermined value, the material undergoes a phase change that causes automatic deformation, thereby changing the reflector's position to block solar radiation. This parameter-based automatic response eliminates the need for complex sensor-actuator-control systems.
2Reliability
If traditional sensors and actuators are used to protect the display from solar radiation, then the protection effectiveness is improved, but the space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory alloy actuator automatically responds to temperature changes by deforming when a specific temperature is reached, moving the reflector to block solar radiation without requiring external sensors or control systems. The material's inherent phase transition properties enable self-regulated protection, eliminating the need for additional monitoring and control components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary components (sensors, control units, power management systems) from the protective mechanism, retaining only the essential shape memory alloy actuator that directly performs the protective function through its inherent material properties, thereby minimizing space consumption.
3Reliability
If the reflector is always moved to protective position when parked, then the protection is ensured, but the energy consumption increases and operation time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the temperature-dependent phase transition parameter of shape memory alloy materials. When the temperature reaches a predetermined value, the material undergoes a phase change that causes automatic deformation, thereby changing the reflector's position to block solar radiation. This parameter-based automatic response eliminates the need for complex sensor-actuator-control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The shape memory alloy actuator operates periodically based on temperature cycles - remaining in the ready position during cool periods and automatically activating when temperature reaches the critical threshold. This on-demand operation based on thermal cycles eliminates continuous energy consumption while maintaining protection when needed.
4Ease of operation
If electronic control systems are used to manage the reflector position, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory alloy actuator automatically responds to temperature changes by deforming when a specific temperature is reached, moving the reflector to block solar radiation without requiring external sensors or control systems. The material's inherent phase transition properties enable self-regulated protection, eliminating the need for additional monitoring and control components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces electronic control systems with a purely thermal-mechanical response mechanism. The shape memory alloy's phase transition directly converts thermal energy into mechanical deformation, eliminating the need for electronic sensors, microcontrollers, and power management circuits while maintaining precise control based on temperature thresholds.
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 effectively protects temperature-sensitive components from solar radiation, is cost-effective, space-efficient, and energy-efficient, functioning even when the vehicle is parked or in a defective state, ensuring the display device remains safe and operational.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator has a shape memory material that is designed to deform as a result of a phase transition as a function of a temperature and thereby move the reflector
Implementation Method 2
an optical device which is designed to project an image displayed on the display surface as a virtual image via a reflection surface
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a display device (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a display surface (12) for displaying an image and an optical device (14) which is designed to project an image displayed on the display surface (12) over a reflective surface (16) as a virtual image. The optical device (14) has at least one reflector (14a; 14b) and an actuator (18) which is designed to move the reflector (14a;14b). The actuator (18) additionally has a shape memory material which is designed to deform by means of a phase transition depending on a temperature and thereby move the reflector (14a;14b). By providing a thermal shape memory actuator which functions in a currentless manner, the optical path can be changed so that an overheating of inner temperature-sensitive components of the display device is prevented in a particularly inexpensive manner and with an efficient use of the installation space, and electronic sensing, analyzing, and actuation processes are completely omitted.