Single LCD for Vehicle Instrument Cluster and HUD
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles require separate displays for head up displays (HUD) and instrument clusters, leading to increased complexity and space occupation beneath the dashboard.
Innovation Solution
A single liquid crystal display (LCD) is used for both the instrument cluster and HUD, with strategically positioned side lights, a light guide, diffuser layers, and a housing to illuminate the display, allowing the same LCD panel to serve both functions by aligning a second backlight with a notched area to emit a light field receivable by HUD optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate displays are used for HUD and instrument cluster, then each display can be optimized for its specific function, but the device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate display functions (instrument cluster and HUD) into a single LCD panel. The LCD serves dual purposes: displaying instrument cluster information directly to the driver and projecting HUD images through integrated optics. This merging eliminates the need for separate display units while maintaining both functions' effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The single LCD panel is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously. It acts as both the instrument cluster display and the HUD image source. The backlight system is configured to illuminate different areas of the LCD for different purposes, enabling one component to fulfill multiple roles in the vehicle's display system.
2Ease of operation
If separate displays are used for HUD and instrument cluster, then each display can be independently controlled, but the space occupation beneath the dashboard increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the instrument cluster display and HUD display into a single physical LCD panel located beneath the dashboard. This consolidation significantly reduces the volume occupied compared to having two separate display units. The integrated design allows both functions to share the same space while maintaining independent control capabilities through software.
3Device complexity
If a single LCD is used for both cluster and HUD, then the device complexity and space occupation are reduced, but the illumination and viewing requirements become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The backlight system is segmented into different illumination zones. A first backlight illuminates the entire LCD for instrument cluster viewing, while a second backlight specifically illuminates a portion of the LCD that corresponds to the HUD image area. This segmentation allows independent control of illumination for each function, enabling the LCD to serve both purposes effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
Different areas of the LCD receive different illumination characteristics. The instrument cluster area receives full-backlight illumination for direct viewing, while the HUD area receives targeted illumination from the second backlight to create the light field needed for projection. This local differentiation of illumination quality enables the single LCD to fulfill both display functions.
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 reduces the number of video outputs needed, eliminates the requirement for separate LCD/Backlight/Controller units, and allows for a more compact combination of cluster/HUD units.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially planar liquid crystal display having a first side and a second side opposite the first side
Implementation Method 2
A backlight is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side. The backlight is aligned with a second area of the liquid crystal display such that a light field is emitted by the backlight through the second area
Implementation Method 3
A head up display emits light that reflects from the front windshield to be seen by the driver. The light appears to come from a virtual image in front of the driver and in front of the windshield
Data Source
AI summary
A combined head up display and instrument cluster arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a substantially planar liquid crystal display having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first area of the liquid crystal display is viewable as an instrument cluster display by a human viewer who is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side. A backlight is disposed closer to the first side than to the second side. The backlight is aligned with a second area of the liquid crystal display such that a light field is emitted by the backlight through the second area. Head up display optics are positioned to receive the light field.