Transparent Windscreen HUD Using Light-Emitting Particles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-up displays for vehicles that project information directly onto the windscreen require coatings that reduce transparency, limiting their application to specific regions and hindering the ability to provide comprehensive information to drivers effectively.

Innovation Solution

A substantially transparent windscreen head-up display utilizing light-emitting particles or microstructures that allow for luminescent displays while maintaining visibility, enabled by monitoring vehicle-to-vehicle communication to project traffic information directly onto the windscreen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If light is projected directly onto the windscreen using known display techniques, then information can be displayed to the operator, but the transparency of the windscreen is significantly decreased and the display is restricted to limited regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoidwindscreen transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The windscreen is divided into multiple discrete display regions (first display region, second display region, third display region) that can be independently activated. This segmentation allows information to be displayed in specific zones without requiring the entire windscreen to have reduced transparency, thus maintaining overall visibility while providing comprehensive information display capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the windscreen are assigned different display characteristics and functions. The first display region displays different information than the second and third regions, allowing each region to be optimized for its specific purpose while maintaining transparency in non-display areas. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by concentrating transparency reduction only where display is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If coatings are applied to the windscreen to enable light projection, then head-up display functionality is achieved, but the transparency of the windscreen is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehead-up display functionalityVSAvoidwindscreen transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is applied selectively to specific display regions rather than the entire windscreen surface. This segmented application enables head-up display functionality in designated areas while leaving other areas of the windscreen transparent and uncoated, thus maintaining overall visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The windscreen serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a transparent viewing surface and a display medium in specific regions. The coated regions provide display functionality while the uncoated regions maintain pure transparency, allowing the windscreen to fulfill both roles without compromising either function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables the display of critical traffic information on the windscreen without compromising transparency, enhancing driver awareness and safety by providing a comprehensive and unobstructed view of the road while conveying vital operational data.

Implementation Method 1

one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLuminescence: Luminescence

Data Source

PatentUS8269652B2Vehicle-to-vehicle communicator on full-windshield head-up display

Publication Date: 2012.09.18 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A substantially transparent windscreen head up display includes one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen. A method to display a graphic describing traffic information based upon vehicle-to-vehicle communication upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display of a host vehicle includes monitoring the vehicle-to-vehicle communication, determining the traffic information based upon the vehicle-to-vehicle communication, determining the graphic describing the traffic information for display upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display, and displaying the graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head up display.