Windscreen Infotainment via UV Excitation and Phosphor Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing head-up displays (HUDs) projecting information directly onto a windscreen require coatings that reduce transparency, limiting their application to specific regions and hindering the presentation of critical vehicle information effectively.

Innovation Solution

An enhanced vision system (EVS) using an ultraviolet projector to display infotainment graphics on a windscreen through light-emitting materials that absorb excitation light and emit visible light, maintaining transparency while providing a wide field of view for the driver.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If light is projected directly upon a windscreen to create a head-up display, then information can be displayed to the operator, but the transparency of the windscreen is significantly decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoidwindscreen transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The windscreen is divided into multiple regions with different functionalities: a first region containing light-emitting particles for display purposes, and a second region without such particles for maximum transparency. This segmentation allows the display function to be localized to specific areas while preserving the transparency of other areas, resolving the contradiction between information display and transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a coating is applied to the windscreen to enable light projection, then display functionality is achieved, but the display is restricted to limited regions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay functionalityVSAvoiddisplay region area

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Light-emitting particles are selectively applied only to specific regions of the windscreen where display functionality is needed, rather than coating the entire surface. This local quality approach enables display functionality in targeted areas while maintaining the natural transparency and optical properties of the windscreen in non-display regions, effectively increasing the usable display area without compromising overall transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 information on the windscreen without compromising transparency, enhancing driver awareness and safety by providing a comprehensive and transparent view of the operational environment.

Implementation Method 1

displaying the infotainment graphic upon the surface including a material reactive to display graphics in response to an excitation projector, wherein the excitation projector includes an ultraviolet projector

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

light-emitting materials that absorb excitation light and emit visible light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Implementation Method 3

light-emitting materials that absorb excitation light and emit visible light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS8317329B2Infotainment display on full-windshield head-up display

Publication Date: 2012.11.27 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method to display an infotainment graphic upon a surface within a vehicle includes monitoring a source of infotainment content; determining the infotainment graphic based upon monitoring the source of infotainment content, and displaying the infotainment graphic upon the surface including a material reactive to display graphics in response to an excitation projector, wherein the excitation projector includes an ultraviolet projector.