Vehicle Instrument with 3D Mechanical Meter and Projector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle instruments face issues with reduced visibility due to displacement of superimposed objects depending on the line of sight and lack of stereoscopic feeling, leading to decreased marketability and visibility problems.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle instrument that includes a mechanical meter with a three-dimensional contour and a projector to project images onto the indication area, preventing displacement and enhancing the stereoscopic feeling, while also increasing information display and appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a transparent disk with linear mark is used for superimposed display with liquid crystal display, then information display is increased, but displacement of superimposed objects occurs depending on line of sight direction reducing visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional transparent disk to a three-dimensional mechanical meter with depth. The indicator needle and scale are arranged in three-dimensional space, creating a stereoscopic display that eliminates parallax displacement while maintaining superimposed information display capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light guide plate as an intermediary element between the light source and the display elements. This light guide plate uniformly distributes light across the display area, ensuring consistent illumination that enhances visibility of the superimposed mechanical and digital displays without causing displacement artifacts.
2Measurement precision
If analog indicator meter image and digital meter image are displayed on single plane display screen, then displacement depending on line of sight is prevented, but stereoscopic feeling is not obtained reducing marketability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a three-dimensional mechanical meter structure where the indicator needle, scale, and housing form depth layers. This stereoscopic arrangement provides both display uniformity across the field of view and aesthetic appeal through the three-dimensional contour, simultaneously resolving both requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines different materials with distinct optical and mechanical properties: transparent materials for the dial and cover, metallic materials for the indicator needle and scale, and light-guiding materials for the illumination system. This composite construction achieves both uniform display and stereoscopic aesthetic quality.
3Illumination intensity
If backlight is used for uniform brightness display, then display is presented in black, but in-between space also emits light reducing superimposed display noticeability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light guiding function from the backlight system itself and separates it into a dedicated light guide plate component. This allows precise control of light distribution, directing illumination only to the necessary display areas while keeping the in-between spaces dark, thereby maintaining both brightness uniformity and display noticeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide plate serves as an intermediary that decouples the light source from the display elements. It uniformly distributes light to the mechanical meter components while preventing light leakage into the in-between spaces, solving the contradiction between uniform brightness and display noticeability.
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 prevents displacement of superimposed objects, enhances the stereoscopic feeling, and improves the display's appearance and visibility, encouraging cost-effective driving and improving driving safety by effectively presenting warnings and eco-driving ranges.
Implementation Method 1
a projector (for example, a projector 13 in the embodiment) configured to project an image to be superimposed on the indication area
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle instrument includes a mechanical meter which is attached to an instrument panel of a vehicle, and a projector which projects an image to be superimposed on an indication area of the mechanical meter. The projector projects a graphic image according to the type of display content. In the case where the display content is a warning, a warning image is superimposed on an indicator and the area surrounding the indicator of the mechanical meter. The projector can also superimpose an area image on the display area of the mechanical meter, the area image indicating a cost effective driving range according to a driving state of the vehicle.