Optical Waveguide Lens Reflective Layer Light Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing head-up display systems in vehicles face challenges due to the large size and quantity of curved speculums, which occupy significant interior space, and the optical waveguide lens suffers from reduced light efficiency due to light diffraction issues, resulting in decreased light intensity.
Innovation Solution
An optical waveguide lens with a grating structure and a reflective layer is designed, where the incidence and outgoing gratings are misaligned, and a reflective layer is applied on the lens body to align with the outgoing grating, reducing light loss and increasing output intensity by minimizing light propagation away from the windshield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple curved speculums are used to achieve head-up display function, then light reflection and display capability are improved, but installation space and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple curved speculums into a single integrated optical waveguide lens. The lens body integrates multiple reflective surfaces and grating structures that perform the functions of multiple separate speculums, thereby reducing the quantity of components while maintaining light reflection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical waveguide lens serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a light guide, incorporates diffraction gratings for light manipulation, and includes reflective surfaces for multiple reflections. This multi-functionality replaces what previously required multiple separate curved speculums.
2Device complexity
If a single optical waveguide lens replaces multiple curved speculums, then device complexity and installation space are reduced, but light efficiency and output intensity decrease due to light propagation loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts potentially harmful light loss into beneficial light guidance. The reflective layer is strategically positioned to intercept light that would otherwise propagate away from the windshield and convert this lost light back into useful reflected light that reaches the user's eyes, thereby converting energy loss into useful output.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective layer is positioned in advance to prevent light from propagating away from the windshield. By placing the reflective layer at a specific location within the lens body, the system preemptively redirects light before it can be lost, ensuring maximum light efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If outgoing grating is positioned to diffract light, then head-up display function is achieved, but light propagates in directions away from windshield causing reduced output intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different regions of the optical waveguide lens. The reflective layer is selectively positioned in specific regions where light tends to propagate away from the windshield, while other regions maintain their diffraction grating structures for head-up display functionality. This localized modification preserves display function while correcting light intensity issues.
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 enhances light intensity and improves the imaging effect and user interaction experience by reducing light loss within the lens body, allowing for a more efficient and compact head-up display system.
Implementation Method 1
The light emitted by the display elements enters interior of lens body after diffraction by an incidence grating of the optical waveguide lens
Implementation Method 2
is casted on a surface of the windshield after total reflection inside the lens body
Implementation Method 3
is casted on a surface of the windshield after total reflection inside the lens body and diffraction by an outgoing grating
Implementation Method 4
a reflective layer arranged on the lens body and on the first surface, where the reflective layer aligns with the outgoing grating in the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an optical waveguide lens, a head-up display system, and a vehicle. The optical waveguide lens includes: a lens body including a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other in a first direction, a grating structure arranged on the lens body and including an incidence grating and an outgoing grating, and a reflective layer arranged on the lens body and on the first surface. The incidence grating is arranged on the first surface, and the outgoing grating is arranged on the second surface. The reflective layer aligns with the outgoing grating in the first direction. The reflective layer can reduce the risk of light leaving the lens body from portions without grating, thereby increasing the intensity of outputting light of the optical waveguide lens, and improving the imaging effect of the head-up display system and the interaction experience between the user and the vehicle.