Windshield Display Shielding Grid for Reflection Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Windscreen display devices for motor vehicles face challenges in minimizing overall height while effectively suppressing interference reflections from ambient light, which can lead to shadowing and deterioration of the projected image.

Innovation Solution

A lattice structure with elongate grid elements is used, where the grid elements are arranged parallel to the projection direction and can move translatorily or rotationally to blur and eventually disappear from the viewer's perspective, reducing the overall height of the assembly and minimizing interference reflections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a curved reflective cover plate with light-absorbing surface is used to suppress interference reflections, then reflection suppression is improved, but overall height increases to 5-10 cm

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference reflectionsVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the light-absorbing surface into multiple discrete light-absorbing elements arranged in rows, rather than using a continuous light-absorbing surface. This segmentation allows the cover plate to be flatter while maintaining effective reflection suppression through the distributed elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a strongly curved three-dimensional surface to a flatter surface with light-absorbing elements distributed in a two-dimensional array. This dimensional change allows the same light-absorbing function to be achieved with reduced overall height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of stationary object

If the cover plate is made flatter to reduce height, then overall height is reduced, but light-absorbing effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverall heightVSAvoidreflection suppression effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of requiring the entire cover plate surface to be strongly curved, the patent applies light-absorbing properties locally at specific discrete positions and orientations. Each light-absorbing element is positioned and oriented to handle specific reflection paths, allowing the overall plate to remain flat.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a curved output surface is provided on the cover to reflect ambient light, then reflection suppression is improved, but overall height increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveambient light reflectionVSAvoidprojection device height
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the light-absorbing elements movable rather than fixed, allowing them to change orientation dynamically. This dynamic adjustment enables effective ambient light reflection suppression while maintaining a flatter overall structure, as the elements can be positioned optimally without requiring a strongly curved fixed surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 significantly reduces the overall height of the assembly needed to suppress interference reflections, maintaining display quality and light intensity while avoiding shadowing effects, by using a moving lattice structure that blurs and disappears when in motion.

Implementation Method 1

the side surfaces of the grid elements are each designed to be light-absorbing... The reflected ambient light is only reflected to a small extent on the light-absorbing surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

The movement blurs the contours of the cover grid in the direction of movement. From a certain speed of movement or oscillation frequency of the cover grid, it becomes blurred for the viewer and disappears.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMotion blur:

Data Source

PatentEP3387484B1Assembly for the reduction of reflection of ambient light for a windshield display for a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP3387484B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3387484B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3387484B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an assembly for reducing reflection for a windshield display device (1) for a motor vehicle (40). The assembly comprises a transparent cover pane (6) for protecting a projection device (2), a shielding grid (10) having a grid element (11) of a grid structure arranged perpendicular to or at an inclination to a surface of the cover pane (6), and a movement device (23), which is designed to set the shielding grid (10) in a motion that has a component parallel to the surface of the cover pane (6).