Windshield HUD Layout for High-Resolution Display Without Sunlight Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-up-display apparatuses face challenges in achieving high resolution and durability due to sunlight penetration, which damages liquid crystal panels and polarizers, and struggle with downsizing while maintaining performance.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a windshield glass as a reflection surface, using a polarizer to absorb P-polarized sunlight and a light-direction converting panel to project high-resolution images, ensuring the images are reflected at a safe distance from the driver's line of sight, and incorporates a large-scale high-resolution image display apparatus to provide varying image sizes and resolutions on the windshield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a small liquid crystal display element is used for downsizing, then the set size is reduced, but the resolution of the projection images deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a 2D liquid crystal display panel to a 3D volumetric display structure using multiple light sources arranged in a spatial configuration. This allows high-resolution imaging without requiring a large flat panel surface area, thus achieving downsizing while maintaining resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple light sources to create multiple copies of the same image information in different spatial positions. These copied light paths are then combined through optical elements to form a high-resolution projection, effectively achieving high resolution without a large display element.
2Ease of operation
If the windshield glass reflects image light to display information, then the driver can observe virtual images, but sunlight penetration damages the liquid crystal panel and polarizer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the vulnerable liquid crystal panel and polarizer from the direct sunlight path by replacing them with LED light sources and optical elements that are more resistant to thermal damage. The harmful sunlight is effectively extracted from the system by eliminating the sensitive components it would otherwise damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive, heat-sensitive liquid crystal panels with more durable LED light sources that can withstand sunlight exposure. While LEDs have a finite lifespan, they are significantly more resistant to thermal damage from sunlight, making them suitable for automotive applications where sunlight exposure is inevitable.
3Illumination intensity
If a concave mirror is used to enlarge images for the driver, then virtual images are provided, but sunlight collection damages the images on the liquid crystal panel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful concentrated sunlight into a beneficial effect by using the same concave mirror to concentrate LED light sources. The mirror that would normally concentrate harmful sunlight is repurposed to concentrate beneficial LED light, creating bright virtual images while eliminating the damage problem by replacing the vulnerable liquid crystal panel with heat-resistant LEDs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces LED light sources as an intermediary between the concave mirror and the projection system. These LEDs serve as a heat-resistant intermediary that can withstand the concentrated light from the mirror without damage, unlike the previous liquid crystal panel. This intermediary allows the mirror to function effectively without causing damage to the display components.
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
This configuration allows for high-resolution, distortion-corrected virtual images on the windshield, reducing sunlight-induced damage and enhancing image quality, while enabling downsizing of the display apparatus without compromising performance.
Implementation Method 1
a polarizer to absorb P-polarized sunlight
Implementation Method 2
causing a windshield glass of a vehicle to reflect image light to display image information
Implementation Method 3
a light-direction converting panel to project high-resolution images
Data Source
AI summary
An information display apparatus that displays image information on a vehicle includes a HUD apparatus projecting a large-scale virtual image onto a distant position and serving as a first information display apparatus 100 arranged between a windshield glass 6 of the vehicle and an instrument panel, and effectively displays a plurality of pieces of the image information by making coordination with a second information display apparatus 48 close to the windshield glass 6, the second information display apparatus causing a transparent dispersion sheet in the windshield glass to directly reflect a screen of a large-scale high-resolution image display panel so that the screen is observed by the driver.