Windshield Virtual Image Display With Polarized Reflective Optics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle displays, such as large screens and HUDs, occupy significant space and can distract drivers or obstruct airflow, while smaller HUDs have limited viewing angles and high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle display system using a projector, optical reflector, and display mirror, where the optical reflector employs nanostructures to diffract and reflect light, allowing a virtual image to be displayed on a vehicle's windshield or existing glass surfaces, minimizing space and enhancing visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a large display screen is installed in the vehicle, then image visibility is improved, but the display screen occupies a large area inside the vehicle and reduces driver concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the windshield surface as a display medium, transitioning from a traditional vertical screen orientation to a horizontal surface mounted on the dashboard. This dimensional change allows the display to be integrated into the existing windshield structure, providing large-area visibility without occupying additional interior space that would distract the driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The windshield serves multiple functions: it acts as both the protective glass barrier and the display surface for projection. By making the display medium universal (the windshield itself), the system eliminates the need for separate large screens while maintaining visibility and avoiding driver distraction.
2Ease of operation
If a traditional HUD is used to display driving information, then driver concentration is maintained, but the screen size is very small and the viewing angle is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent expands the display area by utilizing the extensive surface area of the windshield, transforming the limited HUD display into a large-format projection. This dimensional expansion allows simultaneous maintenance of driver focus (through windshield integration) while dramatically increasing screen size and viewing angle.
3Illumination intensity
If a high-power light source is used in HUD to maintain visibility during the day, then image visibility is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the projection parameters by utilizing the windshield's inherent reflective properties and the projector's optimized projection optics. This parameter change allows achieving adequate visibility during daytime without requiring high-power light sources, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining image visibility.
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 system provides a large, clear display with minimal space usage, suitable for both essential driving information and entertainment, while maintaining driver focus and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The optical reflector includes a meta-surface on which a plurality of nanostructures are arranged and which diffracts and reflects the projection light according to a shape and arrangement form of each of the arranged nanostructures
Implementation Method 2
an optical reflector positioned in one region in a vehicle to reflect the projection light
Implementation Method 3
a polarizing filter having a polarization axis in a first direction is coated on an external lens emitting the projection light
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle display system including a projector configured to emit projection light to a display mirror configured to reflect the projection light and transmit first reflected light to an optical reflector, as second reflected light reflected on the optical reflector is incident, to display a virtual image that is visible to a user in a vehicle; and the optical reflector positioned in one region in the vehicle to reflect the first reflected light to the display mirror. A polarizing filter having a polarization axis in a first direction is coated on an external lens emitting the projection light. The display mirror is one region of a windshield, made of glass, a window, and a transparent flat plate, made of glass or acrylic, and a polarizing filter having a polarization axis in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction is coated on an inside of the display mirror.