Heads up display system

• US 9,927,609 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Cammenga, David J., Tonar, William L., Poll, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US15/192,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20170045737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 359245, 359240, 359238, 359237, 359246, 35948301, 359630-632
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/20 Optical features of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/347 Optical elements for superposition of display information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 3/6722 with adjustable passage of light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/013 comprising a combiner of particular shape, e.g. curvature
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0194 with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/283 used for beam splitting or combining
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3058 comprising electrically conductive elements, e.g. wire grids, conductive particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0102 Constructional details, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13306 Circuit arrangements or driving methods for the control of single liquid crystal cells G02F1/132, G02F1/133382 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/09 transflective
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/604 Polarised screens

Abstract

A heads up display system of a vehicle including a combiner screen having a first substantially transparent substrate defining a first surface and a second surface, a second substantially transparent substrate defining a third surface and a fourth surface. A primary seal is disposed between the first and second substrates. The seal and the first and second substrates define a cavity therebetween. An electro-optic material is positioned within the cavity and a reflective polarizer is positioned on one of the first and second surfaces. A projector projects light having a first polarization toward the first surface of the first substrate.

Claims

1. A heads up display system of a vehicle, comprising:

a combiner screen comprising;

a first substantially transparent substrate defining a first surface and a second surface;

a second substantially transparent substrate defining a third surface and a fourth surface;

a primary seal disposed between the first and second substrates, wherein the seal and the first and second substrates define a cavity therebetween;

an electro-optic material positioned within the cavity; and

a reflective polarizer positioned on one of the first and second surfaces, wherein the reflective polarizer comprises a wire grid polarizer and is positioned on the second surface of the first substrate and is electrically connected to the electro-optic material; and

a projector for projecting light having a first polarization toward the first surface of the first substrate.

2. The heads up display system of claim 1, wherein the reflective polarizer is configured to allow transmission of a second polarized light and to reflect the light having a first polarization.

3. The heads up display system of claim 1, wherein the first substrate has a spherical curvature.

4. The heads up display system of claim 3, further comprising:

a third substrate positioned between the first substrate and the projector, wherein the reflective polarizer is positioned on the first surface of the first substrate.

5. The heads up display system of claim 1, wherein the combiner screen has a reflectance to the light from the projector of greater than about 50%.

6. A combiner screen for a heads up display, comprising:

at least two substantially transparent substrates positioned in a spaced apart configuration;

an electro-optic material positioned between the at least two substantially transparent substrates;

a reflective polarizer positioned between the electro-optic material and at least one of the substrates, wherein the reflective polarizer is electrically coupled to the electro-optic material; and

an electrically conductive layer, wherein the reflective polarizer and the electrically conductive layer are positioned on opposite sides of the electro-optic material.

7. The combiner screen of claim 6, wherein the reflective polarizer is electrically conductive.

8. The combiner screen of claim 7, wherein the reflective polarizer is a wire grid polarizer.

9. The combiner screen of claim 6, wherein the at least two substantially transparent substrates comprise three substantially transparent substrates.

10. The combiner screen of claim 6, wherein the reflective polarizer is configured to reflect vertically polarized light.

11. A heads up display system of a vehicle, comprising:

a projector for projecting light of a first polarization; and

a combiner screen positioned away from a vehicle windshield comprising;

a substantially transparent substrate defining a first surface and a second surface, wherein the substrate is curved along at least two axes; and

a reflective polarizer positioned on the second surface of the substantially transparent substrate, wherein the combiner screen has a reflectance of the first polarization of light greater than about 40%.

12. The heads up display system of claim 11, further comprising:

an electro-optic element positioned on an opposite side of the reflective polarizer than the substantially transparent substrate.

13. The heads up display system of claim 12, wherein the substrate has a spherical curvature.

14. The heads up display system of claim 13, wherein the substrate has a radius of spherical curvature of less than or equal to about 1250 mm.

15. The heads up display system of claim 14, wherein the substrate has a radius of spherical curvature of less than or equal to about 750 mm.

16. The heads up display system of claim 15, wherein the reflective polarizer comprises a dual brightness enhancement film.

17. The heads up display system of claim 12, further comprising:

an electro-optic material in electrical connection with the reflective polarizer.