Vehicle use portable heads-up display

• US 10,007,110 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensedriver TechnologiesLLC
• Original Assignee: Sensedriver TechnologiesLLC
• Inventors: Amaru, Michael, Herrera, Gustavo
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOKHAM, JAMES S
• Application Number:
  US14/448,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20150054760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-174, 345 7- 9, 345179, 359630-631, 701 36- 48, 701533, 701532, 2482062, 353 14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0169 Supporting or connecting means other than the external walls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0196 having transparent supporting structure for display mounting, e.g. to a window or a windshield
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

Provided is a system for presenting information to a driver in a vehicle with a steering wheel and dashboard and/or windshield includes a first enclosure that supports a mobile device and a combiner glass (e.g., half reflective mirror) on the dashboard or windshield. A second bracket releasably attaches a tactile input device to the steering wheel. The tactile input device generates signals representing motion of the driver'"'"'s finger or thumb across a touch pad and the actuation of an entry key of the device. The tactile input device and the mobile device communicate wirelessly, in preferred embodiments. The enclosure supports the mobile device to have an orientation with respect to the combiner glass that produces a heads-up display that can be controlled by the driver'"'"'s interaction with the tactile input device. Advantageously, the present invention provides systems and methods that minimize visual, mechanical and cognitive distractions.

Claims

1. A vehicle heads-up display system, comprising;

a display assembly, comprising;

a platform configured removably receive and physically support a mobile phone and/or tablet having a display screen;

a combiner glass coupled to the platform and oriented at an angle with respect to the supported mobile phone and/or tablet display screen to at least partially reflect an output from the display screen,

wherein the platform defines an opening and is configured to align the received and supported mobile phone and/or tablet display screen with the combiner glass through the opening; and

a coupler configured couple the platform to a surface or a component of a vehicle;

a tactile input device, comprising;

a touch-sensitive input device configured to be responsive to user inputs;

a transceiver configured to communicate control signals to the mobile phone and/or tablet in response to the user inputs; and

a bracket configured in couple the tactile input device to a steering apparatus, and

a control application configured to be installed on the mobile phone and/or tablet and, once installed, configured to respond to control signals from the tactile input device to enable user interaction with applications on the mobile phone and/or tablet via the tactile input device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the coupler is configured to couple the platform to at least one of a windshield or dashboard.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the combiner glass includes a mirror.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the mirror is a semi-transparent mirror.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the mirror is about a 50% reflective mirror.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is configured to align the display screen of the mobile phone and/or tablet with the combiner glass.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the combiner glass is oriented to reflect the output of the display screen of the supported mobile phone and/or tablet in a direction substantially opposite a travel direction of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the combiner glass is oriented to reflect the output of the display screen at an angle in a range of greater than 0 degrees and about 90 degrees relative to the surface of the display screen of the supported mobile phone and/or tablet.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the combiner glass is oriented to reflect the output of the display screen at an angle in a range of about 22.5 degrees to about 67.5 degrees relative to the surface of the display screen of the supported mobile phone and/or tablet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is a touchscreen.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is responsive to finger swiping motions.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile user input device further comprises:

an enter button responsive to user actuation to register a selection of mobile phone and/or tablet mobile phone and/or tablet option.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the enter button is integral with the touch-sensitive input device.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile input device further comprises:

a processor-enabled input device application configured to process the user inputs and to responsively generate the control signals for output by the transceiver.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the control application is configured to disable input devices of the mobile phone and/or tablet in response to a signal from the tactile input device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the control application is configured to put the mobile phone and/or tablet in a drive mode wherein a least some of the input devices of the mobile phone and/or tablet are disabled.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the control application is configured to enable user control of one or more of a music application, a navigation application, a phone application, a text application, a social media application, and/or combinations of one or more thereof via the tactile input device.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to wirelessly communicate the electronic device control signals to a portable electronic device.

19. A display assembly of a vehicle heads-up display system, comprising:

a platform configured to receive and physically support a portable electronic device in a substantially horizontal position, the portable electronic device taking the form of a mobile phone having a display screen;

a combiner glass oriented at an angle with respect to the supported electronic device display screen to at least partially reflect an output from the display screen,

wherein the platform defines an opening and is configured to align the received and supported mobile phone display screen with the combiner glass through the opening; and

a coupler configured couple to a surface or a component of a vehicle,

wherein the platform is configured to align the display of the electronic device with the combiner glass.

20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the coupler is configured to couple the platform to at least one of a windshield or dashboard.

21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the combiner glass includes a mirror.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the mirror is a semi-transparent mirror.

23. The assembly of claim 22, wherein the mirror is about a 50% reflective mirror.

24. The assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to lock the platform relative to the coupler.

25. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the combiner glass is oriented to reflect the output of the display screen of the supported electronic device in a direction substantially opposite a travel direction of the vehicle.

26. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the combiner glass is oriented to reflect the output of the display screen at an angle in a range of greater than 0 degrees and about 90 degree relative to the surface of the display screen of the supported electronic device.

27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the combiner glass is oriented to reflect the output of the display screen at an angle in a range of about 22.5 degrees to about 67.5 degrees relative to the surface of the display screen of the supported electronic device.

28. A tactile input device, comprising:

a housing;

a touch-sensitive input device configured to receive user inputs;

a processor-enabled input device application configured to process the user inputs and to responsively generate electronic device control signals;

a transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate the electronic device control signals to a portable electronic device in the form of a mobile phone or tablet disposed in a heads-up display comprising a platform defining an opening and a combiner glass, wherein the platform is configured to align a display screen of the mobile phone or tablet with the combiner glass through the opening, the combiner glass oriented at an angle with respect to the display screen to at least partially reflect an output from the display screen; and

a bracket configured to couple the housing to an outer ring of a steering apparatus,

wherein the processor-enabled input device application and transceiver cooperate to generate the control signals to enable user interactions with applications on the electronic device using the touch-sensitive input device.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the touch-sensitive device includes a selection mechanism configured to register a user selection of an electronic device option.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is responsive to finger swiping motions.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein the tactile user input device further comprises:

an enter button responsive to user actuation to register a selection of an electronic device option.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the enter button is integral with the touch-sensitive input device.

34. The device of claim 28, wherein the processor-enabled input device application and the transceiver cooperate to receive and process information wirelessly received from the portable electronic device.

35. The device of claim 28, wherein the housing is detachable from the bracket.

30. The device of clam 28, wherein the touch-sensitive input device is a touchscreen.

36. A method of interacting with a portable electronic device, comprising:

installing a control application on the portable electronic device, the portable electronic device being a mobile phone or tablet;

receiving and physically supporting the portable electronic device having a display screen in a display assembly comprising;

a platform configured to removably receive and support the portable electronic device in a substantially horizontal position;

a combiner glass oriented at an angle with respect to the supported electronic device display screen to at least partially reflect an output from the display screen, wherein the platform aligns the display screen with the combiner glass,

wherein the platform defines an opening and is configured to align the received and supported mobile phone or tablet display screen with the combiner glass through the opening; and

a coupler configured to couple to a surface or a component of a vehicle; and

controlling the electronic device with a tactile input device, comprising;

touch-sensitive input device configured to be responsive to user inputs;

a processor-enabled input device application configured to process the user inputs and to responsively generate electronic device control signals;

a transceiver configured to communicate the electronic device control signals to the portable electronic device in response to the user inputs; and

a bracket configured to couple the tactile input device to a steering apparatus,

including the control signals providing user interaction with applications on the portable electronic device.