Head-up display system utilizing fluorescent material

• US 20020120916A1
• Filed: 01/14/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio Incorporated (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Snider, Albert Monroe Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/047,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120916A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/100
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10201 Dielectric coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1022 Metallic coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10669 Luminescent agents
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10834 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• 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: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/315 Surface modified glass [e.g., tempered, strengthened, etc.]

Abstract

A display system useful as a head-up display for vehicles, such as aircraft, automobiles, trucks, etc., includes a fluorescent material that can be carried on a support. The head-up display system further includes a projection assembly having an electromagnetic radiation source. The projection assembly is configured to direct electromagnetic radiation of one or more selected wavelengths toward the support to cause the fluorescent material to fluoresce and form an image.

Claims

1. A display system, comprising:

at least one fluorescent material having an absorption band; and

a projection assembly having an electromagnetic radiation source, the projection assembly configured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band of the fluorescent material toward the fluorescent material to cause at least a portion of the fluorescent material to fluoresce.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material is carried on a support.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support is a laminated article having a first ply and a second ply.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fluorescent material is located between the first and second plies.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support is a monolithic article.

6. The system as claimed in claim 2, including a functional coating located on the support.

7. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the support is an automotive transparency.

8. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second plies is selected from glass, plastic, and ceramic.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second plies is selected from annealed glass, tempered glass, and heat strengthened glass.

10. The system as claimed in claim 3, including an interlayer located between the first and second plies, with the fluorescent material located between the first ply and the interlayer.

11. The system as claimed in claim 9, including a functional coating located between the second ply and the interlayer.

12. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the interlayer is selected from polyvinyl butyral, plasticized polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection assembly is controlled to cause the fluorescent material to form an image.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support has a first portion that is substantially transparent to the one or more selected wavelengths and a second portion that is substantially non-transparent to the one or more selected wavelengths.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic radiation source includes a laser or laser diode.

16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radiation is in the range of 300 nm to 410 nm.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection assembly includes a controller configured to selectively direct the radiation toward one or more selected areas of the fluorescent material.

18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projection assembly includes a directing system configured to direct the radiation from the radiation source toward the fluorescent material.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the directing system comprises at least one mirror.

20. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the directing system includes a movement device configured to direct the radiation toward at least a selected area of the fluorescent material.

21. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display system is a head-up display system.

22. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support is selected from a commercial window, a residential window, a commercial sign, an advertising display, and an insulating glass unit.

26. The method as claimed in claim 25, including defining a plurality of scan paths on at least a portion of the fluorescent material and selectively energizing and deenergizing the radiation source along the scan paths to form the image.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, including:

directing the electromagnetic radiation in a first direction along a first scan path while selectively energizing and deenergizing the radiation source;

displacing the electromagnetic radiation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; and

directing the electromagnetic radiation in a third direction substantially parallel to the first direction while selectively energizing and deenergizing the radiation source.

28. The method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the support is an automotive transparency and the method includes moving the radiation along at least a portion of the automotive transparency to form the image.

29. The method as claimed in claim 27, including energizing and deenergizing the radiation source to form adjacent fluorescent and non-fluorescent areas on the support.

30. The method as claimed in claim 27, including blocking and unblocking radiation from the radiation source to form adjacent fluorescent and non-fluorescent areas on the support.

31. A vehicle having a head-up display as claimed in claim 24.

23. A vehicle head-up display, comprising:

at least one fluorescent material having an absorption band; and

a projection assembly configured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band of the at least one fluorescent material toward the fluorescent material to cause at least a portion of the fluorescent material to fluoresce.

24. A vehicle head-up display, comprising:

a windshield having a first ply and a second ply;

at least one fluorescent material having an adsorption band and located between the first and second ply; and

a projection assembly having an electromagnetic radiation source and configured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band toward the fluorescent material to cause at least a portion of the fluorescent material to fluoresce to form an image.

25. A method of displaying images, comprising the steps of:

selectively directing electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source toward a support having at least one fluorescent material; and

controlling the radiation source to cause the fluorescent material to fluoresce to form an image.

32. A display system, comprising:

at least one light emitting material having an absorption band; and

a projection assembly having an electromagnetic radiation source, the projection assembly configured to direct radiation of one or more selected wavelengths within the absorption band of the light emitting material toward the light emitting material to cause at least a portion of the light emitting material to emit light.

33. The system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the light emitting material is selected from the group consisting of fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, and mixtures thereof.

34. The system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the system is a vehicle head-up display.

36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the light emitting material is selected from the group consisting of fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, and mixtures thereof.

35. A method of displaying images, comprising the steps of:

selectively directing electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source toward a support having one or more light emitting materials; and

controlling the radiation source to cause the light emitting material to emit light to form an image.