Vehicular Heads-Up Display System

• US 20080051946A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Breed, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,068,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/246 Tread wear monitoring systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0449 Passive transducers, e.g. using surface acoustic waves, backscatter technology or pressure sensitive resonators near field passive transducers B60C23/0428
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0276 reaction to emergency situations, e.g. crash
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/2863 backward facing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23519 Resin for coating fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23557 Molding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2358 Bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2359 Welding
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 : in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 : Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 : comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 : characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 : with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 : Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 : Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 : comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 : comprising information/image processing systems
• 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 27/01 : Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10178 : including auxiliary means for focusing, repeating or boosting the electromagnetic interrogation field comparable booster antennas integrated on the record carrier itself G06K19/07794
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers

Abstract

Heads-up display systems for vehicles which generate a virtual display in a field of view of an occupant of the vehicle when facing outward of the vehicle. A control system is coupled to the heads-up display system and detects an action by the occupant and controls the content of the virtual display being generated by the heads-up display system based on the detected action.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a heads-up display system for generating a virtual display in a field of view of an occupant of the vehicle when facing outward of the vehicle; and

a control system coupled to said heads-up display system for detecting an action by the occupant and controlling the content of the virtual display being generated by said heads-up display system based on the detected action.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said control system comprises:

a sensor system including an antenna and an activation area arranged to be accessible to the occupant of the vehicle; and

an interrogator arranged to direct a signal to said sensor system and receive a return signal with variations between the directed and received signals being convertible into an indication of said activation area being touched by the occupant.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a steering wheel, said sensor system being arranged on a circumference of said steering wheel.

4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein said sensor system comprises a surface acoustic wave device or a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a windshield having a plurality of layers of glass, said heads-up display system comprising organic light emitting diodes arranged between a pair of said layers of glass.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a voice-reception system which receives vocal commands from the occupant.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a gesture-detection system which detects gestures by the occupant.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said gesture-detection system comprises a camera having a field of view of hands or an upper body region of an occupant expected to exercise control of said heads-up display and a processor arranged to receive images from said camera, detect movement of a head, hand or arm of the occupant in one of predetermined number of areas and perform a function based on the detection of movement in the predetermined area.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an in-vehicle signage system containing information about roads being traveled by the vehicle and signs along the roads, said control system being coupled to said in-vehicle signage system and arranged to control said heads-up display system to display information from said in-vehicle signage system.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said in-vehicle signage system contains a map database with road signs and enables said control system to control said heads-up display system to display current signs, previous signs and future signs upon request by the occupant, said in-vehicle signage system being arranged to receive transmissions from road signs along the road being traveled by the vehicle and convert the transmissions into information to be displayed by said heads-up display system.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a location determining system arranged to determine the location of the vehicle, said in-vehicle signage system being arranged to obtain information from the Internet based on its determined location.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said in-vehicle signage system is arranged to translate the signs into a different language or to annunciate the content of the signs upon request by the occupant.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a route guidance system containing a map database; and

a location determining system for determining the location of the vehicle,

said control system being coupled to said route guidance system and said location determining system and controlling said heads-up display to display a map of the area around the vehicle with an indication of the vehicle'"'"'s location on the map.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said control system is arranged to enable remote control thereof by a remote party upon request by the occupant such that assistance with vehicle navigation is available to the occupant by the remote party.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein said control system is arranged to control said heads-up display to display a view of the road ahead at a location at which it is an overlay onto a view of the same road seen by the occupant with an indication of a path to follow to guide the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged to provide an interrupt display function which causes an interruption of content currently being displayed on said heads-up display, said interrupt display function optionally being an incoming e-mail notification.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said control system is arranged to enable surfing on the Internet and display of television programs.

18. A method for controlling one of a plurality of different components in a vehicle, comprising:

generating a virtual display in a field of view of an occupant when facing outward of the vehicle;

arranging at least one microphone in the vehicle to detect vocal output of the occupant;

analyzing the detected vocal output to determine which component is to be controlled;

controlling the component based on the detected vocal output; and

adjusting the display to indicate the manner in which the component is being controlled.

19. A method for providing information to an occupant of a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

generating a virtual display in a field of view of the occupant when facing outward of the vehicle on which information is displayed;

arranging at least one camera in the vehicle to obtain images of the occupant;

analyzing the images to detect movement of the occupant; and

controlling the display based on the detected movement of the occupant to enable the information displayed on the display to be varied based on occupant movement.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of detecting movement of the occupant comprises:

defining at least one predetermined of the compartment to constitute a virtual switch and detecting movement of finger of the occupant into the at least one predetermined area;

determining a direction in which the occupant'"'"'s face is pointed; and

/or detecting the direction in which one of the occupant'"'"'s fingers is pointed.