MULTIPLE VIEW DISPLAY SYSTEM USING A SINGLE PROJECTOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

• US 20120019781A1
• Filed: 07/21/2010
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: KUHLMAN, FREDERICK F., HARBACH, ANDREW P., PARKER, RICHARD D., SARMA, DWADASI H.R., SKIVER, STEVEN G., HARGIS, MARIAN C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,277,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 353/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/184 Displaying the same information on different displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• 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 35/29 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: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0165 associated with a head-down display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/26 Projecting separately subsidiary matter simultaneously with main image
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/28 Reflectors in projection beam in illumination beam G03B21/2066
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/403 the images being monoscopic
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A system and method to display a plurality of different images at multiple distinct locations using a single image projector and an image propagation control means to control a propagation pathway from the projector to a display at each location.

Claims

1. A system to display a plurality of different images at a plurality of locations, said system comprising:

an image projector configured to project each image during a distinct time period; and

an image propagation control means configured to control a propagation pathway from the projector to each location in accordance with the image output by the image projector.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system is installed in a vehicle.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a display at each location configured to display the image projected to the location.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image projector is configured to project a first image during a first time period, and project a second image during a second time period distinct from the first time period.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the image propagation control means comprises a minor assembly configured to direct the first image toward a first location during the first time period, and direct a second image toward a second location distinct from the first location during the second time period.

6. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the minor assembly comprises an electrically switchable transreflective minor (ESTM) configured to reflect the first image toward the first location when the ESTM is operated to a reflection state, and pass the second image toward the second location when the ESTM is operated to a transparent state.

7. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the minor assembly comprises a beam splitter, a first shutter device, and a second shutter device,

wherein the beam splitter is configured to simultaneously direct a first image toward a first location and a second location distinct from the first location during a first time period, and simultaneously direct a second image toward the first location and the second location during a second time period distinct from the first time period,

wherein the first shutter device is configured to pass the first image to the first location during the first time period, and block the second image during the second time period, and

wherein the second shutter device is configured to pass the second image to the second location during the second time period, and block the first image during the first time period.

8. The system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the first shutter device comprises a first liquid crystal device (LCD), and the second shutter device comprises a second LCD device.

9. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the minor assembly comprises an adjustable minor movable to a first position to reflect the first image toward the first location, and a second position to reflect the second image toward the second location.

10. The system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the mirror assembly comprises a DLP device configured to reflect the first image toward the first location, and reflect the second image toward the second location.

11. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of locations comprises a first location spaced apart from a second location.

12. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of locations comprises a first location adjacent a second location.

13. A method for displaying a plurality of different images at a plurality of locations, said method comprising the steps of:

projecting each image during a distinct time period by an image projector;

controlling a propagation pathway from the projector to each location in accordance with the image output by the image projector; and

displaying each image at each location.

14. The method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the step of projecting includes projecting a first image during a first time period and a second image distinct from the first image during a second time period distinct from the first time period.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the step of controlling propagation includes directing the first image toward a first location during the first time period, and directing the second image toward a second location distinct from the first location during the second time period.