Reducing Driver Distraction Using a Heads-Up Display
First Claim
1. A method of reducing the distraction of a driver of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a windshield in front of the driver, the method comprising:
- receiving an image from a generally front facing camera system mounted on the motor vehicle, the image including data regarding a portion of a road surface generally in front of the motor vehicle and an ambient brightness;
receiving data pertaining to the position and orientation of the motor vehicle from at least one location sensing device;
computing a desired route between the position of the motor vehicle and a destination; and
displaying, on the windshield, a navigational image that is computed as a function of the desired route, the position and orientation of the motor vehicle, a curvature of the portion of the road surface, and a line of sight of the driver, the navigational image appearing, to the driver, to be superimposed on the road surface in front of the motor vehicle.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Driver distraction is reduced by providing information only when necessary to assist the driver, and in a visually pleasing manner. Obstacles such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and road defects are detected based on analysis of image data from a forward-facing camera system. An internal camera images the driver to determine a line of sight. Navigational information, such as a line with an arrow, is displayed on a windshield so that it appears to overlay and follow the road along the line of sight. Brightness of the information may be adjusted to correct for lighting conditions, so that the overlay will appear brighter during daylight hours and dimmer during the night. A full augmented reality is modeled and navigational hints are provided accordingly, so that the navigational information indicates how to avoid obstacles by directing the driver around them. Obstacles also may be visually highlighted.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A method of reducing the distraction of a driver of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a windshield in front of the driver, the method comprising:
-
receiving an image from a generally front facing camera system mounted on the motor vehicle, the image including data regarding a portion of a road surface generally in front of the motor vehicle and an ambient brightness; receiving data pertaining to the position and orientation of the motor vehicle from at least one location sensing device; computing a desired route between the position of the motor vehicle and a destination; and displaying, on the windshield, a navigational image that is computed as a function of the desired route, the position and orientation of the motor vehicle, a curvature of the portion of the road surface, and a line of sight of the driver, the navigational image appearing, to the driver, to be superimposed on the road surface in front of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A system for reducing the distraction of a driver of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a windshield in front of the driver, the windshield having a given three-dimensional shape, the system comprising:
-
an imaging system configured to produce images on the windshield; a first camera for imaging the interior of the motor vehicle, the first camera being oriented to capture images of the driver; a second camera for imaging a road in front of the motor vehicle; a touch screen for configuring the system; a location sensing device for obtaining data that indicate the current position and orientation of the motor vehicle; and a computing processor coupled to the imaging system, first camera, second camera, touch screen, and location sensing device, the computing processor being configured to; (i) determine a line of sight of the driver based on images received from the first camera; (ii) create navigational images based on data received from the second camera, the location sensing device, data received from the touch screen, and the line of sight; (iii) transform the navigational images according to the given three-dimensional shape of the windshield, and (iv) cause the imaging system to display the transformed images on the windshield so that the images appear, to the driver, to be superimposed on the road surface in front of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification