HEADS-UP DISPLAY SYSTEM UTILIZING CONTROLLED REFLECTIONS FROM A DASHBOARD SURFACE

• US 20130120825A1
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: LAMBERT, DAVID K., KUHLMAN, FREDERICK F., SARMA, DWADASI H.R., SULTAN, MICHEL F., STARK, KRIS R., SYLVESTER, GAIL M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,553,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/23 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/31 Virtual images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• 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 5/045 Prism arrays

Abstract

A heads-up display system is configured for use in a vehicle. The system includes a standard vehicle window (i.e. no special coatings), an image projector, and a vehicle dashboard equipped with a faceted reflective surface. The image projector is configured to project an image onto the faceted reflective surface. The faceted reflective surface is configured to reflect the image from the image projector onto a window surface of the standard vehicle window. The window surface is oriented to reflect the image from the faceted reflective surface toward an occupant. The faceted reflective surface may be disposed within a plurality of troughs separated by a plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions. The plurality of troughs may be configured to shield the occupant from extraneous reflections. The faceted reflective surface may include a plurality of electrically controlled facets. The plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets may be an array of electrowetting cells.

Claims

1. A heads-up display system configured for use in a motor vehicle, wherein said system comprises:

a standard vehicle window;

an optical image projector; and

a vehicle dashboard equipped with a faceted reflective surface, wherein the optical image projector is configured to project an image onto the faceted reflective surface, the faceted reflective surface is configured to reflect the image from the optical image projector onto a window surface of the standard vehicle window, and the window surface is oriented to reflect the image from the faceted reflective surface toward an occupant.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said window surface is a windshield surface, wherein said reflected image appears to said occupant to occupy a wide portion of a windshield.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said faceted reflective surface includes a plurality of reflective facets.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of reflective facets are disposed within a plurality of troughs separated by a plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions, wherein the plurality of troughs are configured to shield said occupant from extraneous reflections.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of troughs are covered by a transparent material.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said faceted reflective surface includes a plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets is an array of electrowetting cells comprising a reflective fluid.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets is an array of electrowetting cells comprising an oil layer of opaque material overlaying a layer of reflective material.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said optical image projector is a scanning laser projector.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said optical image projector includes a controller configured to adjust said projected image based on a vehicle dashboard curvature and a vehicle window curvature.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is further configured to determine a vehicle occupant eye location and adjust said projected image based on the vehicle occupant eye location.

12. A vehicle dashboard assembly configured for use in a heads-up display system, said assembly comprises:

a dashboard; and

a faceted reflective surface, wherein the faceted reflective surface is configured to reflect an image projected onto the faceted reflective surface onto a vehicle window surface such that the image is reflected toward an occupant.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said faceted reflective surface includes a plurality of reflective facets.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein said plurality of reflective facets are disposed within a plurality of troughs separated by a plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions, wherein the plurality of troughs are configured to shield said occupant from extraneous reflections.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said plurality of troughs are covered by a transparent material.

16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein said faceted reflective surface includes a plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets.

17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets is an array of electrowetting cells comprising a reflective fluid.

18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein said reflective fluid is a eutectic alloy consisting essentially of gallium, indium, and tin.

19. The assembly of claim 16, wherein said plurality of electrically controlled reflective facets is an array of electrowetting cells comprising an oil layer of opaque material overlaying a layer of reflective material.

20. A faceted reflective surface configured to be coupled to a dashboard, said faceted reflective surface comprising:

a plurality of reflective facets,

a plurality of troughs; and

a plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions, wherein the plurality of reflective facets are disposed within the plurality of troughs, wherein the plurality of troughs are separated by the plurality of diffuse reflecting partitions, wherein the plurality of troughs are configured to shield an occupant from extraneous reflections.