VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH VIRTUAL RETINAL DISPLAY

• US 20150092042A1
• Filed: 09/18/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frsich, Manfred
• Granted Patent: US 10,908,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• 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 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A vision system of a vehicle includes at least one camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The at least one camera is operable to capture image data. A display disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The display is operable to display images derived from image data captured by the at least one camera. The display is a virtual retinal display that displays images at a virtual distance from the driver. When viewing images displayed by the virtual retinal display, the driver has the impression that the virtual distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to the displayed images is greater than the distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to the virtual retinal display.

Claims

1. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

at least one camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said at least one camera is operable to capture image data;

a display disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein said display is operable to display images derived from image data captured by said at least one camera;

wherein said display comprises a virtual retinal display that displays images at a virtual distance from the driver; and

wherein, when viewing images displayed by said virtual retinal display, the driver has the impression that the virtual distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to the displayed images is greater than the distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to said virtual retinal display.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein one of (i) said virtual retinal display is disposed in the instrument panel of the vehicle, (ii) said virtual retinal display is disposed in an A pillar of the vehicle, (iii) said virtual retinal display is disposed in the interior rear-view mirror of the vehicle, (iv) said virtual retinal display comprises a replacement of the interior rear-view mirror and (v) said virtual retinal display is disposed at eye glasses worn by the driver of the vehicle.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein the virtual distance is greater than at least about 1.5 meters.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein the virtual distance is greater than about 4 meters.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises (i) a light source module, (ii) an optical scanning module, (iii) an exit pupil expanding unit and (iv) a relay optic that directs the light rays towards the driver'"'"'s eyes, and wherein said light source comprises (a) one of (i) red, green and blue laser diodes and (ii) red, green and blue light emitting diodes, (b) three control units that vary the intensity of the individual color light sources and (c) optical means to combine the three color rays.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein one of (i) said optical scanning module comprises rotating scanning mirrors that direct the light in the desired directions, (ii) said optical scanning module comprises an array of microscopic scanning mirrors.

7. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises an exit pupil expanding unit and wherein said exit pupil expanding unit comprises a glass plate with one of (i) a diffusing surface, (ii) a regular micro lens array and (iii) an arbitrarily arranged micro lens array.

8. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said relay optic comprises a combination of spherical or aspheric lens elements.

9. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said relay optic comprises one of (i) a Fresnel lens and (ii) a diffractive optic.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises (i) a light source, (ii) a transmissive LCD, (iii) a first optic, (iv) an exit pupil enhancement element and (v) a second optic.

11. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises (i) a light source, (ii) a transmissive LCD optionally containing ray widening means and (iii) a relay optic.

12. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises (i) a LED array, (ii) micro lenses above respective individual LEDs which adjust the outcoming rays and (iii) a relay optic.

13. The vision system of claim 1, wherein a diopter adjustment is provided that allows the driver to adjust the virtual distance in accordance with the driver'"'"'s personal needs.

14. The vision system of claim 1, wherein a head tracking unit monitors the actual head position of the driver and, responsive to said head tracking unit, said system adjusts said virtual retinal display.

15. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

at least one camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said at least one camera is operable to capture image data;

a display disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein said display is operable to display images derived from image data captured by said at least one camera;

wherein said display comprises a virtual retinal display that displays images at a virtual distance from the driver; and

wherein, when viewing images displayed by said virtual retinal display, the driver has the impression that the virtual distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to the displayed images is greater than the distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to said virtual retinal display;

wherein said virtual retinal display comprises (i) a light source, (ii) an optical scanner, (iii) an exit pupil expanding unit and (iv) a relay optic that directs the light rays towards the driver'"'"'s eyes; and

wherein a head tracking unit monitors the actual head position of the driver and, responsive to said head tracking unit, said system adjusts the virtual retinal display.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said light source comprises (a) one of (i) red, green and blue laser diodes and (ii) red, green and blue light emitting diodes, (b) three control units that vary the intensity of the individual color light sources and (c) optical means to combine the three color rays.

17. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises an exit pupil expanding unit and wherein said exit pupil expanding unit comprises a glass plate with one of (i) a diffusing surface, (ii) a regular micro lens array and (iii) an arbitrarily arranged micro lens array.

18. A vision system of a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a plurality of cameras disposed at a vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said cameras are operable to capture image data for a surround vision system of the vehicle;

wherein said plurality of cameras comprises at least a rear camera disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and having a rearward field of view exterior of the vehicle;

wherein said plurality of cameras comprises opposite side cameras disposed at respective side portions of the vehicle and each having a respective field of view exterior of the vehicle;

a display disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle, wherein said display is operable to display images derived from image data captured by at least some of said cameras;

wherein said display comprises a virtual retinal display that displays images at a virtual distance from the driver; and

wherein, when viewing images displayed by said virtual retinal display, the driver has the impression that the virtual distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to the displayed images is greater than the distance from the driver'"'"'s eyes to said virtual retinal display; and

wherein a head tracking unit monitors the actual head position of the driver and, responsive to said head tracking unit, said system adjusts the virtual retinal display.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises (i) a light source, (ii) an optical scanner, (iii) an exit pupil expanding unit and (iv) a relay optic that directs the light rays towards the driver'"'"'s eyes, and wherein said light source comprises (a) one of (i) red, green and blue laser diodes and (ii) red, green and blue light emitting diodes, (b) three control units that vary the intensity of the individual color light sources and (c) optical means to combine the three color rays.

20. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said virtual retinal display comprises an exit pupil expanding unit and wherein said exit pupil expanding unit comprises a glass plate with one of (i) a diffusing surface, (ii) a regular micro lens array and (iii) an arbitrarily arranged micro lens array.