SAFETY FOR A VEHICLE OPERATOR WITH AN HMD

• US 20160187651A1
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Original Assignee: Osterhout Design Group
• Inventors: Nortrup, Edward N., Border, John N.
• Application Number:
  US14/956,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20160187651A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• 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 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/59 inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/597 Recognising the driver's state or behaviour, e.g. attention or drowsiness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems for integrating head-worn computing into an automotive environment. A method for providing displayed content to a user of a head-mounted display while operating a vehicle with improved safety may include determining if the user is looking through a windshield of the vehicle or at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior. If the user is looking through the windshield, the displayed content is prevented from being provided for viewing by the user within a display field of view of the head mounted display. If the user is looking at an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior, displayed content is provided for viewing by the user within the display field of view.

Claims

1. A method for providing displayed content to a user of a head-mounted display while operating a vehicle with improved safety, comprising:

determining if the user is looking through one of a windshield of the vehicle and an adjacent portion of the vehicle interior adjacent to the windshield;

if the user is looking through the windshield, preventing displayed content from being provided for viewing by the user within a display field of view of the head mounted display; and

if the user is looking at the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior, providing displayed content for viewing by the user within the display field of view.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified and displayed content associated with the identified portion is provided for viewing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified by comparing a gaze direction of the head-mounted display to a motion direction of the head-mounted display.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified by analyzing images captured by a camera associated with the head-mounted display to identify objects in the vehicle interior.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the adjacent portion of the vehicle interior is identified by analyzing images captured by an infrared camera to identify one or more infrared targets in the vehicle interior that are associated with the adjacent portion of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying whether the user is looking through the windshield or a side window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an automobile, an airplane, a ship or a train.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed content is navigational information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed content is operating information associated with the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed content includes images from cameras external to the vehicle.