METHOD OF OPERATING A VEHICLE HEAD-UP DISPLAY

• US 20170060235A1
• Filed: 08/23/2016
• Published: 03/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: BANYAY, Matus, HAEFNER, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US15/244,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20170060235A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/23 using reflectors
• 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 2370/149 Input by detecting viewing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1529 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/23 using reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/785 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: B60Y 2400/92 Driver displays
• 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 2027/0163 Electric or electronic control thereof
• 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 27/0093 : with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 : provided with illuminating means
• 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

The invention relates to a method for capturing fixations and viewing movements of the driver of a vehicle with a head-up display by way of observation using a camera (6) that receives an image of the head (2) of the driver which is reflected by a combiner (3) of the head-up display. According to the invention, at least some of the information displayed to the driver using the head-up display is selected depending on the fixations and viewing movements of the driver.

Claims

1. A method of operating a head-up display of a vehicle to selectively display information relevant to at least one of an object and a region outside the vehicle, comprising:

operating a camera located below a combiner of the head-up display to capture an image of a driver'"'"'s head reflected by the combiner;

operating a processor to;

a) determine a gaze-direction of at least one driver'"'"'s eye from the image of the head captured by the camera;

b) correlate the gaze direction with at least one of an object and a region outside the vehicle and aligned with the gaze direction; and

c) identify information relevant to the at least one of the object and the region; and

displaying, on the head-up display, the relevant information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating the driver'"'"'s head with light having a frequency/wavelength which is invisible to a human eye and is visible to the camera.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the processor to determine a position of the at least one driver'"'"'s eye from the image of the head captured by the camera; and

automatically adjusting a position of the combiner to align an eyebox produced thereby with the position determined by the processor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the combiner comprises a translucent surface located in a light path between a windshield of the vehicle and the driver'"'"'s head.

5. A method of operating a head-up display of a vehicle comprising:

operating a camera to capture an image of a driver'"'"'s head reflected by a combiner of the head-up display;

operating a processor to;

a) determine a gaze-direction of at least one driver'"'"'s eye from the image of the head captured by the camera;

b) correlate the gaze direction with at least one of an object and a region outside the vehicle and in the gaze direction; and

c) select information relevant to the at least one of the object and the region; and

displaying, on the head-up display, the relevant information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising illuminating the driver'"'"'s head with light having a frequency/wavelength which is invisible to a human eye and is visible to the camera.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

operating the processor to determine a position of the at least one driver'"'"'s eye from the image of the head captured by the camera; and

automatically adjusting a position of the combiner to align an eyebox produced thereby with the position determined by the processor.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the combiner comprises a translucent surface located in a light path between a windshield of the vehicle and the driver'"'"'s head.

9. A method of operating a head-up display of a vehicle comprising:

operating a camera to capture an image of a driver'"'"'s head reflected by a combiner;

operating a processor to determine a gaze direction of an driver'"'"'s eye from the image, correlate the gaze direction with an object and/or a region in the gaze direction, and select information relevant to the object; and

projecting onto the combiner information applicable to the object.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising illuminating the driver'"'"'s head with light having a frequency/wavelength which is invisible to a human eye and is visible to the camera.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

operating the processor to determine a position of the at least one driver'"'"'s eye from the image of the head captured by the camera; and

automatically adjusting a position of the combiner to align an eyebox produced thereby with the position determined by the processor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the combiner comprises a translucent surface located in a light path between a vehicle windshield and the driver'"'"'s head.