METHOD OF DATA DISPLAY THROUGH THE VEHICLE WINDSCREEN AND DEVICE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION

• US 20170102550A1
• Filed: 03/31/2014
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WayRay AG
• Original Assignee: Ooo Wayray
• Inventors: PONOMAREV, Vitaly Andreevich, DYAKOV, Sergey Aleksandrovich, SHCHERBINA, Anton Alekseevich
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/29 Holographic features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/333 Lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0145 creating an intermediate image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0183 Adaptation to parameters characterising the motion of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0196 having transparent supporting structure for display mounting, e.g. to a window or a windshield
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed

Abstract

Indication systems for the drivers of vehicles and cars include a data display device that combines two optical systems of the image display—the virtual image display system and the real image display system. The display device may be configured to provide a maximum of displayed information and to ensure safe driving, by controlling the level of details and the content of the data displayed for the vehicle driver, depending on the speed, and by choosing the optical system of data display to minimize the accident risk. Image quality and safe driving may be improved due to the combination of two systems and control of the level of detail of displayed data.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting visual data to a driver via a data display device including at least two optical systems, a controller, and a speed sensor, the method comprising:

obtaining a speed value from the speed sensor of a vehicle and transmitting the speed value to the controller;

comparing, by the controller, the obtained speed value to a threshold value; and

switching on at least one of the optical systems if the obtained speed value is above the threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is in a range of 0-40 km/h.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a first optical system forms a real image on a windscreen of the vehicle, and wherein a second optical system generates a virtual image beyond the windscreen and ahead of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controller switches on the second optical system that displays the virtual image and turns off the first optical system that forms the real image if the speed value is higher than or equal to the threshold value, and wherein the method further comprises switching on the first optical system that forms the real image and turning off the second optical system that displays the virtual image if the speed value is below the threshold value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

taking data from a vehicle position detector using the controller;

obtaining reference data, corresponding to the vehicle position detector data, from a database; and

transmitting the reference data from the database to the driver, using at least one of the optical systems.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a GPS receiver or a GLONASS receiver is used as the vehicle position detector.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein information on cultural, leisure, entertainment, sport, or art facilities located in an immediate vicinity of the vehicle can be used as the reference data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the database is located on a remote server, and wherein the reference data is accessed on-line or periodically uploaded into the data display device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein based on the obtained speed value, the method further comprises:

choosing, by the controller, a first set of data to be showed to the user; and

choosing, by the controller, a second set of data to be blocked from being shown to the user.

10. A data display device, comprising:

a controller;

a speed sensor;

a virtual image display system which includes;

a coherent light source,

illumination optical components, and

a first matrix and optical components generating a virtual image, including a film on a vehicle windscreen, wherein the film comprises at least one of;

a holographic image,

a light-induced grating recorded to work at a certain wavelength and be transparent to other visible spectrum wavelengths, or

a color filter that reflects light at a certain wavelength and is transparent to the other wavelengths of a visible spectrum;

a real image display system which includes;

sources of visible light,

illumination optical components, and

a second matrix and optical components generating a real image, including a partially transparent film on the vehicle windscreen, wherein the partially transparent film diffusely reflects only a preselected portion of visible light from the visible spectrum; and

a compact body containing the controller and one or more elements of the virtual image display system and the real image display system,

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to switch on a position detector comprising a GPS receiver or a GLONASS receiver.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a laser or a laser diode configured as a coherent light source for the virtual image display system.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a DLP matrix, or a LCD matrix, or a LCoS matrix configured as a matrix for the virtual image display system or for the real image display system.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising one or more lenses, mirrors or holographic images configured as optical elements for the virtual image display system or the real image display system.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising one or more lasers, laser diodes, LEDs, or phosphors for conversion of light to a visible light source for the real image display system.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein a transmission factor of the partially transparent film of the real image display system is over 70% for the visible spectrum.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the film of the virtual image display system is laminated on top of the partially transparent film of the real image display system.