Head up display with night vision enhancement

• US 5,414,439 A
• Filed: 06/09/1994
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Shogren, William G., Harter, Joseph E. Jr., Groves, Doyle J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US08/257,310
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7-9, 348/115, 359/630, 359/631, 340/436, 340/958, 340/961, 340/980
• US Class Current: 345/7
• 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• 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 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• 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

A motor vehicle is equipped with an infrared camera for viewing roadway conditions in terms of a thermal image, and outputs a video signal to a head up display (HUD) which projects the camera view to the operator via the windshield or other combiner to display a virtual image in the operator'"'"'s field of view. The HUD is configured to magnify the image to the same size as the visual or real scene, and compensates for camera and windshield distortion. The virtual image is presented above or below the real scene or may be superimposed on the real scene. A video processor allows selection of only the warmest objects for display.

Claims

1. A night vision system for a motor vehicle comprising:

an infrared camera mounted on the vehicle for viewing a roadway scene in front of the vehicle and producing a video signal representing the thermal pattern of the scene;

a head up display comprising a combiner in the field of view of a vehicle operator, a video display for emitting an image, and an aspheric mirror for reflecting the image onto the combiner for viewing by the operator as a virtual image;

the video display being responsive to the video signal for displaying the thermal pattern as a visible image; and

the video display and aspheric mirror together affording a one-to-one size ratio of the virtual image to the real roadway scene observed by the operator.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the infrared camera distorts the roadway scene and the aspheric mirror compensates for the camera distortion.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the combiner comprises a vehicle windshield which introduces distortion of the video image;

the infrared camera introduces distortion of the scene; and

the aspheric mirror compensates for the distortion from both sources so that the virtual image is substantially free of distortion.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the horizontal field of view of the virtual image is on the order of 12 degrees.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the video display displays an image having the same field of view as the virtual image.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the horizontal field of view of the virtual image is on the order of 12 degrees; and

the field of view of the camera is substantially the same as that of the displayed virtual image.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the virtual image is positioned below the operators line of sight to the real roadway scene.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the virtual image is superimposed on the real roadway scene to augment the real scene.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the video signal is coupled to the video display by a video processor;

and

the video processor includes object detection means for limiting the signal to the warmest objects in the scene, thereby reducing image content and emphasizing warm objects.

10. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the video signal is coupled to the video display by a video processor which includes:

an object detection mode for limiting the signal to the warmest objects in the scene, thereby reducing image content while displaying the warmest objects;

a full contrast mode for including a wide thermal range of object images in the signal thereby increasing the image content; and

an operator control for selecting an object detection mode or a full contrast mode.