Combined head-up display

• US 6,359,737 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Stringfellow, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spector, David N.
• Application Number:
  US09/627,484
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 359/629, 359/630, 359/631, 359/632, 359/633, 250/214.VT, 250/207, 345/7, 345/9, 349/11
• US Class Current: 359/631
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0018 with means for preventing ghost images anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/30 Polarising elements light-modulating devices with active elements G02F1/00

Abstract

A head-up display for a vehicle, the display is capable of projecting an imaging illumination from an image source and a night vision display from a night vision source. The display utilizes a beam-splitter which receives the projected image illumination and night vision display and the beam-splitter directs a combined output to a mirror and a combiner for producing a virtual image in front of the eyes of a vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A head-up display for a vehicle having a windshield, comprising:

a) an image source for providing an imaging illumination;

b) a night vision display source providing a night vision display;

c) a beam-splitter receiving said imaging illumination and said night vision display, said beam-splitter receiving and directing said imaging illumination and said night vision display;

d) a combiner including a portion of said windshield; and

e) an off-axis aspheric mirror for reflecting said imaging illumination and said night vision display.

2. The display as in claim 1, wherein said mirror compensates for distortions due to the off-axis configuration and the curvature of said windshield portion of the combiner, wherein said aspheric mirror is tiltably adjustable to accommodate the vertical location of the vehicle operator'"'"'s head.

3. The display as in claim 1, wherein said image source comprises a vacuum fluorescent display.

4. The display as in claim 1, wherein said image source comprises a liquid crystal display.

5. The display as in claim 4 wherein said liquid crystal display provides illumination that is polarized to enhance reflection from the inside surface of the windshield.

6. The display as in claim 1, further including a transparent cover which transmits the imaging illumination directed to the windshield, said transparent cover being shaped to direct sunlight and skylight reflections therefrom away from the eyes of the vehicle operator.

7. The display as in claim 1, wherein the illumination of said night vision display and said image source are independently controlled.

8. A head-up display for a vehicle comprising:

a) an image source for providing imaging illumination;

b) a night vision display source providing a night vision display;

c) a combiner for receiving said imaging illumination and said night vision display to produce in response thereto a virtual image of said image source and said night vision display;

d) an off-axis aspheric mirror for reflecting said imaging illumination and said night vision display to said combiner from said image source and said night vision display source and for compensating distortions due to the off-axis configuration and any curvature in said combiner, wherein said aspheric mirror is tiltably adjustable to accommodate the vertical location of the vehicle operator'"'"'s head; and

e) a beam-splitter receiving said imaging illumination and said night vision display, said beam-splitter directing said imaging illumination and said night vision display to said mirror.

9. The display as in claim 8, wherein said image source comprises a vacuum fluorescent display.

10. The display as in claim 8, wherein said image source comprises a liquid crystal display.

11. The display as in claim 10, wherein said liquid crystal display provides illumination that is polarized to enhance reflection from the inside surface of the windshield.

12. The display as in claim 8, further including a transparent cover that transmits said imaging illumination directed to said windshield, said transparent cover being shaped to direct sunlight and skylight reflections therefrom away from the eyes of the vehicle operator.

13. The display as in claim 8, wherein said combiner further comprises a reflection coating applied to the windshield.