Interactive heads up display (IHUD)

• US 6,873,376 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Edward Rofe
• Original Assignee: Michael Edward Rofe
• Inventors: Rofe, Michael Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Parker, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/696,967
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 345/174, 349/11, 349/12, 359/839
• US Class Current: 349/11
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10504 Liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• 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: 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 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes

Abstract

A touch screen assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a rearview mirror being disposed in an interior of the automotive vehicle and having at least one glass surface. The touch screen assembly also includes a plurality of electrodes attached to the at least one glass surface. The electrodes are closely coupled defining a contact area. The contact area is a region, when touched by an occupant changes electrical characteristics between the electrodes.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly in for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a rearview mirror adapted to be disposed in an interior of the automotive vehicle;

a layer of liquid crystal having a first perimeter and defined to be within the physical boundaries of said rearview mirror;

a plurality of first electrodes attached to a surface of said rearview mirror; and

said first electrodes closely coupled defining a contact area, said contact area being a region, when touched by an occupant changes electrical characteristics between said first electrodes.

2. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a first polarizing layer, having a second perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal so that any polarized light passing through said layer of liquid crystal is due to said first polarizing layer.

3. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a second polarizing layer, having a third perimeter, disposed to overlap said layer of liquid crystal and spaced from said first polarizing layer, said liquid crystal being sandwiched between the first and second polarizing layers.

4. A rearview mirror assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a transparent second electrode disposed directly adjacent to said layer of liquid crystal.

5. A rearview mirror assembly comprising:

a rearview mirror adapted to be disposed in an interior of the automotive vehicle and having at least one glass surface;

a layer of liquid crystal having a first perimeter and associated with said at least one glass surface to display information from said at least one glass surface within a field of vision of an operator of a vehicle;

a transparent first electrode disposed so that it is directly adjacent the layer of said liquid crystal;

a plurality of second electrodes attached to a surface of said at least one glass surface; and

said electrodes closely coupled defining a contact area, said contact area being a region, when touched by an occupant changes electrical characteristics between said second electrodes.