Universal vehicle head up display (HUD) device and method for using the same

• US 7,271,960 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Smith, Robert J. Stewart, Steven A. Stringfellow
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Smith, Robert J. Stewart, Steven A. Stringfellow
• Inventors: Smith, Michael R., Stewart, Robert J., Stringfellow, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrington; Alicia M
• Application Number:
  US11/187,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20070019297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 359630-634, 345 7- 9, 353/13, 349/11
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention generally relates to an integrated head up displaying (HUD) device including a housing that houses an active-matrix image projecting system and its accompanying electronics, and an optical combiner (for providing a see-through image thereon) connected to the housing via a retractable arm attached at one end to the main body and holds the HUD optical panel at its other end. In particular, the telescopically retractable arm allows the assembly to extend or retract for a desirable combiner height. Further, the LED backlighting array is placed within a reflective light chamber which is lined with a safe, light-weight, low cost, specular, reflective sheet for high reflectivity. The non-conductive, reflective sheet also covers the LED printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A head up display device, comprising:

an image generator mounted above a user'"'"'s head;

a display for receiving an image from the image generator; and

a telescopically retractable arm for positioning the display in front of the user'"'"'s eyes, said arm being mounted to the image generator at one end thereof and being mounted with the display at the other end thereof to pivotally rotatably engage the image generator with the display,

wherein said telescopically retractable arm includes two tubes which are telescopically slidable in a single axis.

2. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the display is an optical combiner.

3. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the image generator includes a LCD panel.

4. The head up display device according to claim 3, wherein the image generator further includes a first fold mirror for refracting light from the LCD panel at 90 degrees, a main lens from receiving light from the first fold mirror, and a second fold mirror for refracting light from the main lens onto the display.

5. The head up display device according to claim 3, wherein the image generator further includes a LED backlighting array for the LCD panel.

6. The head up display device according to claim 5, wherein the image generator further includes a reflective light chamber covered by a reflective polymer film on internal walls thereof.

7. The head up display device according to claim 5, wherein the LED backlighting array includes a plurality of green LEDs.

8. The head up display device according to claim 7, wherein the green LEDs emit light of 532 nm wavelength.

9. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the image generator generates at least one of flight instrument symbology and video images.

10. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein an ambient light sensor is mounted with the display.

11. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the device supports a field of view 10 degrees horizontal×

7.5 degrees vertical.

12. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the device supports an image distance of 6 meters.

13. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the arm pivots at a first pivot point on one end thereof mounted to the image generator to move the display towards or away from the user'"'"'s head.

14. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the display is pivotally rotatably engaged with the arm at a second pivot point on the other end of the arm to adjust a position angle of the display.

15. The head up display device according to claim 1, wherein the arm is telescopically retractable for vertically adjusting a position of the display.

16. An optical combiner for receiving at least one image from an external image generator, comprising:

a display; and

a telescopically retractable arm for positioning the display in front of a user'"'"'s eyes so as to display said image, said arm being mounted spot above the user'"'"' head at one end thereof and being mounted with the display at the other end thereof to pivotally rotatably engaged with the spot and the display respectively,

wherein said telescopically retractable arm includes two tubes which are telescopically slidable in a single axis.

17. A head up display device, comprising:

an image generator mounted above a user'"'"' head, said image generator including a LCD panel and a green LED backlight;

a display; and

a retractable arm for positioning the display in front of the user'"'"'s eyes to display image, said arm being mounted to the image generator at one end thereof and being mounted with the display at the other end thereof to pivotally rotatably engaged with the image generator and the display respectively,

wherein said retractable arm includes two tubes which are telescopically slidable in a single axis.

18. The head up display device according to claim 17, wherein the green LED backlight emits light of 532 nm wavelength.