Head-up display device for vehicle

• US 8,035,493 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2008
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
• Original Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
• Inventors: Hioki, Shinjiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/327,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/937, 340/945, 340/947, 340/952, 340/953, 340435-441, 340/461, 340/457.1, 340/457.4, 3409551-99515, 340/815.4, 701/1, 701/36, 701/207, 701/208, 701/300, 180/168, 180/169, 345/660, 345/7, 345/8, 345/633
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/235 with means for detecting the driver's gaze direction or eye points
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0159 with mechanical means other than scaning means for positioning the whole image
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0183 Adaptation to parameters characterising the motion of the vehicle
• 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

Abstract

A head-up display device includes a light source, a display unit for producing display virtual images including an alarm display image, a mirror for reflecting the light to show the alarm display image in a field of front view of a driver, at least one on-vehicle device that the driver operates, a visual-line shift detecting means and a display position shifting means. The mirror reflects the light representing the alarm display image so that a driver can see the alarm display image in a display area that is set on one of a front windshield and a combiner in front of the driver and in a field of front vision of the driver. The visual-line shift detecting means detects a visual line shift of the driver from a usual forward visual range of the driver toward the on-vehicle device that the driver operates. The display position shifting means shifts positions of the display area to a position between the usual forward visual range and a portion/part, of the on-vehicle device at operation, which the driver watches during the operation when the visual-line shift detecting means detects the visual line shift from the usual forward visual range toward the on-vehicle device.

Claims

1. A head-up display device for a vehicle comprising:

a light source for projecting light;

a display unit for producing display virtual images including an alarm display image;

a mirror for reflecting the light representing the alarm display image so that a driver can see the alarm display image in a display area that is set on one of a front windshield and a combiner in front of the driver and in a field of front vision of the driver;

at least one on-vehicle device that the driver operates;

a visual-line shift detecting means for detecting a visual line shift of the driver from a usual forward visual range of the driver toward the at least one on-vehicle device that the driver operates; and

a display position shifting means for shifting positions of the display area from a position of the usual forward visual range to a position on a line between the usual forward visual range and the at least one on-vehicle device at operation, which the driver watches during the operation, when the visual-line shift detecting means detects the visual line shift from the usual forward visual range toward the at least one on-vehicle device.

2. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one on-vehicle device outputs an operation detection signal to the visual-line shift detecting means when the at least one on-vehicle device is operated, and wherein

the visual-line shift detecting means detects, based on the operation detection signal, which at least one on-vehicle device is operated and whether an operation of the at least one on-vehicle device requires more than a first predetermined time, to judge the visual line shift of the driver.

3. The head-up display device according to claim 2, wherein

the display position shifting means has a time that starts to count time when the visual-line shift detecting means judges the visual line shift of the driver, and wherein

the display unit ceases a production of the alarm display image when the timer counts up a second predetermined time.

4. The head-up display device according to claim 3, wherein

the display position shifting means shifts positions of the display area so that the alarm display image is on a line between the usual forward visual range and the at least one on-vehicle device at operation when the visual-line shift detecting means detects the visual line shift from the usual forward visual range toward the at least one on-vehicle device.

5. The head-up display device according to claim 4, further comprising:

an obstacle detection means for detecting an obstacle located in front of the vehicle to output an obstacle detection signal and an obstacle judgment means for judging the obstacle based on the obstacle detection signal, wherein

the display unit produces the alarm display image in the display area when the obstacle judging means judges existence of the obstacle.

6. The head-up display device according to claim 5, wherein

a position of the display area is determined according to one of a steering angle and a vehicle speed.

7. The head-up display device according to claim 6, wherein

the at least one on-vehicle device is located in a center console.

8. The head-up display device according to claim 6, wherein

the at least one on-vehicle device is left and right door mirrors, and the visual-line shift detecting means detects an operation for adjusting an angle of the door mirrors.

9. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the display position shifting means has a time that starts to count time when the visual-line shift detecting means judges the visual line shift of the driver, and wherein

the display unit ceases a production of the alarm display image when the timer counts up a second predetermined time.

10. The head-up display device according to claim 9, wherein

the display position shifting means shifts positions of the display area so that the alarm display image is on a line between the usual forward visual range and the at least one on-vehicle device at operation when the visual-line shift detecting means detects the visual line shift from the usual forward visual range toward the at least one on-vehicle device.

11. The head-up display device according to claim 10, wherein

an obstacle detection means for detecting an obstacle located in front of the vehicle to output an obstacle detection signal and an obstacle judgment means for judging the obstacle based on the obstacle detection signal, wherein

the display unit produces the alarm display image in the display area when the obstacle judging means judges existence of the obstacle.

12. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the display position shifting means shifts positions of the display area so that the alarm display image is on a line between the usual forward visual range and the at least one on-vehicle device at operation when the visual-line shift detecting means detects the visual line shift from the usual forward visual range toward the at least one on-vehicle device.

13. The head-up display device according to claim 12, wherein

an obstacle detection means for detecting an obstacle located in front of the vehicle to output an obstacle detection signal and an obstacle judgment means for judging the obstacle based on the obstacle detection signal, wherein

the display unit produces the alarm display image in the display area when the obstacle judging means judges existence of the obstacle.

14. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

an obstacle detection means for detecting an obstacle located in front of the vehicle to output an obstacle detection signal and an obstacle judgment means for judging the obstacle based on the obstacle detection signal, wherein

the display unit produces the alarm display image in the display area when the obstacle judging means judges existence of the obstacle.

15. The head-up display device according to claim 14, wherein

a position of the display area is determined according to one of a steering angle and a vehicle speed.

16. The head-up display device according to claim 15, wherein

the at least one on-vehicle device is located in a center console.

17. The head-up display device according to claim 15, wherein

the at least one on-vehicle device is left and right door mirrors, and the visual-line shift detecting means detects an operation for adjusting an angle of the door mirrors.

18. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

a position of the display area is determined according to one of a steering angle and a vehicle speed.

19. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one on-vehicle device is located in a center console.

20. The head-up display device according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one on-vehicle device is left and right door mirrors, and the visual-line shift detecting means detects an operation for adjusting an angle of the door mirrors.