Vehicle windshield display with obstruction detection

• US 8,412,413 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stark, Kris R., Sarma, Dwadasi H. R., Kuhlman, Frederick F., Vincen, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US13/332,725
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 701/45, 701/49, 701/33.2, 701/519, 701/523, 701/438, 359/13, 359/15, 359/618, 359/630, 359/838, 359/839, 359/488.01, 345/7, 345/8, 340/461, 340/980, 340/438, 340/457, 340/12.18, 340/815.55, 340/905, 340/435, 353/13, 353/14, 405/91, 349/11, 349/96, 156/99, 428/31, 374/E1.018, 374/208, D12/198, 348/148, 382/104
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A vehicle windshield display system for detecting obstruction of a vehicle operator'"'"'s field of view by a windshield display. The system provides closed-loop feedback to perform a visual check of what is actually being displayed on a windshield display in order to avoid obstructing an operator'"'"'s field of view. The system includes a windshield display configured to be installed into a vehicle and configured to display a graphic in a field of view of an operator of the vehicle, a camera configured to determine an image of the graphic displayed by the windshield display, and a controller configured to determine if the image indicates that field of view is obstructed. The camera is used to monitor the windshield display and provide feedback to the controller so that appropriate adjustments to the graphic being displayed can be made.

Claims

1. A vehicle windshield display system for detecting obstruction of a field of view of an operator to an area forward of a vehicle by a graphic displayed by a windshield display, said system comprising:

the windshield display configured to be installed into the vehicle and configured to display the graphic on a windshield such that the graphic is located in the field of view of the operator of the vehicle, wherein the operator can see through the windshield display to the area forward of the vehicle when no graphic is being displayed;

a camera configured to determine an image of the graphic being displayed on the windshield by the windshield display; and

a controller configured to determine if the image indicates that the graphic being displayed in the field of view is obstructing the field of view of the operator to the area forward of the vehicle, and adjust the graphic displayed by the windshield display in a manner effective to reduce the obstruction of the field of view by the graphic.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to disable the windshield display if the field of view is obstructed la the graphic.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to redistribute the graphic if the field of view is obstructed by the graphic.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the camera is further configured to determine an image of the field of view, the controller is further configured to determine if the image indicates an object in the field of view, and redistribute the graphic if a view of the object is obstructed by the graphic.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an operator position detector, and the controller is further configured to determine if the field of view is obstructed by the graphic based on an operator position.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an object detector configured to detect objects in the field of view, and the controller is further configured to redistribute the graphic if a view of the object is obstructed by the graphic.

7. A controller for a vehicle windshield display system for detecting obstruction of a field of view of an operator to an area forward of a vehicle by a graphic displayed by a windshield display, wherein the operator can see through the windshield display to the area forward of the vehicle when no graphic is being displayed, said controller comprising:

an output configured to operate the windshield display installed into the vehicle to display the graphic on a windshield that is in the field of view of the operator;

an input configured to receive an image signal from a camera indicative of an image of the graphic being displayed on the windshield by the windshield display; and

a processor configured to determine if the image indicates that the graphic being displayed in the field of view is obstructing the field of view of the operator to the area forward of the vehicle, and adjust the graphic displayed by the windshield display in a manner effective to reduce the obstruction of the field of view by the graphic.