Vehicle display system or projection display for a motor vehicle, and calibration method

• US 8,711,485 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Schliep, Frank, Kirsch, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Jack
• Application Number:
  US13/125,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20110267700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,637 Days
• Field of Search: 359/629, 359/630, 359/631, 359/633, 359/900
• US Class Current: 359/630
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0172 characterised by optical features
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3185 Geometric adjustment, e.g. keystone or convergence optical or mechanical adjustment of convergence H04N9/317; using scanning means H04N3/22; optical or mechanical adjustments of projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 359/90 Methods

Abstract

A vehicle display system comprises a display device and an optical system for generating a virtual image for a user. Correction means distorts image information after the optical system is traversed to display the virtual image with reduced distortion. The optical system comprises at least one element that can be adjusted to change the position of the virtual image. Distortion resulting from adjustment of the adjustment element. The display system has a memory device for storing correction data that determine the distortion of the correction means as a function of the selected adjustment of the adjustment element.

Claims

1. A vehicle display system comprising a display device and an optical system for generating a virtual image for a user, in which in order, after the optical system has been traversed, to display the virtual image with a reduced distortion use is made of a correction means to distort image information;

wherein the optical system comprises at least one element that can be adjusted to change the position of the virtual image, distortion results from adjustment of the adjustable element, and the vehicle display system comprises a memory device for storing correction data that determine the distortion of the correction means as a function of a selected adjustment of the adjustable element;

wherein the distortion of the correction means results from a change in a display of the display device and a change in a distortion characteristic of the optical system, and the change in the distortion characteristic of the optical system includes a change in the contour of an optical element, a mirror, a lens, or a combination thereof.

2. The vehicle display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the change in position of the virtual image is a change in the virtual image along a vertical axis.

3. The vehicle display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the change in position of the virtual image is a change in the virtual image along a vertical axis and a horizontal axis.

4. The vehicle display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustable element comprises a movable mirror element.

5. The vehicle display system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mirror element is configured for rotational and/or translational movement.

6. The vehicle display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display device projects an item of information onto a windshield pane to generate the virtual image, the distortion of the virtual image being caused by a reflection at the windshield pane and the distortion caused by the correction means substantially canceling distortion of the virtual image.

7. A method for calibrating a vehicle display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a detection device is used to measure the distortion of the virtual image for different positions of the virtual image, and position dependent correction data are derived therefrom for adjusting the correction means and are stored in the memory device of the vehicle display system;

wherein fatigue indications of the user are detected by a camera, optical warning signs are generated by the display device based on the detected fatigue indications, and the optical warning signs are brought to the attention of the driver by the display device, wherein the fatigue indications include slowed down blinking or characteristic eye movements.