Projected rear passenger entertainment system

• US 8,941,690 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Seder, Thomas A., Mathieu, Roy J., Szczerba, Joseph F., Tsimhoni, Omer
• Primary Examiner(s): McDowell, Jr., Maurice L
• Application Number:
  US13/693,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20130147840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 345/633, 345/473, 340/438
• US Class Current: 345/633
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/08 Projecting images onto non-planar surfaces, e.g. geodetic screens

Abstract

A method for augmenting a graphic displayed on a surface inside of a vehicle using a rear seat entertainment projection (RSEP) system includes generating the graphic for display on the surface inside the vehicle. When the graphic is displayed on the surface, an input that causes a reaction to the graphic displayed upon the surface is obtained, and the graphic displayed on the surface is augmented based on the reaction to the graphic.

Claims

1. Method for augmenting a graphic displayed on a surface inside of a vehicle using a rear seat entertainment projection (RSEP) system, comprising:

generating, at a processing device of the RSEP system, the graphic for display on the surface inside the vehicle;

when the graphic is displayed on the surface;

obtaining, at the processing device, an input that causes a reaction by the graphic displayed on the surface; and

augmenting the graphic displayed on the surface based on the reaction by the graphic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the graphic for display on the surface inside the vehicle comprises:

receiving, at the processing device, an occupant input requesting the graphic for display on the surface; and

retrieving, at the processing device, the graphic from a graphic database using the occupant input, the graphic database storing graphics being indicative of entertainment content and animation content.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein retrieving the graphic from the graphic database using the occupant input comprises:

selecting, at an occupant input device, the graphic for display on the surface using the occupant input to the occupant input device; and

storing the graphic within the graphic database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the input that causes the reaction by the graphic displayed on the surface comprises:

monitoring, at the processing device, an occupant input to an occupant input device intended to interact with the graphic; and

determining, at the processing device, the occupant input is interacting with the graphic to cause the reaction by the graphic.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the input that causes the reaction by the graphic displayed on the surface comprises:

monitoring, at the processing device, vehicle information obtained from at least one in-vehicle sensor; and

determining, at the processing device, a virtual effect upon the graphic using the monitored vehicle information.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the vehicle information includes vehicle operating parameters selected from the group consisting of:

vehicle speed, vehicle braking, vehicle acceleration, engine speed, wheel slip, vehicle orientation parameters and vehicle health parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the input that causes the reaction by the graphic displayed on the surface comprises:

monitoring, at the processing device, parameters related to an operating environment of the vehicle obtained from at least one of in-vehicle sensors and resources outside the vehicle; and

determining, at the processing device, a virtual effect upon the graphic using the parameters related to the operating environment of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameters related to the operating environment of the vehicle include ambient conditions proximate to the vehicle selected from the group consisting of:

a current location of the vehicle, road geometry, traffic conditions, road conditions and weather.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the input that causes the reaction by the graphic displayed upon the surface comprises:

monitoring, at the processing device, media content obtained from at least one of media devices located within the vehicle and resources outside of the vehicle;

determining, at the processing device, a virtual effect upon the graphic using the media content.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the surface inside the vehicle is treated with luminescent or reflective coating to enable projection of graphical images clearly upon the surface, the surface selected from the group consisting of:

a side window, a door surface, a pillar, a seat back, a headliner, a sunroof, a floor, a substantially transparent display and an emissive display.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the generated graphic and the augmented graphic onto an occupant input device.

12. Apparatus for augmenting a graphic displayed on a surface inside of a vehicle using a rear seat entertainment projection (RSEP) system manager, comprising:

a graphic generation module for generating the graphic for display on the surface;

a graphic augmentation module for obtaining an input that causes a reaction by the graphic displayed upon the surface and augments the graphic based on the reaction by the graphic; and

a graphic projection system for displaying the generated graphic and the augmented graphic on the surface inside the vehicle, the surface inside the vehicle including at least one of a side window, a door surface, a pillar, a seat back, a headliner, a sunroof, a floor, a substantially transparent display and an emissive display.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphic generation module generates the graphic for display on the surface by receiving an occupant input requesting the graphic for display on the surface and retrieving the graphic from a graphic database using the occupant input, the graphic database storing graphics being indicative of entertainment content and animation content.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the graphic generation module retrieves the graphic from the graphic database when the graphic is first generated at an occupant input device using the occupant input and subsequently stored within the graphic database.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the graphic augmentation module obtains the input that causes the reaction by the graphic by monitoring an occupant input to an occupant input device intended to interact with the graphic and determining that the occupant input is interacting with the graphic to cause the reaction by the graphic.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the graphic is prompting a response from the occupant.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the occupant input device is selected from the group consisting of:

a mobile computing device, a keypad, a touch screen device, a joystick and an imaging device generating 3D mapping of hand movement of the occupant.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphic augmentation module obtains the input that causes the reaction by the graphic by monitoring vehicle information obtained from at least one in-vehicle sensor, the monitored vehicle information creating a virtual effect upon the graphic.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphic augmentation module obtains the input that causes the reaction by the graphic by monitoring ambient conditions proximate to the vehicle obtained from at least one of in-vehicle sensors and resources outside of the vehicle, the monitored ambient conditions creating a virtual effect upon the graphic.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphic augmentation module obtains the input that causes the reaction by the graphic by monitoring media content obtained from at least one of media devices located within the vehicle and resources outside of the vehicle, the monitored media content creating a virtual effect upon the graphic.