External vehicle projection system

• US 9,232,200 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Devin L. Norman
• Original Assignee: Devin L. Norman
• Inventors: Norman, Devin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael, Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US13/888,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20140204201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 348/116, 348/118, 348/119
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]

Abstract

An external projection system for an automobile includes a mounting framework coupled to an exterior portion of an automobile. The projection system includes first and second projectors mounted to the mounting framework and each configured to project an image forwardly away from the automobile. A driver input member is mounted in the passenger area of the automobile and is electrically connected to the projectors, the input member configured to control movement and operation of the projectors. The system includes a processor in data communication with the input member and the projectors, the system including programming by which the processor selectively controls the projectors. The projectors may project indicia such as directional arrows so as to simulate driving toward and overtaking a distant arrow. The system may also include a video player for projecting movies in front of the automobile.

Claims

1. A projection system for use with an automobile and a global positioning system (“

GPS”

), comprising;

a mounting framework selectively coupled to an exterior of the automobile;

a first projector coupled to said mounting framework and positioned to project digital images forwardly of the automobile;

a processor in data communication with said first projector and the GPS;

a memory in data communication with said processor and that has data structures configured to store digital image data and programming;

programming in said memory that when executed by said processor causes said processor to energize said first projector to selectively project a predetermined image stored in said memory upon a road surface forward of the automobile;

wherein said first projector includes;

a first projector housing selectively coupled to said mounting framework, said first projector being situated in said first projector housing;

a first projector lens extending forwardly from said first projector housing;

a first projector first stepper motor electrically connected to said processor and operatively coupled to said first projector housing, said first projector stepper motor being configured to selectively rotate said first projector housing about an imaginary vertical axis when actuated by said processor; and

a first projector second stepper motor electrically connected to said processor and coupled to said first projector housing, said first projector second stepper motor configured to selectively tilt said first projector housing about an imaginary horizontal axis when actuated by said processor.

2. The projection system as in claim 1, further comprising:

an input member situated in an interior cabin of the automobile that is electrically connected to said processor; and

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to selectively energize said first stepper motor and said second stepper motor, respectively, according to input data received from said input member, whereby to selectively adjust a position of said first projector housing.

3. The projection system as in claim 2, wherein said input member includes:

a lever portion that is selectively movable forwardly and rearwardly; and

a rotatable end portion that is selectively rotatable and selectively articulated forwardly and rearwardly.

4. The projection system as in claim 3, further comprising:

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to actuate said first stepper motor to rotate said first projector housing according to a corresponding movement of said lever portion of said input member;

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to actuate said lens of said first projector to focus according a respective rotation of said rotatable end of said input member.

5. The projection system as in claim 3, further comprising:

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to obtain vehicle instrument data from a computer of the automobile; and

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor actuate said first projector to display said obtained vehicle instrument data forwardly of the vehicle.

6. The projection system as in claim 1, further comprising:

a digital video disc (DVD) player in data communication with said processor; and

programming in said memory that when executed by said processor causes said processor to energize said first projector to selectively project video data from said DVD upon a roadway forward of the automobile.

7. The projection system as in claim 1, further comprising a second projector coupled to said mounting framework and positioned to project digital images forwardly of the automobile;

wherein said second projector includes;

a second projector housing selectively coupled to said mounting framework, said second projector being situated in said second projector housing;

a second projector lens extending forwardly from said first projector housing;

a second projector first stepper motor electrically connected to said processor and operatively coupled to said second projector housing, said second projector first stepper motor being configured to selectively rotate said second projector housing about an imaginary vertical axis when actuated by said processor; and

a second projector second stepper motor electrically connected to said processor and coupled to said second projector housing, said second projector second stepper motor configured to selectively tilt said second projector housing about an imaginary horizontal axis when actuated by said processor.

8. The projection system as in claim 1, further comprising programming in said memory that when executed by said processor causes said processor to energize said second projector second stepper motor to tilt said second projector housing downwardly a predetermined amount at predetermined time intervals indicated by step frequency data.

9. The projection system as in claim 8, further comprising:

programming in said memory that when executed by said processor causes said processor to obtain current speed data from a computer associated with the automobile; and

programming in said memory that when executed by said processor causes said processor to modify said step frequency data according to said current speed data.

10. The projection system as in claim 9, wherein said programming to modify said step frequency data according to said current speed data includes:

programming that increases said step frequency data when said current speed data increases; and

programming that decreases said step frequency data when said current speed data decreases.

11. The projection system as in claim 10, further comprising:

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to obtain GPS data from the GPS; and

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to actuate said first projector to display said obtained GPS data forwardly of the vehicle.

12. The projection system as in claim 8, further comprising programming in said memory that when executed by said processor causes said processor to actuate said second projector second stepper motor to reset said second projector housing to a predetermined initial tilt position when said second projector second stepper motor has reached a terminal tilt position.

13. The projection system as in claim 1, further comprising:

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to obtain GPS data from the GPS; and

programming in said memory that, when executed by said processor, causes said processor to actuate said first projector to display said obtained GPS data forwardly of the vehicle.