Head-up projection system

• US 9,268,135 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Delta Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Jan, Sheng-Hsiung, Lai, Tu-Fa
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thomas K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Vipin
• Application Number:
  US14/010,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313586A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 359630-633, 353 11- 17
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements

Abstract

A head-up projection system is disclosed. The head-up projection system comprises a mounting member and a portable projector. The mounting member has a receptacle, and the mounting member is mounted on a roof of a vehicle. The portable projector is detachably installed in the receptacle of the mounting member and configured to connect with a mobile communication and computing device with a navigation function for displaying a navigation information image in the vehicle from the mobile communication and computing device.

Claims

1. A head-up projection system, comprising:

a mounting member having a receptacle and mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the mounting member comprising;

a supporting plate;

at least two ear elements, extended outwardly from and horizontally with two opposite side edges of the supporting plate respectively, wherein each of the at least two ear elements has a through hole or a through slot for allowing a fixing element to pass through and secured to the roof of the vehicle;

a frame, disposed at one surface of the supporting plate and defining the receptacle with the supporting plate, wherein the receptacle has a first opening and a second opening, and the portable projector is accommodated in the receptacle of the mounting member from the second opening;

at least two extension plates, extended outwardly from the two opposite side edges of the supporting plate and vertically to the surface of the supporting plate respectively; and

two arms, each of the two arms having a first end pivotally jointed to the mounting member and a second end jointed with the optical screen, wherein the optical unit is disposed between the first ends of the two arms;

a portable projector detachably installed in the receptacle of the mounting member and configured to connect with a mobile communication and computing device with a navigation function for displaying a navigation information image in the vehicle from the mobile communication and computing device;

an optical screen; and

an optical unit disposed at an optical path between the portable projector and the optical screen,

wherein the optical unit disposed at the optical path between the portable projector and the optical screen for forming an intermediate real image of an image from the portable projector, and the optical screen is configured to form an enlarged virtual image of the intermediate real image and reflect a light from the optical unit toward the eyes of a driver.

2. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the portable projector is a handheld projector, a pocket projector, a mini projector or a MEMs laser pico-projector, and the mobile communication and computing device is a smart phone, a PDA, an information-entertainment system, a computing apparatus or a GPS.

3. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the portable projector is connected to the mobile communication and computing device via a signal transmission wire.

4. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the portable projector is fixed and positioned in the receptacle of the mounting member by at least one fastening device or at least one locking device.

5. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the portable projector has at least two operation modes including a normal display mode and a navigation display mode, the portable projector comprises a switch for switching the operation modes of the portable projector, the mounting member comprises an activator corresponding to the switch of the portable projector, and wherein when the portable projector is received in the receptacle of the mounting member, the activator is in contact with the switch of the portable projector and the operation mode of the portable projector is switched to the navigation display mode automatically.

6. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the portable projector has at least two operation modes including a normal display mode and a navigation display mode, and the portable projector comprises an adjusting ring for switching the operation modes of the portable projector.

7. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit comprises a diffuser, and the optical screen is a semi-transparent reflector.

8. The head-up projection system according to claim 7, wherein the optical screen is a concavo-convex semi-transparent reflector.

9. The head-up projection system according to claim 7, wherein the optical unit further comprises a condenser lens.

10. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the mounting member comprises an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position of the optical screen with respect to the eyes position of a driver.

11. The head-up projection system according to claim 1, wherein the optical unit is disposed at the first opening of the frame.

12. A head-up projection system, comprising:

a mounting member having a receptacle and detachably mounted on a roof of a vehicle, the mounting member comprising;

a supporting plate;

at least two ear elements, extended outwardly from and horizontally with two opposite side edges of the supporting plate respectively, wherein each of the at least two ear elements has a through hole or a through slot for allowing a fixing element to pass through and secured to the roof of the vehicle;

a frame, disposed at one surface of the supporting plate and defining the receptacle with the supporting plate, wherein the receptacle has a first opening and a second opening, and the portable projector is accommodated in the receptacle of the mounting member from the second opening;

at least two extension plates, extended outwardly from the two opposite side edges of the supporting plate and vertically to the surface of the supporting plate respectively; and

two arms, each of the two arms having a first end pivotally jointed to the mounting member and a second end jointed with the optical screen, wherein the optical unit is disposed between the first ends of the two arms;

a portable projector detachably installed in the receptacle of the mounting member;

an optical screen; and

an optical unit disposed at an optical path between the portable projector and the optical screen for forming an intermediate real image of an image from the portable projector,

wherein the optical unit disposed at the optical path between the portable projector and the optical screen for forming an intermediate real image of an image from the portable projector, and the optical screen is configured to form an enlarged virtual image of the intermediate real image and reflect a light from the optical unit toward the eyes of a driver.

13. The head-up projection system according to claim 12, wherein the portable projector is connected to a mobile communication and computing device via a signal transmission wire for displaying a navigation information image in the vehicle from the mobile communication and computing device.