Optimum gaze location on full windscreen display

• US 9,443,429 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Mathieu, Roy J., Seder, Thomas A., Szczerba, Joseph F., Cui, Dehua
• Primary Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US13/356,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20130188258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,694 Days
• Field of Search: 359409-410, 359/462, 359/466, 359638-639, 359 13- 14, 359603-636, 359/404, 359/407, 345/7, 345/9, 345/156, 348/115, 353 11- 12, 353/28, 353/119, 349/11, 701/1, 310/49.R, 310/156.32, 310/156.33, 310/156.34, 310/156.35, 310266-268, 310/156.02, 340/438, 340/980, 340/995.1, 340/815.47, 340/815.74
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0141 characterised by the informative content of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects

Abstract

A method to display a registered graphic upon a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display within a source vehicle includes monitoring an operating environment of the source vehicle, monitoring a driver registration input, determining a recommended continuous gaze location based upon the operating environment and the driver registration input, and displaying the registered graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display.

Claims

1. System to display a persistent registered graphic within a source vehicle, comprising:

a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display; and

a control module

monitoring a previously input professionally recommended gaze location for straight lane road geometry comprising a recommended projected straight lane gaze distance in front of the vehicle;

monitoring a previously input professionally recommended gaze location for curved lane road geometry comprising a recommended projected curved lane gaze distance in front of the vehicle;

monitoring a road geometry of the road surface in front of the vehicle;

projecting the persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic upon the head-up display, the persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic configured to indicate a continuous recommended gaze location point upon the road surface at a specific focal point, at least a minimum distance in front of the vehicle, upon which a vehicle operator gaze may be focused to achieve a desired operation of the vehicle, wherein the continuous recommended gaze location point is determined,

when the monitored road geometry comprises straight lane road geometry, based upon the professionally recommended gaze location for straight lane road geometry and a center of a current lane of travel, and

when the monitored road geometry comprises curved lane road geometry, based upon the professionally recommended gaze location for curved lane road geometry and a lane marker located on an inside of the curved lane road geometry.

2. Method to display a persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic upon a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display within a source vehicle, the method comprising:

inputting a professionally recommended gaze location for straight lane road geometry comprising a recommended projected straight lane gaze distance in front of the vehicle;

inputting a professionally recommended gaze location for curved lane road geometry comprising a recommended projected curved lane gaze distance in front of the vehicle;

monitoring a road geometry of the road surface in front of the vehicle;

projecting the persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic upon the head-up display, the persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic configured to indicate a continuous recommended gaze location point upon the road surface at a specific focal point, at least a minimum distance in front of the vehicle, upon which a vehicle operator gaze may be focused to achieve a desired operation of the vehicle, wherein the continuous recommended gaze location point is determined,

when the monitored road geometry comprises straight lane road geometry, based upon the professionally recommended gaze location for straight lane road geometry and a center of a current lane of travel, and

when the monitored road geometry comprises curved lane road geometry, based upon the professionally recommended gaze location for curved lane road geometry and a lane marker located on an inside of the curved lane road geometry.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising monitoring a location of a target vehicle being passed;

and

wherein the recommended continuous gaze location point is determined further based upon the location of the target vehicle being passed.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising monitoring a visible feature in the operating environment selected from the group consisting of a pavement crack in a roadway in front of the source vehicle, a target vehicle in front of the source vehicle, a sign, traffic instructions painted upon the roadway, a tree, a traffic barrier lining the roadway, and fence along the roadway;

and

wherein the recommended continuous gaze location point is determined further based upon the visible feature.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining a newly detected object requiring immediate attention;

suspending projecting the persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic based upon the newly detected object requiring immediate attention.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the source vehicle is a racing vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6,

further comprising:

determining a braking point for the monitored road geometry;

determining a turn in point for the monitored road geometry;

determining an apex for the monitored road geometry; and

determining a turn out point for the monitored road geometry;

wherein the recommend gaze location point is further based upon the braking point, the turn in point, the apex, and the turn out point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic changes based upon the source vehicle approaching the braking point;

and

wherein the persistent, continuously displayed registered training aid graphic changes based upon the source vehicle approaching the apex.