Portable vehicle information device, vehicle and vehicle information method

• US 9,623,749 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foxconn Interconnect Technology Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chan, Jui-Kwang
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US14/754,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20160221438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36, 348148, 34821113, 382104, 382274
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/90 Calibration of instruments, e.g. setting initial or reference parameters; Testing of instruments, e.g. detecting malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle information gathering and control method includes determining a connection between a vehicle information device and a vehicle and turning on a power source when the vehicle information device is connected to the connector of the vehicle. Vehicle information is provided by a number of vehicle information providing devices of the vehicle and gathered when the vehicle information device is connected to the connector of the vehicle; and a projector is controlled to project the acquired vehicle information on a light adjusting film covering on a windshield of the vehicle to be viewed by a driver.

Claims

1. A vehicle information device comprising:

a connection port configured to connect to a connector of a vehicle, the connector of the vehicle being connected to a plurality of devices providing vehicle information of the vehicle;

a processing unit configured to execute a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising;

a traffic information acquisition module configured to, upon execution by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to acquire vehicle information provided by the plurality of devices providing vehicle information of the vehicle when the vehicle information device is connected to the connector of the vehicle via the connection port; and

a projection module configured to, upon execution by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to control a projector to project the vehicle information of each device providing vehicle information acquired by the traffic information acquisition module on a light adjusting film covering on a windshield simultaneously or individually.

2. The vehicle information device according to claim 1, wherein the projection module arrays the acquired vehicle information of each device providing vehicle information in predetermined positions and projects the arrayed vehicle information on the light adjusting film covering on the windshield simultaneously.

3. The vehicle information device according to claim 1, wherein the projection module projects the vehicle information provided by the plurality of vehicle information providing devices on the windshield individually.

4. The vehicle information device according to claim 1, further comprising a switch button, wherein the projection module changes the vehicle information of each device providing vehicle information projected on the windshield in response to an operation of pressing the switch button by a user.

5. The vehicle information device according to claim 1, further comprising an information acquisition unit and a communication unit, wherein the information acquisition unit is configured to capture user identity information of a user using the vehicle information device, the processing unit executes an identity sending module, the identity sending module is configured to acquire the user identity information captured by the information acquisition unit and send the acquired user identity information to the vehicle via the communication unit.

6. The vehicle information device according to claim 5, wherein the information acquisition unit is a fingerprint identification device or a human face recognition device.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a power source configured to supply power to the vehicle;

a plurality of vehicle information providing devices configured to provide the vehicle information;

a connector configured to be a communication port used to connect a vehicle information device to the vehicle;

a projector;

a sitting height measuring unit configured to determine an user'"'"'s sitting height, and

a storage unit configured to store a relationship table which defines relationships between user'"'"'s sitting height ranges and angle adjusting commands, and

a processing unit configured to execute a plurality of modules, the plurality of modules comprising;

a control module configured to determine whether the vehicle information device is connected to the connector and turn on the power source to supply power to the vehicle when determining the vehicle information device is connected to the connector of the vehicle;

a driving state monitoring module configured to acquire the user'"'"'s sitting height information determined by the sitting height measuring unit; and

an angle adjusting module configured to determine an angle adjusting command according to the acquired user'"'"'s sitting height and the relationship table, and adjust the angle of a projector according to the determined angle adjusting command.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a drive unit, a door lock, and a communication unit, wherein the control module receives user identity information send by a vehicle information device, and compares the received user identity information with stored user identity information, and controls the drive unit to release the door lock of the vehicle when the received user identity information matches with the stored user identity information.

9. A vehicle information method, running on a vehicle and a vehicle information device, the vehicle information method comprising:

detecting proximity of a vehicle information device to the vehicle by a control module of the vehicle;

turning on a plurality of vehicle information providing devices by the control module in response to the detecting;

acquiring the vehicle information provided by a plurality of vehicle information providing devices of the vehicle; and

controlling a projector to project the acquired vehicle information on a light adjusting film covering on a windshield by the vehicle information device;

acquiring user'"'"'s sitting height information determined by a sitting height measuring unit; and

determining an angle adjusting command according to the acquired user'"'"'s sitting height and a relationship table which defines relationships between user'"'"'s sitting height ranges and angle adjusting commands, and adjusting the angle of the projector according to the determined angle adjusting command.

10. The vehicle information method according to claim 9, wherein the step of detecting proximity of a vehicle identification device to the vehicle comprising:

detecting whether the vehicle information device is connected to a connector of the vehicle, and determining the proximity of the vehicle information device is detected when detecting the vehicle information device is connected to the connector of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle information method according to claim 9, further comprising:

acquiring user identity information captured by an information acquisition unit and sending the acquired user identity information to a vehicle via a communication unit; and

receiving the user identity information send by a vehicle control vehicle and comparing the received user identity information with the stored user identity information of the valid user, and controlling a drive unit to release a door lock of the vehicle when the received user identity information matches with the stored user identity information.

12. The vehicle information method according to claim 11, wherein the step of detecting proximity of a vehicle identification device to the vehicle comprising:

authorizing the vehicle information device to access the vehicle when the received user identity information matches with the stored user identity information.

13. The vehicle information method according to claim 9, wherein the step of turning on a plurality of vehicle information providing devices in response to the detecting comprising:

turning on a power source to supply power to the plurality of vehicle information providing devices, thus to turn on the plurality of vehicle information providing devices.