Transparent film display system for vehicles

• US 9,791,694 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Haverkamp, David A., Pendleton, Patrick G., Fickbohm, Chad M., Pepper, Jr., Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sternbane, Larry
• Application Number:
  US14/821,315
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/001 integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8073 for vehicle security, e.g. parked vehicle surveillance, burglar detection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0093 with means for monitoring data relating to the user, e.g. head-tracking, eye-tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A transparent flexible display film is applied to a vehicle windshield, either as a film applied to the surface of the windshield or as a layer in the laminated glass comprising the windshield. A connected computer renders a synthesized view of the external environment around the vehicle, including visual representations of information received from an on-board data sensor or from an external source. No special glasses or helmets are required for the operators and if the system fails, the display film is transparent and will not impede the operators view.

Claims

1. A transparent display system comprising:

at least one processor;

a non-transitory processor-readable memory connected to the at least one processor and configured to store processor-executable code;

a transparent flexible display film connected to the at least one processor, the transparent display film being sufficiently transparent to resolve external details through a window including the transparent display film; and

processor-executable code embodied in the non-transitory processor-readable memory,

wherein;

the processor-executable code when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to;

generate one or more informational display elements;

generate a location on the transparent display film corresponding to each of the one or more informational display elements; and

determine a known location of a head of an individual viewing the transparent display film and a line-of-sight of the individual via an eye tracking camera;

determine a line-of-sight location on the transparent flexible display film corresponding to the line-of-sight of the individual;

render the informational display elements on the transparent display film at the corresponding location and a motion line connecting the line-of-sight location and at least one of the one or more visual representations.

2. The transparent display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent display film is affixed to the surface of an exterior window.

3. The transparent display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent display film is incorporated as a layer in laminated glass.

4. The transparent display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent display film comprises silver nanowires.

5. The transparent display system of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensitive film connected to the at least one processor, wherein the touch sensitive film is applied to a surface in a location and orientation corresponding to the transparent display film.

6. A vehicle comprising:

a display computer comprising;

at least one processor;

an antenna connected to the at least one processor; and

a non-transitory processor-readable memory connected to the at least one processor configured to store processor-executable code;

a windshield including a transparent flexible display film connected to the display computer, the transparent flexible display film being sufficiently transparent to resolve external details through the windshield; and

processor-executable code embodied in the memory,

wherein the processor-executable code when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to;

generate one or more informational display elements corresponding to one or more dashboard indicators;

receive data via the antenna, the data corresponding to an event external to the vehicle and comprising a location of the event;

determine a render location on the transparent flexible display film based on a location and orientation of the vehicle and the location of the event;

generate a location on the transparent flexible display film corresponding to each of the one or more informational display elements; and

render the informational display elements on the transparent flexible display film at the corresponding location and a visual representation of the event at the render location.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the transparent flexible display film is affixed to the surface of the windshield.

8. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the transparent flexible display film is incorporated as a layer in laminated glass of the windshield.

9. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the transparent flexible display film comprises silver nanowires.

10. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a touch sensitive film connected to the at least one processor, wherein the touch sensitive film is applied to the windshield in a location and orientation corresponding to the transparent flexible display film.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the processor-executable code when executed by the at least one processor further causes the at least one processor to:

receive an input from the touch sensitive film;

generate a new location on the transparent flexible display film corresponding to one of the one or more informational display elements; and

render the one of the one or more informational display elements at the new location.

12. An aircraft comprising:

a display computer comprising;

at least one processor;

an eye tracking camera connected to the at least one processor; and

a non-transitory processor-readable memory connected to the at least one processor configured to store processor-executable code;

a windshield including a transparent flexible display film connected to the display computer, the transparent flexible display film being sufficiently transparent to resolve external details through the windshield;

one or more avionics systems connected to the display computer; and

processor-executable code embodied in the non-transitory processor-readable memory,

wherein the processor-executable code when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to;

receive avionics specific data corresponding to an exterior event from the one or more avionics systems;

generate one or more visual representations of the avionics specific data; and

determine a known location of a head of a pilot of the aircraft and a line-of-sight of the pilot via the eye tracking camera;

determine a line-of-sight location on the transparent flexible display film corresponding to the line-of-sight of the pilot;

determine a location on the transparent flexible display film corresponding to an intersection between the transparent flexible display film and a line defined by the known location of the head of the pilot and a location of the exterior event; and

render the one or more visual representations on the transparent flexible display film at the determined location and a motion line connecting the line-of-sight location and at least one of the one or more visual representations.

13. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the transparent flexible display film is affixed to the surface of the windshield.

14. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the transparent flexible display film is incorporated as a layer in laminated glass of the windshield.

15. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the transparent flexible display film comprises si ver nanowires.

16. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the processor-executable code when executed by the at least one processor further causes the at least one processor to:

determine a location and orientation of the aircraft;

render a visual representation of phenomena overlaid against actual phenomena based on a defined actual location of the actual phenomena, the location and orientation of the aircraft, and the head of the pilot.

17. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the processor-executable code when executed by the at least one processor further causes the at least one processor to update at least one of the motion line and at least one of the one or more visual representations based on the line-of-sight of the pilot and the location and orientation of the aircraft.