Method and apparatus for controlling the position of a head-up display image combiner

• US 9,939,640 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schmitz, Claus, Koesters, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Shardul D
• Application Number:
  US15/177,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20160363766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 701 49, 359630, 359632, 296 70, 40593, 345 7
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/658 Dashboard parts used as air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/66 Projection screens or combiners
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• 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: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence

Abstract

A head-up display in a motor vehicle has an image combiner movable between an active position, in which it is situated in the field of view of a driver of the vehicle, and an inactive position, in which it is situated close to a surface of or within an instrument panel. The position of the image combiner is controlled depending on signals from vehicle devices that indicate a likelihood or probability of a fogging condition of the windshield. The fogging condition may be indicated by a driver actuation of a windshield defogging/heating system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a head-up display in a vehicle, comprising:

operating a device to generate a signal indicating that a windshield fogging condition exists adjacent to an image combiner; and

operating a control module to receive the signal and, in response thereto, command activation of an electric motor to move an image combiner from an extended position relatively closer to the windshield to a retracted position relatively farther from the windshield.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is generated by a driver command to carry out an anti-fogging operation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the driver command comprises actuation of a switch of a climate control device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the switch controls at least one of a climate control air blower and a windshield heater.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the device is a sensor detecting an environmental condition.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the environmental condition is at least one of a relative humidity in the vehicle, a temperature inside the vehicle, a temperature outside the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle, and a temperature of air blowing onto the windshield.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the control module is further operable to receive a second signal from a second device indicating a vehicle anti-fogging device is activated and, in response thereto, prevent activation of the motor so that the image combiner remains in the extended position.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second signal indicates actuation of a switch of a climate control device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the climate control device comprises at least one of an air blower and a windshield heater.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising informing a vehicle driver on an impending change in position of the image combiner prior to the change of position.

11. A method for operating a head-up display in a vehicle, comprising:

operating a control module to a) receive a first signal from a vehicle sensor indicating an environmental condition inside the vehicle, b) determine from the signal that a windshield fogging condition exists, and c) command activation of a motor; and

activating the motor to move an image combiner from an extended position relatively closer to the windshield to a retracted position relatively farther from the windshield.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

operating the controller to receive a second signal indicating a vehicle anti-fogging device is activated and, in response thereto, prevent activation of the motor so that the image combiner remains in the extended position.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second signal indicates actuation of a switch of a climate control device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the climate control device comprises at least one of an air blower and a windshield heater.

15. Apparatus comprising:

a head-up display having an image combiner movable between an extended position relatively closer to a windshield to a retracted position relatively farther from the windshield;

an electric motor operative to move the image combiner between the extended and retracted positions;

a device generating a signal indicating that a windshield fogging condition exists; and

a climate control module operable to receive the signal and, in response thereto, command activation of the electric motor to move the image combiner from the extended position to the retracted position.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device comprises climate control device operable to carry out an anti-fogging operation.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the signal indicates actuation of a switch of the climate control device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the climate control device comprises at least one of an air blower and a windshield heater.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the device is a sensor detecting an environmental condition.