Apparatus for producing heads-up display in a vehicle and associated methods

• US 20070182536A1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arnold Prywes
• Original Assignee: Arnold Prywes
• Inventors: Prywes, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US11/582,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182536A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/461
• 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 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays

Abstract

A portable device is provided for heads-up display in a motor vehicle without requiring permanent physical attachment to the vehicle. The heads-up device has a portable housing with inputs for wirelessly obtaining a multitude of parameters related to vehicle operation. The input signals are transformed into visual signals and a projector in the housing projects the visual signals as a heads-up display image on the windshield of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A portable device for heads up display in a motor vehicle comprising:

a portable housing;

means associated with the housing for wirelessly receiving at least one signal indicative of a parameter associated with vehicle operation;

means for forming said at least one signal into a visual signal; and

a projector for receiving said visual signal and projecting a visual image in a heads up display onto a windshield of the vehicle.

2. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for obtaining said at least one signal is portable with said housing.

3. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving said at least one signal is included in said housing.

4. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving said at least one signal comprises an input for receiving signals from a camera.

5. The portable device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said camera is aimed at a display on a dashboard of the vehicle to produce visual images of said display.

6. The portable device as claimed in claim 5, comprising means for transforming said visual images from said camera into a signal supplied to said projector for projecting an image on the windshield representing said at least one parameter.

7. The portable device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transforming means comprises a CPU.

8. The portable device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the camera is connected to the housing.

9. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving said at least one signal comprises an input for a GPS satellite signal.

10. The portable device as claimed in claim 9, comprising a GPS receiver including a program to provide a signal representing vehicle speed and direction.

11. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for receiving said at least one signal includes an input for receiving signals from an on-board computer installed on the vehicle.

12. The portable device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said on-board computer provides a signal representing engine speed.

13. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes attachment means for detachable connection to the vehicle at a position at which the projector can project said visual image on the vehicle windshield.

14. A method of producing a heads-up display on a windshield of a vehicle, comprising the steps of.

wirelessly receiving a signal of at least one parameter representing vehicle operations,

producing an output signal of said at least one parameter,

feeding said output signal to a projector,

projecting an image of said at least one parameter from said projector onto the windshield of the vehicle as a heads up display of said at least one parameter;

mounting said projector in a housing and supporting the housing on the vehicle in a position in which said image can be projected onto the windshield.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said housing is detachably mounted on the vehicle.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said signal of said at least one parameter comprises a GPS signal from a satellite.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said signal of said at least one parameter comprises an output signal from an on-board computer of the vehicles.

18. The method as claimed in claim 14, comprising positioning a camera to view gauges on the vehicle displaying parameters related to vehicle operation and supplying image signals produced by the camera as signals of the displayed parameters.