Image representation system and method for vehicles

• US 6,757,085 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Halldorsson, Thorsteinn
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASSAF, FAYEZ G
• Application Number:
  US10/019,724
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 359/13, 359/14, 359/15, 359/1, 359/24, 359/32, 359/33, 359/630, 359/632, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9
• US Class Current: 359/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/29 Holographic features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/29 Holographic features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0118 comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/012 comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0103 comprising holographic elements

Abstract

An imaging system for motor vehicles has a holographic screen, which scatters incident narrow band light at a predetermined solid angle, and a modulator and a lens to project images on the holographic screen. A holographic, transparent ray uniter, which allows broad band ambient light to pass through essentially unimpeded, guides the narrow band light, coming from the holographic screen to the viewer, whereby a virtual image is produced at the viewing location by means of an imaging function. Images from the outside of the motor vehicle are shot by means of a camera system and are faded as virtual images into the windshield of the motor vehicle in order to enable there additionally a view to the rear or to the side.

Claims

1. An imaging system for motor vehicles, comprising:

a projector,

a holographic ray uniter, which guides narrow band light to a viewer to produce a virtual image at the viewing location,

a holographic screen, which is produced by means of holographic shooting of a real screen and which scatters incident narrow band light of one or more wavelengths at a predetermined solid angle,

wherein the projector projects the light onto the holographic screen to produce real images on said holographic screen, wherein the holographic ray uniter is transparent to broad band ambient light, and wherein the narrow band light, scattered by the holographic screen, is guided to the viewer.

2. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein a camera system, which is coupled to the projector, shoots images outside the motor vehicle to enable a view to at least one of the rear and the side.

3. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holographic ray uniter is arranged, from the viewer'"'"'s view, at least one of, in front of and on, the windshield of the motor vehicle.

4. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ray uniter is a holographic mirror.

5. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ray uniter is a ray deflector with lens function.

6. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projector comprises lasers with the primary colors red, green and blue.

7. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projector comprises an image modulator.

8. The imaging system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the image modulator is at least one of ferroelectric modulators and micro-mirror devices.

9. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ray uniter is disposed on a transparent plate.

10. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holographic ray uniter and the holographic screen are arranged in such a manner that the virtual image appears for the viewer enlarged behind the windshield of the motor vehicle at a distance of at least 1.5 meters to the viewer.

11. The imaging system according to claim 10, wherein the distance is at least 3 meters.

12. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a device for coupling the imaging to the motor vehicle control functions.

13. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ray uniter and the holographic screen is designed and arranged in such a manner that the light cone coming from the ray uniter is limited to the possible dwelling space of the viewer'"'"'s eyes.

14. The imaging system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ray uniter and the holographic screen is designed and arranged in such a manner that they exhibit an imaging function.

15. A method for displaying images in motor vehicles comprising the steps of:

projecting images by means of a laser and an image modulator for producing a narrow band light on a holographic screen;

guiding the light rays, scattered from the holographic screen, into a viewer'"'"'s eyes, producing virtual images in a surface located in front of the windshield of the motor vehicle by means of a hologram connected in series to the holographic screen to provide ray deflection.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein images of the a view from at least one of the rear and the perspective of the motor vehicle side mirrors are faded into the peripheral area of the windshield.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein an angular distance between a visual axis in a direction of travel and the virtual image is less than 30 degrees.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the angular distance is substantially 10 degrees.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of the rear and side images from the motor vehicle are displayed as a function of a driving state or the motor vehicle control functions.

20. A method for displaying images in motor vehicles comprising the steps of:

projecting narrow band light of one or more wavelengths on a holographic screen, which is produced by holographic shooting of a real screen, to produce a real image on the holographic screen, and

guiding the light rays, scattered by the holographic screen at a predetermined solid angle, into a viewer'"'"'s eye,

whereby the light rays are deflected through a hologram and produce a virtual image at the viewer, while simultaneously broad band light of the environment lying behind the hologram passes through the hologram.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein images of the view from at least one of the rear and the perspective of the motor vehicle side mirrors are faded into the peripheral area of the windshield.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the angular distance between the visual axis in the direction of travel and the virtual image is less than 30 degrees.