Head-up display and vehicle using the same

• US 9,405,120 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MAGNA Electronics Solutions GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: MAGNA Electronics Solutions GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Graf, Stefan, Doepp, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US14/548,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20160139409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 359630-639
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0161 characterised by the relative positioning of the constitutive elements
• 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 27/0101 characterised by optical features G02B27/0172 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence

Abstract

A head-up display (HUD) comprises a detection unit, a picture generating unit and a control unit. The detection unit detects a position of an object and generates a detection signal indicated the position of the object. The picture generating unit comprises a screen and an optical unit. The screen displays a visual image. The optical unit projects the visual image onto the screen. The control unit is coupled to the detection unit and the picture generating unit, controlling the screen to facing toward the object in response to the detection signal.

Claims

1. A head-up display (HUD), comprising:

a detection unit for detecting a position of an object and generating a detection signal that indicates the position of the object, the object comprising at least a portion of a head of a person within a vehicle;

a picture generating unit comprising;

a screen configured to be spaced from a vehicle windshield for displaying a visual image so that the displayed visual image on the screen is viewable by the person within the vehicle; and

an optical unit coupled to the screen, the optical unit projecting the visual image onto the screen; and

a control unit coupled to the detection unit and the picture generating unit, the control unit, responsive to the detection signal, controlling a position of the screen relative to the vehicle windshield to adjust the screen so that the screen is facing generally toward the object to enhance viewing of the displayed visual image at the screen by the person within the vehicle.

2. The HUD of claim 1, wherein the control unit performs face recognition to determine the position of the object relative to the HUD.

3. The HUD of claim 1, wherein the optical unit comprises:

a projector for projecting the visual image; and

a reflector for guiding the visual image from the projector to the screen.

4. The HUD according to claim 3, wherein the control unit rotates the picture generating unit around a fulcrum, and the fulcrum is located along a line between the center of the screen and the center of the visual image.

5. The HUD of claim 1, wherein the control unit rotates the body of the HUD to control the screen facing towards the object.

6. The HUD of claim 1, wherein the coverage of a detection area of the detection unit covers a driver'"'"'s position.

7. The HUD of claim 1, wherein the detection unit is installed in a base of the HUD.

8. The HUD of claim 1, wherein the detection unit is installed in a border of the screen.

9. A vehicle applying a head-up display (HUD), wherein the HUD comprises:

a detection unit for detecting a position of an object and generating a detection signal that indicates the position of the object, the object comprising at least a portion of a head of a person within the vehicle;

a picture generating unit comprising;

a screen spaced from a windshield of the vehicle for displaying a visual image so that the displayed visual image on the screen is viewable by the person within the vehicle; and

an optical unit coupled to the screen, the optical unit projecting the visual image onto the screen; and

a control unit coupled to the detection unit and the picture generating unit, the control unit, responsive to the detection signal, controlling a position of the screen relative to the vehicle windshield to adjust the screen facing generally toward the object to enhance viewing of the displayed visual image at the screen by the person within the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the control unit performs face recognition to determine the position of the object relative to the HUD.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the optical unit comprises:

a projector for projecting the visual image; and

a reflector for guiding the visual image from the projector to the screen.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the control unit rotates the picture generating unit around a fulcrum, and the fulcrum is located along a line between the center of the screen and the center of the visual image.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the control unit rotates the body of the HUD to control the screen facing towards the object.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the coverage of a detection area of the detection unit covers a driver'"'"'s position.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the detection unit is installed in a base of the HUD.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the detection unit is installed in a border of the screen.