Head-up display system, and method and apparatus for controlling the same

• US 9,519,149 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 12/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Sung-Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Jacinta M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phong
• Application Number:
  US14/173,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20140333647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0179 Display position adjusting means not related to the information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2356/00 Detection of the display position w.r.t. other display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications

Abstract

Systems, methods and an apparatus for controlling a head-up display system are disclosed. One inventive aspect includes a transparent display positioned between a driver'"'"'s seat and a vehicle windshield, a display mode setting unit and an image adjustment unit. The display mode setting unit is configured to set a display mode of the transparent display based on an angle between the transparent display and a vehicle body. The image adjust unit is configured to adjust an image displayed on the transparent display according to the display mode.

Claims

1. A head-up display system for a vehicle, the display system comprising:

a transparent display located between a driver'"'"'s seat and a vehicle windshield, wherein the transparent display is mounted to a vehicle body having a surface to which the transparent display is connected;

a display mode setting unit configured to set a display mode of the transparent display as at least one of a first mode or a second mode at least partially based on an angle formed between the transparent display and the surface of the vehicle body;

an image adjustment unit configured to adjust an image displayed on the transparent display according to the display mode;

at least one sensor configured to measure an amount of external light outside the vehicle and an amount of internal light inside the vehicle; and

a hinge controller configured to control the angle to operate the transparent display in one of the first mode at a first angle or the second mode at a second angle at least partially based on the amount of external light and the amount of internal light,

wherein the image adjustment unit is configured to increase a brightness of the image displayed on the transparent display when the amount of external light is greater than the amount of internal light, wherein the image adjustment unit is configured to decrease the brightness of the image displayed on the transparent display when the amount of external light is less than the amount of internal light, and wherein the second angle is different from the first angle.

2. The head-up display system of claim 1, wherein the image adjustment unit inverts the image when the display mode is the second mode.

3. The head-up display system of claim 1, wherein the display mode setting unit sets the display mode as the first mode when the angle is greater than or equal to a first predetermined angle, and wherein the display mode setting unit sets the display mode as the second mode when the angle is less than a second predetermined angle between the surface of the vehicle body and the second mode of the transparent display.

4. The head-up display system of claim 1, further comprising a hinge unit connected to the vehicle body and supporting at least one side of the transparent display.

5. The head-up display system of claim 4, wherein the hinge unit comprises an electric motor configured to rotate the transparent display using the at least one side of the transparent display as a rotation axis.

6. The head-up display system of claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is located inside or outside of the vehicle and wherein the hinge controller is further configured to control the electric motor at least partially based on the measured amount of external or internal light.

7. The head-up display system of claim 6, wherein the hinge controller controls the electric motor to adjust the angle between the surface of the vehicle body and the transparent display to be the first angle when the amount of external or internal light is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, wherein the hinge controller controls the electric motor to adjust the angle to be the second angle when the amount of external or internal light is less than the predetermined value.

8. The head-up display system of claim 7, wherein the second angle is less than the first angle.

9. The head-up display system of claim 7, wherein the display mode setting unit sets the display mode as the first mode when the angle is the first angle, and wherein the display mode setting unit sets the display mode as the second mode when the angle is the second angle.

10. The head-up display system of claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an external sensor that measures the amount of external light outside the vehicle and an internal sensor that measures the amount of internal light inside the vehicle, and wherein the hinge controller controls the electric motor at least partially based on the amount of external light and the amount of internal light.

11. The head-up display system of claim 10, wherein the hinge controller controls the angle between the vehicle body and the transparent display to be the first angle when the amount of external light is greater than the amount of internal light, wherein the hinge controller controls the angle to be the second angle when the amount of external light is less than the amount of internal light, and wherein the second angle is different than the first angle.

12. The head-up display system of claim 11, wherein the second angle is less than the first angle.

13. The head-up display system of claim 4, wherein the transparent display is detachable from the hinge unit.

14. The head-up display system of claim 1, wherein the image displayed on the transparent display is directed toward the driver'"'"'s seat when the display mode is the first mode, and wherein the image is directed toward the driver'"'"'s seat as a reflection on the windshield when the display mode is the second mode.

15. The head-up display system of claim 1, wherein the transparent display is an organic electroluminescence display.

16. The head-up display system of claim 1, further comprising a reflection plate located on the vehicle windshield, the reflection plate being configured to reflect the image displayed on the transparent display.

17. An apparatus for controlling a head-up display of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a display mode setting unit configured to set a display mode of a transparent display, to be a first mode or a second mode at least partially based on an angle between the transparent display and a surface of a vehicle body, wherein the transparent display is connected the surface of the vehicle body, wherein the transparent display is located between a driver'"'"'s seat and a vehicle windshield and is connected to the vehicle body via a hinge unit;

an image adjustment unit configured to invert an image displayed on the transparent display when the display mode is the second mode;

at least one sensor configured to measure an amount of external light outside the vehicle and an amount of internal light inside the vehicle; and

a hinge controller configured to control the angle to operate in one of the first mode at a first angle or the second mode at a second angle at least partially based on the amount of external light and the amount of internal light,

wherein the image adjustment unit is configured to increase a brightness of the image displayed on the transparent display when the amount of external light is greater than the amount of internal light, wherein the image adjustment unit is configured to decrease the brightness of the image displayed on the transparent display when the amount of external light is less than the amount of internal light, and wherein the second angle is different from the first angle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the hinge unit further comprises:

an electric motor configured to rotate the transparent display with one side of the transparent display as a rotation axis, and

a hinge controller configured to control the electric motor at least partially based on the amount of external or internal light.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an external sensor configured to measure the amount of external light and an internal sensor configured to measure the amount of internal light, and wherein the hinge controller is configured to control the electric motor at least partially based on the amount of external light and the amount of internal light.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the hinge controller is further configured to control the angle between the vehicle body and the transparent display to be the first angle when the amount of external light is greater than the amount of internal light, wherein the hinge controller is further configured to control the angle to be the second angle when the amount of external light is less than the amount of internal light.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the image displayed on the transparent display is directed toward the driver'"'"'s seat when the display mode is the first mode, and wherein the image is directed toward the driver'"'"'s seat as a reflection on the windshield when the display mode is the second mode.

22. A method of controlling a head-up display of a vehicle, the method comprising:

setting a display mode of a transparent display positioned between a driver'"'"'s seat and a vehicle windshield as a first mode or a second mode at least partially based on an angle between the transparent display and a surface of a vehicle body, wherein the transparent display is mounted on the surface of the vehicle body;

adjusting an image displayed on the transparent display;

measure an amount of external light outside the vehicle and an amount of internal light inside the vehicle; and

control the angle to operate the transparent display in one of the first mode at a first angle or the second mode at a second angle at least partially based on the amount of external light and the amount of internal light,

wherein the transparent display is connected to the vehicle body by a hinge unit that supports one side of the transparent display,

wherein the adjusting the image comprises increasing a brightness of the image displayed on the transparent display when the amount of external light is greater than the amount of internal light, and decreasing the brightness of the image displayed on the transparent display when the amount of external light is less than the amount of internal light, and wherein the second angle is different from the first angle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein adjusting the image comprises inverting the image when the display mode of the transparent display is the second mode.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising controlling an electric motor of the hinge unit at least partially based on the amount of external or internal light measured by at least one sensor located inside or outside the vehicle, wherein the electric motor is configured to rotate the transparent display with one side of the transparent display as a rotation axis.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein controlling of the electric motor comprises controlling the electric motor at least partially based on the amount of external light and the amount of internal light, and wherein the at least one sensor comprises an external sensor that measures the amount of external light outside the vehicle and an internal sensor that measures the amount of internal light inside the vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein controlling the electric motor comprises controlling the electric motor so that the angle between the surface of the vehicle body and the transparent display is the first angle when the amount of external light is greater than the amount of internal light and so that the angle is the second angle when the amount of external light is less than the amount of internal light, and wherein the second angle is less than the first angle.