System and method for dynamically projecting information from a motor vehicle

• US 9,827,901 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: New Eagle LLC (Woodward Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dura Operating LLC (Dura Automotive Systems)
• Inventors: Thompson, Aaron Evans, Uneveren, Cumhur
• Primary Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Sultan
• Application Number:
  US15/165,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20170341569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/50 Projected symbol or information, e.g. onto the road or car body
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/145 Housing details, e.g. position adjustments thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2053 Intensity control of illuminating light controlled by video signal processing H04N5/74 or H04N9/31
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03

Abstract

A method for projecting information from a motor vehicle to an observer external to the motor vehicle includes receiving, by a controller, a data signal indicative of an operating state of the motor vehicle from a sensor, determining, using the controller, a projection profile based on the data signal which includes a dynamic feature and indicative of a status of the motor vehicle, and continuously projecting the projection profile onto a surface on which the motor vehicle is traveling using a dynamic projector system that animates the dynamic feature.

Claims

1. A method for projecting information from a motor vehicle to an observer external to the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a data signal indicative of an operating state of the motor vehicle from a sensor;

determining, using the controller, a projection profile based on the data signal, wherein the projection profile includes a dynamic feature and is indicative of a status of the motor vehicle; and

continuously projecting the projection profile onto a surface on which the motor vehicle is traveling using a dynamic projector system that animates the dynamic feature, wherein the projection profile is a vector of the motor vehicle relative to a flat surface calculated, by the controller, as a function of a steering angle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal is the steering angle and the sensor is a steering wheel angle sensor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vector is indicative of a path of the motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the vector aligns with a front tire of the motor vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the vector aligns with a front portion of the motor vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic feature moves in real time and is indicative of a direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving, by the controller, further includes a plurality of data signals from a plurality of sensors.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the plurality of data signals include a PRNDL status from a shift sensor indicative of the driving state of the motor vehicle from one of a park, reverse, neutral, drive, and low drive vehicle driving state, a lighting status from a lighting sensor indicative of the brightness of the environment of the motor vehicle, a vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor, and a door status from a door sensor indicative of the position of a door of the motor vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the projection profile is a trajectory of the motor vehicle based on the vehicle speed, and wherein the projection profile is projected to a rear of the motor vehicle when the PRNDL status is reverse and the lighting status is below a brightness threshold and the door status indicates the door is closed.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the projection profile is projected to a front of the motor vehicle when the when the PRNDL status is drive and the lighting status is below a brightness threshold and the door status indicates the door is closed.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal is a door status of the motor vehicle from a door sensor, and the projection profile has a message communicating the door status.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the data signal is a unique identifier from a motor vehicle key and the projected profile is a unique message associated with the unique identifier.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic projection system is mounted to an exterior side of the motor vehicle.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the exterior side of the motor vehicle is at least one of a front side, rear side, left side, or right side of the motor vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the vector of the motor vehicle is a curvilinear directional indicator.

16. A method for projecting information from a motor vehicle to an observer external to the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a data signal indicative of an operating state of the motor vehicle from a sensor;

wherein the data signal is a turn signal activation identifier and the sensor is a turn signal sensor,

determining, using the controller, a projection profile based on the data signal, wherein the projection profile includes a dynamic feature and is indicative of a status of the motor vehicle; and

continuously projecting the projection profile onto a surface on which the motor vehicle is traveling using a dynamic projector system that animates the dynamic feature.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the projection profile is a turn signal identifier and the dynamic feature includes animated arrows that indicate the direction of an intended turn.

18. A method for projecting information from a motor vehicle to an observer external to the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a steering angle from a steering wheel angle sensor;

calculating, using the controller, a vector of the motor vehicle relative to a flat surface as a function of the steering angle, wherein the vector indicates the projected path of the motor vehicle; and

projecting the vector of the motor vehicle onto a surface on which the motor vehicle is traveling using a dynamic projector system mounted on the motor vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the vector of the motor vehicle includes a dynamic feature that is animated in real-time by the dynamic projector system.

20. A method for projecting information from a motor vehicle to an observer external to the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a plurality of data signals indicative of an operating state of the motor vehicle including a steering angle, a turn signal activation identifier, a PRNDL status indicative of the driving state of the motor vehicle from one of a park, reverse, neutral, drive, and low drive vehicle driving state, a lighting status indicative of the brightness of the environment of the motor vehicle, and a vehicle speed;

determining, using the controller, one of a plurality of projection profiles based on the plurality of data signals, wherein each of the plurality of projection profiles include a dynamic feature and is indicative of a status of the motor vehicle, and the plurality of projection profiles includes a first projection profile which displays a vector of the motor vehicle relative to a flat surface as a function of the steering angle, a second projection profile which displays a trajectory of the motor vehicle based on the vehicle speed, and a third projection profile which displays an intended turn direction based on the turn signal activation identifier;

projecting the one of the plurality of projection profiles onto a surface using a dynamic projector system that animates the dynamic feature, wherein the first projection profile and third projection profile are projected to either side of the motor vehicle and the second projection profile is projected to a rear of the motor vehicle when the PRNDL status is reverse and to a front of the motor vehicle when the PRNDL status is drive; and

adjusting the brightness of the projected projection profile based on the lighting status.

21. A method for projecting information from a motor vehicle to an observer external to the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a data signal indicative of an operating state of the motor vehicle from a sensor, wherein data signal is indicative of a brightness level in an environment of the motor vehicle from a lighting sensor, and wherein a brightness of the projection profile is a function of the brightness level of the environment;

determining, using the controller, a projection profile based on the data signal, wherein the projection profile includes a dynamic feature and is indicative of a status of the motor vehicle; and

continuously projecting the projection profile onto a surface on which the motor vehicle is traveling using a dynamic projector system that animates the dynamic feature.