System having an adjustment device and method for automatically adjusting/switching the adjustment device for a head-up display device

• US 9,835,861 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Bouaziz, Tahar
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US15/120,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20170068093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 359630, 359632, 359634, 348148, 348149, 348 E5135, 348744, 3404255, 340435, 340438, 340461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/135 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/135 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1529 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 Control of displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/67 Foldable or movable displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/736 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/785 on or in relation to the windshield or windows
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/654 the user being the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 : mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 : mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/072 : for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0163 : Electric or electronic control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0181 : Adaptation to the pilot/driver
• 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 27/01 : Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0149 : characterised by mechanical features G02B27/0176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/08 : Mirrors vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 : Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A head-up display device projects a display onto a projection area of a vehicle. An adjusting apparatus is coupled to the head-up display device and an operator control device to adjust at least one of the horizontal and vertical positions of the viewing window of the head-up display device in response to an operator control action. A sensing device senses and evaluates a line of vision of a user of the head-up display device. A system control device, coupled to the adjusting apparatus and the sensing device, engages and/or toggles the adjusting apparatus to adjust the horizontal and/or vertical viewing window of the head-up display device of the vehicle, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the user looks in the direction of the projection area.

Claims

1. A system for automatically engaging/toggling an adjusting apparatus between adjusting a horizontal and/or vertical position of a viewing window of a head-up display device of a vehicle and adjusting one of an interior mirror and an exterior mirror of the vehicle, comprising:

the head-up display device able to project a display onto a projection area of the vehicle;

the adjusting apparatus, coupled to the head-up display device, having an operator control device, able to adjust the horizontal and/or vertical position of the viewing window of the head-up display device in response to a control action of an operator on the operator control device, and to adjust at least one of the exterior mirror and the interior mirror;

a sensing device sensing and evaluating a line of vision of the operator of the head-up display device; and

a control device, coupled to the adjusting apparatus and the sensing device,

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust the horizontal and/or vertical position of the viewing window of the head-up display device of the vehicle, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the projection area, and at least one of;

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust the exterior mirror by the control action of the operator on the operator control device, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the exterior mirror; and

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust the interior mirror by the control action of the operator on the operator control device, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the interior mirror.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjusting apparatus comprises at least one of a joystick and a rotary switch as the operator control device.

3. A method for automatically engaging/toggling an adjusting apparatus for adjusting a horizontal and/or vertical position of a viewing window of a head-up display device of a vehicle, comprising:

sensing and evaluating a line of vision of an operator of the head-up display device using a sensing device;

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust the horizontal and/or vertical position of the viewing window of the head-up display device of the vehicle, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of a projection area of the head-up display device, by a control device, and at least one of;

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust an exterior mirror, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the exterior mirror, by the control device, and

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust an interior mirror, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the interior mirror, by the control device.

4. A vehicle, comprising:

at least one of an interior mirror and an exterior mirror;

a head-up display device able to project a display onto a projection area of the vehicle;

an adjusting apparatus, coupled to the head-up display device, having an operator control device, able to adjust at least one of horizontal and vertical positions of a viewing window of the head-up display device in response to a control action of an operator on the operator control device, and to adjust the at least one of the exterior mirror and the interior mirror;

a sensing device sensing and evaluating a line of vision of the operator of the head-up display device; and

a control device, coupled to the adjusting apparatus and the sensing device,

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust the at least one of the horizontal and vertical positions of the viewing window of the head-up display device, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the projection area, and at least one of;

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust the exterior mirror by the control action of the operator on the operator control device, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the exterior mirror; and

engaging/toggling the adjusting apparatus to adjust the interior mirror by the control action of the operator on the operator control device, provided that, and so long as, the sensing device recognizes that the operator looks in the direction of the interior mirror.

5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the adjusting apparatus comprises at least one of a joystick and a rotary switch as the operator control device.

6. The vehicle as claimed in claim 4,

further comprising a driver door, a steering wheel, a dashboard, a center console, a driver seat and a front passenger seat,

wherein the operator control device of the adjusting apparatus is arranged one of on the driver door, on the steering wheel, on the dashboard, on the center console and between the driver seat and the front passenger seat.