A head up display apparatus for a vehicle includes an imaging unit that generates a projection light beam with display content and includes a transmissive display indication layer with selectively controllable display elements distributed over an area, a matrix backlight that provides backlighting therefor and includes selectively controllable light sources distributed along the transmissive display indication layer, and a collimation array with collimators arranged between a light source and the transmissive display indication layer, and a projection panel in the beam path of the projection light beam generated by the imaging unit for reflecting the projection light beam to a user, the projection panel being arranged in the beam path such that a virtual display image is generated therebehind in the visual field of the user.

A method for operating a display unit of vehicle, wherein the display unit displays at least one display, comprises ascertaining the viewing direction of a driver using a gaze-tracking device; checking whether the viewing direction of the driver is directed at the display unit; checking whether traffic-relevant data are present; operating the display unit in an energy-saving mode when the view of the driver is not directed at the display unit and/or when no traffic-relevant data is present; and operating the display unit in a display mode when the view of the driver is directed at the display unit and/or when traffic-relevant data is present for display. A display unit is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a head-up display apparatus that projects an image of a displaying device forward. The displaying device includes a plurality of display surfaces. The direction of each of the display surfaces differs from the directions of the other display surfaces. At least one display surface is a reference display surface that projects an image in a vertical direction. Another surface is a stereoscopic inclination display surface that projects an image inclined relative to the image of the reference display surface.

A heads-up display may comprise a viewing screen having a reflective surface; a housing defining an opening; a display element disposed within the housing and comprising an integral linear polarizer configured to polarize light in a first direction; and a first linear polarizer disposed between the display element and the viewing screen covering the opening defined by the housing configured to polarize light in the first direction. The display element may be capable of causing images to be displayed on the viewing screen.

A dynamic light source for a display is disclosed. The dynamic light source comprises a first light source located inside a first device; and a second light source. The first device is configured to allow light from the first light source to exit the first device in a first cone of angles and to reflect light incident outside the cone of angles back towards the first light source. The first device is configured such that injected light from the second light source is reflected by the first light source in a second cone of angles substantially coincident with the first cone of angles and that light output by the first device from the second light source is attenuated more than light output by the first light source, and an amount of attenuation is based on an intended dynamic power range of the dynamic light source.

A head-up display system includes a first projection module, a second projection module, and a first reflective optical element. The first projection module projects a first image. The second projection module projects a second image. The first reflective optical element reflects at least a part of the first image and at least a part of the second image. The first projection module includes a first display panel that displays the first image and projects the first image toward the first reflective optical element. The second projection module includes a second display panel that displays the second image, and an optical system that directs the second image toward the first reflective optical element.

A motor vehicle includes a passenger display with a switchable view protection device that is actively switched in predetermined operating states so that display contents shown on the passenger display cannot be seen from the seating area of the driver. The vehicle includes a shading device having an illuminant oriented toward the passenger display and is controlled by a control unit and which, in order to prevent moving residual fragments that can still be detected from the driver’s seat despite a view protection device which is switched to shading, externally illuminates the passenger display.

A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle control method, which adjusts a seat installed in a vehicle, a first display positioned in front of the seat and facing the seat, and a second display positioned in front of the first display and facing the seat, includes: detecting the face of a passenger sitting in the seat by a camera installed in the vehicle; estimating the face height from the floor surface of the vehicle; if the estimated face height is lower than a predetermined level, setting a display region on the first display, and, if the estimated face height is higher than the predetermined level, setting the display region on at least part of the second display; and displaying images in the set display region. One or more among an autonomous vehicle, user terminal, and server according to the present invention may be associated with an artificial intelligence module, a robot, an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, etc.

Devices, systems and methods for controlling an exterior and dashboard lights of an autonomous vehicle are described. One example of a method for controlling one or more exterior lights includes receiving, from an autonomous driving system (ADS) of the vehicle, an input to control one or more exterior lights that are part of a lighting system of the vehicle, and transmitting, based on the input, a message to a controller area network (CAN) bus of the lighting system, the message being further based on a driver command upon a determination that a driver-initiated message is received. In an example, the lighting system of the vehicle further comprises a plurality of dashboard lights.

A light control apparatus includes a diffuser plate, a light source, a light pipe, and a light blocker. The diffuser plate includes at least one opening therein. The diffuser plate includes feature located around the opening in the diffuser plate that exposes a portion of the diffuser plate. A light source positioned proximate a second surface of the diffuser plate is optically coupled to a light pipe positioned around a portion of the opening near the second surface of diffuser plate. A light blocker is positioned near a second portion of the at least one feature. The light blocker is positioned between the light source and the second portion of the feature, the light blocker having an opening therein to allow light to pass from the light source to the diffuser plate proximate the second portion of the feature.