WIFI ENABLED HEAD UP DISPLAY (HUD)

Abstract

A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle includes at least one camera capturing images of a scene outside of the motor vehicle, and wirelessly transmitting first video signals indicative of the captured images. A receiver wirelessly receives the first video signals and transmits second video signals dependent upon the first video signals. A head up display system is communicatively coupled to the receiver and receives the second video signals. The head up display system reflects a light field off of a windshield of the motor vehicle such that the reflection is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image. The light field is dependent upon the second video signals.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of WiFi transmitting cameras configured to: capture images of a scene outside of the motor vehicle; and wirelessly transmit first video signals indicative of the captured images; a WiFi receiver configured to wirelessly receive the first video signals and transmit second video signals dependent upon the first video signals; and a head up display system communicatively coupled to the WiFi receiver and configured to: receive the second video signals; and produce a virtual image that is visible to a driver of the vehicle, the virtual image being dependent upon the second video signals.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the head up display system is configured to reflect a light field off of a windshield of the motor vehicle to thereby produce the virtual image.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the cameras comprise a rear-view camera.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the head up display system includes projection optics having at least one mirror.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be outside the windshield.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the cameras comprise a rear-view camera and at least one side view camera.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle body, the WiFi transmitting cameras being disposed on the vehicle body.

8. A motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of WiFi transmitting cameras configured to: capture images of a scene outside of the motor vehicle; and wirelessly transmit first video signals indicative of the captured images; a WiFi receiver configured to wirelessly receive the first video signals and transmit second video signals dependent upon the first video signals; and a head up display system communicatively coupled to the WiFi receiver and configured to: receive the second video signals; and produce a virtual image that is visible to a driver of the vehicle, the virtual image being dependent upon: the second video signals; and smartphone data.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the head up display system is configured to reflect a light field off of a windshield of the motor vehicle to thereby produce the virtual image.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the cameras comprise a rear-view camera and a side view camera.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the head up display system includes projection optics having at least one mirror.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be outside the windshield.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a vehicle body, the WiFi transmitting cameras being disposed on the vehicle body.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising: a plurality of WiFi transmitting cameras each configured to: capture respective images of a scene outside of the motor vehicle; and wirelessly transmit respective first video signals indicative of the captured images; a WiFi receiver configured to wirelessly receive the first video signals and transmit second video signals dependent upon each of the first video signals from each of the cameras; and a head up display system communicatively coupled to the WiFi receiver and configured to: receive the second video signals; and produce a virtual image that is visible to a driver of the vehicle, the virtual image being dependent upon each of the second video signals, the virtual image including the images captured from each of the cameras.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the head up display system is configured to reflect a light field off of a windshield of the motor vehicle to thereby produce the virtual image.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the head up display system includes projection optics having at least one mirror.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be outside the windshield.

18. The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the cameras comprise a side view camera.

19. The motor vehicle of claim 14 wherein the cameras comprise a rear-view camera and two side view cameras.

20. The motor vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a vehicle body, the WiFi transmitting cameras being disposed on the vehicle body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0013] FIG. 1 is an overhead schematic view of one embodiment of a WiFi-enabled head up display arrangement of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a plan view of one example embodiment of a virtual image produced by the rear-view camera of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a WiFi-enabled head up display arrangement of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a display method of the present invention for a motor vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates one example embodiment of a WiFi-enabled head up display HUD arrangement 10 of the present invention, including a WiFi receiver 12 on the HUD unit, a left side WiFi transmitting camera 14, a right side WiFi transmitting camera 16, and a rear view WiFi transmitting camera 18. Cameras 14, 16, 18 capture images within respective field of views 20, 22, 24. These captured images may be wirelessly transmitted from cameras 14, 16, 18 to WiFi receiver 12 and thereby included in a virtual image 26 that may appear to a driver to be outside of a front windshield 28.

[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of one example embodiment of a virtual image 30 produced by rear view camera 18 of FIG. 1 on windshield 28 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the view of virtual image 30 as seen by the driver.

[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates another example embodiment of a WiFi-enabled head up display arrangement 310 of the present invention, including WiFi transmitting cameras 14, 16, 18 in wireless communication with a WiFi receiver 12. Arrangement 310 also includes an electronic controller 331, a picture generation unit 332, a display screen 334, and projection optics 336 creating a virtual image visible by a human driver 22. The brightness of the image may be controlled by controller 331 so the image is clearly visible against the background scene. Projection optics 336 may include one or more mirrors that reflect a light field produced by display 334 onto the windshield. The windshield again reflects the light field to driver 22 such that the light appears to the driver as a virtual image that is on or outside of the windshield.

[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a display method 400 of the present invention for a motor vehicle. In a first step 402, images of a scene outside of the motor vehicle are captured. For example, cameras 14, 16, 18 capture images within respective field of views 20, 22, 24.

[0021] Next, in step 404, first video signals indicative of the captured images are wirelessly transmitted. For example, these captured images may be wirelessly transmitted from cameras 14, 16, 18 to WiFi receiver 12.

[0022] In a next step 406, the first video signals are wirelessly received. For example, WiFi receiver 12 may wirelessly receive the captured images transmitted from cameras 14, 16, 18.

[0023] In step 408, second video signals are transmitted to a head up display system. The second video signals are dependent upon the first video signals. For example, a signal based on the captured images may be transmitted from WiFi receiver 12 to controller 331 of a head up display system.

[0024] Next, in step 410, the second video signals are received at the head up display system. For example, controller 331 may receive the signal from WiFi receiver 12.

[0025] In a final step 412, a light field is reflected off of a windshield of the motor vehicle such that the reflection is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image. The light field is dependent upon the second video signals. For example, PGU 332, display 334 and projection optics 336 may produce a light field based on the signal received from WiFi receiver 12 such that the light field is reflected off of windshield 28, and such that the reflection is visible to a driver of the vehicle as virtual image 26.

[0026] The invention has been described as wirelessly connecting the HUD to WiFi devices. However, in another embodiment, the HUD is directly connected to WiFi devices and cameras via a cable.

[0027] The foregoing description may refer to “motor vehicle”, “automobile”, “automotive”, or similar expressions. It is to be understood that these terms are not intended to limit the invention to any particular type of transportation vehicle. Rather, the invention may be applied to any type of transportation vehicle whether traveling by air, water, or ground, such as airplanes, boats, etc.

[0028] The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications can be made by those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.