METHOD FOR VISUALIZING OPTICAL INFORMATION

Abstract

A method is provided for visualizing optical information in the central field of vision of a driver in such a way that a display (5) in the form of a virtual image is superimposed on a real traffic environment. A position of the display (5) is dynamically variable as a function of a vehicle speed, a steering angle, and a road type. Thus a horizontal and/or vertical spread of a display range (8) between a first maximum value (9) and a second maximum value (10) within which the display (5) can be displayed is varied as a function of speed, steering angle and roadway type.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing optical information in a field of vision of a driver, comprising: superimposing a display (5) as a virtual image on a real traffic environment; determining at least one of a vehicle speed, a steering angle, and a road type; dynamically varying a position of the display (5) as a function of at least one of the vehicle speed, the steering angle, and the road type; and changing at least one of a horizontal and vertical spread of a display range (8) of the display (5) between a first maximum value (9) and a second maximum value (10) within which the display (5) can be displayed based on at least one of the vehicle speed, the steering angle, and the road type.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising deactivating the changing of the spread (8) below a predefined first vehicle speed v.sub.1.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined first vehicle speed is set to v.sub.1?0 km/h.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the changing of at least one of a horizontal and vertical spread of a display range (8) of the display (5) between the first maximum value (9) and the second maximum value (10) comprises increasing at least one of a horizontal and vertical spread of a display range (8) of the display (5) linearly between the predefined first vehicle speed v.sub.1 up to a predefined second vehicle speed v.sub.2.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predefined second vehicle speed is set to v.sub.2?60 km/h.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising maintaining the spread of the display range (8) constant above the predefined second vehicle speed v.sub.2.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising deactivating the spread of the display range (8) above the predefined second vehicle speed v.sub.2 as a function of the road type.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising using at least one of a navigation system (16) and with a driver assistance system for determining the road type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein varying a position of the display (5) between the first maximum value (9) and the second maximum value (10) occurs at a constant speed independently of the vehicle speed and/or a speed of changes of the steering angle.

10. A head-up display (2) comprising a computer device (3) configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is an interior view of a vehicle according to the invention with a view onto a roadway in front of the vehicle.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a representation as in FIG. 1, but with the display shifted.

[0023] FIG. 3 a spread of a display range having a first and second maximum value with a vehicle driving 60 km/h.

[0024] FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but with a smaller spread of the display range, i.e. with a lower possible horizontal deflection of a display with a vehicle driving 40 km/h.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] A vehicle according to an embodiment is identified by the numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle 1 comprises: a projection device configured to produce a heads-up display 2; a computer device 3 configured to carry out the method described herein; and a windshield 4. A computer device is understood in connection with the invention to mean, for example, a machine or an electronic circuit. In particular, a processor can be a master processor (central processing unit (CPU)), a microprocessor, or a microcontroller, for example an application-specific integrated circuit or a digital signal processor, optionally in combination with a memory unit for storing program instructions, etc. A processor also can mean a virtualized processor, a virtual machine, or a soft CPU. For example, it can also be a programmable processor equipped with configuration steps for carrying out the method or configured with configuration steps in such a way that the programmable processor realizes the features of the method, the system, or other aspects and/or partial aspects of the invention. In particular, the processor can include highly parallelized computing units and high-performance graphics modules. In connection with the invention, a memory unit may be a volatile memory in the form of a working memory (random access memory, RAM), or a permanent memory such as a hard drive or a data carrier or, for example, a replaceable memory module. However, the memory unit can also be a cloud-based storage solution

[0026] One embodiment of the method produces a display 5 of information and superimposes the display 5 on a real traffic environment as a virtual image. The display 5 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 has a current vehicle speed 6 and a maximum permissible speed 7 superimposed on a real traffic environment in the central field of vision of a driver to form the virtual image. A position of the display 5 can be changed as a function of a vehicle speed, a steering angle, a road type, or further input parameters. According to the method, there is a speed-based spread of the display range 8 between a first maximum value 9 and a second maximum value 10 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4).

[0027] The display 5 can be shifted or displayed within the horizontal spread of the display range 8, i.e. between the first maximum value 9 and the second maximum value 10. In certain situations, e.g., a content changeover in the maximum position, the display 5 can extend to the right above the second maximum value 10 or to the left above the first maximum value 9 or the content may not necessarily be shown in full. A horizontal shift of the display 5 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and a vertical shift can occur in the same manner, in particular when traversing bumps.

[0028] The solid line 11 in FIG. 1 represents an image range 11 that could exist for the head-up display 2 without the method of the invention. FIG. 1 shows that a display 5 integrated in the image range 11 projects beyond a left edge 12 of a roadway 13 and deviates greatly from a direction of vision 14 of the driver who is following the roadway 13. Thus, there is a discrepancy between the position of the display 5 and the traffic-based direction of vision 14 of the driver on the roadway 13, and this discrepancy can lead to a pendulum effect when the driver alternately follows the direction of vision 14 of the roadway 13 and the display 5.

[0029] FIG. 2, on the other hand, shows that in accordance with the method of the invention, the display 5 is shifted to the right and thus into the roadway 13 and in the direction of the driver's direction of vision 14. Thus, the oscillating effect can be at least minimized, preferably even eliminated, and an angle ? between the direction of vision 15 and the direction of vision 14 is reduced.

[0030] FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the spread of the display range 8 can be deactivated below a predefined first vehicle speed v1. This predefined first vehicle speed v1 of some embodiments is ?0 km/h and ?20 km/h.

[0031] Deactivating the spread of the display range 8, i.e. reducing the first maximum value 9 (left maximum value) and the second maximum value 10 (right maximum value) to 0%, causes the display 5 to be deflected neither to the left nor to the right.

[0032] If, for example, the vehicle speed v increases from the first vehicle speed v1 to a higher predefined second vehicle speed v2, then the spread of the display range 8 is enlarged, for example to the value shown in FIG. 3. For example, the predefined second vehicle speed v2 can be set to be less than or equal to 60 km/h (cf. FIG. 3), preferably less than or equal to 40 km/h (cf. FIG. 4). As the vehicle speed v increases and/or above a certain steering angle, the spread of the display range 8 thus increases, i.e. the distance between the two maximum values 9, 10, so that the display 5 can be shifted more in a horizontal direction. Conversely, during braking, the contents are shifted in the opposite direction.

[0033] If the vehicle speed v continues to increase to a speed that exceeds the predefined second vehicle speed v2, then the spread of the display range 8 will no longer increase or enlarge, but rather will retain its first maximum value 9 and its second maximum value 10. The maximum values 9, 10 exist because the possible image range 11 is limited. From the second vehicle speed v2, the maximum is utilized.

[0034] The spread of the display range 8 above the predefined second vehicle speed v2 can be deactivated as a function of the road type. For example, if the vehicle 1 is traveling on a highway, no spread of the display range 8 is required, such that the first maximum value 9 and the second maximum value 10 are at 0%. The determination of the road type or the street type can be taken from a navigation system 16 and/or a driver assistance system.

[0035] A further embodiment accounts for the likelihood that the roadway 13 not only extends in a straight direction but also in a curved manner. Thus, a horizontal shift of the position of the display 5 can occur between the first maximum value 9 and the second maximum value 10, i.e. within the spread of the display range 8 between left and right, at a constant speed and independently of the vehicle speed or a speed of changes of the steering angle. In particular, this can reliably avoid jerking or jumping of the display 5. This avoidance of jerking or jumping of the display 5 increases driving safety and enhances driving comfort of the driver. In addition, visual agitation can also be reduced or even avoided, and a shift of the display 5 is not perceived or at least is not perceived as disruptive by the driver.

[0036] The vehicle 1 and the method of the invention thus improve driving comfort and driving safety.