Apparatus and Method for Projecting Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle Features in an Electric Vehicle Heads-Up Display

Abstract

A method and apparatus enables modifying the electronic controls of EVs to mimic the sensory experience of driving a performance ICE car. The method and apparatus creates a sensory virtual cockpit by modifying an EV HUD to mimic that of a performance ICE car customized for racing.

Claims

1. A heads-up display for an electric vehicle comprising: an onboard camera configured to capture a road ahead of the electric vehicle; and at least one sensor electronically coupled to the vehicle; and a software program configured to gather information from said onboard camera and said at least one sensor; wherein the software program defines the parameters of the road ahead of the electric vehicle and the dynamic condition of the vehicle and calculates a racing line along the road ahead of the electric vehicle; and the at least one sensor is a wheel speed sensor; and the software program further calculates vehicle tire traction based on data from the wheel-speed sensor; and the software program further calculates acceleration and braking parameters to follow the racing line; wherein the racing line and graphical representation of an acceleration region, and braking region are projected on a windshield of the electric vehicle by the heads-up display.

2. The heads-up display of claim 1 wherein: said software program further gathers information from said onboard camera to identify other vehicles on said road ahead of the electric vehicle to calculate an ideal passing line around said other vehicles; wherein said passing line is based on calculations of road conditions and vehicle dynamic parameters.

3. The heads-up display of claim 1 wherein: said heads-up display further provides notification of required steering inputs in a graphical manner.

4. The heads-up display of claim 1 wherein: said heads-up display provides notifications of required acceleration and deceleration inputs in a graphical manner.

5. The heads-up display of claim 1 wherein: the software program compares vehicle speed, and the rotational velocity of each wheel to determine if wheels are slipping; wherein the racing line is altered to indicate a need for altered steering and braking to provide the ideal driving experience.

6. The heads-up display of claim 1 further comprising: the software program gathers information from the electric vehicle onboard speedometer; and an image of a speedometer projected onto the windshield of the electric vehicle through the heads-up display.

7. The heads-up display of claim 6 wherein: the image of the speedometer is an image of an ICE performance vehicle speedometer.

8. The heads-up display of claim 1 further comprising: the software program gathers information from the electric vehicle onboard battery meter; and an image of a battery meter is projected onto the windshield of the electric vehicle through the heads-up display.

9. The heads-up display of claim 8 wherein: the image of the battery meter is an image of an ICE performance vehicle gas gauge.

10. The heads-up display of claim 1 further comprising: the software program gathers information from the electric vehicle onboard temperature gauge; and an image of inside and outside temperature is projected onto the windshield of the electric vehicle through the heads-up display.

11. The heads-up display of claim 10 wherein: the image of the temperature gauge is an image of an ICE performance vehicle temperature gauge.

12. A method of performing the functions of the apparatus of claim 1, the method comprising: uploading heads-up display software to electric vehicle controller-area network; and capturing road image ahead of a vehicle from an onboard camera; and capturing information from sensors in communication with the vehicle's electronic control unit; and defining road parameters including speed, traction and direction; and calculating and projecting a racing line through the heads-up display.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: projecting images of electric vehicle gauges through the heads-up display.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein: the images of electric vehicle gauges mimic the appearance of ICE performance vehicle gauges.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of an electric vehicle showing a heads-up display graphic on a windshield.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interior of an electric vehicle showing heads-up display graphics on a windshield 110. A racing line 112 denotes the optimal line for driving through a curve. One skilled in the art understands that on public roads, such a feature would produce a line that keeps a driver safely in a lane. The racing line may change color 114 to indicate optimal locations for slowing or braking. For example, a yellow segment of a racing line may indicate an optimal location to ease off the accelerator and a red line segment may indicate an optimal location to brake.

[0024] In some embodiments a software program is configured to gather information from EV onboard cameras and sensors to derive information which is projected through the HUD onto the windshield 110 in the style and graphics used in auto racing. For example, a performance ICE vehicle speedometer 116 may depict an animated moving needle showing vehicle speed in MPG or KmPH.

[0025] Additional information common to performance ICE vehicles configured for racing may also be projected. In an example embodiment, traction is measured and projected 120. One skilled in the art understands that current EV onboard computers are capable of measuring wheel RPM and calculating circumference distance vs. speed to determine whether wheels are slipping. In another example, energy level 122 may be projected in a graphic style that mimics a performance ICE-vehicle gas gauge. In another example, images of gauges like those in performance ICE vehicles may display rate of acceleration, outside temperature, tire pressure and other metrics in place of an ICE oil-pressure gauge or water-temperature gauge. One skilled in the art understands that the gauges may be reassigned as an EV does not have oil or water coolant to measure.

[0026] In another example an ICE-style tachometer 118 is projected through the HUD. Although there is no need for a tachometer 118 in an EV, one skilled in the art understands that the tachometer may show an increase up to a given speed normally associated with first gear, and then a decrease followed by an increase up to a given speed normally associated with second gear, and so on. In yet other embodiments, ICE engine, turbocharger and transmission sounds are played through the EV sound system following the movement of the tachometer.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic of the method of the disclosure 200. A software program configured to interface with EV onboard cameras and sensors is uploaded to the EV CAN 222 and directs the EV HUD. The software captures a road image from the EV onboard camera 224. Sensors proximal to the wheels of the EV measure rotational velocity of each wheel 226. The speed of the vehicle is measured by the EV onboard speedometer 228. The information gathered and measured is used to calculate speed, traction and direction 230. One skilled in the art understands that the rotational velocity of each wheel, the direction of the vehicle and the direction of a turn in the road may be used to calculate the traction, or slippage, of each wheel. The information gathered is used to inform the software program which then calculates a racing line along the road ahead and projects the racing line 232 on the EV windshield through the heads-up display.

[0028] Images of gauges, dials, and the like are projected on the EV windshield through the EV HUD 234. In some embodiments the gauges, dials and the like are rendered images of gauges and dials from ICE performance-vehicle dashboards.