FR3048090A1 - INFORMATION PRESENTATION DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

An information presenting device comprises a first neutral zone (10) able to serve as information projection medium (8), and projection means (4) of said information by at least one light beam (6), and detection means (18) for a command for moving said information. The projection means (4) are capable of projecting said information (8) in at least one second neutral zone (12) distinct from the first neutral zone (10).

Description

The invention relates to the field of lighting and / or signaling, especially for motor vehicles. It relates more particularly to the field of interior lighting and that of the presentation of information to the occupants of the vehicle, whether navigation assistance information and / or information relating to devices ensuring driving comfort.

Nowadays, the driver of a motor vehicle must manage, in addition to the actual driving of the vehicle, taking into consideration a plurality of information to improve his driving comfort. Satellite navigation systems are for example embedded on vehicles by projecting the navigation information on a screen conventionally arranged on a central console, between the driver and the passenger. The screen of such navigation systems is advantageously high enough so that the driver does not have to look away from the road when driving for information, the control buttons to interact on the navigation system being however, for the sake of safety, it is recommended that the driver be stopped to use these buttons or that he let the passenger use these buttons. In order for the information given by these navigation systems to be readable by the driver and the passenger, the position of the associated screen on the dashboard is central between the passenger and the driver. It is understood that this central position is not optimal, neither for the driver nor for the passenger, but that it follows from an acceptable compromise for each of the possible situations. The screen is also used to take into consideration by the occupants of the vehicle other functions, such as receiving telephone calls, or the management of various comfort devices such as air conditioning or radio.

In this context, the subject of the invention is a device for presenting information, characterized in that it comprises a first neutral zone able to serve as an information projection medium, and means for projecting said information by at least a light beam, as well as means for detecting a movement control of said information, said projection means being capable of projecting said information into at least a second neutral zone distinct from the first.

According to various features of the invention, taken alone or in combination, it can be provided that: - at least a portion of the detection means is configured to target the driver's part of the passenger compartment; at least a portion of the detection means is configured to target one or more parts of the passenger compartment; the detection means comprise image acquisition means and / or sound acquisition means; the first and / or the second neutral zone are formed by a part of the vehicle's dashboard; the first and / or the second neutral zone are formed by part of the front windshield of the vehicle.

According to a first variant embodiment of the device according to the invention, said projection means consist of a single, controllable projection apparatus for projecting a beam at least in a first position, corresponding to the first neutral zone, and in a corresponding second position. at the second neutral zone; it can also be provided that said single projection means is controllable to project the beam at least in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position; in particular, this single projection means is controllable in a continuous movement between two extreme positions, one corresponding to the projection of the beam in the first neutral zone and the other corresponding to the projection of the beam in the second neutral zone.

According to a second variant embodiment of the device according to the invention, said projection means consist of a plurality of projection apparatus among which at least one apparatus is configured to project determined information into the first neutral zone and at least one other apparatus is configured to project said determined information into the second neutral zone.

It can further be provided that the projection means consist of a pixelated imaging system. In particular, at least one of said projection means comprises a rotationally controllable micro-mirror matrix capable of deflecting light rays emitted by an associated light source. The invention also relates to a method of presenting information in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in which the information is projected onto a first neutral zone of the passenger compartment and in which a movement control of said information is detected. information projection is then performed on a second neutral zone while the first area becomes blank information.

Advantageously, the information projection beam is displaced continuously from the first neutral zone to the second neutral zone. Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly with the aid of the description and the drawings, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate examples of application of the information presentation method according to the invention, according to which projection means are configured to project a light beam on two neutral zones, here on the dashboard of the vehicle, separate from each other, Figure 1 illustrating an example where these two zones are arranged at a distance, without overlapping each other, and Figure 2 illustrating an example where these two areas overlap; FIGS. 3 and 4 are schematic illustrations of examples of information that can be accessible to the driver and the passengers of the vehicle by the projection of the light beam illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrations of a second embodiment of a light device equipping the lighting device according to the invention.

A motor vehicle is equipped with at least one interior lighting device 1 of its passenger compartment 2, in particular that it comprises means 4 for projecting a light beam 6 configured to present information 8 to the driver and / or the front passenger seated next to the driver. The orientation of the projected light beam 6 is controllable by instruction of a control module so that the light beam is projected on at least two distinct neutral zones 10, 12 serving as a projection support. These zones are said to be neutral because of the notable absence of structural elements which would disturb the projection of information on the medium and which would penalize the reading of the information by the driver. In particular, this definition of neutral zone conforms to a portion of the windshield 14, or as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, a portion of the dashboard 16 having a smooth and blank surface of control buttons. outlet nozzles of air conditioning apparatus and / or digital screen.

It is notable according to the invention that these projection means 4 are oriented on instruction of a control module for projecting information 8 on one or the other of these neutral zones 10, 12 as a function of data received from the means. detection 18 of a command for moving said information.

These detection means 18 are configured to target the passenger compartment 2, and at least a portion of these detection means is configured to target the zone associated with the driver. Their role is to detect a wish formulated by the driver for the displacement of the information 8 projected on the neutral surface forming a projection support, in order to transmit a piece of data that can be used by the control module so that it transmits to the projection means 4 a corresponding command instruction.

These detection means 18 may consist of image acquisition means and / or sound acquisition means. It is thus possible to detect the movements of the driver, including at least one of his hands 19, and / or to detect voice commands made by the driver.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show the projection zones of the information 8 on the dashboard 16. Thus, the first neutral zone 10 and the second neutral zone 12 are formed by a portion of the vehicle dashboard. It can be provided alternatively that the first and / or the second neutral zone are formed by a portion of the front windshield of the vehicle.

In each of these cases, it is understood that it is particularly advantageous to target the detection of a desire for information transfer 8 made by the driver, it being understood that the possibility offered by the device according to the invention of moving the zone of Projection support is particularly useful for the driver, so that the passenger can manage the taking into account of this information when the driver's attention is worn on the road. The detection means 18 can thus be arranged substantially in the vicinity of the projection means 4, and for example as shown in Figures 1 and 2, above the dashboard 16, in the upper part of the windshield. .

However, at least a portion of the detection means 18 may be configured to target one or more parts of the passenger compartment, and in particular parts at the rear of the passenger compartment to detect movements of the rear passengers who wish to move the passenger compartment. information projection support. In a variant embodiment not shown, it is conceivable that the second neutral zone 12, in which the light beam 6 is projected following the detection of a command formulated by the rear passengers of the vehicle and the steering of the projection means 4, is not on the same support as that of the first neutral zone, and that the detected movement of a rear passenger generates movement on a neutral zone opposite the rear passenger, not visible to the driver.

In particular in the latter case, it can be provided that said projection means 4 consist of a plurality of lighting modules respectively forming projection apparatus and among which at least one lighting module is configured to project information determined in the first neutral zone 10 and at least one other lighting module is configured to project said determined information into the second neutral zone 12.

In the illustrated case where the information is moved from one zone to another of the same medium, said projection means 4 can advantageously consist of a single controllable lighting module 20 for projecting a beam at least in a first position. , corresponding to the first neutral zone 10, and in a second position, corresponding to the second neutral zone 12. In particular, it can be provided, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, that this controllable lighting module 20 is arranged in the area above the windshield 14, above the dashboard 16, to facilitate beam projection as well on the windshield as on the dashboard.

The single lighting module 20 is then controllable in a displacement between two extreme positions, a first position corresponding to the projection of the beam in the first neutral zone 10 and a second position corresponding to the projection of the beam in the second neutral zone 12. The resulting movement of the information 8 can be continuous, with the light sources associated with the lighting module which remain constantly lit during the displacement, or discontinuous, with the associated light sources which are extinguished during the displacement of the projection means. . In the latter case, it is possible to provide at least one intermediate position between the first position and the second position, it being understood that in the case of continuous information displacement, a plurality of intermediate positions is realized.

In particular, in the case of an embodiment with a single lighting module 20, the latter may comprise a pixelated imaging system, in which a plurality of light sources associated with said module is controlled on and off to define according to the ignition of the sources and according to an associated formatting optics, a defined image, each source forming a pixel of the projected image. It is thus possible on a given area to project different beams and illuminate a portion or another of this determined area, thereby forming an image providing specific information to the driver or other vehicle passengers likely to read the projected information.

In one embodiment, illustrated as an example in FIGS. 5 and 6, at least one interior lighting module 20 comprises a rotationally rotatable micro-mirror matrix capable of deflecting light rays emitted by a light source. associated light. In a module of this type, a plurality of light-emitting diodes 38 associated with a printed circuit board 40. And first optical deflection means 41 consist of a plurality of electromechanical microsystems (known by the acronym MEMS for the English translation "MicroElectroMechanical Systems "), arranged in line and / or column matrix so that each of these electromechanical microsystems is arranged opposite a light-emitting diode (or a" light chip "of the diode). The electromechanical microsystems extend longitudinally forward of the light sources, and they consist of movable mirrors 42 able to reflect part of the light rays emitted by the light source towards the projection optics, here a lens and a reflector . Each mirror is thus rotatably mounted about an axis 44 carried by the module, so as to pivot between two extreme positions, namely a first standard position and a second optical shift position. In these two extreme positions, the rays deviated by the mirrors are directed towards a projection optics 46 for the creation of a light beam at the output of the lighting module which is specific both for controlling the position of the mirrors and for switching on or off the light-emitting diodes. It can be provided that the matrix of electromechanical microsystems is provided so that the light reflected by the mirrors is either directed towards the projection optics when the mirrors are in the standard position, or directed towards a non-reflective surface when the mirrors are in the mirror. the offset position, so as to form an on / off system in which some parts of the image are darkened.

The method according to the invention has been previously described, in particular in that it comprises a detection step in the course of which it is determined whether the driver has expressed the wish to see the projection zone of an image containing information 8 addressed to it, for example a road map of a navigation software (FIG. 3) or a virtual keypad (FIG. 4) on which it is possible to interact to enter data into the on-board control module of the vehicle. The driver can thus perform a movement of the hand 19 or the finger, as illustrated in each of these two figures 3 and 4, and the detection means 18 according to the invention transmit to the control module one or more images illustrating this. movement, so that a displacement of the beam 6 forming the image 8 is generated from the first zone 10 in which the image was originally to a second zone 12. The position of this second zone may be more or less far from the position of the first zone, so that the two projection zones can be without overlap portion (Figure 1) or overlap (Figure 2), it being understood that the choice of one option or the other may be decided during the setting of the device, or be according to the amplitude of the detected movement of the driver. If the gesture is large, the image carrying the information is projected in an area extending substantially in front of the passenger, away from the driver, while if the gesture of the driver is minimal, the image is projected in a second zone to short distance from the first zone.

We understand that the driver wanted to move the information for the passenger to become aware and that it can support the actions to be conducted based on this information. Therefore, it is interesting that the first area 10 in which the information was originally projected becomes blank information, that is to say without projected image above, after the displacement of the beam 6.

The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention makes it possible to achieve the objectives that it has set itself and in particular to propose an interior lighting device that makes it possible to detect the wish of an occupant of the vehicle to see information being moved. to facilitate reading and taking into account. This is particularly useful so that the driver can pass the information to manage to the front passenger, to keep all its concentration on the road.

Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the traffic aid device which has just been described by way of non-limiting example, since at least one of the means of implementation is used. detecting a desire of an occupant of the vehicle to move information originally projected on a first area, so that another occupant than originally planned can take into account this information, and ways of projection configured to perform this information movement.

In any event, the invention can not be limited to the embodiment specifically described in this document, and extends in particular to all equivalent means and any technically operating combination of these means.

Claims (15)

1. An information presentation device, characterized in that it comprises a first neutral zone (10) adapted to serve as an information projection medium (8), and projection means (4) of said information by at least a light beam (6), as well as means (18) for detecting a movement of said information, said projection means (4) being capable of projecting said information (8) into at least a second neutral zone (12); ) distinct from the first neutral zone (10). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a portion of the detection means (18) is configured to target the portion of the passenger compartment reserved for the driver. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a portion of the detection means (18) is configured to target one or more parts of the passenger compartment 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection means (18) comprise image acquisition means. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection means (18) comprise means for acquiring sound. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first neutral zone (10) and / or the second neutral zone (12) are formed by a portion of the dashboard (16) of the vehicle. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first neutral zone (10) and / or the second neutral zone (12) are formed by a portion of the windshield (14) of the vehicle. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said projection means (4) consist of a single lighting module (20) controllable to project a beam at least in a first position, corresponding to the first zone neutral (10), and in a second position corresponding to the second neutral zone (12). 9. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said single lighting module (20) is controllable to project the beam at least in an intermediate position between the first position and the second position. 10. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said single lighting module (20) is controllable in a continuous movement between two extreme positions, one corresponding to the projection of the beam in the first neutral zone (10) and the other corresponding to the projection of the beam in the second neutral zone (12). 11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said projection means (4) consist of a plurality of projection apparatus among which at least one apparatus is configured to project determined information in the first zone. neutral (10) and at least one other apparatus is configured to project said determined information into the second neutral zone (12). 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projection means (4) comprise a pixelated imaging system. 13. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one of said projection means (4) comprises a matrix with micro-mirrors (42) rotatable, adapted to deflect light rays emitted by a light source ( 38) associated. 14. A method of presenting information in a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, in which the projection of information (8) is carried out on a first neutral zone (10) of the passenger compartment and in which a movement control of said information is detected. (8), the information projection being then performed on a second neutral zone (12) while the first zone (10) becomes blank information. 15. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the beam (6) of information projection (8) is moved continuously from the first neutral zone (10) to the second neutral zone (12).