WO2016018320A1

WO2016018320A1 - System for projecting an image within a vehicle interior

Info

Publication number: WO2016018320A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/048951
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yanning Zhao; Iris Wegner; Frank Schliep; Martin Kuckertz; Don SEAY
Original assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
Priority date: 2014-07-30
Filing date: 2014-07-30
Publication date: 2016-02-04

Abstract

A display system for an interior (12) of a vehicle (10) including a viewing screen (40) configured to couple to a surface of the interior (12) of the vehicle (10). The viewing screen (40) includes a holographic film (46) configured to reflect or transmit light at a primary angle and to attenuate light reflected or transmitted at angles other than the primary angle. The display system also includes a projector (44) configured to mount within the interior (12) of the vehicle (10) and configured to project a display image (42) onto the viewing screen (40).

Description

SYSTEM FOR PROJECTING AN IMAGE WITHIN A

VEHICLE INTERIOR

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention relates generally to projecting and displaying information and images within a vehicle interior.

[0002] The ability of a driver to operate a vehicle is enhanced when the driver can see and identify prominent objects around the vehicle and is able to focus on those objects. For example, the driver may be able to identify prominent objects more easily when visibility is high. Visibility may be determined at least by weather conditions and by the structure of the vehicle. Structural influences include frame pillars, which may obstruct the view of certain objects from the driver. Unfortunately, reducing the obstruction caused by the frame pillars may be difficult because the frame pillars may be part of a roll protection system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a display system for an interior of a vehicle including a viewing screen configured to couple to a surface of the interior of the vehicle. The viewing screen includes a holographic film configured to reflect or transmit light at a primary angle and to attenuate light reflected or transmitted at angles other than the primary angle. The display system also includes a projector configured to mount within the interior of the vehicle and configured to project a display image onto the viewing screen.

[0004] The present invention also relates to a display system for an interior of a vehicle that includes a viewing screen configured to couple to a surface of the interior of the vehicle. The viewing screen includes a holographic film configured to reflect or transmit light at a primary angle and to attenuate light reflected or transmitted at angles other than the primary angle. The display system also includes a projector configured to mount within the interior of the vehicle and to project a display image onto the viewing screen. The display system also includes a camera configured to couple to an exterior of the vehicle and to communicate a captured image to the viewing screen. The captured image substantially corresponds to the display image. The display system also includes a tracking device configured to track a position, an orientation, or any combination thereof, of a tracked object, and includes a controller configured to output instructions to adjust a position of the viewing screen, an orientation of the viewing screen, a position of the camera, an orientation of the camera, or any combination thereof, based on the position, the orientation, or any combination thereof, of the tracked object.

[0005] The present invention further relates to a display system for a vehicle that includes a viewing screen configured to couple to a surface of the interior of the vehicle, a projector configured to mount within the interior of the vehicle and to project a display image onto the viewing screen, and a camera configured to couple to an exterior of the vehicle and to communicate a captured image to the projector. The display image substantially corresponds to the captured image.

DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle having a display system configured to provide a display image for viewing within an interior of the vehicle.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a display system displaying an image on an A-pillar of the vehicle of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a screen for use in the display system of FIG. 2.

[0009] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a display system that may be employed within the vehicle of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a display system that may be employed within the vehicle of FIG. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a vehicle 10 that may include a display system configured to present an image to a driver. As illustrated, the vehicle 10 includes an interior 12 having a dashboard panel 14. As discussed in detail below, a display system 16 within the vehicle 10 presents graphical information to a driver 18 and/or a passenger 20. The display system 16 may include a viewing screen in combination with a projector to present an image to the driver 18 and/or to the passenger 20. The viewing screen may be mounted on any of the interior surfaces, including the interior surface of an A-pillar 22, a B-pillar 24, a C-pillar 26, and/or a D-pillar 28, or may be mounted on other interior surfaces including the dash, the ceiling, the interior door surfaces, or other surfaces. The viewing screen on these surfaces (e.g., A-pillar 22surface, B-pillar 24 surface, C-pillar 26 surface, or D-pillar 28 surface) may display an image substantially corresponding to the external line-of- sight 30, which would be available if each pillar (e.g., A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar, and/or D-pillar) were transparent or absent. The viewing screen may also display other information including a single color for aesthetic purposes, operating data of the vehicle, or realistic views of other areas that are not substantially corresponding to the external line-of-sight 30 (e.g., projection of a rear-viewing camera).

[0012] The advantages and benefits of the display system 16 include increased visibility and information of prominent objects around the vehicle, as well as providing emergency, or other operating information to the occupants of the vehicle. This provides for optimal placement and delivery of information available to the driver 18 during operation of the vehicle 10. Objects that may otherwise be hidden from the view of the driver 18 are displayed so that the driver 18 may properly respond. Furthermore, as explained in detail below, the viewing screen employed by the display system 16 does not reflect distracting lights at the driver 18, nor does it cause reflection on the windows to the vehicle 10.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of the interior 12 of the vehicle 10 of FIG. 1. As illustrated, the A-pillar 22 includes a viewing screen 40 which displays an image 42 substantially corresponding to the external line-of-sight 30 through the A- pillar 22. Also as illustrated, a projector 44 projects the image 42 onto the screen 40. The screen 40 may be placed on the A-pillar 22 or on other surfaces of the vehicle 10, such as the dash or the surface of a door 47. The projector 44 may employ front or rear projection to project the image 42 onto the screen 40. For example, the projector 44 may be installed within an interior component (e.g., A-pillar 22) behind the screen 40 relative to the interior of the vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the screen 40 includes a holographic foil 46 that directs light from the projector 44 to the driver 18 and attenuates light at other angles. The holographic foil 46 may direct the light based on a property of the light (e.g., wavelength/frequency) but may also direct white light. As a result, the screen 40 is configured to present graphical information only to the driver 18. This directed reflection reduces glare both from external lights sources (e.g., headlights from other cars) and from the image 42 that may reflect off a window (e.g., window of the door 47) of the vehicle 10. The screen 40 may also reduce the possibility of the image 42 being seen by others outside of the vehicle 10. Directed reflection may also enable the projector to provide a reduced luminous output, thereby reducing the amount of power used by the projector 44 in displaying the image 42.

[0014] The projector 44 may be any suitable type of projector, including, a cathode ray tube projector, liquid crystal display projector, digital light processing projector, light-emitting diode projector, and/or a laser projector. In one example embodiment, the projector 44 is a focus-free laser projector that is configured to display a crisp image independent of the distance between the projector 44 and the screen 40. Additionally, the projector 44 may be positioned at any suitable location within the interior 12 of the vehicle 10. For example, the projector may be positioned within a dashboard of the vehicle, or may be positioned within the headliner of the vehicle 10. Multiple projectors 44 may be positioned, for example, at a central location within the headliner of the vehicle 10 to project a respective image toward a screen coupled to each of the pillars (e.g., A-pillar, B-pillar, C-pillar, and/or D-pillar) of the vehicle 10. The projector 44 may adjust and control the direction and intensity of the image 42 based on one or more sensors within the vehicle 10. Such sensors may include an ambient light detector 48, an eye or head tracker 50, and/or other monitoring devices that determine aspects of operation of the vehicle and/or the environment. The eye/head tracker 50 monitors the location of the driver, the driver head, and/or the driver eyes to facilitate adjustment of the image 42 so that the image is visible to the driver 18. The screen 40 may reflect the image 42 such that the image 42 is visible only within an eye box 52. Thus, the projector 44 may adjust and control the location of the eye box 52 by adjusting and controlling the direction in which the image is projected on the screen 40 (e.g., in response to input from the eye/head tracker 50).

[0015] To capture the image 42 that is projected onto the screen 40, the vehicle 10 includes a first camera 54 mounted on the exterior of the vehicle 10. The first camera 54 may be any suitable camera, including an infra-red camera for capturing images under low-light conditions, and a visible light camera for capturing images in daylight conditions. The vehicle 10 also includes a second camera 56 connected to the projector 44. The second camera 56 may be used to achieve a broader viewpoint of the image along the line-of-sight 30, to achieve a different viewpoint (e.g., the image 42 may change depending on the height or angle of reclining of the driver 18), or to capture the image 42 under different lighting conditions (e.g., the first camera 54 may capture the image under daytime light conditions and the second camera 56 captures the image under low-light night conditions). Each camera (e.g., the camera 54 and the second camera 56) is communicatively connected to the projector 44 and may be controlled to adjust a position and/or an angle of each camera 54, 56 and/ or to adjust electronic light-capturing settings of each camera. Additional cameras may be available either in additional locations, or in close proximity to the first camera 54 and second camera 56, but for other purposes.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the vehicle 10 includes screens (e.g., the A-pillar screen 40 of FIG. 2) that have multiple reflecting angles. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 includes a dash screen 58 that reflects a first image 60 at a first reflecting angle 62, and a second image 64 at a second reflecting angle 66. For example, the first image 60 may display operating information about the vehicle 10 to the driver 18, while the second image 64 displays a book or a webpage to the passenger 20 of the vehicle 10. The first reflecting angle 62 and the second reflecting angle 66 may be selected based on the orientation of the projector 44 relative to the screen 58. For example, the dash screen 58 may reflect light at the first reflecting angle 62 when the projector 44 projects from above the screen 58 from one projector, and at the second reflecting angle 66 (transmission angle in this case) when a different projector projects through the screen 58 from below. The dash screen 58 may also reflect light at different angles depending on the wavelengths of projected light used for each of the image. For example, the dash screen 58 may reflect light of a first wavelength range at the first reflecting angle 62 and reflect light of a second wavelength range at the second reflecting angle 66. Furthermore, different combinations of reflected light may be used to produce full-color images at the first reflecting angle 62 and at the second reflecting angle 66.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the screen 40 for use in the display system 16 of FIG. 1. The illustrated embodiment of the screen 40 includes the holographic foil 46 onto which the projector 44 projects the image 42. In other embodiments, the holographic foil 46 may transmit rather than reflect incoming light 68. The holographic foil 46 receives the incoming light 68 from the projector 44 or other light source and reflects a reflected light 70 at a reflecting angle 72. The reflecting angle 72 as used herein, represents an angle from a normal direction 74 (of the holographic foil 46) at which the light 68 is primarily reflected. Reflected light arrows 76 in the illustrated embodiment graphically represent the intensity of the reflected light 70 for a designated direction. The longer reflected light arrows 76 indicate stronger intensity reflected light 70. Therefore, as illustrated, the reflected light 70 is strongest at the reflecting angle 72. In this way, the holographic foil 46 directs the light in the primary direction at the reflecting angle 72. Additionally, the holographic foil 46 may be modified to reflect light at a second reflecting angle 77. The holographic foil 46 may be modified, for example, to adjust the placement of the eye box 52. That is, with adjustment to the holographic foil 46, the light 68 may reflect at a second reflecting angle 77 and thus change the position at which the reflected light 70 is visible most strongly. While light is also possibly dispersed in other directions (e.g., reflected light directions 76), as indicated by the shorter reflected light arrows 76, the holographic foil 46 directs the light 68 from the projector 44. [0018] The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is merely one possible embodiment of the directed light, and the light 68 from the projector 44 may be dispersed or directed in a wide variety of percentages. For example, the light 68 may have 100 percent reflectance at the reflecting angle 72, or may have 80 percent, 70 percent, 60 percent, or less directed from the holographic foil at the reflecting angle 72. The holographic foil enables the screen 40 to reflect or transmit light at a primary angle and to attenuate light reflected or transmitted at angles other than the primary angle. This provides the advantages listed above of increased visibility and lower power use. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the physical characteristics of the holographic foil 46 may depend on one or more characteristics of the incoming light 68. For example, the holographic foil 46 may disperse light of a first wavelength (e.g., blue light) such that only a small percentage of the light 68 is reflected at the reflecting angle 72 while light of a second wavelength (e.g., green light) is reflected at a much higher percentage toward the reflecting angle 72.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the display system 16 of FIG. 1. In the illustrated embodiments, the camera 54, 56 may be adjusted based on the position and/or orientation of a tracked object 78. The tracked object 78, for example, may be an eye, or other specific area of the driver 18 or the passenger 20. As illustrated, the tracked object 78 may initially be positioned at a first position 80. When the tracked object 78 is in the first position 80, the camera 54, 56 captures a first captured image 82 along the line-of-sight 30. On the occasion that the tracked object 78 moves to a second position 84, the camera 54, 56 is adjusted to pick up a second captured image 86 along the line-of-sight 30. As illustrated, the adjustment of the camera 54, 56 maintains the view along the line-of-sight 30 so that the pillar 22 appears to be transparent or absent.

[0020] Additionally, the camera 54, 56 may capture a wide angle captured image 88 and display a portion of the captured image 88 onto the pillar 22. Indeed, a portion of each of the captured images (e.g., first captured image 82, second captured image 86, and wide angle captured image 88) may be displayed as the display image 42. The portion that is included in the display image 42, however, substantially corresponds to the captured image (e.g., first captured image 82, second captured image 86, and wide angle captured image 88) that is projected by the projector 44. The determination of which portion of the wide angle captured image 88 (or other image) is displayed as the display image 42 is based on the tracked position (e.g., first position 80 and/or second position 84) of the tracked object 78. The display image 42 may be adjust to substantially correspond to the line-of-sight behind the pillar by adjusting the position and/or orientation of the projector 44, or by electronically shifting the portion of the display image 42 that reflects off the pillar 22.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the display system 16 that may be employed within the vehicle of FIG. 1. The display system 16 includes the first camera 54 and the second camera 56, as described above. As illustrated, the display system 16 also includes a controller 90 having a processor 92 and a memory 94 to monitor and adjust various components of the display system 16. For example, the controller 90 may control an external actuator 96 that is coupled to the first camera 54 and the second camera 56. The external actuator 96 is configured to control the physical manipulation (e.g., angle, position, etc.) of the cameras 54, 56 as described with regard to FIG. 4. The external actuator 96 may also control an array of several additional cameras for use under various light conditions and for desired angles. Additionally, the external actuator 96, as illustrated in FIG. 5, may represent several actuators, each coupled to a respective camera (e.g., first camera 54, second camera 56) and configured to adjust a position and/or orientation of the respective camera individually. The external actuator 96 may control translation, pitch, yaw, rotation, or other movements of the cameras 54, 56. The movements may be designated by the controller 90 which may control the external actuator 96 based on the position and/or orientation of a tracked object 78 as measured by the eye/head tracker 50.

[0022] The display system 16 may also include an internal actuator 98. The internal actuator 98 may likewise include a number of actuators configured to manipulate various internal components. For example, the internal actuator 98 may control the position and/or orientation of the projector 44 and/or the viewing screen 40. Adjusting the projector 44 and/or the viewing screen 40 may adjust the display image 42 as it appears to the driver 18. [0023] Technical advantages of the foregoing embodiments include increased visibility for a driver 18 of a vehicle 10. For vehicles in which the display system 16 is installed on all pillars, the driver 18 may have an uninterrupted view of the surrounding environment. Additionally, the screen 40 provides an opportunity for separate occupants (e.g., the driver 18 and the passenger 20) to view different content on the same screen 40 within the vehicle 10.

[0024] While only certain features and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters (e.g., temperatures, pressures, etc.), mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re- sequenced according to alternative embodiments. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. Furthermore, in an effort to provide a concise description of the exemplary embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not have been described (i.e., those unrelated to the presently contemplated best mode of carrying out the invention, or those unrelated to enabling the claimed invention). It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation specific decisions may be made. Such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure, without undue experimentation.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A display system for an interior of a vehicle comprising:

a viewing screen configured to couple to a surface of the interior of the vehicle, wherein the viewing screen comprises a holographic film configured to reflect or transmit light at a controlled primary angle and to attenuate light reflected or transmitted at angles other than the primary angle; and

a projector configured to mount within the interior of the vehicle and configured to project a display image onto the viewing screen.

2. The display system of claim 1, comprising

a first camera configured to couple to an exterior of the vehicle and to communicate a first captured image to the projector, wherein the display image substantially corresponds to the captured image.

3. The display system of claim 2, comprising a second camera configured to couple to the exterior of the vehicle and to communicate a second captured image to the projector, wherein the display image corresponds to the first captured image, the second captured image, or a combination thereof.

4. The display system of claim 3, wherein the first camera is configured to capture the first captured image under a first set of lighting conditions, and the second camera is configured to capture the second captured image under a second set of lighting conditions.

5. The display system of claim 3, wherein the viewing screen is configured to couple to the surface of a pillar of the interior of the vehicle, and the first captured image, the second captured image, or a combination thereof, is indicative of the environment on an opposite side of the pillar from the interior of the vehicle.

6. The display system of claim 1, comprising: a tracking device configured to track a position, an orientation, or any combination thereof, of a tracked object within the interior of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to output instruction to adjust a position of the viewing screen an orientation of the viewing screen, a position of the projector, an orientation of the projector, the display image projected by the projector, or any combination thereof, based on the position, the orientation, or any combination thereof, of the tracked object.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the tracked object comprises a head of an occupant of the vehicle, an eye of the occupant of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the projector comprises a focus-free laser projector.

9. The display system of claim 1, wherein the projector is configured to project the display image onto the viewing screen from behind the viewing screen relative to the interior of the vehicle.

10. The display system of claim 1, wherein the holographic film is configured to reflect or transmit a second display image at a second primary angle, different from the primary angle.

11. A display system for an interior of a vehicle, comprising:

a viewing screen configured to couple to a surface of the interior of the vehicle, wherein the viewing screen comprises a holographic film configured to reflect or transmit light at a primary angle and to attenuate light reflected or transmitted at angles other than the primary angle;

a projector configured to mount within the interior of the vehicle and to project a display image onto the viewing screen; a camera configured to couple to an exterior of the vehicle and to communicate a captured image to the viewing screen, wherein the captured image substantially corresponds to the display image;

a tracking device configured to track a position, an orientation, or any combination thereof, of a tracked object within the interior of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to output instructions to adjust a position of the viewing screen, an orientation of the viewing screen, a position of the camera, an orientation of the camera, or any combination thereof, based on the position, the orientation, or any combination thereof, of the tracked object.

12. The display system of claim 11, wherein the tracked object comprises a head of an occupant of the vehicle, an eye of the occupant of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.

13. The display system of claim 11, wherein the viewing screen is configured to couple to a surface of a pillar of the vehicle, and the captured image is indicative of the environment on an opposite side of the pillar from the interior of the vehicle.

14. The display system of claim 11, comprising an actuator coupled to the camera, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the actuator to adjust a position, an orientation, or a combination thereof, of the camera based on the position, the orientation, or any combination thereof, of the tracked object.

15. The display system of claim 11, comprising a light detector configured to output a signal indicative of a level of ambient light within the interior of the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the display image based on the signal.

16. A display system for a vehicle, comprising:

a viewing screen configured to couple to a surface of the interior of the vehicle; a projector configured to mount within the interior of the vehicle and to project a display image onto the viewing screen; and

a camera configured to couple to an exterior of the vehicle and to communicate a captured image to the projector, wherein the display image substantially corresponds to the captured image.

17. The display system of claim 16, comprising a second camera coupled to the exterior of the vehicle configured to communicate a second captured image captured by the second camera to the projector, wherein the first camera is configured to capture the first image under a first set of lighting conditions, and the second camera is configured to capture the second image under a second set of lighting conditions.

18. The display system of claim 16, comprising an actuator coupled to the camera, and a controller configured to instruct the actuator to adjust a position, an orientation, or a combination thereof, of the camera based on the position, the orientation, or any combination thereof, of the tracked object.

19. The display system of claim 16, comprising:

20. The display system of claim 19, wherein the tracked object comprises a head of an occupant of the vehicle, an eye of the occupant of the vehicle, or any combination thereof.