Control unit for a head-up display with a liquid crystal display, with a deserializer having a brightness analysis device, and a main control unit having a background control device.
By integrating a deserializer with brightness analysis and a main control unit for zone-based backlighting management, the head-up display system addresses inefficiencies in manufacturing and energy use, achieving cost-effective and energy-efficient image projection.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE102024119686
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing head-up display systems face challenges in reducing manufacturing effort, operating costs, and energy consumption, particularly in the conversion and backlighting processes.
Incorporating a deserializer with a brightness analysis device to perform zone-based brightness analysis and generate zone brightness data, and a main control unit with a background control device to manage backlighting based on these data, reducing the need for components and optimizing energy use.
This approach reduces energy consumption and manufacturing costs while enhancing visibility by selectively illuminating only the zones where images are displayed, improving contrast and efficiency.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Technical field
[0001] The invention relates to a control device for a head-up display, in particular for a head-up display for a vehicle, comprising a deserializer configured to convert serial video data into parallel video data for a liquid crystal display, and a main control unit connected to the deserializer for data exchange.
[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to an image generation device for a head-up display, in particular for a head-up display for a vehicle, comprising at least one control unit, at least one liquid crystal display and at least one backlighting device for the at least one liquid crystal display.
[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a head-up display, in particular a head-up display for a vehicle, comprising at least one image generation device with at least one control device, with at least one liquid crystal display and with at least one backlighting device for the at least one liquid crystal display.
[0004] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a control device, in particular a control device according to the invention, for a head-up display, in particular for a head-up display for a vehicle, in which serial video data is converted into parallel video data for a liquid crystal display using a deserializer and data is exchanged between the deserializer and a main control unit.
[0005] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating an image generation device for a head-up display, in particular for a head-up display for a vehicle, wherein the image generation device comprises at least one control unit, in particular a control unit according to the invention, with at least one deserializer and at least one main control unit, at least one liquid crystal display and at least one backlighting device, wherein in the method serial video data is converted into parallel video data for at least one liquid crystal display using the at least one deserializer, and data is exchanged between the at least one deserializer and the at least one main control unit.with which at least one liquid crystal display is generated based on the parallel video data, and with which at least one backlighting device is generated a backlight for the at least one liquid crystal display. State of the art
[0006] From EP 3 916 713 A1, a control device, a control method, and a display system are known. In a display system that performs a local dimming operation, the size of the display page is reduced.A control device that performs a local dimming operation of a display comprises an identification unit configured to identify a changed area in which an image in a frame to be displayed on the display is modified; an analysis unit configured, in a case where the changed area is identified, to analyze the image in the changed area in the received frame each time an image to be displayed on the display is received, in first processing units; and a generation unit configured to generate control information for controlling the local dimming operation for corresponding areas on the display each time an analysis result with respect to the image is output in a first processing unit.
[0007] The invention is based on the objective of designing a control device, an image generation device, a head-up display, a method for operating a control device, and a method for operating an image generation device, all of which increase efficiency. In particular, the effort, especially manufacturing effort and / or operating costs, and / or energy consumption should be reduced. Disclosure of the invention
[0008] According to the invention, the problem is solved in the control device by the fact that the deserializer has at least one brightness analysis device which is designed to perform zone-related brightness analyses based on at least a part of the video data and to generate zone brightness data for the video data based on the zone-related brightness analyses. and an output of the deserializer is connected to an input of the main control unit, which is designed to transmit zone brightness data to the main control unit, and the main control unit has a background control device designed to generate background control signals for a backlight device based on zone brightness data.
[0009] According to the invention, the control unit includes a deserializer for a brightness analysis device. The deserializer converts serial video data into parallel video data for a liquid crystal display. The serial video data can be provided, for example, by a control unit, in particular a vehicle control unit. The video data contains information about source images. Based on the video data, source images can be displayed on a liquid crystal display of the head-up display. The source images can be projected as images onto a glass, in particular a windshield, or a screen, in particular a screen of the head-up display.
[0010] The source images may contain operating data from the vehicle with the head-up display, in particular speed readings, or similar information. Furthermore, the video data may contain information about road markings, objects, and / or route trajectories.
[0011] The video data can contain positional coordinates and brightness coordinates. The positional coordinates can indicate the position of a data record within a data field that characterizes the original image to be generated by the liquid crystal display. In particular, the positional coordinates can characterize the positions of data records for pixels in the liquid crystal display. The brightness coordinates can contain brightness values that characterize the brightness associated with the corresponding positional coordinates.
[0012] The brightness analysis function allows for zone-based brightness analysis based on at least a portion of the video data. This enables the identification of zones containing parts of the original image. Zones of the original image are activated in the liquid crystal display and therefore appear black. Furthermore, the zone-based brightness analysis can determine the overall brightness of each zone.
[0013] Zone-based brightness analysis allows the generation of zone brightness data for video data. This zone brightness data indicates the overall brightness of the respective zones. In this way, the amount of data required for further processing can be reduced.
[0014] One output of the deserializer is connected to an input of the main control unit. This allows the zone brightness data to be transmitted to the main control unit.
[0015] The main control unit includes a background control device. Based on at least a portion of the zone brightness data, the background control device can generate background control signals for a backlight. These background control signals can then be used to control the backlight device, illuminating the liquid crystal display in the area of the displayed original image.
[0016] The background control signals allow the liquid crystal display to be locally dimmed in the zones based on zone brightness data. This allows the backlight of the liquid crystal display to be limited to the zones where a source image is displayed. In all other zones, where no source image or image content is displayed, the backlight can remain switched off. With this invention, only those zones of the liquid crystal display are illuminated where a source image is actually being displayed. This local dimming has the advantage of reducing the energy consumption for the backlight. Furthermore, it reduces the heat generated by the backlighting device during backlighting operation.
[0017] The backlighting can also be adjusted variably in the relevant zones. For example, when using the head-up display in a vehicle, the brightness of the backlighting in the corresponding zones where an original image is to be displayed can be increased in bright sunlight, especially when facing the road. This ensures that the image projected onto the screen or windshield remains visible even in bright sunlight.
[0018] The brightness analysis unit is integrated into the deserializer. The background control unit is integrated into the main control unit. This reduces the number of components required for the control unit. Furthermore, it reduces susceptibility to interference, as the number of data lines, such as circuit traces or cables, is reduced. In addition, this allows for a more cost-effective implementation of the control unit.
[0019] Advantageously, the brightness analysis device can be implemented, at least in part, using software. This allows for easier integration of the brightness analysis device into the deserializer.
[0020] Advantageously, the background control unit can be implemented, at least in part, via software. This allows for easier integration of the background control unit into the main control unit.
[0021] The deserializer allows a serial data stream to be output in parallel. It can convert serial video data into parallel video data. The serial video data can originate from a serializer. The serializer can be part of a control unit outside the head-up display, particularly a vehicle control unit. The serializer can convert originally parallel video data into serial video data. The parallel video data can reside in the control unit outside the head-up display. The serial video data can be transmitted serially to the deserializer.
[0022] A head-up display (HUD) is a display system that allows a user, particularly the driver of a vehicle equipped with a HUD, to maintain their line of sight and thus their head posture. The HUD projects information, especially symbols, characters, numbers, or the like, generated as images by at least one liquid crystal display, into the user's field of vision.
[0023] Head-up displays can also be referred to as "head-up displays" in German-speaking regions. The invention can be used for head-up displays of various designs. In particular, the invention can be used for head-up displays that project an image onto the windshield of a vehicle. These head-up displays are commonly referred to as windscreen head-up displays. Furthermore, the head-up display can also have its own screen onto which the image can be projected. The head-up display with the control device according to the invention can also be used in conjunction with augmented reality, especially with AR systems.
[0024] The invention can be used in vehicles. A key functional characteristic of a vehicle is its ability to move. Vehicles can be motor vehicles. Advantageously, the invention can be used in land vehicles, in particular cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, mobile machinery, in particular construction or transport machinery such as cranes, excavators, or the like, aircraft, and / or (under)water vehicles. The invention can also be used in vehicles that can be operated autonomously or semi-autonomously. However, the invention is not limited to vehicles. It can also be used in stationary operation.
[0025] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one brightness analysis device can be configured to assign at least a portion of the video data to defined zones, in particular depending on the respective positional coordinates of the video data, and to determine the respective zone brightness data for at least a portion of the zones based on the brightness coordinates of the video data belonging to each zone. In this way, the areas of the liquid crystal display in which an original image is to be displayed can be assigned to zones. During zone-based brightness analysis, the brightness values of the data sets with positional coordinates within defined zones can be analyzed. The zones can refer to the positional coordinates of the video data. In this way, several data sets with adjacent positional coordinates can be combined into zones with respect to their brightness coordinates.
[0026] In a further advantageous embodiment, specify the positional coordinates of the video data and the positions of pixels of the liquid crystal display. and / or The zones specify the positions of image areas with multiple pixels on the liquid crystal display. In this way, the position coordinates can be directly assigned to pixels on the liquid crystal display. Alternatively or additionally, the zones can be directly assigned to image areas with multiple pixels on the liquid crystal display.
[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment, the zones to which the brightness analyses refer can specify the positions of illumination elements, in particular light-emitting diodes (LEDs), within an illumination field, especially an LED array, wherein the illumination elements are configured to illuminate corresponding zones of the liquid crystal display. In this way, the zones of the liquid crystal display can be selectively illuminated by the corresponding illumination elements. Thus, it is possible to illuminate only those zones of the liquid crystal display in which parts of the original image are located. All other zones of the liquid crystal display, on the other hand, remain unilluminated. This improves the contrast between the original image and the background. This increases the visibility of the original image in the user's field of vision, particularly that of the vehicle driver. Overall, more efficient backlighting can be achieved.
[0028] In a further advantageous embodiment, the background control device can be configured to generate background control signals from individual zone brightness data, wherein the individual zone brightness data are configured to individually control lighting elements, in particular LEDs, in the respective zones. In this way, those lighting elements can be selectively controlled which are assigned to the zones of the liquid crystal display in which the original image is located.
[0029] Advantageously, the background control unit can be implemented, at least in part, as software. This allows for easier integration of the background control unit into existing hardware, particularly the main control unit.
[0030] In a further advantageous embodiment, the deserializer can have an output configured for connection to an input of a timing controller for the liquid crystal display. In this way, the parallel video data can be transmitted to the timing controller. The timing controller can then be used to control the pixels of the liquid crystal display.
[0031] A timing controller (TCON) can generate the timing and various control signals, especially display signals, that the liquid crystal display needs to write to.
[0032] In a further advantageous embodiment, the main control unit can have a control output configured for connection to a driver unit for an illumination field, in particular a light-emitting diode array, which is associated with the liquid crystal display. In this way, the background control signals can be transmitted from the main control unit to the driver unit. The driver unit can then control the illumination elements of the illumination field so that the corresponding zones of the liquid crystal display are illuminated.
[0033] Advantageously, the control output of the main control unit can be designed for a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). This allows the main control unit to communicate with the driver unit via a synchronous serial data bus.
[0034] Furthermore, the problem is solved according to the invention in the image generation device by the fact that at least one control device is a control device according to the invention.
[0035] According to the invention, the image generation device comprises a control unit with a deserializer, which includes at least one brightness analysis unit. Furthermore, the control unit comprises a main control unit, which includes at least one background control unit. In this way, the image generation device can be implemented very compactly with few components. This reduces the space requirement. Furthermore, the costs for implementing the image generation device are reduced.
[0036] The image generation device according to the invention can generate a source image for a head-up display. The integrated at least one background control device can control an illumination field associated with the at least one liquid crystal display in such a way that zones in which the source image is displayed by the at least one liquid crystal display are selectively illuminated. In this way, local dimming can be achieved.
[0037] In an advantageous embodiment, the image generation device can include a timing controller for the at least one liquid crystal display, which can be connected to an output of the deserializer. In this way, the pixels of the at least one liquid crystal display can be controlled by the timing controller based on the parallel video data coming from the deserializer.
[0038] In another advantageous embodiment, which have at least one backlighting device, at least one lighting field, in particular a light-emitting diode field, which is assigned to the liquid crystal display, and / or which include at least one backlighting device and a driver unit for at least one lighting field of the at least one backlighting device.
[0039] A lighting field allows for targeted illumination of specific areas of the liquid crystal display.
[0040] A driver unit can be used to control the lighting elements of the lighting field so that the corresponding zones of the liquid crystal display are illuminated.
[0041] Furthermore, the problem is solved according to the invention in the head-up display by the fact that at least one control device is a control device according to the invention.
[0042] The head-up display according to the invention is compact and cost-effective. The head-up display according to the invention can be operated energy-efficiently.
[0043] Advantageously, at least one image generation device can be an image generation device according to the invention.
[0044] In an advantageous embodiment, the head-up display can have at least one communication device designed for communication between the head-up display and a control unit outside the head-up display.
[0045] Advantageously, the head-up display can have at least one communication device. This communication device allows the head-up display to communicate with a control unit outside of the head-up display itself, in particular a vehicle control unit within the vehicle equipped with the head-up display. This enables the serial video data to be provided by the external control unit.
[0046] Advantageously, the head-up display can have at least one screen designed as a projection surface for the at least one image generation device. The original images generated by the at least one image generation device can be projected onto the screen. This allows the head-up display to be used independently of any other projection surface, in particular a windshield.
[0047] Furthermore, the problem according to the invention is solved in the method for operating a control device by the fact that with at least one brightness analysis device of the deserializer, at least one zone-related brightness analysis is performed based on at least one part of the video data, and zone brightness data for the video data are generated based on the at least one zone-related brightness analysis. the zone brightness data are transmitted from the deserializer to the main control unit, A background control signal for a backlighting device based on zone brightness data can be generated using a background control device of the main control unit.
[0048] According to the invention, zone-specific brightness analyses are performed using at least one brightness analysis device of the deserializer. This allows the determination of which zones of the at least one liquid crystal display must be illuminated by the backlighting device. In this way, a local mood can be achieved, in which only those zones of the liquid crystal display containing a source image to be displayed are illuminated. The backlighting device is controlled via a background control unit of the main control unit.
[0049] At least one brightness analysis unit is integrated into the deserializer, and the background control unit is integrated into the main control unit. This reduces the number of components required.
[0050] Furthermore, the problem according to the invention is solved in the method for operating an image generation device by the fact that with at least one brightness analysis device of the deserializer, at least one zone-related brightness analysis is performed based on at least one part of the video data, and zone brightness data for the video data are generated based on the at least one zone-related brightness analysis. the zone brightness data are transmitted from the deserializer to the main control unit, with a background control device of the main control unit, a background control signal for a backlight device is generated based on zone brightness data, The parallel video data is transmitted from the deserializer to a timing controller for the liquid crystal display, and the pixels of the liquid crystal display are controlled by the timing controller depending on the parallel video data. The background control signals are transmitted from the main control unit to a driver of the backlighting device, and the driver controls a lighting field of the backlighting device based on the zone brightness data.
[0051] According to the invention, source images are generated based on video data using at least one liquid crystal display of the image generation device. Furthermore, the zones of the at least one liquid crystal display containing source images are selectively illuminated by the at least one backlighting device.
[0052] Furthermore, the features and advantages described in connection with the control device, the image generation device, the head-up display, the method for operating a control device, and the method for operating an image generation device according to the invention, and their respective advantageous embodiments, apply to each other accordingly and vice versa. The individual features and advantages can, of course, be combined with one another, potentially resulting in further advantageous effects that go beyond the sum of the individual effects. Brief description of the drawings
[0053] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features disclosed in the drawing, the description, and the claims individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations. The figures schematically show Fig. 1 a vehicle with a head-up display and a vehicle control unit; Fig. 2. A functional representation of the head-up display and the vehicle control unit from the Fig. 1; Fig. 3 A front view of a liquid crystal display of the head-up display from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2; Fig. 4 A front view of an LED lighting field of the head-up display from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 for the liquid crystal display from the Fig. 3.
[0054] In the figures, identical components are labelled with the same reference symbols. embodiment(s) of the invention
[0055] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 10 with a vehicle control unit 12 and a head-up display 14.
[0056] The vehicle control unit 12 can control functions of the vehicle 10. Furthermore, the vehicle control unit 12 contains information describing the state of the vehicle 10 and its surroundings. For example, the vehicle speed, information about objects in the vicinity of the vehicle 10, or similar data may be stored in the vehicle control unit 12.
[0057] The vehicle control unit 12 includes a serializer that provides serial video data 16. This serial video data 16 contains information about images 18 to be generated by the head-up display 14. These images 18 can be, for example, representations of the current vehicle speed, symbols such as characters or numbers, or the like, as well as virtual representations of the road layout or similar.
[0058] The one in Fig. The head-up display shown in Figure 14 is a so-called windscreen head-up display. With the windscreen head-up display 14, the image 18 is projected onto a windscreen 20 of the vehicle 10.
[0059] The invention can be used not only with the exemplary windscreen head-up display 14, but also with other types of head-up displays. For example, the invention can also be used with a head-up display with its own screen, with an AR head-up display (augmented reality head-up display), or with other types of head-up displays. Head-up displays can also be referred to as "head-up displays" in German.
[0060] In the Fig. Figure 4 shows the vehicle control unit 12 and the head-up display 14 as a functional diagram. The head-up display 14 comprises a communication unit 22 and an image generation unit 24.
[0061] The communication device 22 enables data exchange between the communication device 22 and the vehicle control unit 12. The communication device 22 includes, for example, a connector to which a cable is attached that leads to the vehicle control unit 12. Alternatively, the communication device 22 can also be part of a wireless connection between the head-up display 14 and the vehicle control unit 12.
[0062] The communication device 22 is connected to the image generation device 24 for data transmission. The image generation device 24 can generate a source image 26 based on the serial video data 16. The source image 26 can be generated using a liquid crystal display 28 of the image generation device 24. The source image 26 can be projected as an image 18 onto the windshield 20.
[0063] Fig. Figure 3 shows a section of the liquid crystal display 28 in a front view. The liquid crystal display 28 comprises a multitude of pixels 30. For example, the liquid crystal displays 28 used can have a total pixel field of 800 x 480 pixels 30. The pixels 30 can be individually controlled. The pixels 30 are arranged in rows and columns, resulting in a rectangular display. In the Fig. Image 3, as an example of the original image 36, shows the number “12” in the bottom right corner of the liquid crystal display 28.
[0064] The image generation device 24 comprises a control device 32, a display device 34 and a backlight device 36.
[0065] The control unit 32 comprises a deserializer 38 and a main control unit 40. The deserializer 38 includes a video input 42, a video output 44, a background output 46, and a brightness analysis device 48. The deserializer 38 is configured to convert the serial video data 16 into parallel video data 50. The parallel video data 50 can be supplied to the video output 44.
[0066] The brightness analysis device 48 is implemented, for example, as software in the deserializer 38. The brightness analysis device 48 is designed to perform zone-based brightness analyses based on the parallel video data 50. Furthermore, the brightness analysis device 48 is designed to generate zone brightness data 52 for the serial video data 16. The zone brightness data 52 can be provided at the background output 46.
[0067] Furthermore, the brightness analysis device 48 is designed to assign the parallel video data 50 to zones 54 depending on the respective position coordinates of the parallel video data 50. The brightness analysis device 48 is also designed to generate individual zone brightness data for the zones 54. With an alternative brightness analysis device 48 (not shown), the zone-related brightness analysis can also be performed based on the serial video data 16.
[0068] Zones 54 are shown for clarification in the Fig. 3 on the liquid crystal display 28 surrounded by thicker lines. In the illustrated embodiment, a zone 54 comprises, for example, an image area with 4 x 4 pixels. With other usable liquid crystal displays 28, more or fewer pixels 30 can be assigned to a respective zone 54. For a liquid crystal display 28 with, for example, 800 x 480 pixels 30, a total of approximately 50 zones 54 can be provided.
[0069] The parallel video data 50, as well as the original serial video data 16, contain a data set for each of the pixels 30, which includes the position coordinates of pixel 30 and brightness coordinates for pixel 30. The position coordinates specify the position of pixel 30 within the liquid crystal display 38. The brightness coordinates can, for example, be brightness values that determine whether the respective pixel 30 should be activated or deactivated. In the simplest case, the brightness values can be, for example, "0" or "1". The brightness coordinates can also contain continuous brightness values. Furthermore, the brightness coordinates can also contain color information.
[0070] The brightness analysis device 48 can determine individual zone brightness data for each of the 54 zones. The respective brightness coordinates for the individual pixels 30 within the respective zones 54 are combined.
[0071] The background output 46 of the deserializer 38 is connected to an input 66 of the main control unit 40. In this way, the zone brightness data 52 can be transmitted from the deserializer 38 to the main control unit 40.
[0072] The main control unit 40 has a background control device 56. The background control device 56 is designed to generate background control signals 58 from the individual zone brightness data 52. The background control device 56 is implemented, for example, as software in the main control unit 40.
[0073] The main control unit 40 has a control output 60. The control output 60 can, for example, be part of a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI). The background control signals 58 are present at the control output 60. The background control signals 58 are designed for the individual control of lighting elements 62 of a lighting field 64 of the backlighting device 36.
[0074] Fig. Figure 4 shows a section of an exemplary illumination field 64 in the form of an LED matrix with an example of 40 illumination elements 62 in the form of light-emitting diodes. The number and arrangement of the illumination elements 62 correspond to the number and arrangement of the zones 54 in the liquid crystal display 28. Each illumination element 62 is assigned to one of the zones 54 of the liquid crystal display 28 for illumination. Using the background control signals 58, the illumination elements 62 assigned to the respective zones 54 can be individually controlled. The illumination elements 62 allow the zones 54 of the liquid crystal display 28 to be individually illuminated.
[0075] The display unit 34 comprises the liquid crystal display 28 and a timing controller (TCON) 68. An input 70 of the timing controller 68 is connected to the video output 44 of the deserializer 38. The timing controller 68 can generate the timing and display signals 72 that the liquid crystal display 28 requires for writing. The timing controller 68 can generate display signals 72 based on the parallel video data 50. The display signals 72 can be transmitted to the liquid crystal display 28. The liquid crystal display 28 can be controlled by the display signals 72 to display the original image 26.
[0076] The backlight assembly 36 comprises the lighting field 64 and a driver unit 74 for the lighting field 64. An input 78 of the control unit 74 is connected to the control output 60 of the main control unit 40. The driver unit 74 can generate lighting control signals 76 based on the background control signals 58. The lighting control signals 76 can be used to control the lighting elements 62 of the lighting field 64 depending on the individual zone brightness data 52. The driver unit 74 can control the lighting elements 62 of the lighting field 64 so that the corresponding zones 54 of the liquid crystal display 28 are illuminated.
[0077] The following section describes in more detail a method for operating the image generation device 24. This method includes a method for operating the control device 32.
[0078] In this process, serial video data 16 is provided by the vehicle control unit 12. The serial video data 16 contains information about the original image 26, which is to be displayed as image 18 on the windshield 20.
[0079] The serial video data 16 are transmitted to the deserializer 38 of the control unit 32. The deserializer 38 converts the serial video data 16 into parallel video data 50.
[0080] The parallel video data 50 are transmitted to the timing controller 68 of the display unit 34. The timing controller 68 generates the display signals 72 from the parallel video data 50. The display signals 72 are transmitted to the liquid crystal display 28. The liquid crystal display 28 displays the original image 26 by addressing the corresponding pixels 30. Fig. 3 is an example of the original image 26 in the form of a number “12” in the four zones 54 at the bottom right.
[0081] Furthermore, a zone-based brightness analysis of the parallel video data 50 is performed using the brightness analysis device 48. The individual zone brightness data 52 are generated from the result of the brightness analysis. The individual zone brightness data 52 are transmitted to the main control unit 40. The background control signals 58 are generated from the individual zone brightness data 52 using the background control device 56 of the main control unit 40. The background control signals 58 are transmitted to the driver unit 74 of the backlight device 36.
[0082] The transmission of the parallel video data 50 to the timing controller 68 and the transmission of the background control signals 58 to the driver unit 74 take place approximately simultaneously.
[0083] The driver unit 74 generates the lighting control signals 76 from the background control signals 58. The lighting control signals 76 control the lighting field 64 so that the lighting elements 62, which correspond to the zones 54 of the liquid crystal display 28 where the original image 26 is displayed, are activated. In the Fig. 3 and Fig. In the example shown, the four lighting elements 62 at the bottom right correspond to the four zones 54 in which the original image 26 is displayed in the liquid crystal display 28. Fig. 4 To illustrate, the active lighting fields 64, which correspond to zones 54 with the original image 26, are hatched.
[0084] The display of the original image 26 with the liquid crystal display 28 and the activation of the lighting elements 62 in the lighting field 64 occur approximately simultaneously.
[0085] The illumination field 64 illuminates only those zones 54 of the liquid crystal display 28 in which the original image 26 is located. All other zones 54 of the liquid crystal display 28 remain unilluminated. In this way, local dimming is achieved, whereby the illumination elements 62 serving the unused zones 54 remain switched off.
[0086] The original image 26 with the associated background light is displayed on the windshield 20 as image 18.
[0087] Optical systems not shown in the figures, such as mirrors, optical lenses, prisms or the like, can be used to project the original image 26 onto the windshield 20. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION
[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature
[0000] EP 3 916 713 A1
[0006]
Claims
[1] Control device (32) for a head-up display (14), in particular for a head-up display (14) for a vehicle (10), comprising a deserializer (38) configured to convert serial video data (16) into parallel video data (50) for a liquid crystal display (28), and a main control unit (40) connected to the deserializer (38) for data exchange, characterized by , that the deserializer (38) comprises at least one brightness analysis device (48) which is configured to perform zone-related brightness analyses based on at least a part of the video data (50) and to generate zone brightness data (52) for the video data (50) based on the zone-related brightness analyses, and an output (46) of the deserializer (38) is connected to an input (66) of the main control unit (40) which is configured to transmit zone brightness data (52) to the main control unit (40), and the main control unit (40) has a background control device (56) which is designed to generate background control signals (58) for a backlight device (36) based on zone brightness data (52). [2] Control device according to claim 1, characterized by, that the at least one brightness analysis device (48) is designed to assign at least a part of the video data (50) to defined zones (54), in particular depending on the respective position coordinates of the video data (50), and to determine respective zone brightness data (52) for at least a part of the zones (54) on the basis of the brightness coordinates of the video data belonging to the zones (54). [3] Control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that specify the position coordinates of the video data (50) and the positions of pixels (30) of the liquid crystal display (28). and / or the zones (54) specify the positions of image areas with multiple pixels (30) of the liquid crystal display (28). [4] Control device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the zones (54) to which the brightness analyses refer indicate positions of lighting elements (62), in particular of light-emitting diodes, in a lighting field (64), in particular in a light-emitting diode field, wherein the lighting elements (62) are designed to illuminate corresponding zones (54) of the liquid crystal display (28). [5] Control device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the background control device (56) is designed to generate background control signals (58) from individual zone brightness data (52), wherein the individual zone brightness data (52) are designed to individually control lighting elements (62), in particular light-emitting diodes, in the respective zones (54). [6] Control device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the deserializer (38) has an output (44) configured for connection to an input (70) of a timing controller (68) for the liquid crystal display (28). [7] Control device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the main control unit (40) has a control output (60) which is configured for connection to a driver unit (74) for an illumination field (64), in particular a light-emitting diode field, which is assigned to the liquid crystal display (28). [8] Image generating device (24) for a head-up display (14), in particular for a head-up display (14) for a vehicle (10), comprising at least one control unit (32), at least one liquid crystal display (28) and at least one backlighting device (36) for the at least one liquid crystal display (28), characterized by, that at least one control device (32) is a control device according to one of claims 1 to 7. [9] Image generating device according to claim 8, characterized by , that the image generating device (24) has a timing controller (68) for the at least one liquid crystal display (28) which is connected to an output (44) of the deserializer (38). [10] Image generating device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by , that which has at least one backlighting device (36) and at least one lighting field (64), in particular a light-emitting diode field, which is associated with the liquid crystal display (28), and / or comprising at least one backlighting device (36) and a driver unit (74) for at least one lighting field (64) of the at least one backlighting device (36). [11] Head-Up Display (14), in particular Head-Up Display (14) for a vehicle (10), comprising at least one image generation device (24) with at least one control device (32), with at least one liquid crystal display (28) and with at least one backlighting device (36) for the at least one liquid crystal display (28), characterized by , that the at least one control device (32) is a control device (32) according to the invention according to one of claims 1 to 7. [12] Head-Up Display (14) according to claim 11, characterized by , that the head-up display (14) has at least one communication device (22) which is designed to enable communication between the head-up display (14) and a control unit (12) outside the head-up display (14). [13] Method for operating a control device (32), in particular a control device according to one of claims 1 to 7, for a head-up display (14), in particular for a head-up display (14) for a vehicle (10), in which serial video data (16) is converted into parallel video data (50) for a liquid crystal display (28) by means of a deserializer (38) and data is exchanged between the deserializer (38) and a main control unit (40), characterized by , that with at least one brightness analysis device (48) of the deserializer (38) at least one zone-related brightness analysis is performed on the basis of at least one part of the video data (50) and zone brightness data (52) for the video data (50) are generated on the basis of the at least one zone-related brightness analysis, the zone brightness data (52) are transmitted from the deserializer (38) to the main control unit (40), with a background control device (56) of the main control unit (40) background control signal (58) for a backlight device (36) based on zone brightness data (52) are generated. [14] Method for operating an image generation device (24) for a head-up display (14), in particular for a head-up display (14) for a vehicle (10), wherein the image generation device (24) comprises at least one control unit (32), in particular a control unit (32) according to one of claims 1 to 7, with at least one deserializer (38) and at least one main control unit (40), at least one liquid crystal display (28) and at least one backlighting device (36), wherein in the method serial video data (16) is converted into parallel video data (50) for at least one liquid crystal display (28) using the at least one deserializer (38), and data is exchanged between the at least one deserializer (38) and the at least one main control unit (40),with which at least one liquid crystal display (28) is generated on the basis of the parallel video data (50) at least one source image (26) and with which at least one backlighting device (36) a backlighting is generated for the at least one liquid crystal display (28), characterized by , that with at least one brightness analysis device (48) of the deserializer (38) at least one zone-related brightness analysis is performed on the basis of at least one part of the video data (50) and zone brightness data (52) for the video data (50) are generated on the basis of the at least one zone-related brightness analysis, the zone brightness data (52) are transmitted from the deserializer (38) to the main control unit (40), with a background control device (56) of the main control unit (40) background control signal (58) for a backlight device (36) based on zone brightness data (52) are generated, the parallel video data (50) are transmitted from the deserializer (38) to a timing controller for the liquid crystal display (28) and the pixels (30) of the liquid crystal display (28) are controlled by the timing controller (68) depending on the parallel video data (50), the background control signals (58) are transmitted from the main control unit (40) to a driver (74) of the backlight device (36) and a lighting field (64) of the backlight device (36) is controlled by the driver (74) based on the zone brightness data (52).
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Control device, control method, and display system
EP3916713A1