Method for displaying information using a multifocal head-up display in a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for displaying information using a multifocal head-up display (HUD) in a motor vehicle comprises the steps of: retrieving (33) information to be displayed on the HUD; classifying (35) the information into a discrete priority scale, each priority in the scale having been previously associated (31) with a focal length of the HUD; and displaying (37) the information by the HUD with the focal length associated with the priority selected for the information. A system for displaying information using a multifocal head-up display in a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method for displaying information using a multifocal head-up display in a motor vehicle technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of displaying information using a multifocal head-up display of a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for displaying information using a multifocal head-up display of a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. State of the art

[0002] Head-up display (HUD) is a technology originating in the aeronautics industry that is beginning to spread in the automotive industry. Through various mechanisms, it projects information at windshield height, allowing the driver to read it without taking their eyes off the road. This therefore offers a safety advantage.

[0003] A head-up display consists of three main elements: an imaging unit, an optical module, and the projection surface. Light first strikes the optical module, the key component of the head-up display system. The simple yet precise physics takes place in what is called the collimator. An aspherical lens or mirror decomposes the diverging LED light into parallel rays. Due to limited mounting space, several collimable lenses and mirrors are used.

[0004] In head-up display technology, the projection surface is also called a combiner. It is a semi-transparent mirror that allows ambient light to pass through and reflects the light from the head-up display, thus creating a shared view of the environment and the head-up display. If the combiner is integrated into the windshield, it is called a windshield head-up display. If it is implemented as an external plastic plate inserted between the driver and the windshield, the system is called a head-up display combiner.

[0005] Currently, for the most part, head-up displays are single-vision, that is to say that all information is projected at the same focal distance, which gives the driver the impression of reading this information in a plane.

[0006] However, automotive equipment manufacturers have begun to develop multifocal head-up displays, that is, displays capable of projecting information at different focal lengths, which gives the driver the impression that this information is closer or further away. The paper by Lv, Zhenlv, Juan Liu and Liangfa Xu. “A Multi-Plane Augmented Reality Head-Up Display System Based on Volume Holography Optical Elements With Large Area.” IEEE Photonics Journal 13 (2021): 1-8. describes such a system.

[0007] However, it is observed that, regardless of the display, the driver is often faced with an overabundance of information and has difficulty identifying important or urgent information within the overall display. This drawback is further exacerbated when the head-up display is also used for augmented reality.

[0008] There is therefore a real need for a method and system for displaying information using a head-up display in a motor vehicle which resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0009] To resolve one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for displaying information using a multifocal head-up display of a motor vehicle includes the steps of: • collecting information to be displayed on the head-up display; • classification of information on a discrete scale of priorities, each priority of the scale having been previously associated with a focal length of the head-up display; • display of information by the head-up display with the focal length associated with the priority selected for the information.

[0010] Thus, the user can easily visualize the level of priority, or importance, of the information displayed.

[0011] Specific features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • the highest priority of the scale is associated with the shortest focal length; • the lowest priority is associated with the longest focal length; • The priority scale includes three levels of priority; and / or • a color is also associated with each priority on the scale, so that that the information is displayed with the color associated with the priority selected for the information.

[0012] In a second embodiment, a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor includes program code instructions for implementing the above process.

[0013] In a third embodiment, an information display system using a multifocal head-up display in a motor vehicle comprises: • a device for collecting information to be displayed on the head-up display; connected to • an information classifier on a discrete priority scale, each priority on the scale having been previously associated with a focal length of the head-up display; connected to • The head-up display is adapted to display information with the focal length associated with the selected priority for the information.

[0014] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a system according to the third embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0015] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: • [Fig.1] represents a multifocal head-up display according to one embodiment; • [Fig.2] represents an information display system using a multifocal head-up display according to one embodiment; and • [Fig. 3] represents a flowchart of an information display process using a multifocal head-up display according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0016] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that they are also applicable to other types of vehicles such as vans, trucks, etc.

[0017] The terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "transverse" are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0018] With reference to [Fig. 1], a multifocal head-up display 1 comprises, in one embodiment, a light source 3 capable of sending three different light signals onto three motorized mirrors 5, 6, 7, which reflect the light beams onto a combiner (not shown). The three light beams, having different paths, are focused such that the focal length appears different for each beam. Thus, a driver will have the impression of reading information in three different planes 8, 9, 10.

[0019] Another embodiment (not shown) of a multifocal head-up display includes a single mirror, but as many light sources as viewing planes.

[0020] With reference to [Fig. 2], a motor vehicle 11 includes a device 13 for collecting information to be displayed on the head-up display. The device 13 is connected to a classifier 15 of the information in a discrete priority scale, Each priority level on the scale has been previously associated with a focal length on the head-up display. Classifier 15 is also connected to the multifocal head-up display 1.

[0021] The device 13 and the classifier 15 can be integrated as functions of a controller 17.

[0022] The controller 17 can, for example, be integrated into the vehicle control system 11 as an advanced driver-assistance system, commonly called ADAS (for "Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems"), which makes all driving decisions based on the environment and the programmed destination. The motor vehicle is then described as an autonomous vehicle. But it can also be a centralized vehicle management system that may or may not include driver assistance systems.

[0023] Data transfer between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for "Controller Area Network") or LIN (for "Local Interconnect Network") type data bus.

[0024] The operation of the system is as follows, [Fig.3].

[0025] In a preliminary step 31, a priority scale is defined that associates each priority with a focal length of the head-up display. For example, the scale is discrete and comprises three priorities: a high priority corresponding to alerts requiring immediate action from the driver, a medium priority for important information that is not urgent, and a low priority for simple information that does not require any particular action from the driver. In this example, a short focal length is associated with high priority, a medium focal length with medium priority, and a long focal length with low priority. Thus, for the driver, high-priority information will appear visually closer than medium-priority information, which in turn will appear visually closer than low-priority information.

[0026] The device 13 collects, in step 33, information to be displayed on the head-up display. For example, this could be an alert from a vehicle driving system or information such as the fuel gauge level or engine speed.

[0027] This information is classified, step 35, in the discrete priority scale.

[0028] It is then displayed, step 37, by the head-up display with the focal length associated with the priority selected for the information.

[0029] Thus, by having different focal lengths depending on the importance of the information to be displayed, the driver immediately realizes the degree of importance that he must give to the information displayed.

[0030] Figure 2 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented is for pedagogical purposes to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component may include at least one computer or a control unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0031] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate network, etc. The computers can be implemented in the form of a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0032] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0033] For the software, the implementation may comprise modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile memories, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0034] Furthermore, the program instructions stored in memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0035] The computer program instructions stored in memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0036] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description is to be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0037] For example, to enhance the classification of displayed information, it can be displayed in different colors, with each priority level having a distinctive color. For example, high-priority information will be displayed in red.

[0038] The embodiment describes a three-level priority scale. It is understood that the number of levels may vary depending on different aspects of ergonomics, costs, etc. However, it must include at least two priority levels.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for displaying information using a multifocal head-up display of a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: • collecting (33) information to be displayed on the head-up display; • classifying (35) the information in a discrete scale of priorities, each priority of the scale having been previously associated (31) with a focal distance of the head-up display; • displaying (37) the information by the head-up display with the focal distance associated with the priority selected for the information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the highest priority of the scale is associated with the shortest focal length.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lowest priority is associated with the longest focal length.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the priority scale comprises three priority levels.

5. The method of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein a color is further associated with each priority of the scale, such that the information is displayed with the color associated with the priority selected for the information.

6. Computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or recorded on a computer-readable medium and / or executable by a processor, characterized in that it comprises program code instructions for implementing the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Information display system using a multifocal head-up display (1) of a motor vehicle (11) comprising: • a device (13) for collecting information to be displayed on the head-up display; connected to • a classifier (15) of the information in a discrete scale of priorities, each priority of the scale having been previously associated with a focal distance of the head-up display; connected to • the head-up display (1) adapted to display the information with the focal distance associated with the priority selected for the information.

8. A motor vehicle (11) comprising a system according to claim 7.

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