Motor vehicle comprising a multi-plane head-up display system managing the brightness of each plane

Abstract

Title of the invention: The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a multi-plane head-up display system managing the brightness of each motor vehicle (VHL) plane comprising a multi-plane HUD (DTH), a display control module (MCA) of the multi-plane HUD (DTH) and a control interface (ECM) for controlling the brightness of planes of the multi-plane HUD (DTH), coupled with the control module (MCA); the display control module (MCA) being capable of controlling a modification of the light intensity of the light beams in relation to each of the planes or groups of planes determined, according to a setpoint value of the adjustment level set by the user, of the brightness for each of the planes or group of determined planes, from the control interface (ECM); each of the planes or group of determined planes being identified on the interface (ECM).

Description

DESCRIPTION Title of the invention: Motor vehicle comprising a multi-plane head-up display system managing the brightness of each plane

[0001] The present invention claims priority from French application 2310313 filed on 09 / 28 / 2023, the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention relates generally to display systems for motor vehicles and is more particularly concerned with a motor vehicle comprising a head-up display system also referred to as "VTH", an acronym for "Vision Tête Haute", or "HUD", an English acronym for "Head Up Display" and in particular to a head-up display system with adaptable focal lengths also referred to as a multi-plane head-up display system or multi-plane HUD, managing the brightness of each of the display planes of the multi-plane HUD.

[0002] The future of HUD technology lies in the use of adaptable focal lengths, or focal lengths. This allows for the development and use of a single HUD for multiple windshield sizes and shapes, resulting in more immersive augmented reality effects for the user.

[0003] A HUD typically consists of an image projection unit that emits a light beam based on the image to be displayed, an optical system that forms the image from the beam, and a control unit that controls the optical system.

[0004] There are different layouts for creating a multi-plane HUD.

[0005] A first arrangement uses only a single mirror and a single light source to display images on a windshield whose optical properties are different according to different planes considered in the thickness of the windshield (in different layers of the windshield) for the same display area of ​​the windshield.

[0006] A second arrangement uses only a single light source coupled with several motorized orientable mirrors to obtain several focal lengths in the same HUD display area.

[0007] A third arrangement uses only a single motorized orientable mirror, optically coupled to several light sources (multiple projectors) to obtain several focal lengths in the same HUD display area.

[0008] To date, regardless of the arrangement used, adjusting the brightness of the display of a multi-plane HUD to suit the user's preferences is done using a single global adjustment means for all the display planes of the multi-plane HUD. There is no means of selectively adjusting the brightness for each of the display planes or for specific groups of display planes.

[0009] The visibility constraints of a near-focus shot are not the same as those of a far-focus shot. Therefore, using the same brightness setting for a far shot as for a near shot may impair the visibility of the more distant shot.

[0010] To overcome these drawbacks, the invention proposes a solution for individually managing the brightness of the display planes or groups of display planes of a multi-plane HUD.

[0011] To this end, the present invention has as its first subject a motor vehicle comprising a multi-plane head-up display system, a control module for the display of the multi-plane head-up display system and an interface for controlling the brightness of planes of the multi-plane head-up display system, coupled to the control module; said multi-plane head-up display system comprising a projection system capable of emitting light beams as a function of the images to be displayed by the multi-plane head-up display system, and an optical system capable of forming images on determined planes of the multi-plane head-up display system from said beams; said display control module being capable of controlling a modification of the light intensity of the light beams in relation to each of the determined planes or group of planes, as a function of a setting level setpoint value fixed by the user, of the brightness for each of the determined planes or group of planes from the control interface; each of the determined planes or group of planes being identified on said interface.

[0012] According to one characteristic, said control interface comprises a touch screen capable of displaying at least one screen page dedicated to the separate adjustment of the brightness of each of the determined planes or group of planes.

[0013] According to another characteristic, the screen page displays a graphic representation of an adjustment bar for each of the planes, or group of determined planes, with a touch cursor capable of sliding along the adjustment bar, between first and second ends of the bar, respectively defining minimum and maximum levels of adjustment of the brightness of the plane, or of the group of determined planes; each group of planes displaying information relating to the same category of information.

[0014] According to another characteristic, a first category of information corresponds to the same information in relation to a notion of priority of the information to be displayed and a second category of information corresponds to the same information in relation to the same theme of vehicle functions chosen from: safety, driving assistance and navigation.

[0015] According to another characteristic, the projection system comprises light projectors and the optical system comprises mirrors interacting optically with the projectors to display images in determined planes, or groups of planes, of the head-up display system; the projection system further comprising means for selectively adjusting the light intensity of the beams emitted by the projectors capable of being controlled by the display control module of the head-up display system as a function of a determined adjustment setpoint value set by the user, from the control interface, of the brightness level of each of the determined planes, or groups of planes,

[0016] The second subject of the present invention is a control interface for adjusting the brightness of specific planes, or groups of display planes, of a multi-plane head-up display system of a motor vehicle; said interface comprising a touch screen capable of displaying at least one screen page dedicated to adjusting the brightness of each specific plane, or group of planes, displaying a graphical representation of an adjustment bar for each of the specific planes, or group of planes, with a touch cursor capable of sliding along the adjustment bar, between first and second ends of the bar respectively defining minimum and maximum levels of adjustment of the brightness of the specific plane, or group of planes; each group of planes displaying information relating to the same category of information.

[0017] Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention may emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig. 1] illustrates a schematic interior view of a motor vehicle passenger compartment according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig. 2] illustrates a schematic embodiment of a multi-plane HUD of the vehicle according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig. 3] illustrates an HMI for controlling the brightness of planes or groups of planes of a multi-plane HUD of the vehicle according to the invention.

[0021] Figure 1 illustrates the interior of a passenger compartment of a VHL motor vehicle according to the invention equipped with a multi-plane head-up display system, hereinafter referred to as DTH multi-plane HUD.

[0022] The VHL vehicle comprises a control module for the MCA display of the DTH multi-plane HUD and an ECM control interface or HMI (Human Machine Interface), coupled to the MCA control module, which in the example described, comprises a touch screen, in particular a multimedia touch screen, coupled to an infotainment system, or multimedia system, not shown. The ECM touch screen provides access to the adjustment of the brightness of separate display planes or groups of planes of the multi-plane HUD, as described below with reference to Figure 3.

[0023] Alternatively, the HMI can be based on physical means of adjustment such as potentiometers in the form of buttons, knobs, etc.

[0024] Figure 2 schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a multi-plane HUD comprising an SPI image projection system comprising here three projectors PJ1, PJ2 and PJ3 and three mirrors MR1, MR2 and MR3 belonging to an optical system STO cooperating with the SPI projection system to form images from the light beams projected respectively by the projectors PJ1, PJ2 and PJ3 in three distinct planes PAN, PAM and PAF.

[0025] The mirrors MR1, MR2 and MR3 optically interact respectively with the projectors PJ1, PJ2 and PJ3 to display images, on the display planes PAN, PAM and PAF of the multi-plane HUD DTH, in relation to the driving environment of the vehicle VHL.

[0026] Each projector PJ1, PJ2 and PJ3 comprises at least one light source and a means RI1, RI2 and RI3 for adjusting the light intensity of the light source (not shown).

[0027] Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of the ECM touchscreen (control interface), with a PCL page displayed on the ECM screen, dedicated to adjusting the brightness of the multi-plane HUD and more particularly to the separate adjustment of the brightness of the three planes PAN, PAM and PAF illustrated in Figure 2.

[0028] The ECM screen in this example has a generally rectangular shape.

[0029] The PCL page displays, in a first display area ZA1 of the ECM screen, a graphic representation of three horizontal adjustment bars (lines) BR1, BR2 and BR3 of the same length, arranged in parallel below each other, with three touch cursors CT1, CT2 and CT3 (circles) capable of sliding respectively between the two ends of their respective bars BR1, BR2 and BR3.

[0030] The three touch sliders CT1, CT2 and CT3 and their respective bars BR1, BR2 and BR3, define individual means of adjusting the brightness of the three planes PAN, PAF and PAM illustrated in Figure 2.

[0031] Each slider CT1, CT2 and CT3 allows the COV user to manually adjust (touch) and separately from the other sliders, the brightness level of a PAN, PAF and PAM plane by sliding the slider CT1, CT2 and CT3 on its bar BR1, BR2, BR3, between a minimum brightness level (left end of the bar) and a maximum brightness level (right end of the bar).

[0032] In the example described in figure 3, a first cursor CT1, marked by the term "Near", an Anglo-Saxon term meaning "close", displayed to the left of bar BR1, allows the adjustment of the brightness of the near plane or "Near", or the closest, PAN in relation to the COV conductor.

[0033] A second CT2 cursor, marked with the term “Far”: Anglo-Saxon term meaning “distant”, displayed to the left of the bar, BR2 allows the adjustment of the brightness of the distant plane, or the most distant, PAF in relation to the COV conductor.

[0034] And, a third CT3 cursor, marked by the term "Medium": Anglo-Saxon term meaning "intermediate", displayed to the left of the BR3 bar, allows the adjustment of the brightness of the intermediate plane "Medium" between the close plane, or the closest, "Near" and the distant plane, or the furthest "Far", in relation to the COV conductor.

[0035] A FIP display window, arranged in the upper part of the first display area ZA1, displays the name of the control function corresponding to the page selected from the ECM screen menu: here "Head Up Display brightness", English terms meaning "HUD brightness". The ECM screen menu is accessible via a touch arrow, arranged to the left of the FIP window.

[0036] In the example shown in Figures 2 and 3, a multi-plane HUD with three planes PAN, PAM and PAF (three distinct focal lengths) has been described.

[0037] You can also adjust the brightness of a group, or grouping, of several planes from a single slider and therefore several groupings of planes from several sliders (one slider per grouping).

[0038] A grouping of plans can be defined by plan categories, for example plans displaying distances (priority), plans displaying types of information related to the same theme of VHL vehicle functions: driving assistance or ADAS (an English acronym for "Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems"), security, navigation or GPS (an English acronym for "Global Positioning System"), etc.

[0039] So, three sliders can adjust more than three planes grouped into three categories.

[0040] The brightness adjustment can therefore be managed individually (one slider per plane) or by group of planes (one slider for several planes of the same category).

[0041] The PCL page displays, in a second display area ZA2, adjacent to the first ZA1 (to the right of the first area ZA1, in Figure 3) a schematic graphic representation RTH of the multi-plane HUD DTH (black rectangle inside a schematic outline of a windshield).

[0042] The ECM screen has in its upper part and above the display areas ZA1 and ZA2 of the PCL page, a BDP display strip permanently displaying indicator lights, not shown, relating to vehicle adjustment information, functions activated on the vehicle, etc.

[0043] When the user modifies the brightness level of one or more PAN, PAF or PAM planes, or groups of planes, from the ECM screen, the MCA display control module processes in real time the new brightness level(s) as one or more new setpoint values ​​for adjusting the light intensity of the projector(s) concerned associated with the plane or groups of planes. It then controls the adjustment means RI1, RI2 and RI3 of the light intensity of the projectors concerned PJ1, PJ2 and PJ3, to selectively adapt the brightness of the PAN, PAM and PAF planes, or groups of planes, to that of the new brightness level setpoints.

[0044] The user can adjust the brightness level(s) by controlling in parallel the effect of the adjustment for each PAN, PAM and PAF plane, or group of planes, directly on the multi-plane HUD.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Motor vehicle (VHL) comprising a multi-plane head-up display (DTH) system, a display control module (MCA) of the multi-plane head-up display (DTH) system and a control interface (ECM) for the brightness of planes of the multi-plane head-up display (DTH), coupled to the control module (MCA); said multi-plane head-up display (DTH) system comprising a projection system (SPI) capable of emitting light beams as a function of the images to be displayed by the multi-plane head-up display (DTH) system, and an optical system (STO) capable of forming images on determined planes of the multi-plane head-up display (DTH) system from said beams;said display control module (MCA) being capable of controlling a modification of the light intensity of the light beams in relation to each of the planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes, as a function of a setting level setpoint value fixed by the user (COV), of the brightness for each of the planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes from the control interface (ECM); each of the planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes being identified on said interface (ECM).; 2. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim, in which said control interface (ECM) comprises a touch screen capable of displaying at least one screen page (PCL) dedicated to the separate adjustment of the brightness of each of the planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes.

3. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim, in which the screen page (PCL) displays a graphical representation of a adjustment bar (BR1, BR2, BR3) for each of the planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes, with a touch cursor (CT1, CT2, CT3) capable of sliding along the adjustment bar (BR1, BR2, BR3), between first and second ends of the bar (BR1, BR2, BR3), respectively defining minimum and maximum levels of adjustment of the brightness of the plane (PAN, PAF, PAM), or of the group of determined planes; each group of planes displaying information relating to the same category of information.

4. Vehicle (VHL) according to the preceding claim, in which a first category of information corresponds to the same information relating to a notion of priority of the information to be displayed and in which a second category of information corresponds to the same information relating to the same theme of functions of the vehicle (VHL) chosen from: safety, driving assistance and navigation.

5. Vehicle (VHL) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the projection system (SPI) comprises light projectors (PJ1, PJ2, PJ3) and in which the optical system (STO) comprises mirrors (MR1, MR2, MR3) interacting optically with the projectors (PJ1, PJ2, PJ3) to display images in determined planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of planes of the head-up display system (DTH); the projection system (SPI) further comprising means (RI1, RI2, RI3) for selectively adjusting the light intensity of the beams emitted by the projectors (PJ1, PJ2, PJ3), capable of being controlled by the control module (MCA) of the display of the head-up display system (DTH) as a function of a determined adjustment setpoint value fixed by the user (COV) from the interface of control (ECM), of the brightness level of each of the planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes, 6. Control interface (ECM) for adjusting the brightness of planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or groups of determined display planes of a multi-plane head-up display (DTH) system of a motor vehicle (VHL) according to one of the preceding claims; said interface (ECM) comprising a touch screen capable of displaying at least one screen page (PCL) dedicated to adjusting the brightness of each plane (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes, displaying a graphic representation of an adjustment bar (BR1, BR2, BR3) for each of the planes (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes, with a touch cursor (CT1, CT2, CT3) capable of sliding along the adjustment bar, between first and second ends of the bar (BR1, BR2, BR3) respectively defining minimum and maximum levels of adjustment of the brightness of the plane (PAN, PAF, PAM) or group of determined planes;each group of plans displaying information relating to the same category of information.;

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