AR-HUD Coordination for Extending Vehicle Driver Field of View

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional head-up display (HUD) systems have a limited field of view (FoV), which restricts the information that can be displayed to a vehicle driver, necessitating non-AR solutions to convey information outside this FoV, leading to limitations in the augmented reality experience.

Innovation Solution

Coordinating information between a HUD system and an augmented reality device, such as AR glasses, to supplement and extend the FoV by projecting additional information outside the HUD's projection area, adapting it to the device's position and user's gaze, and coordinating the information display dynamically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a HUD system is used to display information to the driver, then information can be projected into the windshield for viewing, but the field of view is limited due to constructional limits of the HUD projector

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefield of viewVSAvoidconstructional limits
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a traditional HUD system with an augmented reality device (AR glasses) to create a hybrid display system. The HUD projects information onto the windshield within its limited FoV, while the AR device captures this projection and re-projects it along with additional information to extend the effective FoV beyond the HUD's constructional limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The AR device acts as an intermediary between the HUD projector and the driver's eye. It captures the HUD's projection, processes it by adding supplementary information, and re-projects the combined content to a virtual image plane that extends the usable FoV while maintaining compatibility with the HUD's output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the HUD projection area is extended, then more information can be displayed, but the constructional limits of the HUD projector prevent this

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoidprojection system limits
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a single-dimension HUD projection to a multi-dimensional display by incorporating the AR device's camera capture, processing, and re-projection capabilities. This adds a temporal and spatial dimension to the information display, allowing content to be extended beyond the original HUD projection boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The AR device serves multiple functions: it acts as a camera to capture HUD projections, a processor to add supplementary information, and a projector to re-display the combined content. This multi-functionality enables information extension without requiring a completely new projection system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional information is displayed outside the HUD FoV, then the augmented reality experience is enhanced, but non-AR solutions are required which limit the AR experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaugmented reality experienceVSAvoidsystem integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the HUD system with an AR device to create a unified augmented reality experience. By integrating the HUD's projection capability with the AR device's capture and re-projection functions, the system delivers enhanced AR functionality while maintaining a consistent virtual image plane, eliminating the need for separate non-AR solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4265463B1Vehicle, head-up display, augmented reality device, apparatuses, methods and computer programs for controlling an augmented reality device and for controlling a visualization device
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4265463B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4265463B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4265463B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments relate to a vehicle, a head-up display, an augmented reality device, an apparatus, a method and a computer program for controlling an augmented reality device and for controlling a visualization device. The method (10) for controlling an augmented reality device and for visualizing of information for a driver of a vehicle comprises obtaining (12) information on first information to be visualized by a visualization device and supplementing (14) the first information to be visualized with second information to be visualized by the augmented reality device.