Head-Up Display Using Visible Light for Driver Point-of-View Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-up display (HUD) systems require additional components like infrared cameras and generators, increasing costs and complexity, particularly for detecting a driver's point of view to adjust image projection effectively.
Innovation Solution
A HUD apparatus using a driver monitoring system driven by normal visible light to sense the driver's point of view, employing a light source that projects single-color visible light onto the driver for image-light projection onto a windshield, eliminating the need for extra light sources like infrared LEDs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an infrared camera and infrared-ray generating apparatus are added to detect driver point of view, then the accuracy of point-of-view detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling the existing visible light camera to serve dual purposes: both capturing driver monitoring images and detecting the driver's point of view by analyzing light reflection from the eyes. This eliminates the need for a separate infrared camera, resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the light from the HUD display itself as the illumination source for point-of-view detection. The driver's eyes reflect this light back to the camera, allowing the system to self-illuminate without requiring external infrared-ray generating apparatus, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability
2Measurement precision
If an infrared camera and infrared-ray generating apparatus are added to detect driver point of view, then the point-of-view detection capability is improved, but the cost of the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing visible light camera is made multi-functional to perform both driver monitoring and point-of-view detection, eliminating the need to manufacture and install expensive infrared cameras and infrared-ray generating apparatus, thus reducing overall apparatus cost
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own display light as the illumination source for detection, eliminating the need for separate infrared-ray generating apparatus. This self-service approach reduces component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining effective point-of-view detection capability
3Device complexity
If visible light is used for driver monitoring instead of infrared light, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the detection capability under nighttime conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The HUD display serves dual functions: displaying information to the driver and providing illumination light for point-of-view detection. During nighttime, the display light illuminates the driver's eyes, enabling the visible light camera to detect reflections effectively without requiring separate infrared illumination, thus maintaining reliability while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system adapts to nighttime conditions by utilizing the existing display light as an illumination source. The light intensity and timing parameters of the display are optimized to provide sufficient illumination for detection during nighttime while maintaining normal display functionality, ensuring reliable detection capability across different lighting conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for a cost-effective and practical HUD system that accurately adjusts virtual-image projection regardless of lighting conditions, such as nighttime, without the need for additional components, ensuring efficient and economic implementation.
Implementation Method 1
a means generating illumination light entirely made of single-color visible light emitted to a face of the driver
Implementation Method 2
projecting the image light emitted from the image display apparatus onto a windshield and causing the image light to be reflected thereon
Data Source
AI summary
A head up display apparatus includes: an image display apparatus having a light source and a display element and forming an image; an image-light projecting means displaying a virtual image onto a forward part of a vehicle by projecting the image light emitted from the image display apparatus to be reflected on a windshield 3; and a point-of-view detecting system 6 sensing a point of view of the driver. In the head up display apparatus, the image-light projecting means includes a means generating illumination light entirely made of single-color visible light emitted to a face of the driver in a predetermined state of the vehicle.