Head-Up Display Eye Tracking via Virtual Image Plane Calibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing head-up display systems face challenges in accurately detecting the positions of a user's eyes without obstructing their view of the projected virtual image, which is crucial for providing an appropriate visual experience.
Innovation Solution
A head-up display system comprising an image capturing device and a display device with an optical system, where the image capturing device detects the positions of the user's eyes and converts this information into a format usable by the display device to project a virtual image that can be seen by the user without obstructing their view, using calibration information and a parallax barrier to direct image light appropriately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an image capturing device is used to detect eye positions, then measurement precision of eye positions is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield serves multiple functions: it acts as both the optical medium for projecting the virtual image and as the mounting surface for the image capturing device. This integration reduces the need for separate mounting structures and minimizes system complexity while maintaining eye position detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordinate system conversion mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the image capturing device's detection coordinates and the display device's projection coordinates. This conversion layer enables accurate eye position tracking without requiring direct physical integration of all components, thus managing system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the image capturing device is positioned to detect eye positions accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but the user's field of view may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The image capturing device is positioned on the windshield surface, utilizing the third dimension (depth from the road) to achieve accurate eye position detection. This spatial arrangement allows the device to detect eye positions without being placed in the user's direct line of sight, thus avoiding field of view obstruction while maintaining measurement precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If calibration information is stored and used for coordinate conversion, then adaptability to different users and conditions is improved, but device complexity increases due to memory and processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration in advance to establish coordinate conversion relationships between the image capturing device and the display device. By pre-storing calibration information in memory, the system avoids complex real-time calculations during normal operation, thus reducing processing complexity while maintaining adaptability to different users and viewing 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
Enables users to visually recognize a virtual image effectively by accurately determining and adjusting the projection of the image to align with the user's eye positions, ensuring an appropriate visual experience without obstructing the user's field of view.
Implementation Method 1
The optical system is configured to allow a user to visually recognize a virtual image plane, which is a virtual image of the image displayed on the display panel, by reflecting image light emitted corresponding to the image toward the user's eyes.
Data Source
AI summary
A head-up display includes a display device and an optical system. The display device includes a display panel, an input unit, a memory, and a controller. The display panel is configured to display an image. The input unit is configured to receive calibration information indicating a position of a calibration object and first position information indicating positions of user's eyes based on an image capturing device. The memory is configured to store the calibration information. The optical system is configured to allow a user to visually recognize a virtual image plane, which is a virtual image of the image displayed on the display panel, by reflecting image light emitted corresponding to the image toward the user's eyes. The controller is configured to convert the first position information into second position information indicating the positions of the eyes based on the virtual image plane by using the calibration information.