Head-Up Display Power Control Using Occupancy and Gaze Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced driver assistance technologies like head-up displays (HUDs) increase electrical load in vehicles, leading to decreased fuel economy and vehicle range, as they consume power even when not in use by occupants.
Innovation Solution
A processor-controlled system that uses sensors to determine occupancy and viewing status, allowing for dynamic power management of HUD illumination sources, such as dimming or turning off displays when not needed, to conserve energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HUD illumination sources are kept on continuously to ensure information is always available to drivers, then information accessibility is improved, but power consumption increases and vehicle range decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The HUD system dynamically adjusts its operation state based on real-time detection of driver presence and viewing conditions. The illumination sources transition between on, off, and dimmed states according to whether a driver is present and whether they are looking at the display, optimizing power consumption while maintaining information accessibility when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor driver presence and eye position, feeding this information back to the control processor. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts HUD illumination states, turning off or dimming displays when no driver is present or when the driver is not viewing the display, thereby reducing power consumption without compromising safety.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple HUDs are installed to provide information to both driver and passenger, then information coverage is improved, but electrical load increases and fuel economy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the vehicle cabin into separate zones (driver side and passenger side) with independent HUD controls for each side. Each HUD can be independently activated or deactivated based on the presence and viewing status of occupants in respective zones, allowing the system to provide comprehensive information coverage while minimizing power consumption by only activating displays when needed.
3Loss of energy
If HUD power is reduced by turning off displays when not in use, then energy conservation is improved, but information availability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of driver presence and viewing conditions before activating or deactivating HUD illumination. By anticipating when the driver will need information based on their presence and gaze direction, the system pre-activates displays before information is needed and deactivates them promptly when no longer needed, ensuring information availability while conserving energy.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for managing HUD power in vehicle head up displays are disclosed. State indications are stored. Based on the state indications a determination is made as to whether a HUD power control condition is met. If a HUD power control condition is met a corresponding HUD power control action is determined. A set of HUD power control commands corresponding to the HUD power control action is sent to the HUD to control the HUD to take the power control action.