Display for rear lamp of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019366918-A1
Application number	US-201716484566-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2017
Priority date	Feb 9, 2017
Publication date	Dec 5, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle includes a rear lamp display configured to display images as well as perform the usual functions of a rear lamp assembly. The rear lamp display may include a light source and a digital mirror device. Obstacles detected may trigger display of a static or animated representation of the obstacle in the rear lamp display. Detection of a turn may invoke display of a direction of the turn as well as text indicating a target of the turn. Detection of an intervention of a vehicle system to maintain stability, a warning may be displayed that indicates potentially hazardous road conditions. Where opening of a door is detected, a representation of an open or opening door may be displayed. Where a following vehicle is detected, the speed limit or cruising speed of the vehicle may be displayed. Objects left in the vehicle may trigger display of an alert.

First claim

1 . A vehicle comprising:
one or more sensors; a rearward facing lamp display; and a controller coupled to the lamp display and one or more sensors and programmed to display a symbol on the lamp display according to an output of the one or more sensors.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one exterior sensor including at least one of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor and radio detection and ranging (RADAR) sensor;
wherein the controller is programmed to:
detect an obstacle in one or more outputs of the at least one exterior sensor;
assign a classification to the obstacle; and
cause the lamp display to display a symbol corresponding to the classification.

3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising:
a steering actuator, a brake actuator; and an accelerator actuator all coupled to the controller; wherein the controller is further to activate one or more of the steering actuator, brake actuator, and the accelerator actuator in response to detecting the obstacle in the one or more outputs effective to avoid collision with the obstacle by the vehicle.

4 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further programmed to:
if a following vehicle is indicated by the one or more outputs of the at least one exterior sensor, cause the lamp display to display a current cruising speed of the vehicle.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors indicate a state of a door of the vehicle; and
wherein the controller is further programmed to display a symbol indicating a door opening in the lamp display in response to an output of the one or more sensors indicating opening of the door.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include an interior sensor; and
wherein the controller is further programmed to display a symbol indicating presence of an object in the lamp display if an output of the interior sensor indicates presence of the object within the vehicle.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors detect at least one of turning of a steering column, a differential in tire speeds on right and left sides of the vehicle, activation of a turn signal, an autonomous decision to make a turn, an upcoming turn in navigation instructions; and
wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to an output from the one or more sensors indicating a turn:
determine a target of the turn according to map data; and
display a direction of the turn and the target in the lamp display.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect stability and traction of the vehicle; and
wherein the controller is further programmed to:
if outputs of the one or more sensors indicate at least one of loss of traction and instability of the vehicle, performing an intervention, the intervention including least one of (a) redistributing engine torque among wheels of the vehicle, (b) modulating braking of the vehicle, (c) and decreasing engine torque; and
if outputs of the one or more sensors indicate at least one of loss of traction and instability of the vehicle, cause the lamp display to display a warning of a hazardous road condition.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the lamp display comprises:
a light source; and a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), the light source emitting a light onto the DMD; wherein the controller is coupled to the DMD.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the lamp display further comprises a heat sink and an output window; and
wherein the controller is programmed to cause the DMD to direct a portion of the light onto the heat sink and a portion of the light onto the output window effective to form an image on the output window.

11 . A method comprising:
providing a vehicle having one or more sensors, a rearward facing lamp display, and a controller coupled to the lamp display and one or more sensors; receiving, by the controller, one or more outputs from the one or more sensors; and in response to the one or more outputs, displaying a symbol on the lamp display according to an output of the one or more sensors.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one exterior sensor including at least one of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor and radio detection and ranging (RADAR) sensor;
wherein the method further comprises:
detecting, by the controller, an obstacle in the one or more outputs;
assigning, by the controller, a classification to the obstacle; and
causing, by the controller, the lamp display to display a symbol corresponding to the classification.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a steering actuator, a brake actuator; and an accelerator actuator all coupled to the controller;
wherein the method further comprises activating, by the controller, one or more of the steering actuator, brake actuator, and the accelerator actuator in response to detecting the obstacle in the one or more outputs effective to avoid collision with the obstacle by the vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining, by the controller, that the one or more outputs indicate a following vehicle; and in response to determining that the one or more outputs indicate a following vehicle, causing, by the controller, the lamp display to display a current cruising speed of the vehicle.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors detect a state of a door of the vehicle; and
wherein the method further comprises displaying, by the controller, a symbol indicating a door opening in the lamp display in response to an output of the one or more sensors indicating opening of the door.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors include an interior sensor; and
wherein the method further comprises displaying, by the controller, a symbol indicating presence of an object in the lamp display if an output of the interior sensor indicates presence of the object within the vehicle.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors detect at least one of turning of a steering column, a differential in tire speeds on right and left sides of the vehicle, activation of a turn signal, an autonomous decision to make a turn, an upcoming turn in navigation instructions; and
wherein the method further comprises, in response to an output from the one or more sensors indicating a turn:
determining, by the controller, a target of the turn according to map data; and
displaying, by the controller, a direction of the turn and the target in the lamp display.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to detect stability and traction of the vehicle; and
wherein the method further comprises:
in response to outputs of the one or more sensors indicating at least one of loss of traction and instability of the vehicle, performing, by the controller an intervention, the intervention including least one of (a) redistributing engine torque among wheels of the vehicle, (b) modulating braking of the vehicle, (c) and decreasing engine torque; and
in response to outputs of the one or more sensors indicating at least one of loss of traction and instability of the vehicle, causing, by the controller, the lamp display to display a warning of a hazardous road condition.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lamp display comprises:
a light source; and a digital micro-mirror device (DMD),

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Zhou Roy
• Miller Robert
• Kaueroff Adrienne

Classifications

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title

• B60Q1/54

  for indicating speed {outside of the vehicle} · CPC title

• F21S43/31

  Optical layout thereof · CPC title

• F21S43/26

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255 · CPC title

• B60Q1/34

  for indicating change of drive direction (B60Q1/22 takes precedence) · CPC title