Wirelessly controlled heads-up display having solar charging and charge level indication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604565-B2
Application number	US-201213606123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2012
Priority date	Sep 7, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A heads up display apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a wireless transceiver configured to connect and communicate with a device providing information for display, an energy storage device configured to provide energy to the display apparatus, a processor configured receive information from the transceiver and configure the information for display, and a display configured to output the information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying information on a heads up display (HUD), comprising:
charging with a solar panel an energy storage device located within the HUD;
utilizing a wireless transceiver to send vehicle information to a vehicle computer system (VCS) related to a charge-level status of the energy storage device; and
outputting the charge-level status in a heads-up manner of a vehicle windshield, and a VCS display.

2. A computer-implemented method for displaying information on the heads up display (HUD) of claim 1 , wherein the HUD includes an inductive coil.

3. A computer-implemented method for displaying information on the heads up display (HUD) of claim 1 , further comprising sending a message to the vehicle computer system utilizing the wireless transceiver, the message indicating a low-energy supply of the HUD when the energy storage device is below a threshold amount of energy.

4. A computer-implemented method for displaying information on the heads up display (HUD) of claim 1 , further comprising updating software of the HUD utilizing an application program interface.

5. A computer-implemented method for displaying information on the heads up display (HUD) of claim 1 , wherein the VCS includes an instrument panel.

6. A computer-implemented method for displaying information on the heads up display (HUD) of claim 1 , wherein the VCS includes a vehicle in communication with a nomadic device.

7. A computer-implemented method for displaying information on the heads up display (HUD) of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is a battery, capacitor, or super capacitor.

8. A heads up display (HUD), comprising:
an energy storage device configured to power the HUD and charge using a solar panel;
a wireless transceiver configured to send vehicle information to a vehicle computer system (VCS) related to a charge-level status of the energy storage device; and
a processor configured to output the charge-level status in a heads-up manner of a vehicle windshield.

Assignees

• Prasad Krishnaswamy Venkatesh
• Peplin Christopher
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Prasad Krishnaswamy Venkatesh
• Peplin Christopher

Classifications

• B60Q1/00 Primary

  Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor (for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00) · CPC title

• G02B2027/014

  comprising information/image processing systems · CPC title

• G02B27/01 Primary

  Head-up displays · CPC title

• G01C21/365

  Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself · CPC title

• B60K2360/347

  Optical elements for superposition of display information · CPC title