Automotive head up display (HUD)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9715110-B1
Application number	US-201514820237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 6, 2015
Priority date	Sep 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

A head up display can be used in an automotive application and provides information for viewing above a glareshield or dashboard. The head up display includes a waveguide combiner and a compact projector. The waveguide combiner is at least partially disposed above the glareshield or dashboard and can provide dual axis pupil expansion. The waveguide combiner can present conformal or near conformal information and vehicle instrumentation information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A head up display for use in a vehicle including a glareshield, comprising:
a waveguide combiner having an input grating, a turning grating and an output grating; and
a projector configured to provide light to the input grating, the light entering the waveguide combiner through the input grating, wherein a pupil associated with the projector is expanded in a first direction by the turning grating and is expanded in a second direction by the output grating, wherein the projector comprises a first image source for instrumentation information and a second image source for conformal data, wherein a first image from the first image source is projected at a first focal distance and a second image from the second image source is projected at a second focal distance wherein the first focal distance is less than the second focal distance, wherein the first image is a color image and the second image is a monochrome image, wherein the first image source comprises a scanning laser.

2. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the turning grating is disposed horizontally relative to a surface of the glareshield.

3. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the turning grating is disposed vertically relative to a surface of the glareshield.

4. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the turning grating is disposed in a light pipe oriented either horizontally or vertically relative to a surface of the glareshield.

5. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the turning grating is disposed horizontally and the input grating turning grating is disposed below a top surface of the glareshield.

6. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the turning grating is disposed vertically and the input grating is disposed below a top surface of the glareshield and the turning grating is disposed above the glareshield.

7. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide combiner is generally rectangular and has a bumped out portion, and wherein the input grating is disposed in the bumped out portion.

8. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the turning grating is provided in a trapezoidal area on the substrate combiner.

9. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the turning grating comprises at least one of a volume hologram and a surface relief grating.

10. The head up display of claim 1 , wherein the projector is provided below a top surface of the glareshield.

11. A head up display for use in a vehicle for providing information to a driver, the head up display comprising:
a waveguide combiner having an input grating and an output grating;
a projector comprising a first image source for instrumentation information and a second image source for conformal data, wherein a first image from the first image source is viewable on the waveguide combiner at a first focal distance and a second image from the second image source is viewable on the waveguide combiner at a second focal distance, wherein the first focal distance is less than the second focal distance.

12. The head up display of claim 11 , wherein light representing the conformal data is provided as collimated light.

13. The head up display of claim 11 , wherein the second focal point is greater than 100 meters from a driver of the vehicle.

14. The head up display of claim 11 , wherein the waveguide combiner further comprises a light pipe having a leaky surface.

15. The head up display of claim 11 , wherein the waveguide combiner further comprises a fold grating.

16. The head up display of claim 11 , wherein the waveguide combiner further comprises a light pipe having a fold grating.

17. A head up display for use in a vehicle including a glareshield, the head up display comprising:
a waveguide combiner comprising:
an elongated transparent medium having a width and a height, the width being substantially greater than the height, the elongated transparent medium having elongated sides extending across the width;
an output coupler disposed on the elongated transparent medium and configured to expand a first image provided to the elongated transparent medium in a first direction;
an expansion element configured to expand the first image provided to the elongated transparent medium in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;
an input coupler disposed on the elongated transparent medium and below the output coupler; and
a projector configured to provide light to the waveguide combiner, wherein the projector comprises a first image source for conformal data and a second image source for instrumentation information, wherein the first image is from the first image source and is viewable on the waveguide combiner as a monochrome image and wherein a second image from the second image is viewable on the waveguide combiner and is a color image.

18. The head up display of claim 17 , wherein the expansion element is at least one of a fold grating and a light pipe having a leaky surface, and wherein the first direction is parallel to the elongated sides of the elongated transparent medium or wherein the expansion element is disposed below the output coupler, and the first direction is perpendicular to the elongated sides of the elongated transparent medium.

19. The head up display of claim 17 , further comprising a projector coupled with the elongated transparent medium, wherein the projector has a volume of less than 1 liter.

20. The head up display of claim 17 , wherein the second image source is a laser scanner.

Assignees

• Brown Robert D
• Keith Christopher A
• Stratton Eric P
• Stanley James H
• Yu Ming
• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Brown Robert D
• Keith Christopher A
• Stratton Eric P
• Stanley James H
• Yu Ming

Classifications

• G02B27/0103

  comprising holographic elements · CPC title

• G02B2027/0141

  characterised by the informative content of the display · CPC title

• G02B27/0101 Primary

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B27/01

  Head-up displays · CPC title

• G02B2027/0127

  comprising devices increasing the depth of field · CPC title