FR3122501A1 - Vehicle head-up display method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for a head-up display for a vehicle. To this end, a first image and a second image are generated. The first image is displayed in a first image plane by the projection of a first light beam onto an opaque surface (101) arranged in the vehicle (10). The second image is displayed in a second image plane by projecting a second light beam onto a transparent surface (102) disposed in the vehicle (10). Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Vehicle head-up display method and device

The invention relates to head-up display methods and devices for vehicles, in particular automobiles. The invention also relates to a method and a device for projecting image(s) in a vehicle. The invention also relates to a method and a device for assisting the driving of a vehicle.

Technology background

To improve safety on the road, it is known to equip certain vehicles with a head-up display device which makes it possible to display useful information for driving the vehicle at the level of the driver's gaze, for example on a slat transparent or semi-transparent arranged on the dashboard behind the steering wheel. Such a head-up display device is for example described in document WO2013/189808 A published on December 27, 2013.

A vehicle embedding such a head-up display device generally embeds other display means such as a screen or the dashboard (also called instrument panel), leading to a redundancy of display of certain information at least. The proliferation of display devices in a vehicle increases the price of these vehicles and complicates access to information for the driver and/or passengers of the vehicle, which can degrade the user experience.

An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to improve access to information useful for driving a vehicle, in particular an automobile.

Another object of the present invention is to improve the user experience with respect to the display of information in a vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to improve safety in a vehicle.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a head-up display method for a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:

- generation of a first image and a second image;

- projection of a first light beam comprising a set of first data representative of the first image onto an opaque surface of the vehicle so as to display the first image in a first image plane at a first distance from a point of view corresponding to a vehicle driving position;

- projection of a second light beam comprising a set of second data representative of the second image onto a transparent surface of the vehicle so as to display the first image in a second image plane at a second distance from the point of view, the second image plane being different from the foreground image.

According to a variant, the opaque surface corresponds to a first zone of a windshield of the vehicle and the transparent surface corresponds to a second zone of said windshield, the first zone being arranged in a lower part of the windshield and the second area being arranged above the first area

According to another variant, the first zone corresponds to a screen-printed zone of the windshield.

According to an additional variant, the first image comprises first information representative of an operating state of the vehicle, the first information being represented by first virtual objects in the first image and comprising:

- information representative of instantaneous speed; and or

- information representative of the rotation of a motor shaft; and or

- information representative of a mileage travelled; and or

- information representative of a fuel level; and or

- information representing the temperature of an engine coolant; and or

- at least one piece of information representative of a warning light; and or

- at least one piece of information representative of a warning lamp; and or

- at least one item of information representative of an on-board system operating warning light,

the second image comprising second information representing an environment of the vehicle, the second information being represented by second virtual objects in the second image and comprising:

- information representative of the cartography of the environment; and or

- representative vehicle navigation information; and or

- information representative of an object detected in the environment; and or

- information representative of an event detected in the environment.

According to yet another variant, the second distance is greater than the first distance.

According to an additional variant, said first image and said second image correspond respectively to a first part and to a second part of the same image.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a head-up display device for a vehicle, the device being configured for the implementation of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the invention, the device comprising:

- Means for generating a first image and a second image;

- means for projecting a first light beam comprising a set of first data representative of the first image onto an opaque surface of the vehicle so as to display the first image in a first image plane at a first distance from a point of view corresponding to a driving position of the vehicle; And

- means for projecting a second light beam comprising a set of second data representative of the second image onto a transparent surface of the vehicle so as to display the first image in a second image plane at a second distance from the point of view, the second image plane being different from said first image plane.

According to a variant, the device further comprises optical means configured to focus the first image in the first image plane and optical means configured to focus the second image in the second image plane.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a head-up display system for a vehicle comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the invention and a windscreen comprising a first zone corresponding to the opaque surface and a second zone corresponding to the transparent surface, the first zone being arranged in a lower part of the windshield and the second zone being arranged above the first zone.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the invention or a system as described above according to the third aspect of the invention. 'invention.

According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the control of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the invention, this in particular when the computer program is executed by at least minus one processor.

Such a computer program can use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for the execution of the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a ROM memory of the microelectronic circuit type, or even a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other ways. The computer program according to the invention can in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the method in question.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of the non-limiting embodiments of the invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 5, in which:

schematically illustrates the projection of images in a vehicle, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a field of vision associated with a driving position of the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a head-up display device and system for the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a device configured to control the head-up display system of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a head-up display process for the vehicle of the , according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

A method, a device and a head-up display system for a vehicle will now be described in what will follow with reference in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 5. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description that follows.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, a first image and a second image are generated, for example by a processor, the first image comprising for example graphical (or virtual) objects representative of information on the operation of the vehicle (for example the speed, the distance travelled, the level of remaining energy available, certain indicators on the state of the vehicle, etc.) and the second image comprising for example graphic (or virtual) objects representative of information on the environment of the vehicle (for example navigation information, information on detected objects or events, etc.). The first image is displayed in a first image plane by the projection of a first light beam on an opaque surface arranged in the vehicle (corresponding for example to a screen-printed area of the windshield of the vehicle). The second image is displayed in a second image plane by the projection of a second light beam on a transparent surface arranged in the vehicle (corresponding for example to a transparent zone of the windshield of the vehicle). The projections of the data of the first image and of the second image are for example implemented by the same bifocal projection device.

Displaying a first image (or a first part of an image) by projecting the image data onto an opaque surface and displaying a second image (or a second part of a image) by projecting the image data onto a transparent surface, for example via a bifocal projection system, makes it possible to display a first set of information on the opaque surface and a second set of information on the transparent surface. The same projection system thus allows the display of all the information useful to the driver, which limits the number of display devices in the vehicle, making it possible, for example, to dispense with the dashboard.

Furthermore, the projection of part of the information on an opaque surface makes it possible to highlight this information and to improve its visibility compared to the information projected on the transparent surface, which makes it easier for the driver of the vehicle to visualize these information, which improves the safety of the vehicle and other road users.

schematically illustrates the projection of images in a vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

There presents a view of the interior of a vehicle 10, in particular of the front part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 10 comprising in particular the steering wheel, the dashboard, and the windshield 100 of the vehicle 10.

The vehicle 10 corresponds for example to a vehicle with a combustion engine, with electric motor(s) or else a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine and one or more electric motors. The vehicle 1 thus corresponds for example to a land vehicle, for example an automobile, a truck, a coach.

The vehicle 10 embeds for example a set of sensors configured to obtain data on the environment of the vehicle 10, these data or a part of them being used in particular for driving in autonomous mode of the vehicle 10. This or these sensors correspond for example to sensors of one or more systems for detecting objects in the environment of the vehicle 10, the data obtained from this or these sensors making it possible, for example, to detect objects in the environment of the vehicle 10, for example in front of the vehicle 10. This or these object detection systems are for example associated with or included in one or more driving assistance systems, called ADAS systems (from the English “Advanced Driver-Assistance System” or in French “Advanced driver assistance system”).

The sensor(s) associated with these object detection systems correspond, for example, to one or more of the following sensors:

- one or more millimetric wave radars arranged on the vehicle 10, for example at the front, at the rear, on each front/rear corner of the vehicle; each radar is adapted to emit electromagnetic waves and to receive the echoes of these waves returned by one or more objects, with the aim of detecting obstacles and their distances vis-à-vis the vehicle; and or

- one or more LIDAR (s) (from the English "Light Detection And Ranging", or "Detection and estimation of the distance by light" in French), a LIDAR sensor corresponding to an optoelectronic system composed of a transmitter device laser, a receiver device comprising a light collector (to collect the part of the light radiation emitted by the emitter and reflected by any object located on the path of the light rays emitted by the emitter) and a photodetector which transforms the light collected as an electrical signal; a LIDAR sensor thus makes it possible to detect the presence of objects located in the light beam emitted and to measure the distance between the sensor and each object detected; and or

- one or more cameras (associated or not with a depth sensor) for acquiring one or more images of the environment around the vehicle located in the field of vision of the camera(s).

The vehicle 10 also embeds, for example, a navigation system, which uses, for example, geolocation information provided by a satellite positioning system such as the GPS system (from the English “Global Positioning System” or in French “Système mondial de positioning”) or the Galileo system. This geolocation information is combined with mapping data, in particular road data, to display the route of the route on a map obtained from the mapping data.

The vehicle 10 advantageously embeds a system configured to display a first image (or a first part of an image) and a second image (or a second part of the image) each comprising one or more graphic objects by projection onto a surface respectively opaque and a transparent surface of the vehicle 10, for example on the windshield 100.

Such a display system comprises for example one or more projectors integrated for example in the dashboard. Such a system for projecting images or graphic content corresponds for example to a so-called augmented reality system, called AR (from the English “Augmented Reality”), for example a Head-Up Vision system, called HUD or HUD ( from the English "Head Up Display" or in French "Display Head High"), which allows the embedding of virtual objects in the driver's field of vision, for example on the windshield of the vehicle 10, so as to superimpose the virtual objects on the real road scene. The projection of the images of the graphic object is for example controlled by one or more computers of the on-board system of the vehicle 10, for example by the computer of the infotainment system, called the IVI computer (from the English "In-Vehicle Infotainment" or in French “Infotainment on board”) of the vehicle 10.

A particular embodiment of such a head-up display device or system is described with reference to the .

A first image is advantageously displayed on an opaque surface 101, by projection of the image data in the form of a light beam emitted by a bifocal projection device for example. The opaque surface 101 corresponds for example to an opaque slat arranged on the dashboard of the vehicle 10, for example above and behind the steering wheel with respect to a point of view corresponding to the point of view from which a driver is supposed to look. the road ahead when driving vehicle 10.

According to another example, the opaque surface 101 corresponds to a particular zone of the windshield 100, for example to a screen-printed part of the windshield 100 advantageously located in the lower part of the windshield 100 in the field of vision of a driver. The screen-printed part comprises, for example, a set of data on the vehicle 10 visible from outside the vehicle 10, such as the brand of the vehicle, the type of glass of the windshield, the country of certification of the vehicle, the code of glass type approval, etc.

The first image advantageously comprises a set of graphical objects each representative of a parameter or an operating state of the vehicle 10. By way of example, the first information representative of the parameters or operating state of the vehicle 10 correspond to any or part of the following information, in any possible combination:

- information representative of instantaneous speed; and or

- information representative of the rotation of an engine shaft (also called tachometer information); and or

- information representative of a mileage travelled; and or

- information representing a fuel level or the state of charge of the battery in the case of an electric vehicle; and or

- information representing the temperature of an engine coolant; and or

- at least one item of information representative of a warning light (for example battery charge indicator, engine oil pressure indicator, engine oil or coolant temperature indicator, brake failure indicator, etc.), corresponding for example to a pictogram displayed or taking on a specific color in the event of an alert; and or

- at least one piece of information representative of a warning light (for example engine oil level light, air bag light (also called airbag), brake pad wear light, etc.), corresponding for example to a pictogram displayed or taking on a determined color in the event of a warning; and or

- at least one item of information representative of an on-board system operating indicator light (positioning, dipped or main beam indicator light, hazard warning light indicator light, rear window demisting indicator light, etc.), corresponding for example to a pictogram displayed or taking on a determined color in the event of the on-board system being put into operation.

Of course, the list of the first information displayed via the first image is given by way of example and is not limited to the examples above.

The first information displayed on the opaque surface 101 corresponds for example to the information usually displayed on the dashboard (or instrument panel).

The projection of a first (virtual) image on an opaque surface 101 has the advantage over a projection on a transparent surface of being able to display an image with a wider color rendering, with greater luminosity, which makes it possible to better bring out the first information for the driver.

A second image is advantageously displayed on a transparent surface 102 corresponding to a part of the windshield 100, the display being obtained by projection of the image data in the form of a light beam emitted by the bifocal projection device.

The transparent surface 102 corresponds to a zone or part of the windshield advantageously located above the opaque surface 101 in the driver's field of vision. The display of the first image on the opaque surface 101 and of the second image on the transparent surface 102 located above the opaque surface 101 allows the driver to see the information displayed as a whole since the two display areas 101 , 102 are located one above the other in the driver's field of vision.

The second image advantageously comprises a set of graphic objects, each representative of contextual information or of the environment of the vehicle 10. By way of example, the second information representative of the contextual or environment information of the vehicle 10 corresponds to all or part the following information, in any possible combination:

- information representative of the map of the environment of the vehicle 10, for example obtained from a navigation system on board the vehicle or from a navigation system installed on a mobile communication device (for example a smart telephone (of the "smartphone") connected in wireless communication with the vehicle 10, or more specifically with the on-board system of the vehicle 10 comprising the computer(s) in charge of controlling the projection of the first image and of the second image; and/or

- information representative of the navigation of the vehicle, for example a plot of the route to be followed by the vehicle, the current position of the vehicle, the instantaneous speed of the vehicle, the speed limit applicable on the portion of road on which the vehicle is traveling 10; this information is for example obtained from the navigation system on board the vehicle or from the navigation system installed on a mobile communication device; and or

- information representative of an object detected in the environment, for example the presence of a vehicle preceding the vehicle 10, the presence of a pedestrian or an animal on the roadway in front of the vehicle 10, the presence of a road sign, the presence of a stationary object on the roadway, the presence of a tunnel entrance, etc. ; this or this information is for example obtained from one or more object detection sensors on board the vehicle 10 and for example associated with one or more ADAS systems of the vehicle 10; according to a variant, this information is received from another vehicle or from the infrastructure connected to the vehicle 10 in wireless communication according to a vehicle-to-everything communication mode, called V2X (from the English “vehicle-to- everything”) comprising vehicle-to-vehicle, known as V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication modes, vehicle-to-V2I infrastructure (vehicle-to-infrastructure) and/or vehicle-to-pedestrian V2P; and or

- information representative of an event detected in the environment, for example information on a disturbance on the road, for example an accident, a traffic jam, information on particular climatic conditions and able to disturb traffic (snow, fog, rain, ice); this or this information is for example obtained from one or more object detection sensors on board the vehicle 10 and for example associated with one or more ADAS systems of the vehicle 10; according to a variant, this information is received from another vehicle or from the infrastructure connected to the vehicle 10 in wireless communication according to a vehicle-to-everything communication mode, called V2X (from the English “vehicle-to- everything”) comprising vehicle-to-vehicle, known as V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) communication modes, vehicle-to-V2I infrastructure (vehicle-to-infrastructure) and/or vehicle-to-pedestrian V2P; according to another variant, this information is received from one or more servers of the “cloud” (or “cloud” in French) via a cellular wireless network of the 4G or 5G type.

The first image projected on the opaque surface 101 is displayed in a first image plane corresponding for example to the plane formed by the opaque surface, at a distance 'd1' from the point of view according to which a driver is supposed to look at the road in front of him when he is driving vehicle 10.

The second image projected on a transparent part 102 of the windshield is displayed for example in a second image plane at a distance 'd2' from the point of view according to which a driver is supposed to look at the road in front of him when driving the vehicle 10, this distance 'd2' being for example greater than 'd1', the distance 'd2' being such that the second image is collimated (d2 is for example greater than or equal to 3.5 m). According to a variant, the second image plane corresponds to the plane formed by the part 102 of the windshield 100 on which the data of the second image are projected.

schematically illustrates the field of vision associated with a driving position of the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

There illustrates the front part of the vehicle 10 in a top view. The field of vision 210 is associated with a point of view 21 which corresponds to the point of view according to which a driver is supposed to look at the road in front of him when driving the vehicle 10. This point of view 21 is for example positioned in the middle of the driver's seat (front left in the direction of travel of the vehicle 10 according to the particular example of the ), at the location of the driver's head if the driver was seated in the driver's seat. The point of view 21 is for example positioned in the center of a headrest resting on the driver's seat when the seat is equipped with such a headrest.

The field of vision 210 extends for example around a main axis of vision 211, and covers an area between an upper vertical limit (forming for example an angle of 15° with the axis 211 from the point of view 21) , a lower vertical limit (forming for example an angle of 15° with the axis 211 from the point of view 21), a right lateral limit (forming for example an angle of 20 or 25° with the axis 211 from the point of view 21) and a left lateral limit (forming for example an angle of 25 or 30° with the axis 211 from the viewpoint 21).

A graphic object 2100 corresponding to an element of the second image is advantageously projected or displayed inside the field of vision 210, to ensure that the driver looks at the road or the environment in front of the vehicle 10 according to this field of vision 210.

The second image comprising the graphic object is advantageously collimated at a distance 'd2' from the point of view along the axis 211, such a distance 'd2' being advantageously greater than or equal to 3.5 m, for example equal to 3.5, 4 or 4.5m.

The graphic object 2100 depends for example on the type of information projected on the transparent surface 102. The graphic object 2100 corresponds for example to a representation of a warning sign, of a vehicle, for example automobile, or of a pedestrian, an arrow indicating the direction to follow. The graphic object 2100 is for example semi-transparent to allow the driver to see the road environment through this graphic object 2100.

When the purpose of the display of the second image is to alert the driver of the vehicle 10 to a potential danger, the graphic object is for example displayed at the location of an object detected in front of the vehicle 10, to attract the driver's attention to this detected object. The graphic object 2100 corresponds to a virtual element added by augmented reality, called AR (from the English "Augmented Reality") by embedding or superimposing this virtual element on an element of the real world.

The movement of the graphical object 2100 follows, for example, the movement of an object detected in front of the vehicle 10, the movement of the detected object corresponding, for example, to the movement of the detected object, where applicable, relative to the movement of the vehicle 10. According to a variant, the graphic object 2100 is initially displayed in a first position before following the movement of the detected object.

The graphic object(s) included in the first image are advantageously displayed on the opaque surface 101, at a distance 'd1' from the viewpoint 21, the distance 'd1' being for example less than the distance 'd2'.

A vehicle head-up display process is advantageously implemented by the vehicle 10 (that is to say by one or more devices on board the vehicle 10, for example a bifocal projector, controlled for example by a or more computers of the vehicle's on-board system 10).

In a first operation, a first image and a second image are generated, for example by a computer of the on-board system. The first and the second image each correspond to a matrix of pixels, each pixel being associated with gray level information, for example gray level information coded on 8, 10 or 12 bits for each color channel of a space determined color, for example RGB (from English “Red, Green, Blue” or in French “Rouge, vert, bleu”).

The first image is for example generated to graphically represent first information on the operating state of the vehicle 10. This first information is for example received from sensors and/or systems on board the vehicle and measuring control parameters of the vehicle 10 .

The second image is for example generated to graphically represent second information on the context or the environment in which the vehicle 10 is moving. This second information is for example received from one or more systems on board the vehicle 10, for example one or more multiple ADAS systems, other vehicles in wireless communication with vehicle 10, a mobile communication device in wireless communication with vehicle 10, road infrastructure in wireless communication with vehicle 10, a or several remote devices (for example one or several “cloud” servers) in wireless communication with the vehicle 10.

The first image is for example generated with a higher level of luminosity than the second image. The first image is for example generated with a representation of the HDR type (from the English "High Dynamic Range" or in French "Grande plage musicale") to improve the rendering of the first image and to improve the visibility of the first information displayed via this first picture.

The second image is for example generated with a determined level of transparency to allow the driver to see the graphic content of the second image while seeing the real world (for example the road environment scrolling in front of the vehicle 10) through the graphic objects virtual forming the second image.

In a second operation, the first image is projected in the form of a light beam onto the opaque surface 101, for example by a first projector. The first image is displayed so as to be focused in a first image plane located at a distance ‘d1’ from the point of view 21, corresponding for example to the plane formed by the opaque surface 101.

The second image is projected in the form of a light beam on the transparent surface 102 advantageously formed by a part of the windshield located in the field of vision 210 associated with the point of view 21, for example by a second projector. The second image is displayed so as to be focused in a second image plane located at a distance ‘d2’ from the viewpoint 21, corresponding for example to a plane formed beyond the windshield 100 according to the viewpoint 21.

The first projector and the second projector form for example a bifocal projector, as represented by the .

According to a variant, the first image and the second image form a single image, the first image corresponding to a first part of the image and the second image corresponding to a second part of this same image. According to this variant, this image is projected by a single projector configured to project the first part of the image onto the opaque surface 101 and the second part of the image onto the transparent surface 102, for example by using a suitable optical system.

Of course, the generation and the projection are not limited to a single first image and a single second image but extend to the generation and the projection of a sequence of first images and of a sequence of second images, for example at an image frequency equal to for example 24, 30 or 60 images per second.

schematically illustrates a device and a head-up display system for the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

There illustrates a projection system 3 of a head-up display device/system, according to a particular embodiment.

The system 3 comprises a device or a control unit 31 configured for the processing of data received from sensors of the vehicle 10 and/or from systems on board the vehicle 10 and/or from remote devices connected to the vehicle 10. control 31 is advantageously configured to generate the first image(s) and the second image(s) from the data received.

The control unit 31 advantageously comprises one or more processors of the CPU type (from the English "Central Processing Unit" or in French "Unité centrale de treatment") and/or GPU (from the English "Graphics Processing Unit" or in French "graphic processor") associated with a memory. The control unit 31 corresponds for example to a computer, an exemplary embodiment of which is described with regard to the , or a combination of calculators.

The data representative of each first image and of each second image are transmitted to a projector 3 configured to project a first light beam representative of the first image and a second light beam representative of the second image.

The projector 3 for example comprises a single projector, in particular when the first image and the second image correspond respectively to a first part and a second part of the same image generated by the control unit 31.

According to the particular example of , the projector 3 comprises a first projector 321 configured to generate the first light beam and a second projector 322 configured to generate the second light beam.

The first projector 321 and the second projector 322 are for example of the "emissive" type and each correspond for example to a laser scanner comprising at least one laser diode, for example three laser diodes to generate three different colors, for example RGB (a diode per RGB color).

A laser scanner advantageously comprises a diffuser and a scanning unit generating a light beam, which light beam scans the rear face of the diffuser. The scanning unit comprises for example a light beam generator associated with a matrix of micromirrors, called DMD (from the English "Digital Micromirror Device") configured to direct the light beam on the rear face of the diffuser. The DMD comprises a matrix of mobile mirrors produced in the form of a micro-electromechanical system, known as MEMS (from the English "Micro-Electro-Mechanichal System").

According to another example, the first projector 321 and the second projector 322 are for example of the "light modulation" type and each correspond for example to a display screen, for example an LCD type screen (from the English " Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Display with liquid crystals"), for example of the TFT type type (from the English "Thin-Film Transistor" or in French "Thin film transistor"), or an OLED type screen (from English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode electroluminescenteorganique”).

The projection system 3 also comprises two reflective devices 33 and 34 respectively associated with the first projector 321 and the second projector 322. The reflective device 33 (respectively 34) is configured to direct the first light beam (respectively the second light beam) emitted by the first projector 321 (respectively the second projector 322) towards the opaque surface 101 (respectively the transparent surface 102) for display of the first image (respectively the second image) in the field of vision of the point of view 21.

According to a variant, the projection system 3 does not include such reflective device(s), the first and second projectors being arranged so as to project the first beam and the second beam directly onto the opaque surface respectively 101 and the transparent surface 102.

According to an optional variant embodiment, the projection system 3 further comprises optical means (for example an arrangement of optical lenses not shown) configured to focus the first image in the first image plane and to focus the second image in the second plane picture.

The projection system 3 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to the and 2 and/or steps of the process described with regard to the .

schematically illustrates a device 4 configured to control the projection system of the , according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The device 4 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer and/or the control unit 31.

The device 4 is for example configured for the implementation of all or part of the operations described with regard to the , 2 and 3 and/or steps of the process described with regard to . Examples of such a device 4 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as a vehicle's on-board computer, an electronic computer such as an ECU ("Electronic Control Unit"), a telephone smart phone, tablet, laptop. The elements of device 4, individually or in combination, can be integrated in a single integrated circuit, in several integrated circuits, and/or in discrete components. The device 4 can be made in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or else a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and/or for executing the instructions of the software or software embedded in the device 4. The processor 40 can include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 4 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which can comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the on-board software or software comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on the memory 41.

According to different particular embodiments, the device 4 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and/or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Unité Telematics Control"), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input/output ports.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 4 comprises a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices, for example a remote server or the “cloud”, other nodes of the ad hoc network. Block 42 interface elements include one or more of the following interfaces:

- RF radio frequency interface, for example of the Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi® type, LTE (from English "Long-Term Evolution" or in French "Evolution à long terme"), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced );

- USB interface (from the English "Universal Serial Bus" or "Universal Serial Bus" in French);

- HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface”, or “Interface Multimedia Haute Definition” in French);

- LIN interface (from English “Local Interconnect Network”, or in French “Réseau interconnecté local”).

According to another particular embodiment, the device 4 comprises a communication interface 43 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 430. The interface communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and/or data via the communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN type (from the English “ Controller Area Network" or in French "Network of controllers"), CAN FD (from English "Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate" or in French "Network of controllers with flexible data rate"), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO/IEC 802-3 standard).

According to an additional particular embodiment, the device 4 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 440, one or more loudspeakers 450 and/or other peripherals 460 ( for example the projector 32) respectively via output interfaces 44, 45 and 46. According to a variant, one or the other of the external devices is integrated into the device 4.

illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a head-up display method for the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the vehicle 10, for example by one or more processors on board the vehicle 10 (for example the device 4 of the ) and/or by the projection system 3 of the .

In a first step 51, a first image and a second image are generated.

In a second step 52, a first light beam comprising a set of first data representative of the first image is projected onto an opaque surface of the vehicle so as to display the first image in a first image plane at a first distance from a point of view corresponding to a driving position of the vehicle 10.

In a third step 53, a second light beam comprising a set of second data representative of the second image is projected onto a transparent surface of the vehicle so as to display the first image in a second image plane at a second distance from the point of view, the second image plane being different from the first image plane.

The second step 52 and the third step 53 are for example implemented independently of one another or implemented jointly, for example concomitantly.

According to a variant embodiment, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to FIGS. 1, 2 and/or 3 apply to the steps of the method of .

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for projecting or displaying image(s) in a vehicle which would include secondary steps without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for the implementation of such a method.

The invention also relates to a display system comprising a display device/system such as the system 3 of the and the windshield 100 comprising an opaque zone and a transparent zone.

The invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land motor vehicle, comprising the device 4 of the and/or system 3 of the .

Claims (10)

A head-up display method for a vehicle (10), said method comprising the following steps:
- generation (51) of a first image and a second image;
- projection (52) of a first light beam comprising a set of first data representative of said first image on an opaque surface (101) of said vehicle (10) so as to display said first image in a first image plane at a first distance from a viewpoint (21) corresponding to a driving position of said vehicle (10);
- projection (53) of a second light beam comprising a set of second data representative of said second image on a transparent surface (102) of said vehicle (10) so as to display said first image in a second image plane at a second distance said viewpoint (21), said second image plane being different from said first image plane. Method according to claim 1, wherein said opaque surface (101) corresponds to a first zone of a windshield (100) of said vehicle (10) and said transparent surface (102) corresponds to a second zone of said windshield ( 100), said first zone being arranged in a lower part of said windshield (100) and said second zone being arranged above said first zone. A method according to claim 2, wherein said first area corresponds to a screen-printed area of said windshield (100). Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, for which said first image comprises first information representative of an operating state of said vehicle (10), said first information being represented by first virtual objects in said first image and comprising :
- information representative of instantaneous speed; and or
- information representative of rotation of a motor shaft; and or
- information representative of a mileage traveled; and or
- Information representative of a fuel level; and or
- information representative of a temperature of an engine coolant; and or
- at least one item of information representative of a warning light; and or
- at least one item of information representative of a warning light; and or
- at least one item of information representative of an on-board system operating warning lamp,
said second image comprising second information representative of an environment of said vehicle (10), said second information being represented by second virtual objects in said second image and comprising:
- information representative of the cartography of said environment; and or
- information representative of the navigation of said vehicle; and or
- information representative of an object detected in said environment; and or
- information representative of an event detected in the environment. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, for which the said second distance is greater than the said first distance. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, for which the said first image and the said second image correspond respectively to a first part and to a second part of the same image. Head-up display device (3) for a vehicle (10), said device being configured for the implementation of the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, said device comprising:
- means (31) for generating a first image and a second image;
- means (321) for projecting a first light beam comprising a set of first data representative of said first image onto an opaque surface of said vehicle so as to display said first image in a first image plane at a first distance of a point of view corresponding to a driving position of said vehicle;
- means (322) for projecting a second light beam comprising a set of second data representative of said second image onto a transparent surface of said vehicle so as to display said first image in a second image plane at a second distance from said point of view, said second image plane being different from said first image plane. A head-up display device according to claim 7, further comprising optical means configured to focus said first image in said first image plane and optical means configured to focus said second image in said second image plane. A head-up display system of a vehicle, said system comprising the head-up display device (3) according to claim 7 or 8 and a windshield (100) comprising a first zone corresponding to said opaque surface ( 101) and a second area corresponding to said transparent surface (102), said first area being arranged in a lower part of said windshield (100) and said second area being arranged above said first area. A vehicle (10) comprising the head-up display device (3) according to claim 7 or 8 or the head-up display system according to claim 9.