This disclosure relates generally to a windscreen display system for a motor vehicle and particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a windscreen display system configured to display two images, one for a driver and one for a passenger, in which the driver's image is obscured from the passenger and vice versa.
The central console of a vehicle may be provided with a navigational display that may display route data and positional data provided by a satellite navigational system. However, the position of such navigational displays results in the driver's attention being diverted away from the windscreen and thus the road and traffic ahead. By contrast, portable navigational devices may be more conveniently mounted onto the windscreen or on top of the dashboard. However, such portable navigational devices may partially obscure the driver's view through the windscreen.
Accordingly, it is desirable for the driver of a motor vehicle to be able to view navigational information on the windscreen of the vehicle with the navigational data being overlaid onto the windscreen in such a way that it does not obscure the driver's view.
In addition, a passenger of the motor vehicle may wish to view media-based content. Previously-proposed media displays, such as portable DVD players and tablets, have small display screens and focussing on such screens can induce motion sickness. To address this and to provide a more immersive experience for the passenger, such media-based content may be viewed on the windscreen of the vehicle. However, it is desirable that such content should not distract the driver. Equally, the passenger may not want their media viewing to be disturbed by the driver's navigational data.
The present disclosure seeks to address these issues.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a windscreen display system for a motor vehicle, the windscreen display system comprising:
This arrangement advantageously allows the driver to view the first image without being distracted by the second image for the passenger and vice versa. Furthermore, this arrangement can use existing windscreen technology and as such reduces the cost in the event of the windscreen needing replacing.
The privacy filters may substantially block light outside a particular viewing angle. Light rays from the first projector may disperse from the privacy filter within a viewing angle that includes the driver, but excludes the passenger. Light rays from the second projector may disperse from the privacy filter within a viewing angle that includes the passenger, but excludes the driver.
The windscreen display system may further comprise one or more mirrors configured to redirect light emitted from the first and/or second projectors in the direction of the windscreen. One or more of the privacy filters may be provided between the one or more mirrors and the windscreen. The privacy filters may form the last layer through which light from the projectors passes before reflecting on the windscreen.
One mirror common to each of the first and second projectors may be provided. For example, such a mirror may be provided across the width of the vehicle. Alternatively, one mirror may be provided for each of the first and second projectors. In either case further mirrors may be provided to further redirect the light from the projectors.
One or more of the mirrors may be curved. The curvature may correct any distortion resulting from a non-flat windscreen such that after reflection by the windscreen the first or second images appear to the respective driver or passenger to be undistorted.
The first and/or second projectors may be configured to project a distorted image that after reflection by the windscreen appears to the respective driver or passenger to be undistorted. In other words, the images projected by the projectors may be distorted in such a way so as to counteract the windscreen not being flat.
One or more of the privacy filters may be provided on a top of a dashboard of the vehicle. The privacy filters may be flush with the dashboard.
The windscreen display system may comprise a privacy filter common to each of the first and second projectors. For example, such a privacy filter may be provided across the width of the vehicle. Alternatively, the windscreen display system may comprise one privacy filter for each of the first and second projectors.
The windscreen display system may comprise a windscreen comprising a tinted layer on an inner surface of the windscreen. Such a tinted layer may reduce reflections from an outer surface of the windscreen. The tinted layer may comprise a coating or film applied to the windscreen.
The windscreen display system may comprise one or more rear projection display layers. The rear projection display layers may be disposed between the projectors and the privacy filters.
The windscreen display system may further comprise one or more transparent layers to which the rear projection display layers and privacy filters may be attached. The transparent layer may be provided on the dashboard top. The privacy filter may be provided on the top surface of the transparent layer. The rear projection display layer may be provided on a bottom surface of the transparent layer.
The first image may comprise navigational information. The second image may comprise media content. The first and/or second images may comprise moving and/or still images.
A vehicle may comprise the above-mentioned windscreen display system.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of displaying images on a windscreen of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described in relation to only one or several aspects or embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relation to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
With reference to
The first and second projectors 6a, 6b may be separate components or they may be combined into a single projector that is capable of emitting two images and directing the two images in different directions. The projectors may comprise a Light Emitting Diode (LED), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or Digital Light Processing (DLP) projector or any other image projector.
The windscreen display system 2 further comprises one or more privacy filters 14 disposed between the windscreen 10 and the first and second projectors 6a, 6b. In other words, light emitted from the first and second projectors 6a, 6b passes through the privacy filter 14 before reaching the driver or passenger. In a particular arrangement the privacy filters 14 are provided in the light path between the first and second projectors 6a, 6b and the windscreen 10. The privacy filters 14 are configured to reduce or limit a viewing angle of the light passing through the privacy filters. The privacy filters 14 are configured such that light passing through the privacy filters and reflecting from the windscreen 10 is viewable by only one of the driver and the passenger.
The one or more privacy filters 14 are configured to permit light rays that are orthogonal to the surface of the privacy filter to pass through. Light rays that are otherwise inclined to this orthogonal direction may still pass through the privacy filters 14 if the angle of inclination to the orthogonal direction is less than a threshold angle. Therefore, although the privacy filter may substantially linearise the light passing through the privacy filter, an amount of dispersed light may still pass through. The privacy filter may be configured and/or positioned such that the resulting dispersion of light is within the field of view of one of the driver and passenger, but not the other of the driver and passenger. Accordingly, the privacy filters 14 may be arranged so as to limit the field of view in a lateral direction of the vehicle. The field of view in other directions may be unaffected by the privacy filter.
The one or more privacy filters 14 may comprise any commercially available privacy filter, such as the privacy filters provided by 3M®. The privacy filter 14 may comprise a pair of polarizing layers orientated with polarisation axes at 90° to one another and a pair of half-waveplates provided between the polarizing layers. Each half waveplate may comprise strips of birefringent material interspersed between isotropic portions. The birefringent portions of one of the half-waveplates may be staggered in relation to the birefringent portions of the other half-waveplate. The birefringent portions of either half-waveplate may rotate light by 90°. Accordingly, light that is substantially orthogonal to the privacy filter passes through a first polarizing layer, a birefringent portion of one of the half-waveplates, an isotopic portion of the other half-waveplate and then the second polarizing layer which is orientated at 90° to the first polarizing layer. By contrast, light that is oblique to the orthogonal direction will pass through two isotropic portions or two birefringent portions and as a result will be rotated by 0° or 180° respectively and will not be able to pass through the second polarizing layer. Accordingly, the privacy filters 14 may be similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,853 B1.
As shown in
In the arrangement depicted in
Referring to
In the depicted arrangement, the projectors 6a, 6b are set back from the dashboard front. However, such an arrangement may impinge on an engine or storage bay at the front of the vehicle. Accordingly, it is equally envisaged that the projectors 6a, 6b may project light in a lateral direction that is subsequently redirected by one or more mirrors in an upwards direction towards the windscreen 10. If the projectors 6a, 6b emit light in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the projectors may be provided closer to the front of the dashboard. Alternatively, the projectors 6a, 6b could project light in an upwards direction and the mirrors 18 could be omitted.
The privacy filters 14 may be provided on the top of the dashboard 16. There may be a single privacy filter 14 that extends across the width of the vehicle and thus receives light from both the first and second projectors 6a, 6b. However, it is equally envisaged that separate privacy filters 14 may be provided, one for each of the first and second projectors 6a, 6b. The privacy filters 14 may be substantially horizontal or they be inclined relative to the horizontal.
With reference to
The windscreen display system 2 may further comprise a rear projection display layer 22. The rear projection display layer 22 may assist in diffusing the otherwise specular light emitted from the projectors 6a, 6b. The rear projection display layer 22 may comprise a commercially available rear display film, such as those provided by 3M®. For example, the rear projection display layer may comprise microscopic transparent spheres that are arranged to diffuse the incident light. As depicted in
In addition to the privacy filter 14, the windscreen display system 2 may further comprise a tinted layer 24 applied to an inner surface of the windscreen 10 (See
The windscreen 10 may not be flat. Therefore, to counteract any distortion due to curvature of the windscreen, the projector 6a, 6b may project a distorted image that once reflected by the windscreen appears to the driver or passenger to be undistorted. Additionally or alternatively, the mirror 18 may be curved in such a way so as to counter the distortion caused by curvature of the windscreen.
The windscreen display system 2 may further comprise a controller configured to control each of the projectors 6a, 6b. The controller may control the content of the images 8a, 8b. The controller may also control the brightness of the images, e.g. to account for external light levels.
As depicted in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to one or more examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and alternative examples may be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1516289.4 | Sep 2015 | GB | national |