IP Library › Granted Patent US 12663645

Granted Patent B1

US 12663645 · App. 19/000,878 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Restricted-viewing control for panoramic head-up displays

Inventors: Thomas A. Seder (Fraser, MI); Kai-Han Chang (Madison Heights, MI); Guy N. Kennerly (Southfield, MI); Paul E. Krajewski (Troy, MI)

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

G02B27/0101 G09G3/001 G02B2027/014 G09G2320/08 G09G2380/10

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12663645
App. No.: 19/000,878
Granted: Jun 23, 2026
Kind: B1

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes determining that a first image displayed on a windshield of a vehicle by a first head-up display (HUD) is to be viewable by an operator of the vehicle and, based on determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator, configuring the first HUD such that the first image is viewable by the operator. The method also includes determining that a second image displayed on the windshield by a second HUD is not to be viewable by the operator and, based on determining that the second image is not to be viewable by the operator, configuring the second HUD such that the second image is not viewable by the operator.

Claims (74)

1 . A vehicle comprising:

a windshield;

a first head-up display (HUD) selectively configurable, during operation of the vehicle, to display a first image on the windshield that is selectively visible by an operator of the vehicle or a passenger of the vehicle;

a second HUD selectively configurable, during operation of the vehicle, to display a second image on the windshield that is selectively visible by the operator or the passenger;

data processing hardware in communication with the first HUD and the second HUD; and

memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware and storing instructions that, when executed by the data processing hardware, cause the data processing hardware to perform operations while the vehicle is operating, the operations comprising:

determining that the first image is to be viewable by an operator of the vehicle;

based on determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator, configuring the first HUD such that the first image is viewable by the operator;

determining, based on the second image comprising media content and that the vehicle is not operating autonomously, that the second image is not to be viewable by the operator; and

based on determining that the second image is not to be viewable by the operator, configuring the second HUD such that the second image is not viewable by the operator.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the first image is not to be viewable by a passenger of the vehicle; and

based on determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator and is not to be viewable by the passenger, configuring the first HUD such that the first image is viewable by the operator and is not viewable by the passenger.

3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the second image is to be viewable by a passenger of the vehicle; and

based on determining that the second image is not to be viewable by the operator and is to be viewable by the passenger, configuring the second HUD such that the second image is not viewable by the operator and is viewable by the passenger.

4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the first image is to be viewable by a passenger of the vehicle; and

based on determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator and is to be viewable by the passenger, configuring the first HUD such that the first image is viewable by the operator and is viewable by the passenger.

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator comprises:

determining that media content is being displayed on the windshield by the first HUD; and

determining that the vehicle is being autonomously operated.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first HUD comprises a switchable diffuser that is selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in a transparent optic state such that the first image is viewable by only the operator, or in a diffusion state such that the first image is viewable by the operator and a passenger.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second HUD comprises a switchable diffuser that is selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in a diffusion state such that the second image is viewable by the operator and a passenger, or in a transparent optic state such that the second image is viewable by only the passenger.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:

the first HUD comprises a first liquid-crystal display (LCD), a first switchable diffuser disposed in a first optical path between the first LCD and the windshield, and a first lenticular array configured to direct collimated light toward the operator, and wherein the first switchable diffuser is selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in (i) a transparent optic state in which the first image is viewable by only the operator due to the first lenticular array directing the collimated light toward the operator, and (ii) a diffusion state in which the first image is viewable by both the operator and a passenger;

the second HUD comprises a second LCD and a second switchable diffuser disposed in a second optical path between the second LCD and the windshield and selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in (i) a transparent optic state in which the second image is viewable by only the passenger and (ii) a diffusion state in which the second image is viewable by both the operator and the passenger; and

the operations further comprise:

based on determining that the second image is not to be viewable by the operator, configuring the first HUD to the transparent optic state and configuring the second HUD to the transparent optic state; and

based on determining that the second image is to be viewable by the operator, configuring the second HUD to the diffusion state.

9 . A system of a vehicle, the system comprising:

data processing hardware; and

controlling a first head-up display (HUD) of the vehicle that is selectively configurable, during operation of the vehicle, to display a first image on a windshield of the vehicle that is selectively visible by an operator of the vehicle or a passenger of the vehicle;

controlling a second HUD that is selectively configurable, during operation of the vehicle, to display a second image on the windshield that is selectively visible by the operator or the passenger;

determining that the first image displayed on the windshield of a vehicle by the first HUD is to be viewable by the operator;

based on determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator, configuring the first HUD such that the first image is viewable by the operator;

determining, based on the second image comprising media content and that the vehicle is not operating autonomously, that the second image displayed on the windshield by the second HUD is not to be viewable by the operator; and

based on determining that the second image is not to be viewable by the operator, configuring the second HUD such that the second image is not viewable by the operator.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the first image is not to be viewable by a passenger of the vehicle; and

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that the first image is to be viewable by a passenger of the vehicle; and

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator comprises:

determining that media content is being displayed on the windshield by the first HUD; and

determining that the vehicle is being autonomously operated.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first HUD comprises a switchable diffuser that is selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in a transparent optic state such that the first image is viewable by only the operator, or in a diffusion state such that the first image is viewable by the operator and a passenger.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the second HUD comprises a switchable diffuser that is selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in a diffusion state such that the second image is viewable by the operator and a passenger, or in a transparent optic state such that the second image is viewable by only the passenger.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein:

the operations further comprise:

based on determining that the second image is to be viewable by the operator, configuring the second HUD to the diffusion state.

16 . A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware of a vehicle that causes the data processing hardware to perform operations while the vehicle is operating, the operations comprising:

controlling a second HUD that is selectively configurable, during operation of the vehicle, to display a second image on the windshield that is selectively visible by the operator or the passenger;

determining that the first image displayed on the windshield of a vehicle by the first HUD is to be viewable by the operator;

based on determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator, configuring the first HUD such that the first image is viewable by the operator;

based on determining that the second image is not to be viewable by the operator, configuring the second HUD such that the second image is not viewable by the operator.

17 . The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein determining that the first image is to be viewable by the operator comprises:

determining that media content is being displayed on the windshield by the first HUD; and

determining that the vehicle is being autonomously operated.

18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the first HUD comprises a switchable diffuser that is selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in a transparent optic state such that the first image is viewable by only the operator, or in a diffusion state such that the first image is viewable by the operator and a passenger.

19 . The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the second HUD comprises a switchable diffuser that is selectively configurable by the data processing hardware in a diffusion state such that the second image is viewable by the operator and a passenger, or in a transparent optic state such that the second image is viewable by only the passenger.

20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein:

the operations further comprise:

based on determining that the second image is to be viewable by the operator, configuring the second HUD to the diffusion state.