Vehicle display apparatus and method

1 . A vehicle display device comprising:

a windshield glass to which a transmittance variable control technology is applied;

a projector configured to project an image onto the windshield glass; and

a transmittance controller configured to control a transmittance of an area in which the image is projected of the windshield glass;

a control module configured to generate and provide the image to the projector; and

a correction camera configured to check whether the area in which the image is projected matches the transmittance control area;

wherein the transmittance controller is configured to set a transmittance control area corresponding to a deformed image shape, such that the image is deformed according to an area-specific curvature of the windshield glass; and

wherein the transmittance controller is further configured to control a transmittance for the set transmittance control area such that an image portion overlapping the transmittance control area is displayed clearly; and

wherein the control module is configured to generate compensation information based on an error between the area in which the image is projected and the transmittance control area, and to provide the compensation information to the transmittance controller.

2 . The vehicle display device of claim 1 , wherein the transmittance controller is configured to lower the transmittance of the transmittance control area so that the image is clearly visible.

3 . The vehicle display device of claim 1 , wherein the projector is provided at a position spaced from a cowl panel in a vehicle to prevent interference with the cowl panel, and

wherein the windshield glass refracts light output from the projector to be transmitted to a driver's eyes through a surface subjected to optical path modification.

4 . The vehicle display device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a tracking camera configured to track a driver's gaze;

wherein the control module is configured to generate and provide the image to the projector together with gaze information; and

wherein the image is projected onto a position corresponding to the driver's gaze on the windshield glass.

5 . The vehicle display device of claim 4 , wherein, when the driver's gaze is changed, the projector re-projects the image onto a position corresponding to the changed driver's gaze; and

the transmittance controller re-sets the transmittance control area and the transmittance according to the area in which the image is re-projected.

6 . The vehicle display device of claim 1 , wherein the transmittance controller is configured to correct the transmittance control area and the transmittance according to the compensation information and an area-specific curvature of the windshield glass.

7 . A vehicle display method comprising:

setting, by a vehicle display device,

a transmittance control parameter of a windshield glass to which a transmittance variable control mode is applied in an initialization mode; and

controlling a transmittance of an area in which an image is projected of the windshield according to the transmittance control parameter in a user mode;

wherein the setting of the transmittance control parameter comprises:

projecting a correction image onto the windshield glass;

setting a transmittance control area corresponding to a deformed shape of the correction image, such that the correction image is deformed according to an area-specific curvature of the windshield glass; and

controlling a transmittance of the transmittance control area such that a portion of the correction image overlapping the transmittance control area is displayed clearly;

checking whether the area in which the image is projected matches the transmittance control area; and

measuring an error between the area in which the correction image is projected and the transmittance control area, and generating compensation information based on the error.

8 . The vehicle display method of claim 7 , wherein the setting of the transmittance control parameter includes:

repeatedly correcting the transmittance control area and the transmittance according to the compensation information and the area-specific curvature of the windshield glass; and

storing a parameter at a time when the error is smaller than a preset reference error through the correction as the transmittance control parameter.

9 . The vehicle display method of claim 8 , further comprising tracking a driver's gaze,

wherein the image is projected onto a position corresponding to the driver's gaze on the windshield glass.

10 . The vehicle display method of claim 9 , further comprising:

when the driver's gaze is changed, re-projecting the image onto a position corresponding to the changed driver's gaze; and

re-setting the transmittance control area and the transmittance according to the area in which the image is re-projected.

11 . The vehicle display method of claim 7 , wherein the controlling further includes setting the transmittance control area according to the transmittance control parameter, and controlling the transmittance for the set transmittance control area.

12 . The vehicle display method of claim 11 , wherein the controlling further includes lowering the transmittance of the transmittance control area so that the image is clearly visible.