Granted Patent B2

US 8,395,529 · App. 12/564,898 · Granted Mar 12, 2013

Inventors: Thomas A. Seder (Northville, MI); Joseph F. Szczerba (Grand Blanc, MI); Dehua Cui (Northville, MI)

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Abstract

Claims (50)

1. Method to display a graphic based upon a traffic infrastructure indication upon a substantially transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication;

monitoring an occupant eye location;

analyzing the traffic infrastructure indication; and

displaying the graphic upon the transparent windscreen head up display based upon analyzing the traffic infrastructure indication; and

wherein the substantially transparent windscreen head up display comprises one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen;

wherein the graphic includes a registered graphic with a location upon the transparent windscreen head up display based upon the traffic infrastructure indication and the occupant eye location.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication comprises monitoring a street sign.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the street sign is a speed limit sign.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the street sign is a school zone indicator.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the street sign is a cautionary indicator.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the graphic includes a persistent indication of a content of the street sign remaining upon the display for a time period.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication comprises monitoring a traffic light.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication comprises monitoring a railroad crossing indicator.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication comprises monitoring a configurable traffic message sign.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication comprises monitoring a vehicle to infrastructure communication link.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a GPS digital map device; and

wherein monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication comprises determining a traffic direction signal based upon data from the GPS digital map device.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising monitoring a low visibility condition in the operating environment of the vehicle; and

wherein the graphic comprises a low visibility traffic direction aid.

13. Method to selectively project graphical images upon a transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle based upon recognition of roadside signs, the method comprising:

monitoring data from a camera system;

monitoring an occupant eye location;

analyzing the data from the camera system to identify an image of a roadside sign:

analyzing the image of the roadside sign to describe a threshold condition;

processing the threshold condition to generate a registered graphical image for projection upon the transparent windscreen head up display; and

projecting the registered graphical image upon the transparent windscreen head up display, wherein a location of the registered graphical image is based upon the data from the camera system and the occupant eye location; and

wherein the substantially transparent windscreen head up display comprises one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

monitoring informational inputs describing operation of the vehicle; and

wherein analyzing the image of the roadside sign to describe a threshold condition is based upon the monitored informational inputs.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein monitoring informational inputs describing operation of the vehicle comprises monitoring a speed of the vehicle; and

wherein analyzing the image of the roadside sign to indicate the threshold condition comprises

analyzing the image of the roadside sign utilizing pattern recognition to discern a speed limit indication,

comparing the monitored speed of the vehicle to the speed limit indication, and indicating the threshold condition based upon the comparing.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the monitoring informational inputs describing operation of the vehicle comprises monitoring a lane in which the vehicle is currently travelling; and

wherein analyzing the image of the roadside sign to indicate the threshold condition comprises:

analyzing the image of the roadside sign utilizing pattern recognition to discern a lane ending indication;

comparing the monitored lane in which the vehicle is currently travelling to the lane ending indication; and

indicating the threshold condition based upon the comparing.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising monitoring an operator-defined search priority; and

wherein analyzing the image of the roadside sign to indicate the threshold condition comprises

analyzing a content of the roadside sign,

comparing the content of the roadside sign to the operator-defined search priority, and identifying the roadside sign to indicate the threshold condition based upon the comparing.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the operator-defined search priority comprises a priority selected from the group consisting of a vehicle maintenance center, a lodging facility, a restaurant, a grocery store, an entertainment facility, an emergency health facility, and a shopping facility.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising monitoring a vehicle status-defined search priority; and

wherein analyzing the image of the roadside sign to indicate the threshold condition comprises

analyzing a content of the roadside sign,

comparing the content of the roadside sign to the vehicle status-defined search priority, and

identifying the roadside sign to indicate the threshold condition based upon the comparing.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (2)