IP Library Granted Patent US 10,611,296
Granted Patent B2
US 10,611,296 · App. 16/529,519 · Granted Apr 7, 2020

Image projection apparatus

Inventors: Yasuhiko Kunii (Kyoto, JP); Toshinori Sugiyama (Kyoto, JP); Takuya Shimizu (Kyoto, JP)
Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
B60Q1/26B60Q1/0023B60Q1/143B60Q1/50G01B11/30G01S17/026G03B17/54G03B21/00G03B21/26G03B29/00G08G1/09623G08G1/096716G08G1/096725G08G1/096791G08G1/163G08G1/167H04N5/74H04N9/3185H04N9/3188H04N9/3194B60Q1/34B60Q2300/112B60Q2300/122B60Q2300/142B60Q2300/144B60Q2300/314B60Q2300/32B60Q2300/47B60Q2400/50G08G1/005G08G1/165
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,611,296
App. No.
16/529,519
Granted
Apr 7, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 μm, and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 μm.

Claims (33)

1. A system for being mounted on a vehicle, having an image projection system for projecting an image on a road surface, comprising:

an image projection system comprises a plurality of projectors including an information image projector and a sensing light projector;

a camera configured to image an outside of the vehicle, and

a controller configured to control the image projection system and the camera,

wherein the information image projector is configured to comprise:

a light source configured to irradiate light;

a light modulator configured to modulate the light from the light source based on the information related to a vehicle input by the controller and generate an information image; and

a projection optical system configured to project the information image generated by the light modulator on a road surface;

wherein the sensing light projector is configured to project a predetermined wavelength light for sensing on the road surface,

wherein the camera is further configured to image the road surface by using the predetermined wavelength light projected on the road surface, and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

calculate or detect a road surface condition or a presence of another vehicle based on the image imaged by the camera; and

control the information image projector to change the information image based on the detected road surface condition or the presence of another vehicle.

2. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the predetermined wavelength light for sensing is light of a wavelength of 1.4 μm.

3. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light modulator is a transmissive liquid crystal panel, reflective liquid crystal panel, or a digital micromirror device.

4. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the light source is a high pressure mercury lamp, a xenon lamp, a LED light source, or a laser light source.

5. The system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the information image to compensate for the road surface condition.

6. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to input a signal including information related to steering wheel angle of the vehicle and to control the information image projector to change the information image based on the information related to the steering wheel angle of the vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein,

the plurality of projectors are configured to comprise:

a first projector mounted on a front right side of the vehicle; and

a second projector mounted on a front left side of the vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein,

the first projector is arranged near a right side headlight of the vehicle; and

the second projector is arranged near a left side headlight of the vehicle.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein,

the plurality of projectors is configured to comprises a projector configured to project an information image backward from the vehicle.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein,

the information image projector is further configured to project the information image forward from the vehicle.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 3, 2021
From: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058666/0407 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: MAXELL, LTD.
To: MAXELL HOLDINGS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058255/0579 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICANT NAME CURRENTLY READS MAXELL, LETD, AND SHOULD READ MAXELL, LTD.. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 050011 FRAME: 0497. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 12, 2019
From: KUNII, YASUHIKO; SUGIYAMA, TOSHINORI; SHIMIZU, TAKUYA
To: MAXELL, LTD.
Reel/Frame 051260/0434 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2019
From: KUNII, YASUHIKO; SUGIYAMA, TOSHINORI; SHIMIZU, TAKUYA
To: MAXELL, LETD.
Reel/Frame 050011/0497 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-080720 · Apr 10, 2015 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16148824 · Oct 1, 2018
Continuation 15565231
Related Publication 20190351820A1 · Nov 21, 2019