IP Library Granted Patent US 11,642,961
Granted Patent B2
US 11,642,961 · App. 16/585,428 · Granted May 9, 2023

Combined head up display (HUD) and camera system

Inventor: John Avery (Newnan, GA)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
B60K35/00H04N7/183B60K2370/149B60K2370/1529B60K2370/21B60K2370/334B60K2370/52
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,642,961
App. No.
16/585,428
Granted
May 9, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a head up display light field emitter that emits a light field. At least one mirror is positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image. The at least one mirror has a transparent section. A driver monitoring camera is positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver through the transparent section of the at least one mirror.

Claims (19)

1. An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising: a head up display light field emitter configured to emit a light field; at least one mirror positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image, the at least one mirror having a transparent section; and a driver monitoring camera positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver through the transparent section of the at least one mirror, wherein the transparent section of the at least one mirror comprises a throughhole.

2. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein the transparent section of the at least one mirror is formed of a transparent material.

3. The optical arrangement of claim 1 further comprising an electronic processor configured to:

receive image data from the camera; and

cause a stimulus to be presented to the driver dependent upon the image data.

4. The optical arrangement of claim 3 wherein the stimulus is presented to the driver within the virtual image produced by the head up display light field emitter.

5. The optical arrangement of claim 1 further comprising an electronic processor configured to:

receive image data from the camera; and

change an operational parameter of the vehicle dependent upon the image data.

6. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are disposed within a common housing.

7. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are adjacent to each other.

8. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one mirror comprises a fold mirror and an aspheric mirror.

9. The optical arrangement of claim 8 wherein the transparent section is in the fold mirror.

10. An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising: a head up display light field emitter configured to emit a light field; at least one mirror positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image, the at least one mirror including a fold mirror having a transparent section; and a driver monitoring camera positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver through the transparent section of the fold mirror, wherein the transparent section of the fold minor comprises a throughhole.

11. The optical arrangement of claim 10 wherein the transparent section of the fold mirror is formed of a transparent material.

12. The optical arrangement of claim 10 further comprising an electronic processor configured to:

receive image data from the camera; and

cause a stimulus to be presented to the driver dependent upon the image data, wherein the stimulus is presented to the driver within the virtual image produced by the head up display light field emitter.

13. The optical arrangement of claim 10 , further comprising a steering wheel having an air gap, the driver monitoring camera being positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver through the air gap.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 72222 FRAME 267. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC.
Reel/Frame 072930/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 072222/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2019
From: AVERY, JOHN
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF AMERICA, DIVISION OF PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
Reel/Frame 050514/0829 →
Continuity (3)
Division 15668903 · Aug 4, 2017
Provisional Application 62370991 · Aug 4, 2016
Related Publication 20200023739A1 · Jan 23, 2020