IP Library Granted Patent US 10,796,580
Granted Patent B2
US 10,796,580 · App. 15/683,017 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

Vehicular image projection

Inventors: Paul Kenneth Dellock (Northville, MI); Stuart C. Salter (White Lake, MI); Venkatesh Krishnan (Canton, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
G08G1/166B60Q1/00G01S17/931G05D1/0214G05D1/0251G08G1/163G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,796,580
App. No.
15/683,017
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer programmed to actuate a light source to project a symbol outwardly from a vehicle. The computer is further programmed to actuate the light source to modify the projection based on a determination that a trajectory of the vehicle is changing.

Claims (30)

1. A computer including a processor and a non-transitory memory, the memory including instructions such that the processor is programmed to:

while within a predetermined range of a stop sign or traffic signal, and prior to or while stopped at the stop sign or the traffic signal, actuate a light source to project a symbol outwardly from a vehicle based on a planned travel path, wherein the symbol indicates a next portion of the planned travel path;

continue to project the symbol indicating the next portion of the planned travel path while stopped at the stop sign or traffic signal;

predict a first time at which the vehicle will begin to move along the planned travel path based on the planned travel path; and

further actuate the light source to modify the symbol at a second time, wherein the second time is a predetermined period of time prior to the first time, based on predicting the vehicle will begin to move at the first time,

wherein the modified symbol continues to indicate the next portion of the planned travel path.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

actuate the light source to project the symbol based on a determination that a target object is within a maximum distance of the planned travel path.

3. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to modify the symbol by instructing the light source to perform at least one of changing the symbol from a first color to a second color and causing the symbol to blink.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

actuate the light source to project the symbol further based on a determination of a weather condition.

5. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

actuate the light source to project the symbol further based on a determination that the vehicle is within a maximum distance of a target object.

6. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:

actuate the light source to project the symbol further based on a determination that a target object is within a maximum distance of the stop sign or the traffic signal.

7. A method comprising:

while within a predetermined range of a stop sign or traffic signal, and prior to or while stopped at the stop sign or the traffic signal, actuating a light source to project a projection of a symbol outwardly from a vehicle based on a planned travel path, wherein the symbol indicates a next portion of the planned travel path;

continuing to project the symbol indicating the next portion of the planned travel path while stopped at the stop sign or the traffic signal;

predicting a first time at which the vehicle will begin to move along the planned travel path based on the planned travel path; and

further actuating the light source to modify the symbol at a second time, wherein the second time is a predetermined period of time prior to the first time, based on predicting the vehicle will move at the first time,

wherein the modified symbol continues to indicate the next portion of the planned travel path.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

actuating the light source to project the symbol based on a determination that a target object is within a maximum distance of the planned travel path.

9. The method of claim 7 , further comprising modifying the symbol by instructing the light source to perform at least one of changing the symbol from a first color to a second color and causing the symbol to blink.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

projecting the symbol further based on a determination of a weather condition.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

projecting the symbol further based on a determination that the vehicle is within a maximum distance of a target object.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

projecting the symbol further based on a determination that a target object is within a maximum distance of the stop sign or the traffic signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 22, 2017
From: DELLOCK, PAUL KENNETH; SALTER, STUART C.; KRISHNAN, VENKATESH
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 043356/0012 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190066509A1 · Feb 28, 2019
Cited By (3)
US 12,233,775 US 12,578,462 US 12,663,282