Combiner head up display with separate infrared function
A head up display arrangement is for a motor vehicle having a human occupant. A light source emits a light field. An infrared camera detects infrared energy. A combiner is positioned and configured to reflect the light field such that the light field can be viewed by the human occupant as a virtual image. The combiner has a region configured to reflect infra-red energy emitted by a face of the occupant such that the infrared energy is received by the infrared camera.
1. A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle having a human occupant, comprising:
a light source configured to emit a light field;
an infrared camera configured to detect infrared energy; and
a combiner positioned and configured to reflect the light field such that the light field can be viewed by the human occupant as a virtual image, the combiner having a region configured to reflect infrared energy emitted by a face of the occupant such that the infrared energy reflected by the combiner is received by the infrared camera.
2. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 wherein the combiner includes a first part and a second part, at least one infrared-reflecting element being disposed between the first part and the second part.
3. The head up display arrangement of claim 2 wherein the infrared-reflecting element has a convex infrared-reflecting surface.
4. The head up display arrangement of claim 2 wherein the infrared-reflecting element has a non-circular shape.
5. The head up display arrangement of claim 2 wherein the infrared-reflecting element comprises a plastic film or a coating, the infrared-reflecting element being reflective to infrared light, and substantially non-reflective to visible light.
6. The head up display arrangement of claim 2 wherein the at least one infrared-reflecting element comprises a plurality of infrared-reflecting elements.
7. The head up display arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a mirror positioned and configured to reflect the light field from the light source to the combiner, and to pass the infrared energy from the combiner to the infrared camera.
8. A head up display method for a motor vehicle having a human occupant, said method comprising:
emitting a light field;
providing an infrared camera to detect infrared energy;
positioning a combiner to reflect the light field such that the light field can be viewed by the human occupant as a virtual image; and
using a region of the combiner to reflect infrared energy emitted by a face of the occupant such that the infrared energy reflected by the combiner is received by the infrared camera.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the combiner includes a first part and a second part, at least one infrared-reflecting element being disposed between the first part and the second part.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the infrared-reflecting element has a convex infrared-reflecting surface.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the infrared-reflecting element has a non-circular shape.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the infrared-reflecting element comprises a plastic film or a coating, the infrared-reflecting element being reflective to infrared light, and substantially non-reflective to visible light.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one infrared-reflecting element comprises a plurality of infrared-reflecting elements.
14. The method of claim 8 further comprising using a mirror to reflect the light field to the combiner, and to pass the infrared energy from the combiner to the infrared camera.
15. A head up display arrangement for a motor vehicle having a human occupant, comprising:
a light source configured to emit a light field;
an infrared camera configured to detect infrared energy; and
a combiner positioned and configured to reflect the light field such that the light field can be viewed by the human occupant as a virtual image, the combiner having at least one infrared-reflecting element disposed therein, the infrared-reflecting element being covered by transparent material, the infrared-reflecting element being configured to reflect infrared energy emitted by a face of the occupant such that the infrared energy reflected by the infrared-reflecting element is received by the infrared camera.
16. The head up display arrangement of claim 15 wherein the combiner includes a first part and a second part, the at least one infrared-reflecting element being disposed between the first part and the second part.
17. The head up display arrangement of claim 15 wherein the infrared-reflecting element has a convex infrared-reflecting surface.
18. The head up display arrangement of claim 15 wherein the infrared-reflecting element has a non-circular shape.
19. The head up display arrangement of claim 15 wherein the infrared-reflecting element comprises a plastic film or a coating, the infrared-reflecting element being reflective to infrared light, and substantially non-reflective to visible light.
20. The head up display arrangement of claim 15 wherein the at least one infrared-reflecting element comprises a plurality of infrared-reflecting elements.