# US 10,482,667 B2 · Display unit and method of controlling the display unit

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- Number: US 10,482,667 B2
- Document ID: US10482667B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/593,418
- Filed: 2017-05-12
- Published: 2017-11-16
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-13
- Assignees: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
- Applicants: Alexander van Laack
- Inventors: Alexander van Laack
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482667B2

## CPC

- G06T 19/006: {Mixed reality (object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00)}
- B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
- B60K 35/211: {producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images}
- B60K 35/213: {Virtual instruments}
- B60K 35/215: characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
- B60K 35/23: Head-up displays [HUD] (optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01)
- B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
- B60K 35/81: for controlling displays
- G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)}
- G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)}
- G06F 3/04815: Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional [3D], e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
- G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
- H04N 5/44504: {Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits}
- B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10)
- B60K 2360/1438: Touch screens
- B60K 2360/146: Instrument input by gesture
- B60K 2360/334: Projection means
- G02B 2027/0118: {comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility}
- G02B 2027/014: {comprising information/image processing systems}
- G02B 2027/0185: {Displaying image at variable distance}
- G02B 2027/0194: {with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects}
- G06F 2203/04804: Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

The disclosure relates to providing of a display that can provide content through either a virtual image from a heads-up-display or a transparent display physically adhered to the back surface of the heads-up-display. The aspects disclosure herein also relate to providing a detection of an input, and in response to detection, switching the combined display from a first mode to a second mode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A display, comprising:
at least one head-up display unit, the at least one head-up display unit having an image generating unit for projecting an image;
a combiner for generating a virtual image from the image projected by the image generating unit, the combiner including a first surface facing the image generating unit and a second surface facing away from the image generating unit, the first surface providing a projection surface for displaying the virtual image;
a transparent display arranged on the second surface of the combiner, wherein the transparent display is adjustable between a first operating mode whereby the transparent display is transparent and projects the virtual image from the head-up display unit and a second operating mode whereby the transparent display selectively displays information on the transparent display;
a central control unit in communication with the head-up display unit; and
a device in communication with the central control unit for detecting at least one input, wherein the at least one input is selected from the group consisting of a gesture, an input at a predetermined distance away from a surface of the transparent display and an input at the surface of the transparent display,
wherein, in response to the device recognizing the at least one input, the central control unit adjusts one or more operations of the transparent display.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The display according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display is arranged by bonding or adhesion on the second surface of the combiner.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display is defined as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The display according to claim 3, wherein the OLED display of the transparent display generates a two-dimensional representation that can be touched by an input of a vehicle driver.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The display according to claim 1, wherein the device for detecting the at least one input may be one or more devices selected from the group consisting of a capacitively acting input device, an infrared technology input device and a photomixing detector.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The display according to claim 1, wherein a holographic, three-dimensional representation of the virtual image is changed to a two-dimensional representation when the device for detecting at least one input recognizes the at least one input.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The display according to claim 1, wherein the transparent display is adjustable between the first operating mode and the second operating mode when the device for detecting at least one input recognizes the at least one input.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The display according to claim 7, wherein an intensity of virtual image projected by the image generating unit is reduced by a predetermined non-zero amount when the device for detecting at least one input recognizes the at least one input.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The display according to claim 7, wherein the image generating unit is adjusted from an on state to an off state to terminate generation of the virtual image when the device for detecting at least one input recognizes the at least one input.

### Claim 10

A method for controlling a display, comprising:
providing a head-up display unit with a transparent display, wherein the head-up display unit and the transparent display are in an overlapping relationship;
projecting an image with the head-up display unit having an image generating unit;
generating a virtual image from the image projected by the image generating unit with a combiner, wherein the combiner includes a first surface facing the image generating unit providing a projection surface for displaying the virtual image and a second surface facing away from the image generating unit;
providing the transparent display arranged on the second surface of the combiner;
detecting at least one input with a device in communication with one or more of the head-up display unit and the transparent display, wherein the device detects the at least one input selected from the group consisting of a gesture, an input at a predetermined distance away from a surface of the display and an input at the surface of the display;
adjusting one or more of the head-up display unit and the transparent display between a first operating mode and a second operating mode;
controlling, in the first operating mode, the transparent display to project a virtual image from the head-up display unit; and
controlling, in the second operating mode, the transparent display to selectively display, two-dimensional content, wherein the two-dimensional content provides a same information as the virtual image, wherein a holographic, three-dimensional representation of the virtual image is changed to the two-dimensional content when the device for detecting the at least one input recognizes the at least one input.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
detecting the at least one input at a surface of the transparent display, or at a predetermined distance away from the surface of the transparent display, and
in response to detecting the at least one input, switching the transparent display from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the controlling of one or more of the head-up display unit and the transparent display in the second operating mode, is defined by reducing an intensity of the virtual image generated by the image generating unit of the head-up display unit by a predetermined non-zero amount.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the controlling of one or more of the head-up display unit and the transparent display in the second operating mode, is defined by turning off the virtual image generated by the image generating unit of the head-up display unit entirely.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
detecting the at least one input at the surface of the transparent display, or at a predetermined distance away from the surface of the transparent display, and
in response to detecting the at least one input, switching the display from the second operating mode to the first operating mode.

### Claim 15

A display for a vehicle, comprising:
a head-up display unit, the head-up display unit having an image generating unit for projecting an image;
a combiner for generating a virtual image from the image projected by the image generating unit, the combiner including a first surface facing the image generating unit and a second surface facing away from the image generating unit, the first surface providing a projection surface for displaying the virtual image; and
a transparent display arranged on the second surface of the combiner, wherein the transparent display is adjustable between a first operating mode whereby the transparent display is transparent and projects the virtual image from the head-up display unit and a second operating mode whereby the transparent display selectively displays information on the transparent display; and
a device for detecting at least one input in communication with one or more of the head-up display unit and the transparent display, wherein the device detects at least one input selected from the group consisting of a gesture, an input at a predetermined distance away from a surface of the transparent display and an input at the surface of the transparent display.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The display for the vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising a central control unit in communication with the head-up display unit and the device for detecting at least one input, wherein, in response to the device recognizing the at least one input, the central control unit adjusts one or more operations of the transparent display.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The display for the vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the device for detecting the at least one input may be one or more devices selected from the group consisting of a capacitively acting input device, an infrared technology input device and a photomixing detector.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The display for the vehicle according to claim 15, wherein a holographic, three-dimensional representation of the virtual image is changed to a two-dimensional representation when the device for detecting at least one input recognizes the at least one input.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The display for the vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the transparent display is adjustable between the first operating mode and the second operating mode when the device for detecting at least one input recognizes the at least one input.