# US 12,179,591 B2 · Method for depicting a virtual element

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- Number: US 12,179,591 B2
- Document ID: US12179591B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/469,177
- Filed: 2021-09-08
- Published: 2022-03-10
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-09
- Assignees: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
- Applicants: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
- Inventors: Alexander Kunze; Johanna Sandbrink; Vitalij Sadovitch; Michael Wittkämper
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179591B2

## CPC

- G02B 27/0101: {characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence)}
- B60K 35/213: {Virtual instruments}
- 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 35/65: Instruments specially adapted for specific vehicle types or users, e.g. for left- or right-hand drive
- B60K 35/81: for controlling displays
- G01C 21/365: {Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself}
- G06T 15/20: Perspective computation
- B60K 2360/166: Navigation
- B60K 2360/177: Augmented reality
- B60K 2360/31: Virtual images
- B60K 2360/741: Instruments adapted for user detection
- G02B 30/50: the image being built up from image elements distributed over a three-dimensional [3D] volume, e.g. voxels
- G02B 2027/0127: {comprising devices increasing the depth of field}
- G02B 2027/0185: {Displaying image at variable distance}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- 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
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method for depicting at least one virtual element in a display area of at least one display element of a vehicle. The method for depicting a virtual element allows the depth perception of virtual elements in the display area of a display apparatus to be improved. The method may be realized in that the virtual element is constructed of at least one first virtual subelement and one second virtual subelement, wherein the first virtual subelement is arranged in perspective in the display area in front of the second subelement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for depicting at least one virtual element in a display area of at least one display apparatus of a vehicle, wherein a three-dimensional space is depicted in the display area of the display apparatus, comprising:
determining, based on at least one data source, three-dimensional coordinates in the depicted three-dimensional space for locating at least one virtual element;
transforming the at least one virtual element as a two-dimensional depiction into the three-dimensional space that is depicted in the display area of the display apparatus in the form of a border of a lane; and
depicting the at least one virtual element in the display area of the display apparatus in perspective in the field of vision of the driver with respect to the three-dimensional space; wherein
the virtual element is constructed of at least one first virtual subelement, one second virtual subelement, and at least one third virtual subelement; wherein
the first virtual subelement is arranged in perspective in the display area in front of the second subelement;
the third virtual subelement is arranged in perspective in the display area behind the second virtual subelement;
the first virtual subelement has a first distance to the second virtual subelement; the second virtual subelement has a second distance to the third virtual subelement;
the first distance is greater than the second distance;
the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a first sharpness gradient such that the first virtual subelement is less sharp than the second virtual subelement; and wherein
the third virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a second sharpness gradient such that the third virtual subelement is less sharp than the second virtual subelement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement are depicted with an extension of depth so that the virtual element is depicted smaller and higher in the display area of the display apparatus with increasing distance.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a texture gradient.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a brightness gradient.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, comprising: checking a quality of a geometrically correct depiction of the virtual element depending on a visual quality of the virtual element for a driver of the vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the quality of the geometrically correct depiction of the virtual element is reduced when the visual quality of the virtual element achieves a previously determined threshold.

### Claim 7

A device for depicting at least one virtual element with at least one display apparatus with at least one display area, wherein the display apparatus is configured to:
determine, based on at least one data source, three-dimensional coordinates in the depicted three-dimensional space for locating at least one virtual element;
transform the at least one virtual element as a two-dimensional depiction into the three-dimensional space that is depicted in the display area of the display apparatus in the form of a border of a lane; and
depict the at least one virtual element in the display area of the display apparatus in perspective in the field of vision of the driver with respect to the three-dimensional space; wherein
the virtual element is constructed of at least one first virtual subelement, one second virtual subelement, and at least one third virtual subelement; wherein the first virtual subelement is arranged in perspective in the display area in front of the second subelement;
the third virtual subelement is arranged in perspective in the display area behind the second virtual subelement;
the first virtual subelement has a first distance to the second virtual subelement;
the second virtual subelement has a second distance to the third virtual subelement;
the first distance is greater than the second distance;
the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a first sharpness gradient such that the first virtual subelement is less sharp than the second virtual subelement;
and wherein the third virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a second sharpness gradient such that the third virtual subelement is less sharp than the second virtual subelement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A vehicle with a device for depicting at least one virtual element, wherein the device is configured according to claim 7.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a texture gradient.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a brightness gradient.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the first virtual subelement and the second virtual subelement have a brightness gradient.