Hybrid projector system with self test

A method of displaying graphics with a projector system for a head up display within a vehicle, comprising:

• projecting, with a vehicle vector graphics projector, a second graphical image onto an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, the second graphical image having a greater brightness than a first graphical image and including at least one vehicle tell-tale;
• and
• testing and calibrating, with a calibration system, a displayed vehicle tell-tale within the second graphical image;
• the calibration system including a reference calibration system having a reference windshield, a reference vector graphics projector, wherein the reference vector graphics projector includes a reference vector graphics projector camera, a reference camera, and a reference controller in electrical communication with the reference vector graphics projector and the reference camera, the method further including, with the reference controller:
• projecting a reference graphic on the reference windshield using the reference vector graphics projector, wherein the reference graphic is a vehicle tell-tale and includes a plurality of projected dots arranged in a two-dimensional array, and wherein an intended x-coordinate and an intended y-coordinate of each of the plurality of projected dots is defined by an intended reference graphic matrix;
• capturing a first reference image of the reference graphic using the reference camera;
• calculating at least one reference calibration matrix based at least in part on the first reference image of the reference graphic;
• identifying a plurality of perceived dots of the reference graphic in the first reference image:
• determining an actual x-coordinate and an actual y-coordinate of each of the plurality of perceived dots of the reference graphic in the first reference image;
• generating an actual reference graphic matrix, wherein each element of the actual reference graphic matrix contains the actual x-coordinate and the actual y-coordinate of one of the plurality of perceived dots of the reference graphic in the first reference image;
• calculating a reference camera deviation matrix by subtracting the actual reference graphic matrix from the intended reference graphic matrix, wherein the reference camera deviation matrix encodes deviations in the reference graphic due to characteristics of the reference windshield;
• and
• determining a reference vector graphics projector camera transformation matrix based at least in part on the reference camera deviation matrix.

A vehicle having a projector system for a head up display within the vehicle, the projector system comprising:

• a vehicle vector graphics projector adapted to project a second graphical image onto an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, the second graphical image having a greater brightness than a first graphical image and including at least one vehicle tell-tale;
• and
• a calibration system adapted to test and calibrate a displayed tell-tale within the second graphical image and including:
• a reference windshield;
• a reference vector graphics projector, wherein the reference vector graphics projector includes a reference vector graphics projector camera;
• a reference camera;
• and
• a reference controller in electrical communication with the reference vector graphics projector and the reference camera, wherein the reference controller is programmed to:
• project a reference graphic on the reference windshield using the reference vector graphics projector, wherein the reference graphic is a vehicle tell-tale and includes a plurality of projected dots arranged in a two-dimensional array, and wherein an intended x-coordinate and an intended y-coordinate of each of the plurality of projected dots is defined by an intended reference graphic matrix;
• capture a first reference image of the reference graphic using the reference camera;
• and
• calculate at least one reference calibration matrix based at least in part on the first reference image of the reference graphic;
• identify a plurality of perceived dots of the reference graphic in the first reference image;
• determine an actual x-coordinate and an actual y-coordinate of each of the plurality of perceived dots of the reference graphic in the first reference image;
• generate an actual reference graphic matrix, wherein each element of the actual reference graphic matrix contains the actual x-coordinate and the actual y-coordinate of one of the plurality of perceived dots of the reference graphic in the first reference image;
• calculate a reference camera deviation matrix by subtracting the actual reference graphic matrix from the intended reference graphic matrix, wherein the reference camera deviation matrix encodes deviations in the reference graphic due to characteristics of the reference windshield;
• and
• determine a reference vector graphics projector camera transformation matrix based at least in part on the reference camera deviation matrix.