Head-up display system and method for carrying out the location-correct display of an object situated outside a vehicle with regard to the position of the driver

A navigation system comprising:

• a head-up display system for representing an object in a space external to the vehicle, the head-up system including:
• a position system for determining a vehicle position, and for recording a position of at least one of the passengers of the vehicle;
• a projection unit for projecting a correct-location representation of the object, the correct-location representation including a marking configured to surround and be spaced apart from the actual object as seen by the at least one of the passengers of the vehicle, and for fading in a symbol into a direct viewing range of a driver of the vehicle in a location different than that of the projection of the correct-location representation, the symbol representing the object;
• a sensing arrangement to sense the object in the space external to the vehicle;
• and
• a computing unit for receiving sensed object data from the sensing arrangement and recognizing a pattern in the sensed object data to generate the symbol representing the object as a function of the sensed object data and symbol data stored in a databank,
• wherein the computing unit can recognize patterns associated with traffic signs, pedestrians and vehicles to generate corresponding symbols.

An automatic cruise control system, comprising:

• a distance recorder for recording a distance from an object traveling ahead;
• a head-up display system for representing an object in a space external to the vehicle, wherein the object traveling ahead is used as reference point for use in automatic cruise control, and the object traveling ahead is represented in a correct-location manner by the head-up display system, the head-up display system including:
• a position system for recording a position of at least one of the passengers of the vehicle;
• a projection unit for projecting a correct-location representation of the object, the correct-location representation including a marking configured to surround and be spaced apart from the actual object as seen by the at least one of the passengers of the vehicle, and for fading in a symbol into a direct viewing range of a driver of the vehicle in a location different than that of the projection of the correct-location representation, the symbol representing the object;
• a sensing arrangement to sense the object in the space external to the vehicle;
• and
• a computing unit for receiving sensed object data from the sensing arrangement and recognizing a pattern in the sensed object data to generate the symbol representing the object as a function of the recorded object data and symbol data stored in a databank,
• wherein the computing unit can recognize patterns associated with traffic signs, pedestrians and vehicles to generate corresponding symbols.

A method for providing a correct-location head-up representation of an object in a space external to a vehicle on a windshield, the method comprising:

• recording a position of at least one of a driver and a front-seat passenger;
• determining image data for the correct-location representation of the object with respect to the position;
• and
• providing as a head-up projection the correct-location representation of the image data, the correct-location representation including a marking configured to surround and be spaced apart from the actual object as seen by the at least one of the driver and the front-seat passenger, and fading in a symbol into a direct viewing range of the driver of the vehicle in a location different than that of the projection of the correct-location representation, the symbol representing the object;
• sensing the object in the space external to the vehicle;
• and
• recognizing a pattern in sensed object data to generate the symbol representing the object as a function of the sensed object data and symbol data stored in a databank,
• wherein the recognizing includes recognizing patterns associated with traffic signs, pedestrians and vehicles to generate corresponding symbols.

A computer program product on one of a computer-readable medium and a data file transmittable via a computer network, the computer program product being executable on an electronic system, comprising:

• programming arrangement for performing a process for providing a correct-location head-up representation of an object in a space external to a vehicle on a windshield, the process including:
• recording a position of at least one of a driver and a front-seat passenger;
• determining image data for the correct-location representation of the object with respect to the position;
• and
• providing as a head-up projection the correct-location representation of the image data, the correct-location representation including a marking configured to surround and be spaced apart from the actual object as seen by the at least one of the driver and the front-seat passenger, and fading in a symbol into a direct viewing range of the driver of the vehicle in a location different than that of the projection of the correct-location representation, the symbol representing the object;
• sensing the object in the space external to the vehicle using a sensing arrangement of the vehicle, wherein the sensing arrangement includes at least one of:
• a video camera, a radar sensor, a lidar sensor, a range imager, a time-off flight sensor, a night vision sensor, or an infrared sensor;
• and
• recognizing a pattern in sensed object data to generate the symbol representing the object as a function of the sensed object data and symbol data stored in a databank,
• wherein the recognizing includes recognizing patterns associated with traffic signs, pedestrians and vehicles to generate corresponding symbols.