Abstract: A head-up display system includes a laser adapted to project a holographic image, a spatial light modulator, an exit pupil replicator, a diffuser adapted to be positioned within a x-y plane at a center point of a vehicle eyellipse, the hologram projector adapted to project a dot pattern onto the diffuser, and a controller adapted to characterize an intensity distribution of the dot pattern, store the intensity distribution therein, acquire a location of a driver's eyes, map the location of the driver's eyes to the intensity distribution of the dot pattern, and implement corrective action based on the intensity distribution at the location of the driver's eyes.

Abstract: A method for displaying infrastructure information on a multi-focal plane augmented reality display of a vehicle includes receiving infrastructure data. The infrastructure data includes information about a location of at least one infrastructure along a route of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving vehicle-location data. The vehicle-location data includes information about a location of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a position of the vehicle relative to the location of the least one infrastructure using the infrastructure data and the vehicle-location data. The method further includes transmitting a command signal to the multi-focal plane augmented reality display to display a virtual image showing the infrastructure information of the infrastructure on the multi-focal plane augmented reality display.

Abstract: A method for displaying lane information on an augmented reality display includes receiving roadway data. The roadway data includes information about a roadway along a route of a vehicle. The roadway includes a plurality of lanes. The roadway data includes lane information about at least one of the plurality of lanes along the route of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving vehicle-location data. The vehicle-location data indicates a location of the vehicle. The method further includes determining that that the vehicle is approaching a road junction using the vehicle-location data and the roadway data. The method further includes, in response to determining that the vehicle is approaching the road junction, transmitting a command signal to a dual-focal plane augmented reality display to display at least one virtual image that is indicative of the lane information.

Abstract: A head-up display system includes a hologram projector adapted to project a holographic image, a spatial light modulator, an exit pupil replicator, a diffuser adapted to be positioned within a x-y plane at a center point of a vehicle eyellipse, the hologram projector adapted to project a dot pattern onto the diffuser, and a controller adapted to compare the location of the projected dot pattern to the center point of the vehicle eyellipse to identify misalignment of the projected dot pattern relative to the center point of the vehicle eyellipse.

Abstract: A method for low visibility driving includes receiving image data from a visible-light camera. The image data includes an image of an area in front of a vehicle. The method includes receiving sensor data from an object-detecting sensor. The object-detecting sensor is configured to detect an object in front of the vehicle. The sensor data includes information about the object in front of the vehicle. The method further includes detecting the object in front of the vehicle using the sensor data received from the object-detecting sensor and determining whether the visible-light camera is unable to detect the object in front of the vehicle that was detected by the object-detecting sensor. The method further includes commanding a display to generate a virtual image using the sensor data to identify the object in front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A head-up display system for a vehicle includes at least one light source adapted to project an image upon an inner surface of a windshield of the vehicle, a driver monitoring system adapted to track a position of a driver's eyes, at least one non-visual sensor adapted to detect objects within an environment surrounding the vehicle, at least one image capturing device adapted to capture images of the environment surrounding the vehicle, and, a controller in communication with the at least one laser, the at least one non-visual sensor and the at least one image capturing device, the controller adapted to identify lane markers and objects within the environment surrounding the vehicle, determine the position of the vehicle within a lane of a roadway the vehicle is traveling upon, and, display, with the at least one light source, a lane position alert.

Abstract: An augmented reality head-up display system for displaying graphics upon a windscreen of a vehicle includes one or more image-capturing devices that capture image data of an environment surrounding the vehicle, a graphic projection device for generating images upon the windscreen of the vehicle, and a controller in electronic communication with the one or more image-capturing devices and the graphic projection device. The controller executes instructions to receive object detection data indicating a current position of objects located within the environment surrounding the vehicle. The controller executes instructions to compare the current position of the objects within the environment with a visual location of the objects within the environment determined based on the image data to identify a visually occluded object located within the environment. In response to identifying the visually occluded object, the controller determines a contextual graphic that signifies the visually occluded object.

Abstract: A multi-view display device is provided for a collaborative co-pilot system (system) of a vehicle having a windshield. The system includes one or more input devices for generating an input signal associated with a road condition. The multi-view display device includes one or more single-user viewing devices, with each single-user viewing device including an Augmented Reality Head Up Display module (ARHUD) for generating a dedicated display associated with the road condition. The ARHUD projects the dedicated display onto an associated portion of the windshield that is visible to a corresponding single user and overlaying a road geometry associated with the road condition. The multi-view display device further includes an Extended View Display module (EV display module) for generating a common display that is visible to a plurality of users including each one of the single users.

Abstract: A driving guidance system is provided for a motor vehicle having a windshield. The system includes an input device for generating an input signal associated with the movement of the motor vehicle, a road detection module for generating a road signal associated with a road geometry, and an ARHUD for generating a plurality of images upon the windshield. The system further includes a computer having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, such that the processor is programmed to receive the input signal and the road signal. The processor is further programmed to determine a predicted trajectory and a recommended trajectory of the motor vehicle along the road geometry based on the input signal and the road signal. The ARHUD is configured to generate the images upon the windshield and overlaid onto the road geometry to notify the driver of the predicted trajectory and the recommended trajectory.

Abstract: A head up display system of a vehicle includes: a communication module configured to receive a period until a traffic signal of an intersection of roads will change from a first state to a second state; a distance module configured to, based on the period and a present speed of the vehicle, determine a distance in front of the vehicle where the vehicle will be when the traffic signal transitions from the first state to the second state; a light source configured to, via a windshield of the vehicle, generate a virtual display that is visible within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a display control module configured to, based on the distance, control the light source to include, in the virtual display, a visual indicator of a location in a path of the vehicle where the traffic signal will transition from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: A method includes detecting at least one remote vehicle that is within a predetermined distance from the host vehicle, detecting that the light of the remote vehicle that is on, determining a luminous intensity of a light beam emitted by the light of at least one remote vehicle that is within the predetermined distance from the host vehicle, comparing the luminous intensity of the light beam emitted by the light of at least one remote vehicle to a predetermined threshold to determine whether the luminous intensity of the light beam emitted by the light is greater than the predetermined threshold in response to determining the luminous intensity of the light of at least one remote vehicle that is within the predetermined distance from the host vehicle, and dimming at least a portion of the windshield of the host vehicle.

Abstract: A head up display (HUD) system includes: a difference module configured to determine a speed difference based on a difference between (a) a present speed of a vehicle and (b) a target speed of the vehicle; a light source configured to, via a windshield of the vehicle, generate a virtual display that is visible within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a display control module configured to control the light source to include a visual indicator of the speed difference in the virtual display.

Abstract: A head up display (HUD) system includes: a difference module configured to determine a speed difference based on a difference between (a) a present speed of a vehicle and (b) a target speed of the vehicle; a light source configured to, via a windshield of the vehicle, generate a virtual display that is visible within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a display control module configured to control the light source to include a visual indicator of the speed difference in the virtual display.

Abstract: A head up display system of a vehicle includes: a communication module configured to receive a period until a traffic signal of an intersection of roads will change from a first state to a second state; a distance module configured to, based on the period and a present speed of the vehicle, determine a distance in front of the vehicle where the vehicle will be when the traffic signal transitions from the first state to the second state; a light source configured to, via a windshield of the vehicle, generate a virtual display that is visible within a passenger cabin of the vehicle; and a display control module configured to, based on the distance, control the light source to include, in the virtual display, a visual indicator of a location in a path of the vehicle where the traffic signal will transition from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: An embodiment an infotainment system for an automobile includes a navigation system, an entertainment system, an audio output device and a control system coupled to the navigation system, the entertainment system and the audio output device. The control system controls access by the navigation system and the entertainment system to the audio output device and includes a conversation recognizer that determines if a conversation is being conducted. The control system of this embodiment varies operation of the audio output device in the event a conversation is being conducted.

Abstract: A method for displaying content items of a navigation system for a vehicle includes the steps of obtaining a scrolling input from a user, determining a value pertaining to the input, and displaying the content items at a first scrolling rate if the value is greater than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A navigation system and related operating methods are provided for instructing an operator of a vehicle. The navigation system obtains a destination location and generates a proposed route to the destination location. The proposed route is defined by one or more driver decision points and associated driving maneuvers. Before the vehicle reaches an approaching driver decision point, the navigation system pre-calculates alternate routes between the approaching driver decision point and the destination location, and saves the alternate routes for subsequent activation. Pre-calculated alternate routes can also be used to determine and indicate the relative importance of an approaching driving maneuver. The driver can consider the importance of driving maneuvers when deciding whether or not to follow the recommended route.

Abstract: A speech recognition method includes receiving input speech from a user, processing the input speech to obtain at least one parameter value, and determining an experience level of the user using the parameter value(s). The method can also include prompting the user based upon the determined experience level of the user to assist the user in delivering speech commands.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium for generating and presenting a preview of a driving route reduces driver workload. In an example, the method determines that the driving route comprises more than the predetermined number of driving instructions and creates a route preview wherein the number of instructions does not exceed the predetermined number of driving instructions. In a further example, the route preview is created by eliminating certain instructions from the route. A predetermined number of instructions at the beginning of the route may be exempted from possible elimination. In a further example, the elimination of instructions is implemented by sequentially eliminating classes of instructions until the remaining number of instructions in the route is less than or equal to the predetermined maximum acceptable number.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a telematics enabled mobile vehicle communication system. The method includes receiving a navigation request from a user interface to a telematics unit, receiving a location signal defining an approximate geographic location of the telematics unit to the telematics unit, analyzing the navigation request and the location signal to produce a navigation route defined by a plurality of navigation points including an initial navigation point and one or more additional navigation points, producing a local navigation zone and a global navigation zone based on the analyzed location signal wherein each navigation zone defines a geographic area concentrically radiating from a known geographic location, determining which navigation zone the initial navigation point is within, and producing navigation instructions that provide direction to navigation points along the navigation route and are based on the determined navigation zone and the navigation route.