Head-up Display Patents (Class 348/115)
  • Patent number: 8305296
    Abstract: A hexahedron prism in which a first optical surface and a second optical surface opposed to each other are approximately parallel, the inner angles ? between the first optical surface and each of a third optical surface and a fourth optical surface opposed to each other are equal, a fifth optical surface and a sixth optical surface opposed to each other are configured inclining toward each other and the distance therebetween becomes narrow from the third optical surface to the fourth optical surface, and further, a light beam from a image display element enters through a first partial optical surface into the hexahedron prism, reflects inside the prism and is emitted through a second partial optical surface to an eye pupil of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Iba, Ryohei Sugihara, Seiji Tatsuta
  • Patent number: 8300315
    Abstract: A head-mounted display includes: a double-sided display device displayed a image on a first side and a second side opposed the first side; a first optical system that forms the image displayed on the first side of the double-sided display device on one eye of a wearer; and a second optical system that forms the image displayed on the second side of the double-sided display device on the other eye of the wearer. The first optical system and the second optical system have switching mechanisms which make at least a part of view being different from the image displayed on the double-sided display devise visible in eyes of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8274562
    Abstract: A camera for identifying soiling on a protective screen, such as a vehicle windscreen, is focused on a scene through the protective screen and can be used to identify soiling and for other applications, e.g. to identify driving lanes and/or objects in the scene. Soiling is identified merely by evaluating successively recorded image frames, and artificial reference frames or reference objects are not required. A prerequisite is that the relative speed vrel between the camera and at least one recorded object in the scene is not equal to zero and its trajectory in the image is predicted. By comparing the relevant image frame sections, possible soiling on subregions of the protective screen is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Walter, Matthias Zobel
  • Patent number: 8264498
    Abstract: A present novel and non-trivial system, apparatus, and method for presenting a monochrome, three-dimensional image of terrain on a Head-Up Display (“HUD”) unit is disclosed. Based upon aircraft navigation and terrain data, an image data set representative of a lighted solid image of terrain comprised of a plurality of intensities of one color may be generated. The image data set may be determined as a function of terrain data and color intensity data, where the color intensity data could be comprised of one or more shading effects, one or more texturing effects, or a combination of both. Based upon the image data set, a three-dimensional perspective of a terrain scene outside the aircraft may be presented to the pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis S. VanDerKamp, Sarah Barber, Terri L. Engels, Roger L. Yum
  • Patent number: 8253796
    Abstract: A surveillance system and method for rapid set up and activating communication between at least one wireless input capture device ICD(s) and a corresponding digital input recorder (DIR) and/or another ICD, including the steps of providing base system; at least one user accessing the DIR via user interface either directly or remotely; the DIR and/or ICD searching for signal from the ICD(s) and establishing communication with them, thereby providing a secure surveillance system having wireless communication for monitoring a target environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Smartvue Corp.
    Inventor: Martin Renkis
  • Patent number: 8218002
    Abstract: A method and apparatus performing the method transmit an encoded light control signal having computer generated images over a network to a device decoding the received signal and controlling light in an image space for providing the computer generated images with a point of view presented changing in translatory position and orientation with respect to an image space frame of reference corresponding to a changing point of view of images acquired in an object space by an image acquisition device sensed changing in translatory position and orientation during navigation of the image acquisition device in the object space with respect to a frame of reference of the object space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Simulated Percepts, LLC
    Inventor: Francis J. Maguire, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8203605
    Abstract: Example methods and systems are disclosed that utilize optical-flow analysis to help recognize the performance of a predetermined user-action by a user of a wearable computer, such as a user-action for selecting an object within the user's view. An example method may involve a wearable computing device: (a) receiving a video from a video camera of a wearable computing device: (b) determining optical flow for the video; (c) determining that an optical-flow differential exists at an area within the optical flow for the video; and (d) responsive to determining that the optical-flow differential exists at the area within the optical flow: (i) identifying an object that is located at the area where the optical-flow differential exists; (ii) performing a search on the object that is located at the area where the optical-flow differential exists; and (iii) causing a graphical display to display information that corresponds to results from the search.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Thad Starner
  • Patent number: 8184070
    Abstract: Example methods and systems for selecting a user interface for a wearable computing device are disclosed. An accelerometer system may determine a user activity of a user wearing a wearable computing device. Based on the user activity determined by the accelerometer system, the wearable computing device may select a user interface for the wearable computing device such that the user interface is appropriate for the determined user activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Gabriel Taubman
  • Patent number: 8184069
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for transmitting, receiving, and displaying data. The systems and methods may be directed to providing a constant or substantially constant data transmission rate (e.g., frame rate per second) to a device and controlling bandwidth by presenting information directed to an area of interest to a user. Bandwidth can be lowered, for example by presenting high resolution data directed to the area of interest to the user (e.g., an area to which the user is looking or “gazing” using a heads-up display), and lower resolution data directed to other areas. Data can be transmitted and received at a constant frame rate or substantially constant frame rate, and gaze direction and progressive compression/decompression techniques can be used to transmit data focused on areas directed to an area of interest to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Charles C. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8184068
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments for methods and devices for displaying images. In some example embodiments, methods may include receiving data corresponding to an image with a processor. The image data may include at least one image object. In additional example embodiments, each image object may be assigned to either a foreground image set or a background image set using a processor, for example. An example embodiment may also include rendering a first display image based on at least the foreground image set. The first display image may include the objects assigned to the foreground image set. Additionally, the objects assigned to the foreground image set may be in focus in the first display image. Embodiments may also include rendering a second display image based on at least the background image set. The second display image may include the objects assigned to the background image set. Additionally, the objects assigned to the background image set may be in focus in the second display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Rhodes, Babak Amirparviz
  • Patent number: 8179423
    Abstract: An image display system, an image display method, a coding method, and a printed matter for stereoscopic viewing are disclosed. The image display system includes a real image presentation unit for showing a first view image of the stereoscopic image as a real image, and a virtual image presentation unit for showing a second view image of the stereoscopic image as a virtual image, the second view image being based on the first view image. When the first view image is viewed by one eye of a viewing person, and the second view image is viewed by the other eye of the viewing person, the first view image and second view image together form the stereoscopic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Go Maruyama, Shin Aoki
  • Patent number: 8179435
    Abstract: A system which provides a driver with an image obtained by photographing an area around a vehicle, the system comprising: a photographing unit which photographs an area around the vehicle which is out of the driver's line of sight because of a structure of the vehicle; an image processing unit which processes an image of the area around the vehicle photographed by the photographing unit; and a display unit which displays the image processed by the image processing unit, wherein the image processing unit performs coordinate transformation for the image photographed by the photographing unit based on information of a point-of-sight position of the driver and information of a setting state of the display unit to display an image the same as a view of the outside of the vehicle as is directly seen from the point-of-sight position of the driver through a setting area of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Akatsuka, Ken Oizumi
  • Patent number: 8174569
    Abstract: An image display apparatus, which is mounted on a head or face of a wearer attachably and detachably and allows the wearer to view an image and hear sound, includes a long formed temple supported by a temporal region of head or an ear when the wearer is wearing the image display apparatus; a speaker that generates sound, a sound generating face thereof being insertable into the ear at a vicinity of an opening of the ear; and a position adjusting mechanism that holds the speaker, attachably to and detachably from the temple, and movably at least substantially along a surface of the temporal region of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Tanijiri, Sei Mitsui, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8174767
    Abstract: The present invention provides a viewfinder, characterized by comprising a reflection type display device on which an object image is displayed, an eyepiece optical system having a front group and a rear group, an illumination optical system for illuminating the reflection type display device and an optical device for putting an optical path taken by the illumination optical system over an optical path from said reflection type display device to the eyepiece optical system at a position of the widest of lens-to-lens spaces in the eyepiece optical system. The eyepiece optical system is located between the reflection type display device and an eye point, and satisfies the following condition (1): 0.1<Y/Dm<1??(1) where Dm is the widest lens-to-lens space, and Y is the length of the reflection type display device from the center to one side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Ayako Asakura, Hisashi Goto
  • Publication number: 20120081236
    Abstract: A near-to-eye display allows an operator of a vehicle, such as a pilot of an aircraft, to see an obstacle on a conformal pathway, such as a runway or taxiway. The obstacle may be boundaries of the pathway or an object captured by an optional Infrared camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Carl A. Best, Frank Cupero
  • Patent number: 8135175
    Abstract: An image processing system and the like capable of accurately recognizing lane edges defined by dotted lane marks are provided. According to an image processing system (100) of the present invention, a first processing unit (110) searches a road surface image captured by a vehicle-mounted camera for a “small area,” which is composed of high- or low-luminance pixels and satisfies “eligibility conditions” on the “size,” “shape,” and “arrangement” in the road surface image. Additionally, a second processing unit (120) recognizes “lane edges” of the lane along which the vehicle travels on the basis of the “small area.” Furthermore, a third processing unit (130) sets a “search range” of the small area searched by the first processing unit (110) on the basis of a result of the foregoing recognition of the lane edges by the second processing unit (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyoshi Aoki, Sachio Kobayashi, Naoki Mori, Takuma Nakamori
  • Patent number: 8134593
    Abstract: A head band unit contains a bending sensor which detects bending of the head band unit. As shown in the figure, the bending degree of the head band unit when mounted on a user head is smaller than the bending degree of the head band unit when not mounted. Accordingly, the bending degree of the bending sensor is also smaller when mounted. Consequently, by using the output of the bending sensor, it is possible to judge whether the headphone is mounted on the user head. When the headphone is mounted on the user head, power supply to a secondary battery is stopped. Thus, it is possible to provide an output device which can safely charge the secondary battery and can continue operation by an external power source even if the electric capacity of the secondary battery has become zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Otsuki, Satoshi Ejima
  • Patent number: 8098889
    Abstract: A method for vehicle detection and tracking includes acquiring video data including a plurality of frames, comparing a first frame of the acquired video data against a set of one or more vehicle detectors to form vehicle hypotheses, pruning and verifying the vehicle hypotheses using a set of course-to-fine constraints to detect a vehicle, and tracking the detected vehicle within one or more subsequent frames of the acquired video data by fusing shape template matching with one or more vehicle detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignees: Siemens Corporation, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ying Zhu, Gregory Baratoff, Thorsten Köhler
  • Patent number: 8094189
    Abstract: The invention relates to an operating device that includes: an operating portion in which an operation switch is disposed; a display portion that allows stereoscopic vision to be viewed by naked-eye; an image pickup mechanism that takes pictures of a hand of a user operating the operating portion, from a plurality of directions; and a displayed image generation device that generates a stereoscopic image of the hand based on parallax images obtained from the image pickup device. An operation menu image that depicts a position of the operation switch in the operating portion and a function of the operation switch, and a stereoscopic image of the hand generated by the displayed image generation device, and the compounded image is displayed in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kumon
  • Patent number: 8089511
    Abstract: Provided is a universal joint capable of freely regulating a mounting angle of one member with respect to the other member, and an image display unit using the same. The image display unit (1) includes an image display unit main body (100) having a convex surface (101) forming a part of a specific spherical surface, and an intermediate member (200). The intermediate member (200) includes a guide member (220) having a concave surface (221) that is a curved surface corresponding to the convex surface (101) and is supposed to come into contact with the convex surface (101) when the image display unit main body (100) and the intermediate member (200) are fixed to each other, and a magnet (230) provided at a position substantially the center of the guide member (220) and capable of being fixed to the convex surface (101) by attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Scalar Corporation
    Inventor: Masao Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20110317002
    Abstract: A system and method for enhancing display content is provided. The system and method includes receiving a video signal made up of video frames from at least one image sensor and identifying a driving path based at least in part on steering wheel data. The system and method also includes performing a first segmentation on the at least one video frame to divide the at least one video frame into a plurality of segments containing input pixel data, altering input pixel data based on a segment associated with the input pixel data to create output pixel data and providing the at least one video frame comprising the output pixel data to a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Adrian Valentin Muresan, William Todd Watson
  • Patent number: 8081209
    Abstract: A system and method for object classification based upon the fusion of a radar system and a natural imaging device using sparse code representation. The radar system provides a means of detecting the presence of an object within a predetermined path of a vehicle. Detected objects are then fused with the image gathered by the camera and then isolated in an attention window. The attention window is then transformed into a sparse code representation of the object. The sparse code representation is then compared with known sparse code representation of various objects. Each known sparse code representation is given a predetermined variance and subsequent sparse code represented objects falling within said variance will be classified as such. The system and method also includes an associative learning algorithm wherein classified sparse code representations are stored and used to help classifying subsequent sparse code representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhengping Ji, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 8077921
    Abstract: An apparatus that determines the presence of an element such as fog interfering with the visibility of a frontal view of an driver in an vehicle in an environmental atmosphere in ahead of the vehicle equipped with the apparatus in the daytime is provided. In this apparatus, the determination of whether the presence of the element is determined based on an image that captured by a vehicle-mounted camera and in which a picture of an obstacle located on a road over which the vehicle is traveling is masked. In the determination, a reliability of determining the presence of the element is considered by measuring the effect of masking the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8059537
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the invention for controlling transfer of media content in a communication network may comprise the step of receiving an input specifying at least one media file for transfer via a communication channel in the communication network. Based on a received selection specifying various quality of service (QoS) parameters to be utilized to transfer one or more of the media files, one or more of the media files may be transferred via the communication channel utilizing at least some of the received quality of service selection. At least a portion of the specified parameters may be transferred to a first communication device such as a broadband headend or a media server that is coupled to the communication network. The second device may utilize some or all of the transferred parameters to configure at least a portion of the communication channel over which the file is transferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventors: Jeyhan Karaoguz, James Bennett
  • Patent number: 8031907
    Abstract: A device is provided for monitoring surroundings of a vehicle with at least one camera, an image processing unit, and an image display unit. The image processing unit is operatively configured for reducing noise components in the images, recorded by the camera. The reducing of the noise components is accomplished by image grading, during which an averaging of a number of images occurs. The number of images, processed for the image grading, is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hahn, Thomas Weidner
  • Patent number: 8023195
    Abstract: A laser eye protection (LEP) system for a helmet having a helmet-mounted display (HMD) system. The LEP system includes a large outer visor, which provides ballistic protection, LEP and a display surface for the HMD, and a smaller inner visor, which also provides LEP. LEP is split between the two visors, so that the outer visor can block light in a wavelength that overlaps with the peak wavelength range of the HMD without impairing the wearer's ability to view HMD imagery. The outer visor also preferably does not block near IR light, which allows image-enhancement devices to be positioned within the protective envelope of the outer visor while the smaller inner visor protects the wearer from near IR threats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Andrey Vadimovich Alekseyev-Popov, John Fernando Cueva
  • Patent number: 7982688
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for representing optical information by means of a virtual image (P), in particular in a motor vehicle. The optical information is in the form of light beams extending from an image generating device (1), over at least one optical element to a surface and the virtual image is visible in front of, behind or in said surface. The light beams produce a beam path. Said invention is characterised in that an optical element (4), which influences beams, is arranged in the beam path between the image generating device (1, 2, 3) and the surface (WS), and that the optical element (4), which influences the beams, is arranged in the position thereof such that it can be modified by means of an adjusting device (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Simens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Britta Lind, Bernd Ludewig, Ralf Mayer
  • Patent number: 7982959
    Abstract: A novel HUD (Head-UP Display) design in which the image forming source producing flight and aiming symbolic information is based unlike conventional HUDs not on projecting CRT, but on two LCD matrices to reduce its size, weight and power consumption. The images produced on matrixes are projected by optical system on transparently-diffusive or diffusively-reflective screen which is positioned in focal plane of HUD's optical collimating head. To enhance HUD brightness and resolution the image forming source is carried out in two variants: image forming source containing two matrices in which each matrix is forming half of full image which is projected on corresponding half of the screen, image forming source containing two matrices which images are projected on full screen; the matrices are shifted between each other horizontally and vertically by half of pixel pace (pace is the distance between two luminous dots).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventors: Matvey Lvovskiy, Ilya Lipkind, Ilya Lvovsky
  • Patent number: 7889152
    Abstract: A direct viewing type stereoscopic image display apparatus which can remove a moiré pattern is provided. The direct viewing type stereoscopic image display apparatus includes: a first memory which has a first field image signal divided from an image signal of one frame; a second memory which has a second field image signal divided from the image signal of one frame; a display device which forms a first field image and a second field image according to the first field image signal and the second field image signal; an image shift unit which sequentially shifts the first field image and the second field image; and a viewing zone dividing unit which divides the viewing zones of the first field image and the second field image. Thereby, the second field image is shifted from the first field image by a predetermined distance and thus a moiré pattern is removed and image quality is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-hee Kim, Kun-ho Cho, Sung-yong Jung
  • Publication number: 20100321488
    Abstract: A landing aid device for an aircraft includes: means for generating video images of a portion of the field of vision, the device comprising a sensor situated in front of the aircraft intended for picture-taking during poor visibility conditions; means for extracting contours of video images delivered by the means for generating images making it possible to delimit at least one first known shape included in each image; a first head up display, a display zone of which occupies a portion of the visor of the cockpit superimposed on the exterior landscape; and means for generating a symbology for generating information representing symbols intended to aid piloting and displayed on the display, wherein at least one first symbol comprising landing aid information is generated on the basis of the contours of the first shape and displayed on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: THALES
    Inventor: Michel Soler
  • Patent number: 7843641
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting transparent materials. An optical inspection apparatus comprises a prism, a mirror, and a light source. The prism has a first end, a first side, and a second side. The first side is opposite the second side, the first end is located between the first side and the second side, the first end has an angled surface, and the prism is capable of bending light. The first side is around parallel to the second side. The mirror is on the angled surface. The mirror is capable of redirecting light entering the prism on the first side along a directed line of sight to the second side along a line of sight to a viewer. The light source is attached to another surface on the first end. The light source is capable of transmitting light through the prism along the directed line of sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven John Miener, Kevin Lee Brown
  • Patent number: 7825996
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which projects light onto a retina of a viewer, to thereby allow the viewer to perceive a display object via a virtual image. The apparatus includes: an emitter emitting light; a modulator modulating the light; a display unit outputting the modulated light to the retina of the viewer through an exit of the display unit, to thereby display in an image display region an image representative of the display object in the form of a virtual image; and a controller controlling the emitter and the modulator so that the image is displayed in the image display region. The controller detects a relative motion of the viewer with respect to a position of the viewer, and performs at least one of control of a display/non-display status of the image, and control of a display position of the image, in accordance with the detected relative motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoji Yamada, Yasufumi Mase
  • Patent number: 7800650
    Abstract: A multi-functional portable viewfinder and digital camcorder system includes a camcorder with a transceiver electrically coupled thereto, and a headset. The headset includes a base member, and a view-finding arm pivotally mated thereto. The arm includes a lens operably mated to a distal end thereof. A headset transceiver is hard-wired to the camcorder transceiver or in wireless communication therewith. A user interface is electrically coupled to the headset transceiver, and includes control buttons disposed on an outside surface of the arm. The system includes a mechanism for automatically, selectively and manually actuating the camcorder to a recording mode. A digital imaging data interface circuit is electrically coupled to each of the recording mechanisms respectively for converting the captured image into a format understood by the digital camcorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: John Prieto
  • Publication number: 20100231705
    Abstract: Enhanced vision system for assisting aircraft piloting, the system including a line-of-sight detector for determining the line-of-sight of the pilot of the aircraft, a head mounted display (HMD) worn by the pilot, and a processor which receives the determined line-of-sight from the line-of-sight detector, receives a spatial image of the external scene to the aircraft, generates symbolic information respective of the aircraft piloting, and superimposes the symbolic information onto the spatial image to produce a combined spatial and symbolic image, the HMD displaying the combined spatial and symbolic image to the pilot in real-time, in alignment with the determined line-of-sight. The spatial image may be an image combined from a sensor image and a synthetic image. A communication interface may be coupled to the HMD allowing the pilot to receive and confirm flight instructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Dror Yahav, Yaron Kranz, Asaf Ashkenazi, Itai Orenstein, Tal Waisman, Mike Abrahami
  • Patent number: 7764430
    Abstract: A display device for a vehicle is provided, by which a driver of the vehicle is free from a trouble of adjusting a display position of the virtual image without cost-up of the device. When the support start detecting means detects a support start timing of adjusting a reflection angle, for example, a timing of an operation of an operation switch or a start of an operation, the rotation control means controls the rotating means so that the reflecting member having a reflection angle indicated by the reflection angle data stored in the reflection angle data storing means is (a) rotated within an adjustment supporting range on a condition that the reflecting member is reflecting the display light from the display source and (b) returned to a reflection angle indicated by the reflection angle data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Watanabe, Daisuke Satsukawa, Tetsuya Sugiyama, Masahiro Takamatsu, Koji Nomura, Hitoshi Kumon
  • Patent number: 7742013
    Abstract: A pair of data-specs is provided. The pair of data-specs includes a pair of spectacles adapted to be worn on the face of a person, and a projection unit coupled to the spectacles. The projection unit is adapted to display data received from a computer, or a television set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventor: Hari Hara Kumar Venkatachalam
  • Patent number: 7724278
    Abstract: A head guide with a display is attitudinally controlled for guiding the head of a passive viewer wherein the display is for viewing images that are emulative of images viewed by a cameraman with head mounted cameras whose head attitude is monitored for controlling the head guide in synchronism with the images gathered by the cameras. Additionally, the viewer's eyes may be induced to follow a sequence of visual fixations at the same time as the passive viewer's head is induced to execute attitudinal movements consistent therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Inventor: Francis J. Maguire, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7719484
    Abstract: A vehicle simulator having a projection system for projecting a generated scene and symbology onto a common viewing screen. Tracking apparatus is provided for providing position and/or angular orientation signals representative of the eye of a person viewing the projected scene and symbology. An image generation system is included for generating the scene and symbology for the projection system, such scene and symbology being generated as a function of the position and/or angular orientation signals provided by the tracking apparatus. Such symbology is representative of symbology produced by a head-up display. The image generation system generates the scene and symbology with characteristics which simulate vignetting and/or occulting effect characteristics of the head-up display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Turner, Ronald G. Hegg
  • Patent number: 7714895
    Abstract: An augmented reality system including a camera movably located at a local site captures an image. A registering unit generates graphics and registers the generated graphics to the image from the camera to provide a composite augmented reality image. A display device located at a remote site, physically separated from the local site, displays a view including the composite augmented reality image. A communication link communicates information between the local and the remote site. A specifying unit specifies a position and an orientation in the remote site. The registering unit is adapted to register the generated graphical representation to the image in dependence of the specified position and orientation. The camera is arranged such that its position and orientation is dependent on the specified position and orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: John Pretlove, Thomas Pettersen
  • Patent number: 7686250
    Abstract: The invention is a mount for an electronic display device. The mount comprises a mount member that has a top face and a bottom face. Portions of the mount member are configured to engage portions of a mounting surface within the cockpit of an airplane. The mount also comprises a containment member spaced therefrom the mount member. A joint member is disposed in frictional contact with portions of the respective mount member and containment member. A base member, which may be configured for engagement with a portion of the electronic display device, may be connected to the joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Inventors: Hugo L. Fortes, Armand Wong, Robert Alfonso, Alex Rodrigo, Raul Segredo, Stylian Cocalides
  • Patent number: 7677734
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide audio-visual distraction to a patient while the patient is undergoing a surgical or other such medical procedure. When used in the context of a surgical procedure, local anesthetics are used to eliminate the pain of the procedure, autonomic blockade (beta blockers and/or alpha-2 agonists) is used to control autonomic responses, and audio-visual distraction is provided to distract the patient. The system allows reduction in the need for pharmacologic sedation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Inventor: Arthur Wallace
  • Publication number: 20100060730
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adjustment of a harmonization compensation applied to alleviate a discrepancy of conformity between a video image transmitted by a video transducer (1) and projected by a head-up display device (5, 6), of an aircraft, and an external scene ahead of the aircraft. At least one equipment item of the aircraft—preferably the said HUD device—equipped with at least one control element accessible in the cockpit, is programmed to be able to function according to a nominal mode and according to a maintenance mode, in which at least one of its control elements, known as a redirected control element, is used to define the applied harmonization compensation. An operator activates the maintenance mode and starts an adjustment operation, in which he modifies in real time the applied harmonization compensation, by manipulating at least one redirected control element, until the video image is matched with the external scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: Airbus Operations
    Inventors: Sandra POUSSIN, David Bideau, Laurent Coloma, Stephane Gauthier
  • Publication number: 20100033564
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a vehicle includes an image capture unit, a reflective film, and a projection unit. The vehicle includes a windshield. The image capture unit is configured for acquiring visual information of the vehicle. The reflective film is formed on a predetermined area of the windshield. The projection unit is configured for projecting the images onto the predetermined area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: WEI-CHIN LEE, TA-HSAING CHAO, SHANG-YI LIN, PO-WEN CHAN
  • Patent number: 7655908
    Abstract: An enhanced vision system and method for use with vision systems with an imager sensitive to infrared radiation of less than 2-microns in wavelength, to produce a first image signal. Another imager sensitive to infrared radiation at least 3-microns in wavelength may be used to produce a second image signal. Preferably, the first image signal represents sensed electric light sources, and the second image signal represents sensed background such as terrain, runways, structures, and obstacles. A signal processor combines an image signal representing locally maximum values of the first image signal with the second image signal to create a displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jones Richard Kerr
  • Publication number: 20100020169
    Abstract: A vehicle navigation apparatus including a transceiver configured to communicate with at least one other vehicle near a vehicle including the vehicle navigation apparatus and configured to receive traveling information about the at least one other vehicle, a controller configured to calculate first movement information of the vehicle and second movement information of the at least one other vehicle based on the received traveling information, and a display unit configured to display a graphical representation of the vehicle and the at least one other vehicle based on the calculated movement information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Junyoung JANG, Sangyong Park
  • Publication number: 20100002077
    Abstract: A method and system for tracking the position of objects, such as aircraft and ground vehicles around an airport. A transmission from the object is received at a non-imaging surveillance device of known location, the transmission being used to determine the coordinate position of the object within a given time period. Image data for the object is captured by an imaging surveillance device of known location to provide an image of the object within the same given time period. The coordinate position is correlated with the image to provide composite data about the object within the same given time period. The composite data is displayed to a viewer as a visual depiction of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Sensis Corporation
    Inventors: Marc J. Viggiano, Todd A. Donovan, Michael J. Gerry, Lara Marisa Parks
  • Publication number: 20090322871
    Abstract: A system and method for object classification based upon the fusion of a radar system and a natural imaging device using sparse code representation. The radar system provides a means of detecting the presence of an object within a predetermined path of a vehicle. Detected objects are then fused with the image gathered by the camera and then isolated in an attention window. The attention window is then transformed into a sparse code representation of the object. The sparse code representation is then compared with known sparse code representation of various objects. Each known sparse code representation is given a predetermined variance and subsequent sparse code represented objects falling within said variance will be classified as such. The system and method also includes an associative learning algorithm wherein classified sparse code representations are stored and used to help classifying subsequent sparse code representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Zhengping Ji, Danil V. Prokhorov
  • Patent number: 7619826
    Abstract: A display device for a vehicle is provided, by which an attaching position thereof can be altered depending upon an attachment limiting condition of the vehicle. The display device includes: a display source provided in an instrument panel of the vehicle; and a prism provided on a light path between the display source and an aperture of the instrument panel and refracting display light of an image displayed on the display source backward in the vehicle, wherein the prism is formed in a shape inclined upward in a backward direction of the vehicle, wherein (a) a virtual image of the image projected on a projection area of a windshield of the vehicle, onto which area the display image from the prism is projected and (b) a front view of the vehicle to be seen from an eye point of the vehicle through the windshield are seen in a superimposed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignees: Yazaki Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeyoshi Watanabe, Go Nakamura, Tetsuya Sugiyama, Koji Nomura, Masahiro Takamatsu, Hitoshi Kumon
  • Patent number: 7616382
    Abstract: The image observation apparatus includes a first image-forming element and a second image-forming element each of which forms an original image, and an optical system configured to introduce light fluxes from the first and second image-forming elements to an exit pupil position of the optical system where an eye of an observer is placed. The optical system includes an optical surface as a single surface that reflects the light flux from the first image-forming element and transmits the light flux from the second image-forming element. The first image-forming element and the second image-forming element respectively form a first original image and a second original image that correspond to different viewing fields from the exit pupil position. The apparatus combines plural original images to enable observation of one combined image and that can suppress generation of light scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutaka Inoguchi, Shoichi Yamazaki, Kenichi Saito, Motomi Tsuyuki, Masakazu Tohara
  • Patent number: 7617022
    Abstract: An enhanced vision system for an aircraft is disclosed. The invention includes a display apparatus having a display element positioned between the pilot and a scene. The display element permits the pilot to view the scene therethrough. A first sensor is mounted adjacent to the display element. The first sensor is configured to detect light having a first radiation spectrum emanating from a first portion of the scene. A second sensor is mounted upon the aircraft away from the display element. The second sensor is configured to detect light having a second radiation spectrum emanating from a second portion of the scene. The display element is configured to visually represent the detected light with the first radiation spectrum precisely conformal with the scene as viewed by the pilot. The display element is configured to visually represent the detected light with the second radiation spectrum substantially conformal with the scene as viewed by the pilot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Wood, Carlo L. Tiana