Heads-up display with improved contrast

Abstract

A heads-up display for a vehicle is in contrast to the windshield behind the display or the environment outside of the vehicle windshield. In this way, the heads-up display is more visible than prior art heads-up displays. In one embodiment, the windshield is tinted to be in contrast with the color of the heads-up display, at least over a small area. In other embodiments, the image forward of the vehicle is captured and sent to a control for the heads-up display. The heads-up display is then modified to be in contrast with the environment approaching the vehicle. In another embodiment, the window is modified to have a back glow over a small area. The heads-up display is directed onto this small area.

1 . A heads-up display system comprising: 
 a source for directing a heads-up display onto a windshield of a vehicle; and    an arrangement for increasing the contrast of the heads-up display on the windshield relative to the background of the heads-up display on the windshield, wherein the arrangement includes a tint provided on the windshield, at least in the area where the heads-up display is directed, with the colors of the heads-up display and the tint being in contrast to one another.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the colors of the heads-up display and the tint are selected such that the heads-up display includes at least one primary color void from the color of the tint.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein: 
 the tint is provided in an area of the windshield where the heads-up display is directed and the remaining area of the windshield is void of the tint.    
   
   
       4 . A heads-up display system comprising: 
 a source for directing a heads-up display onto a portion of a windshield of a vehicle; and    an arrangement for increasing the contrast of the heads-up display on the windshield relative to the background of the heads-up display on the windshield, wherein the arrangement includes a roughened surface on the windshield portion, wherein the arrangement further includes a light source adjacent to the windshield portion for directing light onto the roughened surface of the windshield portion in order to provide a backglow for the heads-up display.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein: 
 the windshield is a single-pane windshield, wherein the roughened surface is provided on either interior or exterior surfaces of the windshield.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein: 
 the windshield is a dual-pane windshield, wherein the roughened surface is provided between the windshield panes.    
   
   
       7 . A method of providing a heads-up display, the method comprising: 
 directing a heads-up display onto a windshield of a vehicle; and    modifying at least one of the heads-up display and the windshield relative to one another to provide greater contrast between the heads-up display and an image beyond the windshield.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein: 
 modifying at least one of the heads-up display and the windshield includes providing a tint on the windshield and includes selecting a color of the heads-up display which contrasts with the color of the tint such that the contrast between the heads-up display and the image beyond the windshield is increased.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein: 
 selecting a color of the heads-up display includes selecting the color of the heads-up display such that the heads-up display includes at least one primary color which is not included in the color of the tint.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein: 
 modifying at least one of the heads-up display and the windshield includes roughening a surface of the windshield and directing light onto the roughened surface of the windshield in order to provide a backglow for the heads-up display such that the contrast between the heads-up display and the image beyond the windshield is increased.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the windshield is a single-pane windshield, wherein the roughened surface is provided on either interior or exterior surfaces of the windshield.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the windshield is a dual-pane windshield, wherein the roughened surface is provided between the windshield panes.