Combined head up display (hud) and camera system

Abstract

An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a head up display light field emitter that emits a light field. At least one mirror is positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image. A driver monitoring camera is positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver that is reflected off of the windshield and the at least one mirror.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
 a head up display light field emitter configured to emit a light field;   at least one mirror positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image; and   a driver monitoring camera positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver that is directly reflected off of the windshield or further reflected by one or more mirrors.   
     
     
         2 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the driver monitoring camera is positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver that is directly reflected off of the windshield. 
     
     
         3 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the driver monitoring camera is positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver that is reflected off of the windshield and further reflected by one or more mirrors. 
     
     
         4 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising an electronic processor configured to:
 receive image data from the camera; and 
 change an operational parameter of the vehicle dependent upon the image data. 
 
     
     
         5 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are disposed within a common housing, 
     
     
         6 . The optical arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The optical arrangement of claim I wherein the at least one mirror comprises a fold mirror and an aspheric mirror. 
     
     
         8 . An optical method for a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
 emitting a light field based on image data;   reflecting the light field with at least one mirror such that the light field further reflects off of a windshield of the motor vehicle and is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image; and   using a driver monitoring camera to capture an image of a face of the driver that is reflected off of the windshield.   
     
     
         9 . The optical method of  claim 8  wherein the using step includes using a driver monitoring camera to capture an image of a face of the driver that is reflected off of the windshield and the at least one mirror. 
     
     
         10 . The optical method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 transmitting image data from the camera; and 
 changing an operational parameter of the vehicle dependent upon the image data. 
 
     
     
         11 . The optical method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one mirror comprises a fold mirror and/or an aspheric mirror. 
     
     
         12 . The optical method of  claim 8  further comprising packaging a head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera within a common housing. 
     
     
         13 . The optical method of  claim 8  further comprising positioning a head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The optical method of  claim 8  wherein the at least one mirror comprises a fold mirror and an aspheric mirror. 
     
     
         15 . An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising;
 a head up display light field emitter configured to emit a light field;   at least one minor positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image, the at least one mirror having a transparent section; and   a driver monitoring camera positioned to capture an image of a face of the driver through the transparent section of the at least one mirror.   
     
     
         16 . The optical arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the transparent section of the at least one mirror comprises a throughhole. 
     
     
         17 . The optical arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the transparent section of the at least one mirror is formed of a transparent material. 
     
     
         18 . The optical arrangement of  claim 15  further comprising an electronic processor configured to:
 receive image data from the camera; and 
 cause a stimulus to be presented to the driver dependent upon the image data, 
 
     
     
         19 . The optical arrangement of  claim 18  wherein the stimulus is presented to the driver within the virtual image produced by the head up display light field emitter. 
     
     
         20 . The optical arrangement of  claim 15  further comprising an electronic processor configured to:
 receive image data from the camera; and 
 change an operational parameter of the vehicle dependent upon the image data, 
 
     
     
         21 . The optical arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are disposed within a common housing 
     
     
         22 . The optical arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         23 . The optical arrangement of  claim 15  wherein the at least one mirror comprises a to mirror and an aspheric mirror. 
     
     
         24 . The optical arrangement of  claim 23  wherein the transparent section is in the fold mirror. 
     
     
         25 . An optical arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a head up display light field emitter configured to emit a light field;   at least one optical element that is reflective to IR light and transparent for visible light, the at least one optical element being positioned to reflect the light field such that the light field is again reflected by a windshield of the vehicle, and such that the light field is visible to a driver of the vehicle as a virtual image, the at least one optical element including at least one mirror and/or at least one lens; and   a driver monitoring camera is positioned to capture an IR image of a face of the driver reflected off the windshield and passing through the at least one optical element.   
     
     
         26 . The optical arrangement of  claim 25  wherein the at least one optical element includes a coating that is reflective to IR light and transparent for visible light. 
     
     
         27 . The optical arrangement of  claim 25  further comprising an electronic processor configured to:
 receive image data from the camera; and 
 change an operational parameter of the vehicle dependent upon the image data, 
 
     
     
         28 . The optical arrangement of  claim 25  wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are disposed within a common housing. 
     
     
         29 . The optical arrangement of  claim 25  wherein the head up display light field emitter and the driver monitoring camera are adjacent to each other.