Rearview head up display

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a rearview camera capturing images of a scene behind the motor vehicle. An electronic processor receives the images captured by the camera. A virtual image projection arrangement is communicatively coupled to the electronic processor and presents a virtual image dependent upon the images captured by the camera. The virtual image is visible by a driver of the vehicle after being reflected by a windshield.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head up display apparatus for a motor vehicle having a windshield, comprising:
 a rearview camera configured to capture images of a scene behind the motor vehicle;   an electronic processor configured to receive the images captured by the camera; and   a virtual image projection arrangement communicatively coupled to the electronic processor and configured to present a virtual image based on a mirror image of at least one of the images captured by the rearview camera, the virtual image being visible by a driver of the vehicle after being reflected by the windshield.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the virtual image projection arrangement includes a head up display. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be disposed at a distance of at least one foot beyond the windshield. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be visible through the windshield. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the virtual image appears to be disposed in a same direction relative to the driver's eyes as a conventional rearview mirror would be. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the virtual image includes alphanumeric text information and/or an icon. 
     
     
         7 . A method of presenting information to a driver of a motor vehicle having a windshield, the method comprising the steps of:
 capturing images of a scene behind the motor vehicle; and   presenting a virtual image based on a mirror image of the captured image, the virtual image being visible by a driver of the vehicle after being reflected by the windshield.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the virtual image is presented by a head up display. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the images are captured by a camera mounted on a rear bumper of the motor vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be visible through the windshield. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the virtual image is visible below and adjacent to a top edge of the windshield and at a midpoint of the top edge of the windshield. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the virtual image includes alphanumeric text information and/or an icon. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be at least one meter away from the driver. 
     
     
         14 . A head up display apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a rearview camera configured to capture images of a scene behind the motor vehicle;   an electronic processor configured to receive the images captured by the camera and produce a video signal based upon the captured images;   a flat panel display communicatively coupled to the electronic processor and configured to receive the video signal and produce a light field dependent upon the video signal;   a nonplanar reflective surface positioned to reflect the light field toward eyes of a driver of the motor vehicle; and   a partially reflective surface positioned to pass a portion of the reflected light field to the driver.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the reflected light field appears to the driver to be a virtual image disposed at a distance of at least two meters from the driver. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the virtual image appears to the driver to be visible through the windshield. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the virtual image appears to be disposed in a same direction relative to the driver's eyes as a conventional rearview mirror would be. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the virtual image includes alphanumeric text information and/or an icon. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the partially reflective surface is planar. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the nonplanar reflective surface is concavely curved.