Vehicle vision system having adjustable displayed field of view

• US 10,195,995 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Boehm, Neil J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sathyanaraya V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Jr., Howard D
• Application Number:
  US15/686,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20180065556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle is provided including a camera for capturing images within a field of view; a display device movably mounted relative to the vehicle for displaying a portion of the field of view of the camera; a movement sensor for sensing movement of the display device; and a processing circuit in communication with the movement sensor, the display device, and the camera for selecting the portion of the field of view to be displayed on the display device in response to movement of the display device as sensed by the movement sensor.

Claims

1. A vehicle display system for displaying images captured by a camera associated with a vehicle, wherein the camera has a field of view, the display system comprising:

a rearview assembly comprising;

a mounting structure configured for mounting to the vehicle;

a movable head pivotably attached to said mounting structure;

a display device positioned within said movable head for displaying a portion of the field of view of the camera;

a movement sensor for sensing movement of said movable head;

at least one capacitive touch sensor disposed on said movable head; and

a processing circuit in communication with said at least one capacitive touch sensor, said movement sensor, and said display device for adjusting a field of view to be displayed on said display device in response to movement of said movable head as sensed by said movement sensor and in response to activation of the at least one capacitive touch sensor.

2. The vehicle display system of claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitive touch sensor includes a first capacitive touch sensor disposed along a top of the movable head and a second capacitive touch sensor disposed along a bottom of the movable head.

3. The vehicle display system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuit shifts the field of view horizontally when said movable head is moved horizontally.

4. The vehicle display system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuit shifts the field of view vertically when said movable head is moved vertically.

5. The vehicle display system of claim 1, wherein said mounting structure includes a ball for mounting to said movable head, said movement sensor comprises:

a target provided on an area of said ball of said mounting structure, said target having a different visual characteristic than other surrounding areas of said ball;

a light source for projecting light onto said ball; and

a photodetector for detecting the level of light reflected from said ball,

wherein said processing circuit is coupled to said photodetector for sensing movement of said movable head when the level of reflected light detected by said photodetector changes.

6. The vehicle display system of claim 1 and further comprising a mirror element disposed in said movable head, wherein said display device is positioned adjacent said mirror element.

7. The vehicle display system of claim 1, wherein said processing circuit is mounted in said movable head.

8. A vision system for a vehicle comprising:

a camera for capturing images within a field of view;

a display device movably mounted relative to the vehicle for displaying a portion of the field of view of said camera;

a movement sensor for sensing movement of said display device;

a first capacitive touch sensor disposed along a top of the display device;

a second capacitive touch sensor disposed along a bottom of the display device; and

a processing circuit in communication with the first and second capacitive touch sensors, said movement sensor, said display device, and said camera for adjusting a field of view to be displayed on said display device in response to movement of said display device as sensed by said movement sensor and in response to activation of at least one of the first and second capacitive touch sensors.

9. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said display device is disposed in a mirror housing of a rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said movement sensor senses movement of said display device by sensing movement of said mirror housing.

10. The vision system of claim 9, wherein said processing circuit is disposed in said mirror housing.

11. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said processing circuit shifts the field of view horizontally when said display device is moved horizontally.

12. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said processing circuit shifts the field of view vertically when said display device is moved vertically.

13. The vision system of claim 9, wherein said rearview mirror assembly comprises a mounting structure configured for mounting to the vehicle, said mounting structure includes a ball for mounting to said mirror housing, wherein said movement sensor comprises:

a target provided on an area of said ball of said mounting structure, said target having a different visual characteristic than other surrounding areas of said ball;

a light source for projecting light onto said ball; and

a photodetector for detecting the level of light reflected from said ball,

wherein said processing circuit is coupled to said photodetector for sensing movement of said mirror housing when the level of reflected light detected by said photodetector changes.

14. The vision system of claim 9 and further comprising a mirror element disposed in said mirror housing, wherein said display device is positioned adjacent said mirror element.

15. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said camera is mounted in a camera module disposed at a rear of the vehicle.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said processing circuit is disposed in the camera module.

17. The vision system of claim 9, wherein said movement sensor comprises a magnetic field sensor provided in said mirror housing.

18. An exterior rearview display system for a vehicle for displaying images captured by a camera associated with the vehicle, wherein the camera has a field of view, the exterior rearview display system comprising:

a user input located on the interior of a vehicle;

a display device for displaying a portion of the field of view of said camera, the display device disposed on an exterior of the vehicle; and

a processing circuit in communication with said user input and said display device for selecting the portion of the field of view to be displayed on said display device in response to said user input.

19. The exterior rearview display system of claim 18, wherein said processing circuit shifts the portion of the field of view both horizontally and vertically in response to said user input.