Apparatus to adjust a field of view displayed on an electronic mirror using an automobile state or a driver action

• US 10,239,456 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ambarella International LP (Ambarella Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ambarella Incorporated
• Inventors: Tao, Shih-Hsuan, Kohn, Leslie D., Campbell, Jeffery
• Primary Examiner(s): Prince, Jessica M
• Application Number:
  US15/040,106
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 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 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/081 avoiding blind spots, e.g. by using a side-by-side association of mirrors
• 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 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/306 using a re-scaling of images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• 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 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An apparatus comprising an interface to a sensor and a processor. The sensor may be configured to generate a video signal having a first field of view based on a targeted view from a vehicle. The processor may be configured to (A) receive the video signal from the interface, (B) generate a second field of view from the video signal based on (i) the first field of view, (ii) a shape of a display and (iii) an input and (C) present the second field of view from the video signal to the display. The second field of view is a cropped version of the first field of view. The second field of view is generated by adjusting video data in the first field of view. Portions of the first field of view not in the second field of view are hidden portions of the video signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an interface to a sensor, said sensor configured to generate a video signal having a first field of view based on (i) a targeted view from a vehicle, and (ii) a horizontal dimension and vertical dimension corresponding to a size of said sensor; and

a processor configured to (A) receive said video signal from said interface, (B) generate a second field of view from said video signal based on (i) said first field of view, (ii) a width and height of a display and (iii) an input and (C) present said second field of view from said video signal to said display, wherein (a) said second field of view is a cropped version of said first field of view configured o show a first vertical portion of said vertical dimension that fits said height of said display, (b) said second field of view is generated by adjusting video data in said first field of view, (c) a first ratio of said horizontal dimension to said vertical dimension of said first field of view is different than a second ratio of said width to said height of said display, (d) a second vertical portion of said first field of view is not in said second field of view in response to said difference between said first ratio and said second ratio, (e) said first ratio is an aspect ratio of said sensor, (f) said second ratio is an aspect ratio of said display and (g) cropping said first field of view in response to said difference between said first ratio and said second ratio enables said display to show said second field of view without distorting said video data.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting said video data in said first field of view comprises performing a digital movement of a capture window of said video data.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein (i) said capture window is used to select said second field of view, (ii) said video data in said first field of view outside of said capture window comprises said second vertical portion that is a hidden portion captured by said sensor that does not fit said second ratio of said display and (iii) said hidden portion is cropped out of said second field of view.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said capture window has a shape conforming to said width and said height of said display.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein (i) said width of said shape is larger than said height of said shape and (ii) said capture window covers said first vertical portion of said vertical dimension and said horizontal dimension of said first field of view.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input comprises vehicle sensor information received from said vehicle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said vehicle sensor information comprises a body position of a driver.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input comprises a user input.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said targeted view from said vehicle comprises a view in a direction of a rear end of said vehicle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a system on a chip (SoC).

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display comprises an electronic mirror for said vehicle.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured to adjust a field of view displayed on an electronic mirror using an automobile state or a driver action.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display replaces a reflective rear-view mirror.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display emulates a reflective rear-view mirror.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a sensor configured to generate a video signal having a first field of view based on (i) a targeted view from a vehicle and (ii) a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension corresponding to a size of said sensor; and

a processor configured to (A) receive said video signal, (B) generate a second field of view from said video signal based on (i) said first field of view, (ii) a width and height of a display and (iii) an input and (C) present said second field of view from said video signal to said display, wherein (a) said second field of view is a cropped version of said first field of view configured to show a first vertical portion of said vertical dimension that fits said height of said display, (b) said second field of view is generate by adjusting video data in said first field of view, (c) a first ratio of said horizontal dimension to said vertical dimension of said first field of view is different than a second ratio of said width to said height of said display, (d) a second vertical portion of said first field of is not in said second field of view in response to said difference between said first ratio and second ratio, (e) said first ratio is an aspect ratio of said sensor, (f) said second ratio is an aspect ratio of said display and (g) cropping said first field of view in response to said difference between said first ratio and said second ratio enables said display to show said second field of view without distorting said video data.