Camera-based side mirror function of a motor vehicle

• US 10,447,933 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Wirth, Matthias, Schaufler, Martin, Kim, Jong-Won, Ilse, Borris, Jacob, Boris, Engler, Friedhelm, Richter, Michael, Woods, Tom, Bradbury, Andrew, Meyer, Ralf, Leopold, Frank, Schurna, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hicks, E Turner
• Application Number:
  US15/418,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20170223274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 296 3712, 296 70, 296 108, 296208
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/34 Nozzles; Air-diffusersdispositions of air diffusers in a vehicle B60H1/247
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/006 Side-view mirrors, e.g. V-shaped mirrors located at the front or rear part of the vehicle combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08; side-view periscopes B60R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/20 characterised by the type of display used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/92 Driver displays
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 35/00 Vehicle bodies characterised by streamlining
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a motor vehicle body having an interior forming a passenger compartment. At least one camera is arranged on the outside of the motor vehicle body for imaging an area to the side and behind of the motor vehicle. In the interior of the motor vehicle, particularly in the region of an instrument panel, a monitor or display is arranged in or on an air outlet. The monitor is connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area to occupants, and in particular a driver, in the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A side view system for a motor vehicle body having an interior and an exterior comprising:

a camera arranged on the exterior of the motor vehicle body for generating an imaged area adjacent the motor vehicle body;

an air outlet arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle body, the air outlet comprises a housing with at least one side wall configured to delimit a flow duct for supplied air;

a monitor supported on the air outlet and connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area thereon while the system is active; and

a mount configured on a back side of the monitor and the mount includes a basic body arranged approximately transversely in the center in the flow duct;

wherein the monitor is arranged on the housing and the basic body supports itself on the inside of the side wall with a plurality of webs extending transversely in the housing.

3. The side view system according to claim 1, wherein an outer edge of the monitor lies within a circumferential boundary of the flow duct formed by the side wall.

4. The side view system according to claim 3, further comprising a circumferential flow gap formed between the outer edge of the monitor and an inside of the side wall.

5. The side view system according to claim 4, wherein the circumferential flow gap has a substantially constant width between the monitor and the side wall.

6. The side view system according to claim 3, further comprising at least one adjusting element is moveably mounted on one of the outer edge of the monitor or a downstream end of the side wall.

7. The side view system according to claim 6, wherein the adjusting element is configured as an air guide element.

8. The side view system according to claim 6, wherein the adjusting element is mechanically connected to an air guide element pivotably mounted with respect to an axis running in longitudinal direction of the flow duct.

9. The side view system according to claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises a liquid crystal display.

2. A side view system for a motor vehicle body having an interior and an exterior comprising:

a camera arranged on the exterior of the motor vehicle body for generating an imaged area adjacent the motor vehicle body;

an air outlet arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle body, the air outlet comprises a housing with at least one side wall configured to delimit a flow duct for supplied air;

a monitor supported on the air outlet and connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area thereon while the system is active; and

a mount configured on a back side of the monitor and the mount includes a basic body arranged approximately transversely in the center in the flow duct;

wherein the monitor is arranged on the housing and a plurality of webs are arranged upstream on the basic body offset with respect to the monitor.

10. A motor vehicle comprising:

a motor vehicle body having an exterior and an interior;

a camera arranged on the exterior of the motor vehicle body and orientated against a forward travelling direction of the motor vehicle for generating an imaged area adjacent the motor vehicle body;

an air outlet arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle body, the air outlet comprises a housing with at least one side wall configured to delimit a flow duct for supplied air;

a monitor supported on the air outlet and connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area thereon while the system is active; and

a mount configured on a back side of the monitor and the mount includes a basic body arranged approximately transversely in the center in the flow duct,

wherein the monitor is arranged on the housing and the basic body supports itself on the inside of the side wall with a plurality of webs extending transversely in the housing.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising a vehicle door, wherein the camera is embedded on the exterior in the vehicle door.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle door comprises a trim molding arranged thereon and the camera is embedded into the trim molding.