Rear backup system for a vehicle

• US 10,556,542 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karner, Lee, Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Jr., Howard D
• Application Number:
  US16/429,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20190283673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0017 moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14754 being in movable or releasable engagement with the coating, e.g. bearing assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0058 Mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 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 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• 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 2001/1269 with sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 : by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 : in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 : for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 : for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 : Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 : Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30261 : Obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 : Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 : Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 : Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0456 : with a reflective area and a transmissive area combined in one pixel, such as in transflectance pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 : Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 : using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 : based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/026 : Control of mixing and/or overlay of colours in general G09G5/022 and G09G5/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A rear backup system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera and a display device operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the vehicle. When the vehicle transmission is shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images are displayed and an overlay is also displayed to guide the driver when hitching a trailer hitch of the vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer. When the trailer hitch of the vehicle is within the field of view of the rear backup video camera, the overlay guides the driver to connect the trailer hitch of the vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer. Display by the video screen of the video images continues during short term forward movement of the vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle to connect the trailer hitch of the vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer.

Claims

1. A rear backup system for a vehicle, said rear backup system comprising:

a rear backup video camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear backup system;

said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said rear backup video camera is operable to capture image data rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;

a display device comprising a video screen operable to display video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle who is operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera are displayed by said video screen of said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear by the driver;

wherein an overlay is displayed with video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera during maneuvering of the equipped vehicle to connect a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer;

wherein said overlay displayed with video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera guides the driver when hitching the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer;

wherein, when the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle is within the field of view of said rear backup video camera, said overlay guides the driver to connect the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer; and

wherein display by said video screen of said video device of video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera continues during short term forward movement of the equipped vehicle when maneuvering the equipped vehicle to connect the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer.

2. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein said display device is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.

3. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein said video screen of said display device displays video images through a mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

4. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a molded plastic mounting arm having a ball member at at least one end thereof and having electrical conducting elements extending therethrough, and wherein a mirror mounting portion is molded over said ball member, and wherein said mounting arm comprises a mounting arm polymeric material having a first linear mold shrinkage factor and a first flexural modulus, and wherein said mirror mounting portion comprises a mirror mounting polymeric material having a second linear mold shrinkage factor and a second flexural modulus, and wherein said second linear mold shrinkage factor is greater than said first linear mold shrinkage factor, and wherein said second flexural modulus is lower than said first flexural modulus.

5. The rear backup system of claim 4, wherein said video screen of said display device automatically extends from said interior rearview mirror assembly responsive to the vehicle transmission being shifted into reverse gear.

6. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein said overlay comprises an icon.

7. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein said overlay comprises an instruction.

8. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein said overlay comprises a marking.

9. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein said overlay comprises an indicia.

10. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen.

11. The rear backup system of claim 10, wherein said backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen is backlit by at least one white light emitting light emitting diode.

12. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein the equipped vehicle is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor system, and wherein said ultrasonic sensor system monitors a region external to the equipped vehicle.

13. The rear backup system of claim 12, wherein said ultrasonic sensor system detects presence of an obstacle exterior the equipped vehicle.

14. The rear backup system of claim 12, wherein said ultrasonic sensor system detects presence of a person exterior the equipped vehicle.

15. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein the equipped vehicle is equipped with a radar sensor system, and wherein said radar sensor system monitors a region external to the equipped vehicle.

16. The rear backup system of claim 15, wherein said radar sensor system detects presence of an obstacle exterior the equipped vehicle.

17. The rear backup system of claim 15, wherein said radar sensor system detects presence of a person exterior the equipped vehicle.

18. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein said rear backup video camera comprises a CMOS imaging array.

19. A rear backup system for a vehicle, said rear backup system comprising:

a rear backup video camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear backup system;

wherein said rear backup video camera comprises a CMOS imaging array;

said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said rear backup video camera is operable to capture image data rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;

a display device comprising a video screen operable to display video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle who is operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen;

wherein video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera are displayed by said video screen of said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear by the driver;

wherein the equipped vehicle is equipped with an ultrasonic sensor system;

wherein said ultrasonic sensor system monitors a region external to the equipped vehicle;

wherein an overlay is displayed with video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera during maneuvering of the equipped vehicle to connect a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer;

wherein said overlay displayed with video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera guides the driver when hitching the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer;

wherein, when the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle is within the field of view of said rear backup video camera, said overlay guides the driver to connect the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer; and

wherein display by said video screen of said video device of video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera continues during short term forward movement of the equipped vehicle when maneuvering the equipped vehicle to connect the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer.

20. The rear backup system of claim 19, wherein said ultrasonic sensor system detects presence of an obstacle exterior the equipped vehicle.

21. The rear backup system of claim 19, wherein said ultrasonic sensor system detects presence of a person exterior the equipped vehicle.

22. A rear backup system for a vehicle, said rear backup system comprising:

a rear backup video camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear backup system;

wherein said rear backup video camera comprises a CMOS imaging array;

said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said rear backup video camera is operable to capture image data rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rear backup maneuver of the equipped vehicle;

a display device comprising a video screen operable to display video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle who is operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen;

wherein video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera are displayed by said video screen of said display device when a transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear by the driver;

wherein the equipped vehicle is equipped with a radar sensor system;

wherein said radar sensor system monitors a region external to the equipped vehicle;

wherein an overlay is displayed with video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera during maneuvering of the equipped vehicle to connect a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer;

wherein said overlay displayed with video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera guides the driver when hitching the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer;

wherein, when the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle is within the field of view of said rear backup video camera, said overlay guides the driver to connect the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer; and

wherein display by said video screen of said video device of video images derived at least in part from image data captured by said rear backup video camera continues during short term forward movement of the equipped vehicle when maneuvering the equipped vehicle to connect the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to the trailer tongue of the trailer.

23. The rear backup system of claim 22, wherein said radar sensor system detects presence of an obstacle exterior the equipped vehicle.

24. The rear backup system of claim 22, wherein said radar sensor system detects presence of a person exterior the equipped vehicle.