Reduction of blind spots by using display screens

• US 20030151563A1
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quonsil PL 3 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Inventors: Kulas, Charles J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,809,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1526 Dual-view displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1526 Dual-view displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• 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: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/202 displaying a blind spot scene on the vehicle part responsible for the blind spot
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A system for reducing blind spots in various situations, such as in an automobile. The invention uses display screen surfaces to cover objects that are opaque, or objects which it is difficult to see through. Small cameras are used to generate images on the display screens that correspond to images that a viewer would see in the absence of the objects. For example, where the left windshield post of a car is covered with a display screen, the invention uses a camera that receives image information from the left-front of the car. The image information is used by a processor to compute what the driver would see if the door post were not there. A preferred embodiment uses the driver'"'"'s viewpoint to generate a more accurate screen display. The screen display approximates images that the driver would see so that the images mesh, or are coherent with, other images presented to the driver such as the views through the front windshield and driver'"'"'s side window. Another aspect of the invention provides movable mirrors to provide dual modes of viewing and to increase the mirror'"'"'s field of view. Different modes, or mirror positions can be invoked manually or by automated detection of a viewer'"'"'s head position or eye positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for improving driver visibility in an automobile, wherein the automobile includes a windshield post, the apparatus comprising

a display screen for mounting onto the windshield post so that the display screen does not extend substantially beyond the windshield post;

a processor coupled to the display screen;

a camera;

a display process that receives image information from the camera and generates display information for the display screen so that a driver sees an approximation of images that the driver would see in the absence of the windshield post.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

an input process for receiving an indication of the driver'"'"'s viewpoint;

and

wherein the display process uses the driver'"'"'s viewpoint to generate the display information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

a detector for automatically detecting a driver'"'"'s viewpoint.

4. A method for reducing blind spots, comprising

covering at least part of an object'"'"'s surface with a display screen;

determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint;

using a processor to generate image information for display on the display screen based on the viewer'"'"'s viewpoint so that the viewer sees an approximation of the scene behind the object that is coherent with at least a portion of a field of view of the viewer.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising

using a camera to obtain image data to derive the image information.

6. An apparatus for reducing blind spots, the apparatus comprising

a display screen covering at least part of an object'"'"'s surface;

a processor coupled to the display screen;

at least one signal determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint;

one or more instructions executable by the processor to generate image information for display on the display screen based on the viewer'"'"'s viewpoint so that the viewer is presented with an approximation of a scene behind the object.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising

a camera coupled to the processor, wherein the camera provides image data to derive the image information.

8. A method for extending the field of view of a reflective surface, wherein the reflective surface is viewed by a human viewer, the method comprising

automatically moving the mirror about one or more rotational points so that the field of view changes.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising

moving the mirror when a predetermined head position of the human viewer is detected.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising

moving the mirror when a predetermined eye position of the human viewer is detected.

11. An apparatus for reflective viewing, the apparatus comprising

a reflective surface;

a processor;

a surface movement mechanism coupled to the reflective surface to move the reflective surface in response to a signal; and

one or more instructions executed by the processor for generating the signal to move the mirror.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising

one or more instructions executed by the processor to move the mirror in response to a signal from a user input device.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising

a sensor for determining a user'"'"'s viewing direction;

and

one or more instructions executed by the processor to move the mirror in response to a signal from the sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising

a micromirror device.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising

a display screen having an image portion which is reflected by the mirror and visible to a human user when the mirror is in a first position, wherein the display screen image portion is not visible when then mirror is in a second position.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising

a display screen between the reflective surface and a human user viewable by a human user in a first mode.