Vehicle entertainment system including monitor for rear view enhancement

• US 20070132894A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Vitito, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,120,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/837
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0015 Back-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0042 characterised by mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1622 with enclosures rotating around an axis perpendicular to the plane they define or with ball-joint coupling, e.g. PDA with display enclosure orientation changeable between portrait and landscape by rotation with respect to a coplanar body enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06

Abstract

An automobile includes a video system mounted within a ceiling of the automobile. The video system is moveable between a use position and a storage position. The video system includes a rear facing surface from which a video monitor displays images for viewing by passengers of the automobile. The video system also includes a front facing surface having a forward facing video monitor wherein the forward facing video monitor is in alignment with a rearview mirror for viewing by the driver when the video system is in its use position. A video camera is provided for viewing that which would be seen out a rear window of the automobile. The video camera is linked to the forward facing video monitor for displaying an image of the environment in the rear of the automobile a driver would see as the driver looks through a rearview mirror. A mechanism is further provided for linking activation of the video camera and the forward facing video monitor to rotation of the video system between its use position and its storage position.

Claims

1. An automobile, comprising:

a video system mounted within a ceiling of the automobile;

the video system being moveable between a use position and a storage position, the video system includes a rear facing surface from which a video monitor displays images for viewing by passengers of the automobile, the video system also includes a front facing surface having a forward facing video monitor wherein the forward facing video monitor is in alignment with a rearview mirror of the automobile for viewing by a driver when the video system is in its use position;

a video camera for viewing that which would be seen out a rear window of the automobile, the video camera being linked to the forward facing video monitor for displaying an image of an environment in a rear of the automobile a driver would see as a driver looks through the rearview mirror; and

means for linking activation of the video camera and the forward facing video monitor to rotation of the video system between its use position and its storage position.

2. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the means for linking activation includes a switch mounted within the video system.

3. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the video camera is mounted along the rear facing surface of the video system.

4. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the video camera is mounted along a rear portion of the automobile.

5. The automobile according to claim 1, wherein the video camera is mounted in a rear bumper of the automobile.

6. The automobile according to claim 1, further including a back seat camera positioned for monitoring activity in a back seat of the automobile, the back seat camera being linked to the forward facing video monitor.