Night Vision System

• US 20080198227A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Cieler, Stephan, Grimmel, Reinfried, Schmidt, Norbert, Donk, Vera
• Granted Patent: US 8,878,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0022 Pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision 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 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision

Abstract

In a night vision system with which an image recording unit records the image of the surroundings of a motor vehicle, the recorded image is displayed by means of a display, wherein the position of the image recording device (2) is changed according to the driving situation.

Claims

1. A night vision system in which an image recording unit records the image of the surroundings of a motor vehicle, and the recorded image is displayed by means of a display, wherein the position of the image recording device is changed as a function of the driving situation, and wherein a vertical adjustability of the image recording device also depends on the type of road on which the vehicle is travelling.

2. The night vision system according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device is pivoted vertically as a function of the speed at which the vehicle is travelling.

3. The night vision system according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal position of the image recording device is changed.

4. The night vision system according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal position of the image recording device is changed as a function of the road profile.

5. The night vision system according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device is embodied as an infrared camera.

6. The night vision system according to claim 5, wherein infrared lighting device is present.

7. The night vision system according to claim 1, wherein the image recording device is embodied as a radar.

8. The night vision system according to claim 1, wherein the display is embodied as a head-up display.

9. A method of providing night vision in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

recording an image of the surroundings of a motor vehicle by an image recording device,

displaying the recorded image by means of a display, wherein the position of the image recording device is changed as a function of the driving situation, and a vertical adjustability of the image recording device also depends on the type of road on which the vehicle is travelling.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the image recording device is pivoted vertically as a function of the speed at which the vehicle is travelling.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the horizontal position of the image recording device is changed.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the horizontal position of the image recording device is changed as a function of the road profile.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the image recording device is embodied as an infrared camera.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein an infrared lighting device is present.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the image recording device is embodied as a radar.

16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the display is embodied as a head-up display.

17. A night vision system in which an image recording unit records the image of the surroundings of a motor vehicle, and the recorded image is displayed by means of a display, wherein the position of the image recording device is changed as a function of the driving situation, and wherein a vertical adjustability of the image recording device depends on the type of road on which the vehicle is travelling, the image recording device is pivoted vertically as a function of the speed at which the vehicle is travelling, and the horizontal position of the image recording device is changed.

18. The night vision system according to claim 17, wherein the horizontal position of the image recording device is changed as a function of the road profile.

19. The night vision system according to claim 17, wherein the image recording device is embodied as an infrared camera.

20. The night vision system according to claim 19, wherein an infrared lighting device is present.