DIGITAL DISPLAY SYSTEM WITH A FRONT-FACING CAMERA AND REAR DIGITAL DISPLAY

• US 20150266421A1
• Filed: 03/19/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCAT, LLC
• Original Assignee: BCAT, LLC
• Inventors: Brubaker, Curtis M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,878,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/202 displaying a blind spot scene on the vehicle part responsible for the blind spot
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

There is provided a digital display system for use with a first vehicle. The first vehicle includes a vehicle body, a vehicle front end and a vehicle rear end. The system includes a front-facing camera affixed with the vehicle body configured to capture digital images from in front of the vehicle front end. The system further includes a wireless receiver affixed with the vehicle body configured to receive an activation request signal from a wireless transmitter of a second vehicle. The system further includes a digital display affixed with the vehicle body disposed at the vehicle rear end. The digital display is configured to display captured digital images from the front-facing camera in response to receipt of an activation request signal by the wireless receiver.

Claims

1. A digital display system for use with a first vehicle, the first vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle front end and a vehicle rear end, the system comprising:

a front-facing camera affixed with the vehicle body configured to capture digital images from in front of the vehicle front end;

a wireless receiver affixed with the vehicle body configured to receive an activation request signal from a wireless transmitter of a second vehicle; and

a digital display affixed with the vehicle body disposed at the vehicle rear end, the digital display configured to display captured digital images from the front-facing camera in response to receipt of an activation request signal by the wireless receiver.

2. The digital display system of claim 1 wherein the front-facing camera is disposed at the vehicle front end.

3. The digital display system of claim 1 wherein the front-facing camera is configured to capture video images.

4. The digital display system of claim 1 wherein the activation request signal is a radio frequency signal.

5. The digital display system of claim 1 further includes a distance sensor disposed at the vehicle rear end, the distance sensor is configured to sense distance data of an object behind the vehicle rear end, the digital display is configured to display captured digital images from the front-facing camera in response to receipt of sensed distance data from the distance sensor.

6. The digital display system of claim 1 further includes an image processor, the image processor is configured to scale the captured digital images prior to display at the digital display.

7. A method of displaying images upon a first vehicle, the first vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle front end and a vehicle rear end, the method comprising:

capturing digital images from in front of the vehicle front end by a front-facing camera of the first vehicle;

receiving an activation request signal from a wireless transmitter of a second vehicle by a wireless receiver of the first vehicle; and

displaying the captured digital images at the vehicle rear end in response to receipt of the activation request signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the front-facing camera is configured to capture video images.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the activation signal is a radio frequency signal.

10. The method of claim 7 further includes:

sensing with a distance sensor disposed at the vehicle rear end distance data of the second vehicle behind the vehicle rear end.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the digital display is configured to display captured digital images from the front-facing camera in response to the sensed distance data.

12. The method of claim 7 further includes:

determining proximity data of the second vehicle to the first vehicle based upon the received activation request signal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the digital display is configured to display captured digital images from the front-facing camera in response to the determined proximity data.

14. The method of claim 7 further includes:

scaling captured digital images prior to display at the digital display.

15. The method of claim 7 further includes:

receiving a signal indicating activation of the turn signal indicator from the wireless transmitter of a second vehicle by the wireless receiver of the first vehicle.

16. The method of claim 7 further includes:

determining a movement status of the first vehicle; and

displaying the captured digital images at the vehicle rear end using the determined movement status of the first vehicle.

17. A method of viewing digital images upon a first vehicle, the first vehicle having a vehicle front end and a vehicle rear end, the method comprising:

activating a turn signal indicator at a second vehicle;

transmitting an activation request signal from a wireless transmitter of the second vehicle to a wireless receiver of the first vehicle; and

viewing displayed digital images at the vehicle rear end of captured digital images from in front of the vehicle front end in response to the activation request signal.

18. The method of viewing of claim 17 further includes:

transmitting a signal indicating activation of the turn signal indicator from the wireless transmitter of the second vehicle to the wireless receiver of the first vehicle.

19. A digital display system for use with a first object, the first object including an object first side and an object second side, the system comprising:

a camera configured to capture digital images from adjacent the object first side;

a wireless receiver configured to receive an activation request signal from a wireless transmitter of a second object; and

a digital display disposed at the object second side, the digital display configured to display captured digital images from the camera in response to receipt of an activation request signal by the wireless receiver.

20. The display system of claim 19 wherein the first object is a vehicle.

21. The display system of claim 19 wherein the first object is a fixed structure.

22. The display system of claim 19 wherein the second object is a vehicle.

23. The display system of claim 19 wherein the second object is a mobile device.