APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING A MOBILE DEVICE CAMERA

• US 20160125250A1
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: MAX, Stephan, KATZWINKEL, Reiner, BECKMANN, Mark, BROSIG, Stefan, TANNEBERGER, Volkmar, KOLLMORGEN, Stefan, BOSSE, Stefan, GRUMMEL, Thomas, TITZE, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 10,346,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/563 Vehicle displaying mobile device information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/573 Mobile devices controlling vehicle functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• 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 1/22 for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8013 for child monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/046 : involving vehicles, e.g. floating traffic data [FTD] or vehicle traffic prediction
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for connecting a mobile camera device to a vehicle-mounted display apparatus, wherein the mobile camera device is controlled both by the driver operating the mobile camera device as well as by additional information regarding the state of the vehicle, wherein the additional information is provided by vehicle sensors. The information from the driver and the vehicle is processed by an application program on the mobile camera device and the mobile camera device is controlled. The mobile camera device can display images and/or videos and process the images and/or videos by way of the application program. The information to be processed can be displayed on the display of the vehicle-mounted display apparatus.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted display apparatus for connecting a mobile camera device to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a display;

an interface for connecting the vehicle-mounted display apparatus to the mobile camera device; and

a processing device for controlling an application program on the mobile camera device, wherein the processing device, by way of the interface, transmits data to the application program and receives image data and displays said image data on the display,

wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus processes information provided by the vehicle and/or by a driver and transmits said information to the application program on the mobile camera device, and controls the mobile camera device based upon the information.

2. The vehicle-mounted display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information provided is information regarding the vehicle state.

3. The vehicle-mounted display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus is further configured to control, by way of the application program, the mobile camera device by operating elements on the vehicle-mounted display apparatus.

4. The vehicle-mounted display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus is further configured to receive the image data from the mobile camera device by way of the application program in real time and to display said image data on the display.

5. The vehicle-mounted display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus is further configured to receive, by way of the application program, the image data from the mobile camera device and to process said image data within the scope of an augmented reality analysis.

6. The vehicle-mounted display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus is further configured to receive, by way of the application program, the image data from the mobile camera device and to process said data within the scope of a traffic and safety analysis.

7. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

an interface for connecting the mobile device to a vehicle-mounted display apparatus; and

a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to receive, by way of the interface, information from the vehicle-mounted display apparatus and to transmit image data to the vehicle-mounted display apparatus, and to control a camera,

wherein the mobile device is configured to receive information provided by a vehicle and/or a driver, and to control the camera based upon the information from the vehicle using an application program.

8. The mobile device of claim 7, further comprising the mobile camera.

9. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the mobile camera is an external camera with respect to the mobile device, and the mobile device comprises a second interface for communication with the external mobile camera.

16. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the information that is provided is information regarding the vehicle state.

17. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the mobile device is controlled by operating elements of the vehicle-mounted display apparatus by way of the application program.

18. The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the mobile device sends the vehicle-mounted display apparatus, by way of the application program, the image data.

10. A method for connecting a mobile camera device to a vehicle, the method comprising:

transmitting data by way of an interface from a vehicle-mounted display apparatus to an application program on a mobile camera device for controlling the mobile camera device;

processing the data in the application program and controlling the mobile camera device by way of the interface;

transmitting image data from the mobile camera device to the application program on the mobile camera device; and

transmitting the image data from application program to the vehicle-mounted display apparatus and displaying the image data on a display; and

transmitting information from the vehicle-mounted display apparatus for processing to the application program on the mobile camera device for controlling the mobile camera device based upon the information from the vehicle-mounted display apparatus.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information that is provided is information regarding the vehicle state.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus is controls, by way of the application program, the mobile camera device by operating elements on the vehicle-mounted display apparatus.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus receives the image data from the mobile camera device by way of the application program in real time and displays said image data on the display.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus receives, by way of the application program, the image data from the mobile camera device and to process said image data within the scope of an augmented reality analysis.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle-mounted display apparatus receives, by way of the application program, the image data from the mobile camera device and to process said data within the scope of a traffic and safety analysis.