Method and device for training in the driving of vehicles

• US 5,184,956 A
• Filed: 02/19/1991
• Issued: 02/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Faros
• Original Assignee: Codes Rousseau
• Inventors: Langlais, Bernard, Saunier, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHENG, JOE H
• Application Number:
  US07/657,046
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 434/29, 434/30, 434/32, 434/33, 434/38, 434/43, 434/62, 434/63, 434/69, 273/86 B, 273/442, 273/454, 364/410, 364/578, 358/87, 358/104, 340/717, 359/857
• US Class Current: 434/69
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for training in the driving of vehicles and especially land vehicles, in which a sequence of images is displayed on a screen placed opposite to a driving station for a trainee driver and is caused to move in accordance with control operations initiated from said driving station. There are thus displayed on the screen both a front main image and at least one rear vision secondary image which is made visible on an associated rear-view mirror provided at the driving station. The main image and the secondary image are synthetic images generated by a computer from a data base containing the description of a three-dimensional road circuit.

Claims

1. A driver training method comprising the steps of:

displaying on a front screen placed opposite to a driving station both a front main image corresponding to a front view of the driver and at least one rear vision secondary image corresponding to a view provided by adjustable rear-view means,

moving said images in reply to control operations initiated form said driving station, and

collecting and directing optically said rear vision secondary image from said screen to an adjustable rear-view means provided in said driving station.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said rear vision secondary image is generated with lower resolution than the resolution with which the main image is generated.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said rear vision secondary image is displayed on a portion of the front screen form which the image is collected optically and reflected optically to said adjustable rear-view means.

4. The method according to claim 1, where said rear vision secondary image having a first rear vision secondary image which is an inner rear vision secondary image formed by a means of information corresponding to a central field of vision behind the driver and displayed on a first portion of said screen form which it is directed to an associated central adjustable rear-view means provided at the driving station, and a second outer rear vision secondary image formed by means for providing information corresponding to a first lateral field of vision behind the driver which is displayed on a second portion of said screen from which it is directed to a first associated lateral adjustable rear-view means provided at the driving station.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein there is displayed on a third portion of said screen a third rear vision secondary image formed by means of information corresponding to a second lateral field of vision behind the driver, said third secondary image being directed to a second associated lateral adjustable rear-view means provided at the driving station.

6. A device for training drivers of motor vehicles, comprising:

at least on image display screen (16) positioned opposite to a driving station having control operations for a trainee driver;

a computer for generating images from a data base containing the description of a three-dimensional road circuit, the computer including first means for generating a front main image (18) in accordance with the control operations of said driving station, and

second means for generating a first rear vision secondary image (19) inserted in said front main image on a first portion of said screen (16); and

first optical means for collecting and reflecting said first secondary image (19) to an associated adjustable rear-view means (2) provided at the driving station.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising third means for generating a second rear vision secondary image (22) inserted in said front image (18) on a second portion of said screen (16) and second optical means (24, 27, 29) for collecting and directing said second secondary image (22) to a first associated lateral adjustable rear-view means (25) provided at the driving station.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising fourth means for generating a third rear vision secondary image (23) inserted in said front image (18) on a third portion of said screen (16) and third optical means (24, 28, 30) for collecting and directing said third secondary image (23) to a second associated lateral adjustable rear-view means (26) provided at the driving station.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said screen (16) is integrated in a casing (24) which covers a lower portion of the screen at the level of said second and third rear vision secondary images (22, 23) and said optical means is provided with at least one mirror for directing said second and third rear vision secondary images (22, 23) to said associated lateral adjustment rear-view means (25, 26), and said optical means being constituted by said casing (24).

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein said adjustable rear-view means (20, 25, 26) permit adjustment of their orientation and that the corresponding rear vision secondary images (19, 22, 23) inserted in said main image (18) are so dimensioned that said images are partly collected by said optical means associated therewith, thus making it possible by adjusting one of said adjustable rear-view means (20, 25, 26) to modify the collected portion of the secondary image (19, 22, 23) associated therewith.

11. The device according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the lateral adjustable rear-view means (25, 26) is replaced by an additional screen corresponding in size to the lateral adjustable rear-view means and that the associated rear view secondary image is generated directly on the additional screen form said data base which is stored int eh computer.

12. The device according to claim 6, wherein said optical means comprises a Fresnel leans.

13. The device according to claim 6, further including two lateral screens (38, 39) placed on each side of the first screen (16) and fifth means for generating on said lateral screens lateral main images (40, 41) corresponding to lateral field of vision of the driver.