Vehicular position monitoring system with integral mirror video display

• US 5,793,308 A
• Filed: 04/12/1994
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensor Vision Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sensorvision Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Wisniewski, Joseph, Rosinski, Albin, Gauthier, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US08/229,607
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/903, 340/937, 359/549, 359/609, 359/631, 359/838, 348/113, 348/115, 367/108, 367/109
• US Class Current: 340/903
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2015/938 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52004 Means for monitoring or calibrating short-range imaging G01S7/5205
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/64 Luminous indications G01S7/62 takes precedence ; short-range imaging G01S7/52076
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/909 Collision avoidance

Abstract

A vehicular position monitoring system includes an integral mirror video display. The display is capable of showing various fields of vision from various parts of the vehicle and can be strobed by the vehicle operator. The position monitoring system can be combined with a distance measurement system so that alpha-numeric graphics of distance between a vehicle and an object behind the vehicle can be displayed with the video image of regions seen from various points on the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular position monitoring system mounted on a vehicle, said system comprising:

(a) means for generating an image;

(b) a mirror having a reflecting surface with a window portion located therein;

(c) a video display mounted on said mirror and viewable through said window portion;

(d) a controller arranged to control connection of said means for generating an image to said video display so that said image is displayed; and

(e) an audio detection device mounted external to said vehicle, and an audible alarm responsive to said audio detection device, said audible alarm arranged within said vehicle proximate to a location used by a vehicle operator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said audible alarm comprises a speaker conveying sound detected by said audio detection means.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for generating an image comprise a charged coupled device.

4. A vehicular position monitoring system mounted on a vehicle, said system comprising:

(a) means for generating an image, where said means for generating an image comprise a charged coupled device, said charge coupled device exhibiting an infrared sensitivity;

(b) a mirror having a reflecting surface with a window portion located therein;

(c) a video display mounted on said mirror and viewable through said window portion;

(d) a controller arranged to control connection of said means for generating an image to said video display so that said image is displayed; and

(e) an alarm responsive to a predetermined level of infrared radiation measured by said controller.

5. A vehicular position monitoring system mounted on a vehicle, said system comprising:

(a) means for generating an image;

(b) a mirror having a reflecting surface with a window portion located therein;

(c) a video display mounted on said mirror and viewable through said window portion, wherein said video display comprises a color liquid crystal display, and said liquid crystal display comprises a multiple split-screen arranged to display four different images; and

(d) a controller arranged to control connection of said means for generating an image to said video display so that said image is displayed as one of said four different images.

6. A vehicular position monitoring system mounted on a vehicle, said system comprising:

(a) means for generating an image;

(b) a mirror having a reflecting surface with a window portion located therein;

(c) a video display mounted on said mirror and viewable through said window portion, wherein said video display comprises a color liquid crystal display, and said liquid crystal display comprises a multiple split-screen arranged to display four different images; and

(d) a controller arranged to control connection of said means for generating an image to said video display so that said image is displayed, wherein said controller comprises means for switching images between the split screens of said video display responsive to a vehicle operator.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said controller further comprises means for selecting video images for display responsive to vehicle operator activation of a keyboard.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said controller further comprises means for displaying a menu on at least one of said split screens.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said menu provides access to all operations of said system.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said controller further comprises means for adding alpha-numeric graphics to said video images displayed by said liquid crystal device display.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising an ultrasonic distance measurement system providing an output to said controller, said output of said ultrasonic distance measurement device being graphically represented on said liquid crystal display.

12. A vehicular position monitoring system, said system comprising:

(a) an electronic camera having a field of view, for mounting on the vehicle such that the field of view is substantially external to the vehicle, and for generating an electrical signal representing an external image within the field of view of the camera;

(b) a mirror for mounting on the vehicle, said mirror having a reflecting surface;

(c) an electronic video display, mounted to said mirror for viewing concurrently therewith; and

(d) a processor responsive to the electrical signal from the electronic camera for providing a drive signal to the electronic video display, and for causing the electronic video display to display the external image.

13. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, wherein the electronic camera comprises a charge coupled device (CCD).

14. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, wherein the electronic video display comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD).

15. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, wherein the electronic camera comprises:

an electronic imager for generating the electrical signal in response to light; and

an optical fiber for picking up light from the external field of view and supplying that light to the electronic imager.

16. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, further comprising a fisheye lens for supplying light from the external field of view to an optical input of the electronic camera.

17. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, further comprising a second electronic camera.

18. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 17, wherein each of the electronic cameras comprises a charge coupled device (CCD).

19. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 17, wherein at least one of the electronic cameras is mounted in a vehicle tail light.

20. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 17, further comprising:

a swivel mount, for mounting one of the electronic cameras on the exterior of the vehicle to move the one camera to change direction of the field of view of the one camera; and

a controller for enabling a vehicle operator to control rotational movement of the swivel mount.

21. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, wherein the reflective surface of the mirror has a window therethrough, and the electronic video display is mounted on the mirror for viewing through the window.

22. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 21, wherein said window is covered by an anti-glare surface.

23. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 21, wherein said window is covered by a pellicle.

24. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 23, wherein said electronic video display is visible through the window to a vehicle operator only when said electronic video display is activated.

25. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, further comprising a controller for activating the system to cause the electronic video display to display the external image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

26. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, wherein the electronic camera comprises:

an electronic imager for generating the electrical signal in response to light;

a plurality optical fibers for picking up light from a plurality of different external fields of view; and

shutters for selectively supplying light from each of the optical fibers to the electronic imager.

27. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, further comprising an image storage device.

28. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 27, wherein the image storage device comprises a video cassette recorder.

29. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 27, wherein the image storage device comprises a random access video memory chip.

30. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, further comprising:

an audio detection device for mounting external to said vehicle; and

a transducer for producing an audible alarm in response to said audio detection device in the vehicle proximate an operator location.

31. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 12, wherein the electronic camera comprises an imager having an infrared sensitivity, said vehicular position monitoring system further comprising an alarm responsive to a predetermined level of infrared radiation sensed through said imager.

32. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 14, wherein said LCD comprises a multiple split-screen arranged to display a plurality of different images.

33. A vehicular position monitoring system as in claim 32, further comprising:

a second electronic camera having a second field of view, for mounting on the vehicle such that the second field of view is substantially external to the vehicle, and for generating a second electrical signal representing an external image within the second field of view;

wherein the processor selectively switches the first and second electrical signals to form the drive signal, to apply the images from the first and second fields of view in the split screens of the LCD, in response to input commands from the vehicle operator.

34. A method of providing a view external of a vehicle to an operator of the vehicle at an operator'"'"'s location within the vehicle, comprising:

reflecting a first field of view from a mirror for viewing by the vehicle operator within the vehicle;

electronically imaging a second field of view, which is external to said vehicle;

producing an electrical drive signal representative of the electronically imaged second field of view;

electronically displaying an image of the second field of view, responsive to the drive signal, in close proximity to the reflection of the first field of view by the mirror, such that the vehicle operator can concurrently observe the first field of in the mirror and the electronically displayed image of the second field of view.