System for displaying an area outside a normal viewing area to a vehicle driver

• US 6,542,182 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Chutorash, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/717,750
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, H04/N.947, 348/148, 348/151, 348/153, 348/159, 359/601-608, 340/815.4, 340/425.5, 340/901, 340/433, 340/435, 340/436, 381/86, 381/110, 381/365
• 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 1/26 to the rear 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 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/40 characterised by the details of the power supply or the coupling to vehicle components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A system including a self-powered, mobile camera unit is provided for displaying an area outside a normal viewing area to a vehicle driver. The camera unit includes a camera for generating images of objects, a camera control unit for controlling the camera, a camera transceiver unit coupled to the camera control unit for wirelessly transmitting the images and a first plurality of docking connectors coupled to the camera control unit. The system also includes a vehicle transceiver unit for wirelessly receiving the transmitted images, a vehicle control unit coupled to the vehicle transceiver unit, a display coupled to the vehicle control unit for displaying the received images inside the normal viewing area of the vehicle driver, and a second plurality of docking connectors removably interconnected, both physically and electrically, to the first plurality of docking connectors at a docking station and coupled to the vehicle control unit. The first and second plurality of docking connectors couple camera control signals from the vehicle control unit to the camera control unit when the first and second plurality of docking connectors are physically and electrically interconnected. The camera control signals are wirelessly transmitted by the vehicle transceiver unit and wirelessly received by the camera transceiver unit when the camera unit is removed from the docking station.

Claims

1. A system for displaying an area outside a normal viewing area to a vehicle driver, the system comprising:

a self-powered, mobile camera unit including a camera for generating images of objects, a camera control unit for controlling the camera, a camera transceiver unit coupled to the camera control unit for wirelessly transmitting the images and a first plurality of docking connectors coupled to the camera control unit;

a vehicle transceiver unit for wirelessly receiving the transmitted images;

a vehicle control unit coupled to the vehicle transceiver unit;

a display coupled to the vehicle control unit for displaying the received images inside the normal viewing area of the vehicle driver; and

a second plurality of docking connectors removably interconnected, both physically and electrically, to the first plurality of docking connectors at a docking station and coupled to the vehicle control unit wherein the first and second plurality of docking connectors couple camera control signals from the vehicle control unit to the camera control unit when the first and second plurality of docking connectors are physically and electrically interconnected and wherein the camera control signals are wirelessly transmitted by the vehicle transceiver unit and wirelessly received by the camera transceiver unit when the camera unit is removed from the docking station.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera control signals include on and off signals for turning the camera on and off, respectively.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera includes a zoom lens and wherein the camera control signals include a zoom control signal for controlling the zoom lens.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera unit includes at least one motor coupled to the camera and wherein the camera control signals include at least one motor control signal for controlling movement of the camera.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the camera unit includes a tilt motor and a scan motor both coupled to the camera and wherein the camera control signals include motor control signals for controlling tilt and scan of the camera.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a manually-operable driver control unit coupled to the vehicle control unit for generating the camera control signals.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera unit includes a battery coupled to the camera control unit for powering the camera unit.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery and wherein the first and second plurality of docking connectors couple power signals to the camera unit to recharge the rechargeable battery at the docking station.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the camera unit includes a housing for housing the camera, the camera control unit, the camera transceiver unit and the first plurality of docking connectors.

10. The system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means for removably mounting the camera unit to a vehicle or a trailer.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for removably mounting includes at least one suction cup.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for removably mounting includes at least one magnet.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means for removably mounting includes at least one pair of hold downs.