Reduction of blind spots by using display screens

• US 6,809,704 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Quonsil PL 3 LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Kulas
• Inventors: Kulas, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Application Number:
  US10/071,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20030151563A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.2, 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 348/115, 348/128, 348/148, 348/330.01, 340/937, 340/958, 340/961, 340/980, 340/973, 340/975
• US Class Current: 345/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1526 Dual-view displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1526 Dual-view displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/202 displaying a blind spot scene on the vehicle part responsible for the blind spot
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A system for reducing blind spots in various situations, such as in an automobile. The invention uses display screen surfaces to cover objects that are opaque, or objects which it is difficult to see through. Small cameras are used to generate images on the display screens that correspond to images that a viewer would see in the absence of the objects. For example, where the left windshield post of a car is covered with a display screen, the invention uses a camera that receives image information from the left-front of the car. The image information is used by a processor to compute what the driver would see if the door post were not there. A preferred embodiment uses the driver'"'"'s viewpoint to generate a more accurate screen display. The screen display approximates images that the driver would see so that the images mesh, or are coherent with, other images presented to the driver such as the views through the front windshield and driver'"'"'s side window. Another aspect of the invention provides movable mirrors to provide dual modes of viewing and to increase the mirror'"'"'s field of view. Different modes, or mirror positions can be invoked manually or by automated detection of a viewer'"'"'s head position or eye positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for improving driver visibility in an automobile, wherein the automobile includes a windshield post, the apparatus comprising

a display screen for mounting onto the windshield post to cover at least a portion of the windshield post;

a processor coupled to the display screen;

a camera;

a computer-readable medium that includes one or more instructions for a display process that receives image information from the camera and generates display information for the display screen so that a first portion of an object blocked from a driver'"'"'s view by the windshield post is displayed on the display screen in substantial alignment with a second portion of the object that is not blocked from the driver'"'"'s view by the windshield post.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

an input process for receiving an indication of the driver'"'"'s viewpoint; and

wherein the display process uses the driver'"'"'s viewpoint to generate the display information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising

a detector for automatically detecting a driver'"'"'s viewpoint.

4. A method for reducing blind spots, comprising

covering at least part of an obstruction'"'"'s surface with a display screen;

determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint;

using a processor to generate image information for display on the display screen based on the viewer'"'"'s viewpoint so that a first part of an object blocked from the viewer'"'"'s view by the obstruction is displayed on the display screen in substantial alignment with a second part of the object that is not blocked from the viewer'"'"'s view by the obstruction.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising

using a camera to obtain image data to derive the image information.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint includes

detecting a position of a portion of a seat in which the human viewer is sitting.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint includes

detecting one or more mirror positions.

8.The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining a human user'"'"'s viewpoint includes

accepting a signal from a user input device.

8. An apparatus for reducing blind spots, the apparatus comprising

a display screen covering at least part of an object'"'"'s surface;

a processor coupled to the display screen;

at least one signal determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint; and

p1 a machine-readable medium including one or more instructions executable by the processor to generate image information for display on the display screen based so that a first portion of an object blocked from the viewer'"'"'s view is displayed on the display screen in substantial alignment with a second portion of the object that is not blocked from the viewer'"'"'s view.

9. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising

a camera coupled to the processor, wherein the camera provides image data to derive the image information.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one signal determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint is generated at least in part by detection of a position of a driver'"'"'s seat.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one signal determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint is generated at least in part by detection of one or more mirror positions.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one signal determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint is generated at least in part by acceptance of signals from a user input device.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one signal determining a human viewer'"'"'s viewpoint is generated at least in part by a position sensor.

14. An apparatus for reflective viewing, the apparatus comprising

a reflective surface;

a processor;

a surface movement mechanism coupled to the reflective surface to move the reflective surface in response to a signal; and

a machine readable medium including one or more instructions executed by the processor for generating the signal to move the mirror to allow viewing of an object behind the reflective surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising

a machine readable medium including one or more instructions executed by the processor to move the mirror in response to a signal from a user input device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising

a sensor for determining a user'"'"'s viewing direction;

and

a machine readable medium including one or more instructions executed by the processor to move the mirror in response to a signal from the sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising

a micromirror device.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising

a display screen between the reflective surface and a human user, wherein the display screen is viewable by the human user in a first mode.

18. An apparatus for reflective viewing, the apparatus comprising

a reflective surface;

a processor;

a surface movement mechanism coupled to the reflective surface to move the reflective surface in response to a signal; and

one or more instructions executed by the processor for generating the signal to move the mirror; and

a display screen having an image portion which is reflected by the mirror and visible to a human user when the mirror is in a first position, wherein the display screen image portion is not visible when then mirror is in a second position.