Vehicular monitoring systems with a multi-window display

• US 6,989,739 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coligen Corp.
• Original Assignee: Shih-Hsiung Li
• Inventors: Li, Shih-Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/763,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20050162261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/436, 340/435, 340/937, 340/901, 340/426.25, 340/903, 348/47, 348/118, 180/167, 180/271
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2624 for obtaining an image which is composed of whole input images, e.g. splitscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A multi-window vehicular monitoring system has a data collection assembly, a console unit and multiple video cameras. The data collection assembly uses RF signal transmission to send distance data, and the console unit is further connected to a monitor and several video cameras. The system employs an image overlay controller to correlate the distance data and images to produce single-channel or multiple-channel video signals. With a continuous display of video images from all angles and constantly updated distance data, the vehicle driver becomes more aware of conditions around the vehicle at any given time. Thus no blind spots exist for the driver around the vehicle. Using such a monitoring system, a driver'"'"'s visibility and safety can be considerably enhanced under all driving conditions.

Claims

1. A multi-window monitoring system, comprising:

a data collection assembly (10) having

an assembly controller (11);

a memory device (111) connected to the assembly controller (11);

multiple ultrasonic signal transceivers (20);

multiple signal processing circuits (21) connected to the assembly controller (11) and respectively to the ultrasonic signal transceivers (20); and

a wireless signal transmitter (12) connected to the assembly controller (11);

a console unit (30) having

a unit controller (31);

a signal receiver (32);

an alarm (33); and

an image overlay controller (40) that has multiple video input terminals, a data input terminal connected to the unit controller (31) and an video output terminal;

multiple video cameras (50) connected respectively to the video input terminals of the image overlay controller (40); and

a monitor (60) connected to the video output terminal of the image overlay controller (40) and having a touch-screen with multiple function keys.

2. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the image overlay controller (40) comprises:

a programmable video controller (41) being connected to a temporary memory(411);

a multiplexer (42), which is connected to the programmable video controller (41) and the temporary memory (411) through an A/D signal converter (421) and a horizontal-sync signal separation circuit (422);

a buffer (43) connected to an input terminal of the programmable video controller (41); and

a D/A converter (44), which is connected between the programmable video controller (41) and the monitor (60) to convert images to single-channel or multiple-channel video images and pass the converted images to the monitor (60) for display.

3. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein the unit controller (31) is connected to a memory device (311) for saving identification codes of all ultrasonic signal transceivers (20), wherein the signal receiver (32) is a RF signal transmission module.

4. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 3, wherein the monitor (60) is a touch screen type monitor.

5. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein

the assembly controller (11) of the console assembly (10) connects to a memory device (111) that saves identification codes of all ultrasonic signal transceivers (20);

each ultrasonic module (20) is connected to the assembly controller (11) through a signal processing circuit (21), so that ultrasonic signals returned from the ultrasonic signal transceivers (20) are digitized and passed to the assembly controller (11); and

the wireless signal transmitter is a RF signal transmission module that utilizes a frequency hopping techniue or a frequency spreading technique to avoid mutual interference.

6. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the signal processing circuit (21) comprises a microprocessor (211), an ultrasonic signal transceiving circuit (212), a signal amplifier (213) and a signal converting circuit (214), where the microprocessor (211) is connected to the assembly controller (11) for passing on digitized signals.

7. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein the unit controller (31) is connected to a memory device (311) for saving identification codes of all ultrasonic signal transceivers (20), wherein the signal receiver (32) is a RF signal transmission module.

8. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein the monitor (60) is a touch screen type monitor.

9. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the unit controller (31) is connected to a memory device (311) for saving identification codes of all ultrasonic signal transceivers (20), wherein the signal receiver (32) is a RF signal transmission module.

10. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the monitor (60) is a touch screen type monitor.

11. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein the unit controller (31) is connected to a memory device (311) for saving identification codes of all ultrasonic signal transceivers (20), wherein the signal receiver (32) is a RF signal transmission module.

12. The multi-window monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein the monitor (60) is a touch screen type monitor.