Device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle

• US 7,065,432 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Longhorn Automotive Group LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Holz, Michael, Moisel, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/957,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/93, 340/438, 340/905, 340/441, 340/936, 340/988, 340/901, 340/439, 342/5, 342/73, 342/82, 342/104, 342/176, 342/179, 342/190
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle, having a radiation source for infrared radiation for irradiating the surroundings of the vehicle, having an infrared-sensitive camera for taking images of at least part of the irradiated surroundings, having a display unit for displaying collected image data, and having a control unit for controlling the device. Furthermore, a sensing unit for a recommended maximum velocity v_max is provided and is connected to the control unit. A velocity sensor which is connected to the control unit is provided in such a way that the control unit causes the display to be switched off when the vehicle velocity v exceeds the maximum velocity v_max. The display is preferably switched on when the vehicle velocity v drops below the maximum velocity v_max.

Claims

1. A device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle, having

a radiation source for infrared radiation for irradiating the surroundings of the vehicle,

an infrared-sensitive camera for taking images of at least part of the irradiated surroundings,

a display unit for displaying collected image data, and

a control unit for controlling the device,

wherein a sensing unit for a recommended maximum velocity v_max is provided and is connected to the control unit, in that a velocity sensor is provided connected to the control unit, and

wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that when a vehicle velocity v exceeds the maximum velocity v_max the display is switched off.

2. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that when a vehicle velocity v drops below the maximum velocity v_max the display is switched on.

3. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein in that a signal transmitter is provided which is connected to the control unit and which is actuated in such a way that when the vehicle velocity v exceeds the maximum velocity v_max a visual, audible and/or haptic warning signal is output.

4. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that when a vehicle velocity v drops below the maximum velocity v_max by a velocity difference v₀ the display is switched on.

5. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the velocity difference v₀ is selected in the vicinity of a few per cent of the maximum velocity v_max, in particular in the range of 5%.

6. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing unit is designed for a recommended maximum velocity v_max in such a way that the recommended maximum velocity v_max is determined from the road profile or from the driving behavior of the vehicle or from received radio signals.

7. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that the maximum velocity v_max can be output on the display.

8. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is embodied in such a way that the display can be switched off delayed by a time code t₀.

9. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in addition to an on/off switch for the device, an additional switch for switching on the display after switching off is provided.

10. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein the additional switch is implemented in the vicinity of the steering wheel, in particular by means of a headlamp flasher switch or a rocker on the steering wheel.

11. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is switched off suddenly.

12. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display is switched off in a gradual fashion.

13. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device is connected to the radiation source for infrared radiation and is suitable for controlling this radiation in terms of the radiation power or the orientation as a function of the vehicle velocity v.

14. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control device is designed in such a way that the display is switched off when the vehicle velocity v exceeds a second defined maximum velocity v_smax, and the display is switched on in particular when the vehicle velocity v drops below the second predefined maximum velocity v_smax.

15. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein in that the control device is embodied in such a way that, in addition to the display, the camera and/or the radiation source can also be switched off and on as a function of the velocity.

16. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that signaling takes place before the display is switched off owing to the maximum speed v_max being exceeded.