Method and system for presenting an image of an external view in a moving vehicle

• US 7,088,310 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sanford, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US10/427,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 345/7, 345/8, 345/9, 348/148, 348/149, 348/117, 348/118, 348/208.3, 701/1, 701/3
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00151 Permanently mounted seat back monitors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0061 Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated

Abstract

Methods and systems for processing images corresponding to views external to a vehicle are disclosed. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes first and second signal receiving portions configured to receive a signal corresponding to an image of a view external to the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle, respectively. A signal processing portion can direct to a first display portion a first signal corresponding to the image and to a second display portion a second signal corresponding to the image, with the first and second display portions positioned at different locations of the vehicle. The second signal can be delayed by a time that corresponds at least approximately inversely to the speed of the vehicle. Accordingly, a viewer seeing both display portions can receive a visual indication that the vehicle is moving.

Claims

1. A system for processing images corresponding to a view external to a vehicle, comprising:

a first signal receiving portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to an image of a view external to a vehicle;

a second signal receiving portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to a speed of the vehicle; and

a signal processing portion configured to;

direct to a first display portion positioned at a first location of the vehicle a first signal corresponding to the image;

direct to a second display portion positioned at a second location of the vehicle a second signal corresponding to the image, the second location being different than the first location; and

delay the second signal by a time that corresponds at least approximately inversely to the speed of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first signal receiving portion is configured to receive a streaming digital image of the view external to the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising the first and second display portions.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the signal processing portion includes a computer processor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising the first and second display portions, and wherein the first and second display portions are part of a generally continuous panel.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a camera operatively coupled to the first receiving portion to transmit the signal corresponding to the image of the view external to the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a speed sensor operatively coupled to the second signal receiving portion to transmit the signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one speed sensor operatively coupled to the second signal receiving portion to transmit the signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle, and wherein the signal corresponds to a turning speed of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes at least one first wheel and at least one second wheel spaced laterally apart from the at least one first wheel and wherein the system further comprises:

a first speed sensor operatively coupled to the at least one first wheel to detect a speed of the at least one first wheel; and

a second speed sensor operatively coupled to the at least one second wheel to detect a speed of the at least one second wheel.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle includes an aircraft and wherein the signal processing portion is configured to synchronize the first and second signals when the aircraft is airborne.

11. A system for processing images corresponding to a view external to a vehicle, comprising:

first signal receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to a view external to a vehicle;

second signal receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to a speed of the vehicle; and

signal processing means for processing the first and second signals, the signal processing means being configured to;

direct to a first display portion positioned at a first location of the vehicle a first signal corresponding to the image;

direct to a second display portion positioned at a second location of the vehicle a second signal corresponding to the image, the second location being different than the first location; and

delay the second signal by a time that corresponds at least approximately inversely to the speed of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the first signal receiving means are configured to receive a streaming digital image of the view external to the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising the first and second display portions.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the signal processing means include a computer processor.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising the first and second display portions, and wherein the first and second display portions are part of a generally continuous panel.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising image gathering means for gathering the image of the view external to the vehicle, the image gathering means being coupled to the first receiving means to transmit the signal corresponding to the image of the view.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising speed sensor means for detecting the speed of the vehicle, the speed sensor means being operatively coupled to the second signal receiving means to transmit the signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising speed sensor means for detecting a turning speed of the vehicle, the speed sensor means being operatively coupled to the second signal receiving portion to transmit the signal corresponding to the speed of the vehicle.