Vehicular visual assistance system

• US 7,520,616 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Honda Lock
• Inventors: Kimura, Junichi, Ooba, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling; William C
• Application Number:
  US11/024,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,575 Days
• Field of Search: 353/11, 353/12, 353/13, 353/14, 353/28, 396/419, 396/429, 348/148
• US Class Current: 353/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/202 displaying a blind spot scene on the vehicle part responsible for the blind spot
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views

Abstract

A vehicular visual assistance system includes: a retro-reflective surface formed on an inside face of a pillar that is in a position obstructing the view of a vehicle driver seated on a driver'"'"'s seat within a vehicle compartment; a camera mounted on the vehicle outside the vehicle compartment for taking an image outward from the pillar in a direction that is substantially the same as the line of vision of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat; and a projector for projecting in real time the image taken by the camera toward the retro-reflective surface of the pillar. The projector is fixedly disposed within the vehicle compartment at a position close to the eyes of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat. Thus, it is possible to eliminate a blind spot due to the pillar, thereby enhancing safety of driving.

Claims

1. A vehicular visual assistance system comprising:

a retro-reflective surface formed on an inside face of a pillar that is in a position obstructing a view of a vehicle driver seated on a driver'"'"'s seat within a vehicle compartment;

a camera mounted on the vehicle outside the vehicle compartment on a door mirror which takes a real world image outward from the pillar in a direction that is substantially the same as the line of vision of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat; and

a projector which directly receives the real world image taken by the camera and directly projects said real world image continuously in real time toward the retro-reflective surface of the pillar, the projector being fixedly disposed within the vehicle compartment at a position close to the eyes of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat and the projector projects the real world image as received by the camera.

2. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the projector is mounted on a rear view mirror.

3. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the projector is mounted on a roof.

4. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the projector is mounted on a headrest of the driver'"'"'s seat.

5. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the camera is mounted on a substantially forward facing surface of a door mirror.

6. A vehicular visual assistance system comprising:

a retro-reflective surface on an inside face of a visual obstruction, the visual obstruction located in a vehicle compartment in a position obstructing a view of a vehicle driver seated on a driver'"'"'s seat within the vehicle compartment, the retro-reflective surface covering substantially the entire inside face thereof;

a camera mounted on an outside portion of the vehicle compartment, said camera obtains a real world image outward from the visual obstruction of the vehicle in a direction that is substantially the same as the line of vision of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat; and

a projector which directly receives and continuously, directly displays the real world image taken by the camera in real time onto the retro-reflective surface of the visual obstruction, the projector being secured within and secured to a portion of the vehicle compartment at a position close to the eyes of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat so as to project the image along a line that is substantially the same as the line of vision of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat.

7. A vehicular visual assistance system comprising:

a retro-reflective surface formed on an inside face of a pillar that is in a position obstructing a view of a vehicle driver seated on a driver'"'"'s seat within a vehicle compartment;

a camera mounted on the vehicle outside the vehicle compartment which takes a real world image outward from the pillar in a direction that is substantially the same as a line of rearside vision of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat when the vehicle driver looks back; and

a projector operatively connected to directly receive an image from said camera, the projector fixedly disposed within the vehicle compartment at a position close to the eyes of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat;

wherein said projector directly projects the real world image in real time taken by the camera toward the retro-reflective surface of the pillar.

8. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the camera is mounted on a side mirror of the vehicle.

9. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the projector is mounted on a rear view mirror.

10. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the projector is mounted on an interior roof portion that includes an overhead console.

11. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 7, wherein the projector is mounted on a headrest of the driver'"'"'s seat.

12. A vehicular visual assistance system comprising:

a retro-reflective surface formed on an inside face of a pillar that is in a position obstructing a view of a vehicle driver seated on a driver'"'"'s seat within a vehicle compartment;

a camera mounted on the vehicle outside the vehicle compartment on an outer face of a vehicle body at a position in the proximity of the pillar which takes a real world image outward from the pillar in a direction that is substantially the same as the line of vision of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat; and

a projector which projects the real world image as directly received from the camera and projects said real world images continuously in real time toward the retro-reflective surface of the pillar, the projector being fixedly disposed within the vehicle compartment at a position close to the eyes of the vehicle driver on the driver'"'"'s seat.

13. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 12, wherein the camera is mounted on an outer face of a vehicle body at a position on the pillar.

14. A vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 12, wherein the retro-reflective surface is formed by coating the inside face of the pillar with a retro-reflective material.

15. A vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 12, wherein the retro-reflective surface is formed by affixing the inside face of the pillar with a retro-reflective material.

16. A vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 12, wherein during operation of the vehicular visual assistance system, the pillar is effectively made virtually transparent by the projection of the real world image thereon, and wherein the projection of the real world image on said pillar eliminates a blind spot which would be present absent said projection.

17. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 12, wherein said camera directly feeds said real world images to the projector for projection thereof on said retro-reflective surface of said pillar.

18. The vehicular visual assistance system according to claim 12, wherein said projector is fixedly disposed within and secured to a part of said vehicle compartment proximate an eye level of the driver when the driver is seated on the driver'"'"'s seat.