Display system

• US 8,576,286 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Issued: 11/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics OTS Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Childs, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US13/085,233
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method for video navigation is disclosed. The system and method may include one or more video cameras configured to capture views external to the vehicle, a control mechanism for adjusting the sight-line of the one or more video cameras, and a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured within the sight-line of the one or more video cameras.

Claims

1. A navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:

one or more pairs of video cameras, each pair having a first camera with a first sight-line and a second camera with a second sight-line oriented at a variable angle relative to the first sight-line, the second camera being paced apart from the first camera by a selectively variable separation distance, and each pair being configured to capture a stereoscopic view external to the vehicle;

a control mechanism for adjusting the first and second sight-lines of the one or more pairs of video cameras; and

a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured by the one or more pairs of video cameras,

wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine a desired convergence point and to adjust, for each pair of cameras, at least one of the set consisting of the first and second sight lines and the separation distance so that the first and second sight-lines intersect at the desired convergence point.

2. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the display panel is configured to display three-dimensional images.

3. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism comprises:

one or more sensors for determining the direction of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s gaze.

4. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein the control mechanism adjusts the first and second sight-lines of the one or more pairs of cameras using the determined direction of the occupant'"'"'s gaze.

5. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is integrated into a helmet.

6. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein at east one of the one or more sensors is integrated into eyeglasses.

7. The navigation system of claim 3, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to analyze the vehicle occupant'"'"'s eyes to determine the direction of the occupant'"'"'s gaze.

8. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is a joystick.

9. The navigation system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply;

a camera sync module;

a video display adapter, for sending video captured by the one or more cameras to the display panel.

10. The navigation system of claim 9, wherein the video display adapter is a LCD-sync module or LCD shutter glasses system.

11. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the video cameras are articulating cameras mounted outside of the vehicle.

12. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the video cameras each comprise optical or software zoom capabilities.

13. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a plurality of panels.

14. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a curved panel.

15. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a three-dimensional display.

16. The navigation system of claim 15, wherein the three-dimensional display is configured to display three-dimensional images to the user without the use of glasses.

17. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the display panel is configured to display holographic images.

18. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more video cameras and the display panel are integrated into an armor panel.

19. The navigation system of claim 18, wherein the armor panel is configured to replace an existing window or windshield.

20. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the display panel is recessed within a portion of the vehicle.

21. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point from at least one of the set consisting of a direction of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s gaze and a vehicle.

22. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point using a direction of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s gaze and a velocity of the vehicle.

23. The navigation system of claim 1, wherein the one or more pairs of video cameras is a plurality of pairs of video cameras.

24. A method for providing video navigation for a vehicle, comprising:

receiving a user-input to articulate one or more pairs of video cameras, each pair having a first camera with a first sight-line and a second camera with a second sight-line oriented at a variable angle relative to the first sight-line, the second camera being spaced apart from the first camera by a selectively variable separation distance;

determining a desired convergence point for each pair of the one or more pairs of video cameras;

adjusting, for each pair of video cameras, at least one of the set consisting of the first and second sight lines and the separation distance so that the first and second sight-lines intersect at the desired convergence point;

capturing stereoscopic video images from the one or more pairs of video cameras; and

displaying the video images on a display panel internal to the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the display panel is configured to display three-dimensional images.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

determining a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the action of determining a desired convergence is accomplished using the determined gaze direction.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the action of determining a desired convergence point is accomplished using the determined gaze direction and a velocity of the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the display panel is a pair of LCD glasses configured to be worn by an occupant.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the display panel is a visor configured to display three-dimensional images to an occupant.