Virtual convertible tops, sunroofs, and back windows, and systems and methods for providing same
First Claim
1. A virtual-sunroof system, for providing a virtual sunroof at an interior of a vehicle for viewing by a passenger when the passenger is seated in the vehicle, comprising:
- a virtual-sunroof image-collection device configured and arranged at the vehicle to sense an environment above the vehicle and create digital image data using the image information, wherein the sensing is performed continuously over time and the digital image data is updated in real-time based on the continuous sensing and any changes of the environment being sensed; and
a virtual-sunroof projection device configured and arranged in the vehicle to be in communication with the virtual-sunroof image-collection device for providing a virtual sunroof display that;
is viewable above a head of the passenger seated in the vehicle, where a conventional sunroof would be positioned but is absent;
is formed using the image data;
represents accurately at the interior of the vehicle a rendition of the environment above the vehicle in real-time as the image data is updated; and
has a size, shape, and location corresponding generally to a size, shape, and location that an actual conventional-type sunroof would have in the vehicle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual-sunroof system for providing a virtual sunroof at an interior of a vehicle for viewing by a passenger of the vehicle. The system includes a virtual-sunroof imaging device configured and arranged at the vehicle to collect image information from an environment above the vehicle and create digital image data using the image information. The system also includes a virtual-sunroof projection device configured and arranged in the vehicle to be in communication with the virtual-sunroof imaging device for providing a virtual sunroof display. The virtual sunroof display provided (a) is viewable above a head of the passenger, (b) is formed using the image data, (c) represents accurately at the interior of the vehicle a rendition of the environment above the vehicle, and (d) has a size, shape, and location corresponding generally to a size, shape, and location that an actual conventional-type sunroof would have in the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A virtual-sunroof system, for providing a virtual sunroof at an interior of a vehicle for viewing by a passenger when the passenger is seated in the vehicle, comprising:
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a virtual-sunroof image-collection device configured and arranged at the vehicle to sense an environment above the vehicle and create digital image data using the image information, wherein the sensing is performed continuously over time and the digital image data is updated in real-time based on the continuous sensing and any changes of the environment being sensed; and a virtual-sunroof projection device configured and arranged in the vehicle to be in communication with the virtual-sunroof image-collection device for providing a virtual sunroof display that; is viewable above a head of the passenger seated in the vehicle, where a conventional sunroof would be positioned but is absent; is formed using the image data; represents accurately at the interior of the vehicle a rendition of the environment above the vehicle in real-time as the image data is updated; and has a size, shape, and location corresponding generally to a size, shape, and location that an actual conventional-type sunroof would have in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A virtual-convertible-top system, for providing a virtual convertible top at an interior of a vehicle for viewing by a passenger when the passenger is seated in the vehicle, comprising:
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a virtual-convertible-top image-collection device configured and arranged at the vehicle to sense an environment above the vehicle and create, based on the sensing, digital image data using the image information, wherein the sensing is performed continuously over time and the digital image data is updated in real-time based on the continuous sensing and any changes of the environment being sensed; and a virtual-convertible-top projection device configured and arranged in the vehicle to be in communication with the virtual-convertible-top image-collection device for providing a virtual-convertible-top display that; is viewable above a head of the passenger seated in the vehicle, where the environment would be visible directly if the vehicle had a conventional convertible top down; is formed using the image data; and represents accurately, at the interior of the vehicle, a rendition of the environment above the vehicle in real-time as the image data is updated. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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14. The virtual-convertible-top system of claim wherein:
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the virtual-convertible-top system further comprises; a processor; and a computer-readable storage device having instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising; receiving the image data from the virtual-convertible-top image-collection device; processing the image data to form processed image data; and providing the processed image data to the virtual-convertible-top display device for providing the virtual convertible top; the virtual-convertible-top projection device, in being configured and arranged in the vehicle to be in communication with the virtual-convertible-top image-collection device is configured to be in communication with the virtual-convertible-top image-collection device by way of the processor; and the virtual-convertible-top projection device, in being configured and arranged in the vehicle to provide the display formed using the image data, is configured and arranged in the vehicle to provide the display formed using the processed image data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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19. A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, for providing a virtual overhead display for viewing by a passenger seated in a vehicle, comprising:
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receiving, from an image-collection device, overhead image data representing visual qualities of an environment above the vehicle, wherein the overhead image data is received continuously over time, and so representing over time any changes to the above-vehicle environment; processing the overhead image data to form processed overhead image data; and providing the processed overhead image data to a display device for use by the display device to provide the virtual overhead display, in real-time as the image data is updated in response to changing of the above-vehicle environment, to be viewable by the passenger seated in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification