Multi-camera built-in monitor system

• US 9,319,639 B1
• Filed: 10/31/2012
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rosco Incorporated
• Inventors: Englander, Benjamin, Serer, Julian, Plate, Peter, Balsam, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jay Au
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Frank
• Application Number:
  US13/664,419
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A rear-view mirror and modular monitor system and method includes an interior mirror that embeds a modular monitor behind see-through mirror glass. In some embodiments, the system includes multiple cameras, some in the vehicle, bus and/or truck, as well as some cameras outside the vehicle, bus and/or truck, advantageously providing the driver an opportunity to view what is happening, for example, in the back rows of the bus and/or cabin, while also using the mirror to look at objects in the bus and/or cabin that are visible using the mirror. The rear-view mirror and modular monitor system is configured to be easily assembled and/or disassembled when necessary for maintenance and/or to replace parts.

Claims

1. A rear-view mirror and modular monitor system for enhanced viewing by a vehicle operator of areas within and/or exterior to a vehicle comprising:

a rear-view mirror unit comprising a mirror and a mirror unit backing, said rear-view mirror unit being mounted forward of the vehicle operator and at a location unobstructive of the vehicle operator'"'"'s forward field of view, at least one section of the mirror comprising at least one of a see-through mirror glass and a display aperture;

at least one monitor module fastened to the rear-view mirror unit and aligned with the at least one of the see-through mirror glass section and the display aperture, said at least one monitor module being configured to be unfastenable and removable from the rear-view mirror unit and refastenable to at least one of the rear-view mirror unit and another rear-view mirror unit; and

a first image capture device mounted at a first location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, and configured to capture and transmit a first image to the at least one monitor module, the first image being displayable on the at least one monitor module;

wherein, when the first image is transmitted to the at least one monitor module and displayed on the at least one monitor module, the first image is viewable through the at least one of the see-through mirror glass section and the display aperture.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed between the at least one see-through mirror glass section and the at least one monitor module, said gasket being configured to channel visible light emitted from a display on the at least one monitor module through the at least one of the see-through mirror glass section and the display aperture of the mirror, while providing protection for the display when the at least one monitor module is fastened to the rear-view mirror unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the gasket is shaped so as to be proximately alignable with a perimeter of the display.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one image storage device configured for image storage.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a protective enclosure encasing the first image capture device and the at least one image storage device, said protective enclosure being configured to enclose the first image capture device and the at least one image storage device, and to protect the first image capture device and the at least one image storage device from at least one of damage, tampering, and theft.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one connection device temporarily connecting the at least one monitor module to the rear-view mirror unit and enabling the at least one monitor module to be removed from and re-connected to or replaced from at least one of the rear-view mirror unit and another rear-view mirror unit.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first image is at least one of captured, transmitted, and displayed responsive to at least one of a manually selected view, an automatically selected view, and an event-triggered selected view.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second image capture device mounted at a second location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, and configured to capture and transmit a second image to the at least one monitor module;

and

an input switch connected to the first image capture device and the second image capture device, and configured to provide at least one of the first image and the second image to the at least one monitor module responsive to at least one of a manually selected view, an automatically selected view, and an event-triggered selected view.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one monitor module further comprises at least two channels configured to receive the first image and the second image, the at least one monitor module further configured to display the first image and the second image one of together in a multiple-feed configuration and individually in a single-feed configuration responsive to the input switch.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first audio capture device mounted at a first location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle;

and

the at least one monitor module further comprising a first audio input and at least one audio output device;

wherein the first audio capture device is configured to capture a first audio signal and provide the first audio signal to the first audio input of the at least one monitor module, and wherein, the at least one audio output device of the at least one monitor module is configured to provide the first audio signal to the vehicle operator.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first location of the first audio capture device is proximate to the first location of the first image capture device, and wherein the at least one monitor module is configured to provide the first audio signal to the vehicle operator responsive to the first image being displayed on the at least one monitor module.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one see-through mirror glass section is configured so as to be reflective when no image is displayed on the at least one monitor module, and sufficiently transparent for the first image to be viewable when the first image is displayed on the at least one monitor module.

13. The system of claim 1, the at least one monitor module further comprising at least one photocell light sensor configured to detect ambient light at the location of the at least one monitor module,

wherein the at least one monitor module is further configured to adjust a brightness level of the first image when the first image is displayed, responsive to the at least one photocell light sensor.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein said mirror unit backing includes an aperture, and said at least one monitor module is configured to be inserted in the aperture of the mirror unit backing, fastened to the mirror unit backing using fasteners and aligned with the at least one of the see-through mirror glass section and the display aperture.

14. A rear-view mirror and modular monitor system for enhanced viewing by a vehicle operator of areas within and/or exterior to a vehicle comprising:

a rear-view mirror unit comprising a mirror and a mirror unit backing, said rear-view mirror unit being mounted forward of the vehicle operator and at a location unobstructive of the vehicle operator'"'"'s forward field of view, at least a section of the mirror comprising see-through mirror glass;

at least one monitor module fastened to the rear-view mirror unit, aligned with the see-through mirror glass section, said at least one monitor module being configured to be unfastenable and removable from the rear-view mirror unit and refastenable to at least one of the rear-view mirror unit and another rear-view mirror unit;

a first image capture device mounted at a first location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, and configured to provide a first image to the at least one monitor module, the first image being displayable on the at least one monitor module;

a second image capture device mounted at a second location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, and configured to provide a second image to the at least one monitor module, the second image being displayable on the at least one monitor module; and

an input switch connected to the first and second image capture devices, and configured to provide at least one of the first image and the second image to the at least one monitor module responsive to at least one of a manually selected view, an automatically selected view, and an event-triggered selected view;

wherein, when at least one of the first image and the second image is provided to the at least one monitor module and displayed on the at least one monitor module, the at least one of the first image and the second image is viewable through the see-through mirror glass section.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a first audio capture device mounted proximate to the first location of the first image capture device and a second audio capture device mounted proximate to the second location of the second image capture device;

the at least one monitor module further comprising a first audio input, a second audio input, and at least one audio output device;

wherein the first audio capture device is configured to capture a first audio signal and provide the first audio signal to the first audio input of the at least one monitor module, and the second audio capture device is configured to capture a second audio signal and provide the second audio signal to the second audio input of the at least one monitor module;

and wherein, the at least one audio output device of the at least one monitor module is configured to provide at least one of the first audio signal to the vehicle operator responsive to the first image being displayed on the at least one monitor module, and the second audio signal responsive to the second image being displayed on the at least one monitor module.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising an image storage device configured to store at least one of the first image and the second image.

17. A method of providing a rear-view mirror and modular monitor system for enhanced viewing by a vehicle operator of areas within and/or exterior to a vehicle comprising the at least one of sequential, non-sequential, and sequence-independent steps of:

(a) mounting a rear-view mirror unit forward of the vehicle operator and at a location unobstructive of the vehicle operator'"'"'s forward field of view, said rear-view mirror unit comprising a mirror and a mirror unit backing, at least one section of the mirror comprising see-through mirror glass;

(b) fastening at least one monitor module to the rear-view mirror unit aligned with the at least one see-through mirror glass section such that the at least one monitor module is unfastenable and removable from the rear-view mirror unit and refastenable to at least one of the rear-view mirror unit and another rear-view mirror unit;

(c) mounting a first image capture device at a first location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, the first image capture device being configured to capture and transmit a first image to the at least one monitor module;

(d) connecting the first image capture device to the at least one monitor module, using at least one of a wired and wireless connection, to provide the first image to the at least one monitor module viewable through the at least one see-through mirror glass section.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising installing a gasket between the at least one see-through mirror glass section and the at least one monitor module, said gasket being configured to channel visible light emitted from a display on the at least one monitor module through the at least one see-through mirror glass section of the mirror, while providing protection for the display when the at least one monitor module is fastened to the rear-view mirror unit.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising aligning the gasket with a perimeter of the display and securing the gasket in place.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing at least one image storage device configured for image storage.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a protective enclosure encasing the first image capture device and the at least one image storage device, said protective enclosure being configured to enclose the first image capture device and the at least one image storage device, and to protect the first image capture device and the at least one image storage device from at least one of damage, tampering, and theft.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of fastening the at least one monitor module to the rear-view mirror unit further comprises temporarily connecting the at least one monitor module to the rear-view mirror unit using at least one connection device and enabling the at least one monitor module to be removed from and re-connected to or replaced from at least one of the rear-view mirror unit and another rear-view mirror unit.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the first image is at least one of captured, transmitted, and displayed responsive to at least one of a manually selected view, an automatically selected view, and an event-triggered selected view.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising mounting a second image capture device at a second location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, the second image capture device being configured to capture and transmit a second image to the at least one monitor module;

and

installing and connecting an input switch to the first image capture device and the second image capture device, the input switch configured to provide at least one of the first image and the second image to the at least one monitor module responsive to at least one of a manually selected view, an automatically selected view, and an event-triggered selected view.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing the at least one monitor module with at least two channels configured to receive the first image and the second image;

and

displaying the first image and the second image one of together in a multiple-feed configuration and individually in a single-feed configuration responsive to the input switch.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising mounting a first audio capture device at a first location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle;

providing the at least one monitor module with a first audio input and at least one audio output device;

capturing a first audio signal using the first audio capture device and providing the first audio signal to the first audio input of the at least one monitor module; and

providing the first audio signal to the vehicle operator using the at least one audio output.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of mounting the first audio capture device comprises mounting the first audio capture device proximate to the first location of the first image capture device,

wherein the at least one monitor module is configured to provide the first audio signal to the vehicle operator responsive to the first image being displayed on the at least one monitor module.

28. The method of claim 17, further comprising configuring the at least one see-through mirror glass section so as to be reflective when no image is displayed on the at least one monitor module, and sufficiently transparent for the first image to be viewable when the first image is displayed on the at least one monitor module.

29. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing the at least one monitor module with at least one photocell light sensor configured to detect ambient light at the location of the at least one monitor module,

wherein the at least one monitor module is further configured to adjust a brightness level of the first image when the first image is displayed, responsive to the at least one photocell light sensor.

30. A method of providing a rear-view mirror and modular monitor system for enhanced viewing by a vehicle operator of areas within and/or exterior to a vehicle comprising the at least one of sequential, non-sequential, and sequence-independent steps of:

(a) mounting a rear-view mirror unit forward of the vehicle operator and at a location unobstructive of the vehicle operator'"'"'s forward field of view, said rear-view mirror unit comprising a mirror and a mirror unit backing, at least one section of the mirror comprising see-through mirror glass;

(b) fastening at least one monitor module to the rear-view mirror unit aligned with the at least one see-through mirror glass section such that the at least one monitor module is unfastenable and removable from the rear-view mirror unit and refastenable to at least one of the rear-view mirror unit and another rear-view mirror unit;

(c) mounting a first image capture device at a first location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, the first image capture device being configured to provide a first image to the at least one monitor module;

(d) mounting a second image capture device at a second location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, the second image capture device being configured to provide a second image to the at least one monitor module;

(e) connecting an input switch to the first and second image capture devices using at least one of a wired and wireless connection, to provide at least one of the first image and the second image to the at least one monitor module responsive to at least one of a manually selected view, an automatically selected view, and an event-triggered selected view;

(f) digitally capturing at least the first image by the first image capture device and the second image by the second image capture device;

(g) digitally transmitting at least one of the first image and the second image to the at least one monitor module responsive to the at least one of the manually selected view, the automatically selected view, and the event-triggered selected view; and

(h) displaying at least one of the first image and the second image on the at least one monitor module, wherein the at least one of the first image and the second image is viewable through the at least one see-through mirror glass section.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising mounting a first audio capture device proximate to the first location of the first image capture device and a second audio capture device proximate to the second location of the second image capture device;

providing the at least one monitor module with a first audio input, a second audio input, and at least one audio output device;

capturing a first audio signal with the first audio capture device, and transmitting the first audio signal to the first audio input of the at least one monitor module responsive to the capturing of the first image;

capturing a second audio signal with the second audio capture device, and transmitting the second audio signal to the second audio input of the at least one monitor module responsive to the capturing of the second image;

providing the first audio signal to the vehicle operator via the at least one audio output device responsive to the first image being displayed in the single-feed configuration on the at least one monitor module; and

providing the second audio signal to the vehicle operator via the at least one audio output device responsive to the second image being displayed in the single-feed configuration on the at least one monitor module.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing an image storage device and storing at least one of the first image and the second image in the image storage device.

33. In a method of repairing a rear-view mirror and modular monitor system, the system comprising a rear-view mirror unit comprising a mirror and a mirror unit backing, said rear-view mirror unit being mounted forward of the vehicle operator and at a location unobstructive of the vehicle operator'"'"'s forward field of view, at least one monitor module fastened to said rear-view mirror unit, a first image capture device mounted at a location at least one of inside and outside the vehicle, and configured to provide a first image to the at least one monitor module, the method comprising the at least one of sequential, non-sequential, and sequence-independent steps of:

unfastening the at least one monitor module from the rear-view mirror unit;

replacing one of the at least one monitor module and the rear-view mirror unit with a replacement part comprising one of another at least one monitor module or another rear-view mirror unit;

positioning the at least one monitor module with respect to at least one of a see-through mirror glass and a display aperture of the mirror;

positioning at least one gasket between the at least one monitor module and the at least one of a see-through mirror glass and a display aperture; and

refastening one of the at least one monitor module and the rear-view mirror unit to the replacement part to secure the replacement part to replace at least one of the at least one monitor module and the rear-view mirror unit.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of unfastening the at least one monitor module from the rear-view mirror unit further comprises locating a plurality of fasteners, said fasteners having been threaded through a plurality of mirror apertures positioned around the at least one see-through mirror glass section of the mirror, and through a plurality of monitor apertures positioned around a frame of the at least one monitor module so as to align with the plurality of mirror apertures, each of the plurality of fasteners having been secured with a nut to fasten the at least one monitor module to the rear-view mirror unit;

and

removing the nuts from the plurality of fasteners thereby allowing the at least one monitor module to be unfastened from the rear-view mirror unit.