System and method for providing front-oriented visual information to vehicle driver
First Claim
1. A system for providing visual information to a driver of a vehicle, comprising:
- first and second flush-mounted or recessed cameras located in a right front quarter panel of the vehicle and a left front quarter panel of the vehicle, respectively, the cameras configured to image a field of view of 90 degrees to 150 degrees in at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane;
a right proximity and speed sensor and a left proximity and speed sensor that determine a range of a right object on a right side of the vehicle and a left object on side of the vehicle, respectively;
a display within the vehicle that provides the driver with at least one of images or video feed of a scene imaged by the camera; and
an onboard computer that detects whether a turn signal of the vehicle is activated and causes the images or video feed to be displayed on the display when the turn signal of the vehicle is activated and the onboard computer causes the displaying of the images or video feed to stop when the computer determines that the turn signal of the vehicle is no longer activated,wherein the computer is configured to;
determine a respective amount of time until each object is expected to reach a location of the vehicle;
determine which of the right object or the left object is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first; and
select, as a source for displaying, the first or second flush-mounted or recessed camera on a same side of the vehicle as the one of the right object or the left object which is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera system is installed on the front end of a vehicle, either on the left front, the right front, or both sides. The camera is linked via wired or wireless connection to an onboard computer and a navigation display that is located within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The driver reviews a visual description on the display of any oncoming traffic in the form of motor vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, animals and the like on the navigation display via a single screen, split screen or alternating screens. The camera system can include a speed sensor that detects when the vehicle reaches a threshold speed to activate or de-activate the camera. Alternatively, the computer can activate the system when a turn signal is activated, and de-activate the system when the turn signal is no longer activated. This camera system can be retrofitted into older vehicles.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for providing visual information to a driver of a vehicle, comprising:
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first and second flush-mounted or recessed cameras located in a right front quarter panel of the vehicle and a left front quarter panel of the vehicle, respectively, the cameras configured to image a field of view of 90 degrees to 150 degrees in at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane; a right proximity and speed sensor and a left proximity and speed sensor that determine a range of a right object on a right side of the vehicle and a left object on side of the vehicle, respectively; a display within the vehicle that provides the driver with at least one of images or video feed of a scene imaged by the camera; and an onboard computer that detects whether a turn signal of the vehicle is activated and causes the images or video feed to be displayed on the display when the turn signal of the vehicle is activated and the onboard computer causes the displaying of the images or video feed to stop when the computer determines that the turn signal of the vehicle is no longer activated, wherein the computer is configured to; determine a respective amount of time until each object is expected to reach a location of the vehicle; determine which of the right object or the left object is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first; and select, as a source for displaying, the first or second flush-mounted or recessed camera on a same side of the vehicle as the one of the right object or the left object which is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing visual information to a driver of a vehicle comprising steps of:
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automatically activating first and second flush-mounted or recessed cameras on a right front quarter panel of the vehicle and a left front quarter panel of the vehicle, respectively, when a turn signal of the vehicle is activated, the cameras configured to image a field of view of 90 degrees to 150 degrees in at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane; receiving and displaying visual information from the camera of at least one of images or video while the turn signal is activated; determining a respective amount of time until each object is expected to reach a location of the vehicle; and determining which of the right object or the left object is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first; and selecting, as a source for displaying, the first or second flush-mounted or recessed camera on a same side of the vehicle as the one of the right object or the left object which is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first.
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16. A method for providing visual information to a driver of a vehicle comprising steps of:
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receiving from a right proximity and speed sensor and a left proximity and speed sensor a range of a right object on a right side of the vehicle and a left object on side of the vehicle, respectively; determining a respective amount of time until each object is expected to reach a location of the vehicle; determining which of the right object or the left object is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first; automatically selecting, as a source for displaying, a right or left flush-mounted or recessed camera on a same side of the vehicle as the one of the right object or the left object which is expected to reach the location of the vehicle first, the cameras configured to image a field of view of 90 degrees to 150 degrees in at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane; automatically activating the selected one of a right or a left flush-mounted or recessed camera on a right or left rear quarter panel of the vehicle when a transmission of the vehicle is in reverse gear and a turn signal of the vehicle is activated; receiving and displaying visual information from the selected camera on the rear quarter panel of at least one of images or video while the transmission of the vehicle is in reverse gear and turn signal is activated; and providing an alert if the selected object is expected to reach the location of the vehicle in less than a predetermined length of time.
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Specification