Display system and method thereof

• US 9,758,099 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: VanVuuren, Mark A., Lee, Ethan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jos, Basil T
• Application Number:
  US14/215,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• 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 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images

Abstract

A display system for use in a vehicle is disclosed including an imager configured to capture images corresponding to a field of view rearward of the vehicle. The imager is in communication with a processing unit configured to receive data representative of the captured images from the imager. A display is in communication with the processing unit which is configured to display images based on the data representative of the captured images received by the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive vehicle operating data from the vehicle and data corresponding to a detection of an object in proximity of the vehicle. In response to the vehicle operating data and the object detected, the processing unit is configured to control the field of view of the at least one imager.

Claims

1. A display system, for use in a vehicle comprising:

an imager configured to capture images corresponding to a field of view rearward of the vehicle;

a processing unit in communication with the imager, the processing unit configured to receive data representative of the captured images;

a display in communication with the processing unit, the display configured to display images based on the data representative of the captured images received by the processing unit; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to;

receive vehicle operating data from the vehicle;

receive data corresponding to a detection of an object in proximity of the vehicle; and

control the field of view of the images displayed on the display in response to the vehicle operating data and the object detected, wherein the processing unit is configured to control the field of view by;

selecting a first portion of the field of view for display in response to the operating data communicating that a speed of the vehicle is less than a first speed threshold;

selecting a second portion of the field of view for display in response to the operating data communicating that a speed of the vehicle is greater than the first speed threshold; and

selecting the first portion of the field of view for display in response to the object detected within a predetermined distance of the vehicle, wherein the first portion of the field of view is prioritized for display in response to the object detected within a predetermined distance range of the vehicle.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion of the field of view corresponds to a wider viewing angle of the data representative of the captured images relative to the second portion of the field of view.

3. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further configured to control the field of view by:

selecting a third portion of the field of view in response to the operating data communicating that a speed of the vehicle is greater than the a second speed threshold.

4. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the second speed threshold is greater than the first speed threshold.

5. The display system according to claim 4, wherein the display of the first portion of the field of view is prioritized over the second portion and the third portion for display in response to the object detected within the predetermined distance of the vehicle.

6. The display system according to claim 3, wherein the first portion and the second portion both correspond to wider viewing angles than the third portion.

7. A system for presenting a rearward view from a vehicle comprising:

an imager configured to capture images corresponding to an optic field of view rearward of the vehicle;

a processing unit in communication with the imager, the processing unit configured to receive data representative of the captured images;

a display in communication with the processing unit, the display configured to display images based on the data representative of the captured images received by the processing unit in a displayed field of view; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to;

receive vehicle operating data from the vehicle;

process the data representative of the captured images to detect an object in the optic field of view;

alter the displayed field of view from a first field of view to a second field of view in response to the vehicle operating data identifying that the vehicle has exceeded a first speed threshold; and

alter the displayed field of view from the second field of view to the first field of view in response to the object detected within a predetermined distance, wherein the processing unit is configured to prioritize the display of the first field of view instead of the second field of view in response to the object detected within the predetermined distance.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the object comprises a detected vehicle approaching the vehicle from a rearward direction.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit is configured to control a digital zoom to dynamically alter the displayed field of view from the first field of view to the second field of view.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

alter the displayed field of view from the second field of view to a third field of view in response to the vehicle operating data identifying that the vehicle has exceeded a second speed threshold.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

prioritize the displayed field of view from the second field of view and the third field of view to the first field of view in response to the object detected within the predetermined distance.

12. A method of controlling a display system of a vehicle, the method comprising in a display processing unit, the steps of:

receiving and analyzing image data of a scene rearward of a vehicle;

receiving vehicle operating data comprising a vehicle speed;

detecting an object in the image data;

displaying the image data on a display;

comparing the vehicle speed to at least one speed threshold;

altering a display of the field of view of the image data from a first field of view to at least a second field of view in response to the vehicle operating data identifying the vehicle has exceeded the at least one speed threshold; and

prioritizing a display of the first field of view in response to detecting the object within a predetermined distance in the image data.

13. The method of controlling a display system of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving vehicle operating data comprises receiving at least one of a vehicle speed input, a turn signal input, a brake pedal input, and yaw rate input.

14. The method of controlling a display system of claim 12, wherein the at least one speed threshold corresponds to a plurality of speed thresholds.

15. The method of controlling a display system of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

altering the field of view of the image data from the first field of view to a plurality of fields of view in response to the vehicle exceeding each of the plurality of speed thresholds.

16. The method of controlling a display system of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

detecting a curve of a roadway portion.

17. The method of controlling a display system of claim 16, wherein the curve of the roadway portion is detected in the image data.

18. The method of controlling a display system of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

panning at least one of the fields of view in response to the curve of the roadway portion.

19. The method of controlling a display system of claim 18, wherein the prioritizing the display of the first field of view is configured to override the panning and the display of the second field of view.