Wading apparatus for a vehicle and method of use
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle having an imaging apparatus comprising at least one camera, a controller and a display unit, wherein the at least one camera is mounted on a wing mirror unit of the vehicle and is configured to generate a parking aid image and a wade image, the camera being positionable to view at least a portion of an exterior lateral side surface of the vehicle that is exposed to liquid when wading to generate the wade image, the controller being arranged to process the wade image generated by the camera and display the wade image on the display unit to an occupant of the vehicle, the displayed wade image being arranged to allow the occupant to determine whether the level of the liquid is below a vehicle water wading level,wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to adjust a position of the camera between an initial state to generate the parking aid image and a deployed state to generate the wade image of the at least a portion of the exterior lateral side surface of the vehicle to the occupant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A motor vehicle includes imaging apparatus comprising at least one camera. The apparatus is operable to provide a wade image to an occupant of the vehicle being an image of at least a portion of an exterior surface of the vehicle that is exposed to liquid when wading. The wade image is arranged to allow the occupant to determine whether the level of the liquid is below a prescribed level. Embodiments of the invention are advantageous over known wade aid devices such as ultrasonic sensor arrangements in that a driver is able to view directly a level of liquid such as water in which the vehicle is wading. Furthermore embodiments of the invention have a reduced settling time when switched on compared with ultrasonic sensor arrangements.
17 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle having an imaging apparatus comprising at least one camera, a controller and a display unit, wherein the at least one camera is mounted on a wing mirror unit of the vehicle and is configured to generate a parking aid image and a wade image, the camera being positionable to view at least a portion of an exterior lateral side surface of the vehicle that is exposed to liquid when wading to generate the wade image, the controller being arranged to process the wade image generated by the camera and display the wade image on the display unit to an occupant of the vehicle, the displayed wade image being arranged to allow the occupant to determine whether the level of the liquid is below a vehicle water wading level,
wherein the imaging apparatus is configured to adjust a position of the camera between an initial state to generate the parking aid image and a deployed state to generate the wade image of the at least a portion of the exterior lateral side surface of the vehicle to the occupant.
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20. A method of operating a vehicle comprising the step of positioning a camera on a wing mirror unit of the vehicle, adjusting the position of the camera from an initial state in which the camera generates a parking aid image to a deployed state in which the camera views at least a portion of a lateral side exterior surface of the vehicle that is exposed to liquid when wading and generates a wade image, receiving the wade image generated by the camera and displaying the wade image on a display unit to an occupant of the vehicle, the wade image being arranged to allow the occupant to determine whether the level of the liquid is below a vehicle water wading level.
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21. An apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising at least one camera mounted on a wing mirror unit of the vehicle, a controller and a display unit, the camera being positionable between an initial state in which the camera generates a parking aid image and a deployed state in which the camera views at least a portion of a lateral side exterior surface of the vehicle that is exposed to liquid when wading and generates a wade image, the controller being arranged to process the wade image generated by the camera and display the wade image on the display unit to an occupant of the vehicle, the displayed wade image being arranged to allow the occupant to determine whether the level of the liquid is below a vehicle water wading level.
Specification