Vehicle driver information method
First Claim
1. A method of providing information to a driver of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle being equipped with at least one side camera attached to a first side of the motor vehicle for capturing an image of an image capturing area lying laterally to said first side of the motor vehicle, and a display unit visible to the driver on which a screen image is output that is a reproduction of the image of the image capturing area, the method comprising the acts of:
- detecting that an obstacle is present laterally to said first side of the motor vehicle, wherein said detecting is based on distance signals of at least one environment detection system, the environment detection system not being a camera-based system;
determining from the obstacle'"'"'s detected presence that the obstacle is causing an obstructed lateral view situation in which a lateral view of the driver to said first side of the motor vehicle is obstructed; and
in response to determining the obstructed lateral view situation, starting automatically an output of the screen image upon detecting the obstructed lateral view situation such that the output of the screen image is only temporary, wherein the screen image is a reproduction of the image capturing area provided by the at least one side camera attached to the first side of the motor vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A driver information method is provided, wherein an image of the surrounding area is captured by at least one side camera attached to the motor vehicle. The image contains an image capturing area that lies essentially laterally relative to the motor vehicle. A display unit, which is visible to the driver of a motor vehicle, outputs a screen image that contains a reproduction of the image of the surrounding area, the reproduction being graphically processed, if desired, and being preferably in essence photo-realistic. The output of the screen image is only temporary; and an obstructed view situation, in which an obstructed lateral view of the driver is to be assumed, is detected on the basis of distance signals of at least one environment detection system that is not based on a camera. The output of the screen image is automatically started when an obstructed view situation is detected.
20 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing information to a driver of a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle being equipped with at least one side camera attached to a first side of the motor vehicle for capturing an image of an image capturing area lying laterally to said first side of the motor vehicle, and a display unit visible to the driver on which a screen image is output that is a reproduction of the image of the image capturing area, the method comprising the acts of:
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detecting that an obstacle is present laterally to said first side of the motor vehicle, wherein said detecting is based on distance signals of at least one environment detection system, the environment detection system not being a camera-based system; determining from the obstacle'"'"'s detected presence that the obstacle is causing an obstructed lateral view situation in which a lateral view of the driver to said first side of the motor vehicle is obstructed; and in response to determining the obstructed lateral view situation, starting automatically an output of the screen image upon detecting the obstructed lateral view situation such that the output of the screen image is only temporary, wherein the screen image is a reproduction of the image capturing area provided by the at least one side camera attached to the first side of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification