Rear backup system for a vehicle

• US 10,308,180 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2018
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karner, Lee, Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Jr., Howard D
• Application Number:
  US16/203,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20190092238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 187 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/0017 moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14639 for obtaining an insulating effect, e.g. for electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14754 being in movable or releasable engagement with the coating, e.g. bearing assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0058 Mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/30 Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/00 Reinforcements or ply arrangement of pneumatic tyres inserts having reinforcing means B60C5/08; bead structure, e.g. turnup or overlap construction, B60C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 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 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1269 with sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 : Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 : using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/308 : by overlaying the real scene, e.g. through a head-up display on the windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 : in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 : for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 : for facilitating docking to a trailer
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 : Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30232 : Surveillance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30261 : Obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/13 : Edge detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/70 : Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras camera calibration G06T7/80
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 : for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/023 : Display panel composed of stacked panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0456 : with a reflective area and a transmissive area combined in one pixel, such as in transflectance pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/12 : Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 : using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 : based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/026 : Control of mixing and/or overlay of colours in general G09G5/022 and G09G5/024 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A rear backup system for a vehicle includes a rear backup video camera and a display device including a video display screen operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the vehicle. When a transmission of the vehicle is shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images derived from image data captured by the rear backup video camera are displayed at the video display screen of the display device. Display of the video backup images continues after shifting of the transmission out of reverse gear. Display of the video backup images at the video display screen ceases once a threshold condition is met. The threshold condition may include a threshold period of time elapsing after the transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear. The rear backup video camera continues to capture image data at least until the threshold condition is met.

Claims

1. A rear backup system for a vehicle, said rear backup system comprising:

a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear backup system;

said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

said rear backup video camera operable to capture image data;

a display device comprising a video display screen operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to a transmission of the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images derived from image data captured by said rear backup video camera are displayed at said video display screen of said display device;

wherein display of the video backup images at said video display screen continues after shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear;

wherein display of the video backup images at said video display screen ceases once a threshold condition is met;

wherein the threshold condition comprises a threshold period of time elapsing after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear, the threshold period of time constituting a linger time no longer than 10 seconds; and

wherein said rear backup video camera continues to capture image data at least until the linger time elapses.

2. The rear backup system of claim 1, wherein the linger time is longer than 5 seconds.

3. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein an instruction is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

4. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein an icon is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

5. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein a marking is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

6. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein an indicia is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

7. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein the backup event comprises hitching a trailer to a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle.

8. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein said video display screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video display screen.

9. The rear backup system of claim 8, wherein said backlit thin film transistor LCD video display screen is backlit by a laser.

10. The rear backup system of claim 8, wherein said backlit thin film transistor LCD video display screen is backlit by at least one white light emitting light emitting diode.

11. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein said video display screen of said display device comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED) video display screen.

12. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein said display device comprises a microelectromechanical scanner.

13. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein said display device is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said display device displays video backup images through a mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

14. The rear backup system of claim 13, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a molded plastic mounting arm having at least one ball member at at least one end thereof and having electrical conducting elements extending therethrough, and wherein a mirror mounting portion is molded over said ball member, and wherein said mounting arm comprises a mounting arm polymeric material having a first linear mold shrinkage factor and a first flexural modulus and wherein said mirror mounting portion comprises a mirror mounting polymeric material having a second linear mold shrinkage factor and a second flexural modulus, and wherein said second linear mold shrinkage factor is greater than said first linear mold shrinkage factor and wherein said second flexural modulus is lower than said first flexural modulus.

15. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a mirror reflective element, and wherein said mirror reflective element comprises a transflective mirror reflector, and wherein said video display screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video display screen, and wherein said display device is disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly behind said transflective mirror reflector, and wherein the displayed video backup images are viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said mirror reflective element by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror reflective element comprising a front substrate having first and second surfaces and a rear substrate having third and fourth surfaces, and wherein an electrochromic medium is disposed between said second surface of said front substrate and said third surface of said rear substrate, and wherein said transflective mirror reflector is disposed at said third surface of said rear substrate.

16. The rear backup system of claim 2, wherein said display device is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein, when the transmission of the equipped vehicle is shifted into reverse gear, said video display screen of said display device slides out laterally from a retracted non-viewing position behind a mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly to an extended viewing position where the displayed video backup images are viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video display screen remains its extended position until the linger time elapses, and wherein after the linger time elapse, said video display screen of said display device slides laterally back to its retracted non-viewing position behind the mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

17. A rear backup system for a vehicle, said rear backup system comprising:

a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear backup system;

said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

said rear backup video camera operable to capture image data;

a display device comprising a video display screen operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to a transmission of the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images derived from image data captured by said rear backup video camera are displayed at said video display screen of said display device;

wherein display of the video backup images at said video display screen continues after shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear;

wherein display of the video backup images at said video display screen ceases once a threshold condition is met;

wherein the threshold condition comprises a forward motion speed of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold speed of forward motion after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and into forward gear;

wherein the threshold speed of forward motion is at least 3 miles per hour; and

wherein said rear backup video camera continues to capture image data at least up to when the threshold condition is met.

18. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein the threshold speed of forward motion is 10 miles per hour.

19. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein forward motion speed of the equipped vehicle is sensed by a speed sensor of the equipped vehicle.

20. The rear backup system of claim 19, wherein the speed sensor of the equipped vehicle comprises a wheel speed sensor.

21. The rear backup system of claim 19, wherein the speed sensor of the equipped vehicle comprises a wheel speed encoder.

22. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein an instruction is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

23. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein an icon is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

24. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein a marking is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

25. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein an indicia is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

26. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein the backup event comprises hitching a trailer to a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle.

27. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein said video display screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video display screen.

28. The rear backup system of claim 17, wherein said video display screen of said display device comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED) video display screen.

29. A rear backup system for a vehicle, said rear backup system comprising:

a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said rear backup system;

said rear backup video camera having a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;

said rear backup video camera operable to capture image data;

a display device comprising a video display screen operable to display video images viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to a transmission of the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear to commence a backup event, video backup images derived from image data captured by said rear backup video camera are displayed at said video display screen of said display device;

wherein display of the video backup images at said video display screen continues after shifting of the vehicle transmission out of reverse gear;

wherein display of the video backup images at said video display screen ceases once a threshold condition is met;

wherein the threshold condition comprises forward travel of the equipped vehicle exceeding a threshold distance of forward travel after the vehicle transmission has been shifted out of reverse gear and into forward gear;

wherein the threshold distance of forward travel is at least 10 feet; and

wherein said rear backup video camera continues to capture image data at least up to when the threshold condition is met.

30. The rear backup system of claim 29, wherein the threshold distance of forward travel is 20 feet or less.

31. The rear backup system of claim 29, wherein the threshold distance of forward travel is at least 20 feet.

32. The rear backup system of claim 29, wherein the threshold distance of forward travel is 30 feet or less.

33. The rear backup system of claim 32, wherein an instruction is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

34. The rear backup system of claim 32, wherein an icon is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

35. The rear backup system of claim 32, wherein a marking is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

36. The rear backup system of claim 32, wherein an indicia is displayed with the video backup images to assist the driver during the backup event.

37. The rear backup system of claim 32, wherein the backup event comprises hitching a trailer to a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle.

38. The rear backup system of claim 32, wherein said video display screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video display screen.

39. The rear backup system of claim 32, wherein said video display screen of said display device comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED) video display screen.