Lateral view system for vehicle

• US 10,618,468 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2018
• Issued: 04/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Frederick, Scott L., Robison, Scott P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang, Nienru
• Application Number:
  US16/049,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20200031280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/25 to the sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0045 with visible part, e.g. flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A lateral view system for a vehicle including a display device that displays a lateral view of the vehicle, a camera operatively coupled to the display device that captures the lateral view of the vehicle, and an arm assembly that articulates the camera between a concealed position to be concealed in a door portion of the vehicle and an extended position to capture the lateral view of the vehicle, the arm assembly including an arm member having a camera, an arm housing embedded in the door portion of the vehicle to receive the arm member, and an arm external surface that matches an external surface of the door portion and seats substantially flush with the external surface of the door portion when the camera is in the concealed position.

Claims

1. A lateral view system for a vehicle, comprising:

a display configured to display a lateral view of the vehicle;

a camera, operatively coupled to the display, that captures the lateral view of the vehicle; and

an arm configured to articulate between a concealed position in a housing in a door portion of the vehicle and a deployed position partially external to the housing in the door portion of the vehicle, the arm having a first end articulably affixed to the door portion of the vehicle and a second end affixed to the camera, wherein

the camera is concealed when the arm is in the concealed position, and

a contour of an external surface of the arm matches an adjacent contour of an external surface of the door portion, the external surface of the arm being flush with the external surface of the door portion when the arm is in the concealed position.

2. The lateral view system of claim 1, wherein the door portion of the vehicle is located along a door belt mold of the vehicle.

3. The lateral view system of claim 1, wherein the door portion of the vehicle is located on a door sail of the vehicle.

4. The lateral view system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the arm is hingedly-affixed to the door portion of the vehicle.

5. The lateral view system of claim 4, wherein the arm is actuated by a hinge actuator, the hinge actuator articulating the arm between the deployed position and the concealed position.

6. The lateral view system of claim 1, wherein the arm includes an outer sleeve and an inner core, the camera being affixed to the inner core and slidable within the outer sleeve in order move the camera between a concealed position and a visible position.

7. The lateral view system of claim 6, wherein a linear actuator is configured to telescopically slide the inner core within the outer sleeve.

8. The lateral view system of claim 1, wherein the external surface of the arm and the external surface of the door portion are coated with a same material.

20. The lateral view system of claim 1, wherein the camera is concealed upon articulation of the arm to the concealed position.

9. A lateral view system for a vehicle, comprising:

a display configured to display a lateral view of the vehicle;

a camera operatively coupled to the display and configured to capture the lateral view of the vehicle;

an arm configured to articulate between a concealed position in a housing in a door portion of the vehicle and a deployed position partially external to the housing in the door portion of the vehicle, the arm having a first end articulably affixed to the door portion of the vehicle and a second end affixed to the camera, wherein a contour of an external surface of the arm matches an adjacent contour of an external surface of the door portion, the external surface of the arm being flush with the external surface of the door portion when the arm is in the concealed position;

one or more actuators that affix the first end of the arm to the door portion;

a plurality of sensors configured to provide driving signals commensurate with driving conditions of the vehicle; and

processing circuitry configured to

receive the driving signals,

detect a need of the lateral view of the vehicle based on the received driving signals, and

send actuation signals to the one or more actuators to articulate the arm from the concealed position.

10. The lateral view system of claim 9, wherein the door portion of the vehicle is located along a door belt mold of the vehicle.

11. The lateral view system of claim 9, wherein the door portion of the vehicle is located on a door sail of the vehicle.

12. The lateral view system of claim 9, wherein the first end of the arm is hingedly-affixed to the door portion of the vehicle.

13. The lateral view system of claim 12, wherein the one or more actuators include a hinge actuator configured to articulate the arm between the deployed position and the concealed position.

14. The lateral view system of claim 9, wherein the arm includes an outer sleeve and an inner core, the camera being affixed to the inner core and slidable within the outer sleeve in order to move the camera between a concealed position and a visible position.

15. The lateral view system of claim 14, wherein the one or more actuators include a linear actuator configured to telescopically slide the inner core within in the outer sleeve.

16. The lateral view system of claim 9, wherein the external surface of the arm and the external surface of the door portion are coated with a same material.

17. The lateral view system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a speed sensor to provide speed signals commensurate with a speed of the vehicle.

18. The lateral view system of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

receive the speed signals,

extract a speed of the vehicle from the received speed signals, and

compare the extracted speed of the vehicle to a speed threshold.

19. A method for providing a lateral view of a vehicle to a driver, comprising:

acquiring driving signals, from a plurality of driving sensors, commensurate with driving conditions of the vehicle;

detecting a need for the lateral view of the vehicle;

actuating an arm from a concealed position in a housing in a door portion of the vehicle to a deployed position partially external to the housing in the door portion of the vehicle;

acquiring image signals commensurate with the lateral view of the vehicle from a camera affixed to the arm; and

displaying, by processing circuitry, the lateral view of the vehicle on a display arranged on an internal surface of the vehicle,

wherein a contour of an external surface of the arm matches an adjacent contour of an external surface of the door portion, the external surface of the arm being flush with the external surface of the door portion when the arm is in the concealed position.