Systems and methods for vehicle camera view activation

• US 10,812,712 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2018
• 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: Prabhakar, Varun J., Williams, Paxton S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hodges, Susan E.
• Application Number:
  US15/960,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20190327415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• 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 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/20 characterised by the type of display used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes

Abstract

Systems and methods may include a camera mode circuit receiving input from a plurality of sensors, determining camera modes available for camera activation, selecting one of the available camera modes by using received input from the plurality of sensors, evaluating input received from the plurality of sensors to determine the current condition of the vehicle and selecting a camera mode based on the determine current condition of the vehicle, selecting one or more cameras from which images are to be displayed based on the selected camera mode and mapping images from the selected cameras to one or more displays within the vehicle, and displaying the images from the selected cameras according to the mapping in response to an activation event.

Claims

1. A method for operation of a vehicular camera and display system, the vehicular camera and display system comprising a plurality of cameras to capture images to at least one of front, rear and sides of a host vehicle and one or more displays on which to display captured images, the method comprising:

a camera mode circuit receiving input from a plurality of sensors;

the camera mode circuit determining one or more camera modes available to a camera activation system;

the camera mode circuit selecting a camera mode of the one or more camera modes available to the camera and display system using the input received from the plurality of sensors;

the camera mode circuit determining whether a detected condition corresponds to the selected camera mode and setting a time-delay amount before the camera activation system activates, wherein the amount of the time-delay is shortened or eliminated when the selected camera mode corresponds to the determined condition; and

displaying images from the one or more cameras on the one or more displays of the host vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a camera mode comprises the camera mode circuit evaluating input received from the plurality of sensors to determine current conditions under which the host vehicle is operating, and selecting a camera mode of the plurality of camera modes that is appropriate for the determined current conditions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the camera mode circuit displaying the images in response to an activation event.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the activation event comprises a user activating the vehicular camera and display system by actuating an actuator or using a voice command.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the activation event comprises the camera mode circuit automatically creating an activation event based on input received from the plurality of sensors.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more cameras is mounted to a trailer being towed by the host vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the one or more camera modes comprises a tow mode, and wherein the camera mode circuit selects the tow mode when it determines based on information from one or more of the sensors that the trailer is attached to the host vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein selecting one or more cameras from which images are to be displayed based on the selected camera mode when the tow mode is the selected mode comprises selecting one or more cameras mounted to the trailer being towed by the host vehicle for display on one or more of the displays.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more camera modes comprises a terrain mode, and wherein the camera mode circuit selects the terrain mode when it determines based on information from one or more of the sensors that the host vehicle is operating in rough terrain.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting one or more cameras from which images are to be displayed based on the selected camera mode when the terrain mode is the selected mode comprises selecting one or more side-view cameras for display on one or more of the displays.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting one or more cameras from which images are to be displayed based on the selected camera mode when the terrain mode is the selected mode comprises selecting a side-view camera, a front-view camera and a rear-view camera for display, and displaying images from the side-view camera, the front-view camera and the rear-view camera simultaneously on one or more of the displays.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a button or switch and the user actuating the actuator comprises the user pressing the button or operating the switch for a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined period of time is dependent upon a vehicle condition.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle condition comprises a then-current speed of the host vehicle.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the vehicle condition comprises a then-current or projected weather forecast according to a geolocation of the host vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting one or more cameras from which images are to be displayed based on the selected camera mode is accomplished according to an entered preference of a vehicle user.

17. The method of claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a button or switch and displaying images from the one or more cameras on the one or more host vehicle displays comprises displaying the images for as long as a vehicle operator maintains the button or switch in an actuated state.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the vehicle operator actuating the actuator overrides a previous camera mode displayed on the selected host vehicle display.

19. A vehicular camera and display system, comprising:

a plurality of cameras to capture images to at least one of the front, rear and sides of a host vehicle;

a plurality of displays mounted to be visible to occupants of the host vehicle on which to display captured images to occupants of the host vehicle;

a plurality of sensors to capture conditions of the host vehicle and its surroundings; and

camera mode circuit, comprising;

a communications receiver to receive input from the plurality of sensors; and

a mode circuit comprising an input to receive information from the communications receiver;

wherein the mode circuit selects a camera mode of one or more camera modes available to the camera activation system using the input received from the plurality of sensors, determines whether a detected condition corresponds to the selected camera mode and setting a time-delay amount before the camera activation system activates, wherein the amount of the time-delay is shortened or eliminated when the selected camera mode corresponds to the determined condition.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein selecting a camera mode comprises the mode circuit evaluating input received from the plurality of sensors to determine current conditions under which the host vehicle is operating, and selecting a camera mode of the plurality of camera modes that is appropriate for the determined current conditions.