Vehicle video switching system and method

• US 20030137586A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Infinite Innovations
• Original Assignee: Infinite Innovations
• Inventors: Lewellen, Mark A.
• Time in patent office: 0 Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A vehicle video switcher receives inputs from multiple video cameras on a vehicle, and independently routes any of these video inputs to multiple video monitors in the vehicle. A front video monitor is within the view of the driver of the vehicle. When the driver activates the left turn signal, the view from the left side video camera is displayed on the front video monitor. When the driver activates the right turn signal, the view from the right side video camera is displayed on the front video monitor. When the driver puts the vehicle in reverse, thereby activating the backup light, the view from the rear video camera is displayed on the front video monitor. The driver may select the default view for the front video monitor by pressing on a button or by using a hand-held remote control. Graphical view indicators superimposed on the displayed image indicate which view is currently being displayed. A remote video monitor is also provided in the vehicle in a different location, such as in the rear living area of a recreational vehicle. A passenger can direct different video camera views to be displayed on the remote video monitor using a user interface, such as push-buttons on the monitor or handheld remote control, independent of the video image displayed on the front video monitor. In addition, the default view for the remote video monitor may be selected independently from the default view of the front video monitor using a user interface.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first video monitor;

a second video monitor;

a vehicle interface for receiving a plurality of control signals from a vehicle;

a plurality of video cameras that each provide a video output; and

a video switching mechanism coupled to the first video monitor, the second video monitor, the vehicle interface, and the plurality of video cameras, the video switching mechanism comprising;

a first monitor source selector that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the first video monitor;

a first default source specification that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the first video monitor when no control signals are active on the vehicle interface;

a second monitor source selector that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the second video monitor independent of the video output displayed on the first video monitor; and

a second default source specification that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the second video monitor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a user interface that allows a user to modify the first default source specification and the second default source specification.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first monitor source selector displays on the first video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the left side of the vehicle in response to a left turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first monitor source selector displays on the first video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the right side of the vehicle in response to a right turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first monitor source selector displays on the first video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a rear view of the vehicle in response to a signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface that indicates that the vehicle is in reverse.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the video switching mechanism displays on the first video monitor a graphical view indicator that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the first video monitor.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a video monitor;

a vehicle interface for receiving a plurality of control signals from a vehicle;

a plurality of video cameras that each provide a video output; and

a video switching mechanism coupled to the video monitor, the vehicle interface, and the plurality of video cameras, the video switching mechanism comprising;

a source selector that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the video monitor;

a default source specification that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the first monitor when no control signals are active on the vehicle interface; and

a user interface that allows a user to change the default source specification.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the source selector displays on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the left side of the vehicle in response to a left turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the source selector displays on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the right side of the vehicle in response to a right turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the source selector displays on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a rear view of the vehicle in response to a signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface that indicates that the vehicle is in reverse.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the video switching mechanism displays on the video monitor a graphical view indicator that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the video monitor.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a second video monitor;

wherein the video switching mechanism further comprises;

a second monitor source selector that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the second video monitor independent of the video output displayed on the first video monitor; and

a second default source specification that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the second video monitor.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a user interface that allows a user to change the second monitor source selector to display a different output on the second video monitor independently from the output displayed on the video monitor.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a video monitor;

a vehicle interface for receiving a plurality of control signals from a vehicle;

a plurality of video cameras that each provide a video output; and

a video switching mechanism coupled to the video monitor, the vehicle interface, and the plurality of video cameras, the video switching mechanism comprising;

a source selector that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the video monitor; and

a view indicator mechanism that displays a graphical view indicator on the video monitor that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the video monitor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the source selector displays on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the left side of the vehicle in response to a left turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the source selector displays on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the right side of the vehicle in response to a right turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the source selector displays on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a rear view of the vehicle in response to a signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface that indicates that the vehicle is in reverse.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the video switching mechanism displays on the video monitor a graphical view indicator that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the video monitor.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a first video monitor mounted in the view of a driver of a vehicle;

a second video monitor mounted in the interior of the vehicle;

a vehicle interface for receiving a plurality of control signals from the vehicle;

a plurality of video cameras coupled to the vehicle that each provide a video output; and

a video switching mechanism coupled to the first video monitor, the second video monitor, the vehicle interface, and the plurality of video cameras, the video switching mechanism comprising;

a first monitor source selector that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the first video monitor;

a first default source specification that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the first video monitor when no control signals are active on the vehicle interface;

a second monitor source selector that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the second video monitor independent of the video output displayed on the first video monitor; and

a second default source specification that determines which video output of the plurality of video cameras to display on the second video monitor;

a user interface that allows a user to modify the first default source specification and the second default source specification;

wherein the first monitor source selector displays on the first video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the left side of the vehicle in response to a left turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface;

wherein the first monitor source selector displays on the first video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the right side of the vehicle in response to a right turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface;

wherein the first monitor source selector displays on the first video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a rear view of the vehicle in response to a signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface that indicates that the vehicle is in reverse;

wherein the video switching mechanism displays on the first video monitor a graphical view indicator that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the first video monitor.

20. A method for displaying on a video monitor the outputs of a plurality of video cameras mounted on a vehicle according to control signals received on a vehicle interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first default source specification that determines which output is displayed on the video monitor when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface;

providing a user interface that allows a user to define a second default source specification that determines which output is displayed on the video monitor when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface;

when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface and the user has not specified a default source specification via the user interface, displaying the output determined by the first default source specification; and

when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface and the user has specified a second default source specification via the user interface, displaying the output specified by the second default source specification.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the left side of the vehicle in response to a left turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the right side of the vehicle in response to a right turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a rear view of the vehicle in response to a signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface that indicates that the vehicle is in reverse.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of displaying on the video monitor a graphical view indicator that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the video monitor.

25. A method for displaying on a video monitor the outputs of a plurality of video cameras mounted on a vehicle according to control signals received on a vehicle interface, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying an output of one of the plurality of video cameras on the video monitor; and

displaying a graphical view indicator on the video monitor that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the video monitor.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the left side of the vehicle in response to a left turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the right side of the vehicle in response to a right turn signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a rear view of the vehicle in response to a signal on the vehicle being activated on the vehicle interface that indicates that the vehicle is in reverse.

29. A method for displaying on a video monitor in a vehicle the outputs of a plurality of video cameras mounted on the vehicle according to control signals received on a vehicle interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first default source specification that determines which output is displayed on the video monitor when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface;

providing a user interface that allows a user to define a second default source specification that determines which output is displayed on the video monitor when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface;

when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface and the user has not specified a default source specification via the user interface, displaying the output determined by the first default source specification;

when no control signals are present on the vehicle interface and the user has specified a second default source specification via the user interface, displaying the output specified by the second default source specification;

when a left turn signal is active on the vehicle interface, displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the left side of the vehicle;

when a right turn signal is active on the vehicle interface, displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a view of the right side of the vehicle;

when a signal on the vehicle interface that indicates that the vehicle is in reverse is active, displaying on the video monitor a video output of a video camera disposed to provide a rear view of the vehicle;

displaying on the video monitor a graphical view indicator that indicates which video output is currently being displayed on the video monitor; and

displaying on a second video monitor an output of a video camera independently of the display on the video monitor.