Monitoring system

• US 20050146792A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Larson, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/604
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/43 following vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• 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 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• 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 2001/1223 : with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 : with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 : for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 : using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 : for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 : in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 : for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 : for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8073 : for vehicle security, e.g. parked vehicle surveillance, burglar detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 : characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 : including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 : the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 : with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 : arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 : Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 : Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 : Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 : Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/443 : by reading pixels from selected 2D regions of the array, e.g. for windowing or digital zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• 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 monitoring device for vehicles includes a housing, at least one electrochromic mirror glass arranged in the housing so as to have a front side facing an observer, and at least one camera. The at least one electrochromic mirror glass comprises a reflective layer that is reflective in the visible spectral range of light. The at least one camera is arranged behind the reflective layer in a viewing direction viewed from the front side. The at least one camera takes images through the reflective layer. The electrochromic mirror glass has an electrochromic layer and the reflective layer is arranged behind the electrochromic layer in the viewing direction.

Claims

1-92. -92. (canceled)

93. A monitoring device for vehicles, said monitoring device comprising:

a housing;

at least one electrochromic mirror glass arranged in said housing so as to have a front side facing an observer;

said at least one electrochromic mirror glass comprising a reflective layer being reflective in the visible spectral range of light; and

at least one camera arranged behind said reflective layer in a viewing direction viewed from said front side, wherein said at least one camera takes images through the reflective layer wherein said electrochromic mirror glass has an electrochromic layer and wherein said reflective layer is arranged behind said electrochromic layer in said viewing direction.

94. The monitoring device according to claim 93, wherein said reflective layer is selected from the group consisting of an interference reflective layer, a chromium reflective layer, a titanium reflective layer, and a titanium-chromium reflective layer.

95. The monitoring device according to claim 93, comprising an auxiliary lighting unit configured to provide additional light for said at least one camera.

96. The monitoring device according to claim 95, wherein said auxiliary lighting unit emits light of a wavelength able to pass through said reflective layer.

97. The monitoring device according to claim 95, wherein said auxiliary lighting unit emits light having a wavelength outside of the visible spectral range of light.

98. The monitoring device according to claim 95, wherein said auxiliary lighting unit comprises light emitting diodes.

99. The monitoring device according to claim 98, wherein said light emitting diodes emit light in the infrared range.

100. The monitoring device according to claim 95, wherein said auxiliary lighting unit is arranged behind said reflective layer in said viewing direction.

101. The monitoring device according to claim 95, wherein said auxiliary lighting unit comprises light emitting diodes arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.

102. The monitoring device according to claim 95, wherein said housing and said mirror glass form an interior rearview mirror, wherein said housing has a rim, and wherein said auxiliary lighting unit comprises light emitting diodes arranged on said rim of said housing.

103. The monitoring device according to claim 102, wherein said rim is comprised of a material that is opaque to the human eye.

104. The monitoring device according to claim 93, comprising an image-transmitting fiber bundle connected to said at least one camera.

105. The monitoring device according to claim 104, wherein said fiber bundle has an optical head resting against a backside of said mirror glass.

106. The monitoring device according to claim 104, wherein said fiber bundle has an optical head and is arranged together with said optical head on said rim.

107. The monitoring device according to claim 93, wherein said at least one camera comprises a low light level intensifier.

108. The monitoring device according to claim 107, wherein said low light level intensifier is arranged behind said mirror glass in said viewing direction.