TURN SIGNAL INTEGRATED CAMERA SYSTEM

• US 20080079553A1
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven James Boice
• Original Assignee: Steven James Boice
• Inventors: BOICE, STEVEN JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/537,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection

Abstract

In order to enable a driver to see areas in a blind spot, operation of a turn signal is integrated with an exterior vehicle-mounted camera and an on-board video display that is located in a cabin of the vehicle. Whenever a turn signal is activated, a camera feed from a vehicle-mounted external camera is sent to the on-board video display, thus providing the driver with a real-time view of the blind spot.

Claims

1. A method for eliminating a blind spot in a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting an activation of a turn-signal mechanism;

determining a direction of a turn-signal associated with the turn-signal mechanism; and

supplying a video feed from a vehicle-mounted camera to an on-board video display, wherein the vehicle-mounted camera has a field of view that includes a blind spot in the direction of the turn-signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to the turn-signal mechanism being turned off, returning a display on the on-board video display to a pre-turn display of information that was presented before the turn-signal mechanism was activated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pre-turn display is a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) based map.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the video feed is selected, by a camera feed logic, from a plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the video feed is created by activating, from a plurality of vehicle-mounted cameras, a specific vehicle-mounted camera that has the field of view of the includes the blind spot.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a proximity signal from a proximity sensor that is mounted on the vehicle, wherein the proximity signal indicates a presence of an object in the blind spot; and

in response to receiving the proximity signal, providing a warning cue to a driver of the vehicle indicating that the object is in the blind spot.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a transportation vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that the vehicle is in a turn, wherein the turn is at a rate that is sufficient to cause the vehicle to strike an object that may be in its blind spot; and

in response to determining the turn, selecting a selected video feed from an appropriate camera aimed in a direction of the turn; and

displaying the selected video feed on the on-board video display.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the at least one vehicle-mounted cameras is a single camera that has a field of view of all blind spots for the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein each blind spot of the vehicle has a dedicated vehicle-mounted camera.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a turn signal activation mechanism;

a turn signal detection logic that detects;

a direction of a turn signal, and

an activation of the turn signal activation mechanism;

at least one vehicle-mounted camera;

a camera feed logic; and

an on-board video display, wherein the camera feed logic selects a video feed from one or more of the at least one vehicle-mounted cameras to the on-board video display, and wherein a selected video feed is from a vehicle-mounted camera having a field of view of a blind spot that is in the direction of the turn signal.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is a forklift.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the vehicle is a bus.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising:

a proximity sensor that is mounted on the vehicle, wherein a proximity signal from the proximity sensor indicates a presence of an object in the blind spot; and

a warning device in a cabin of the vehicle, wherein the warning device provides a warning cue to a driver of the vehicle indicating that the object is in the blind spot.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the on-board video display is an in-dash display that is capable of displaying Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) based map information.

17. A system comprising:

a turn signal activation mechanism;

a turn signal detection logic that detects;

a direction of a turn signal, and

an activation of the turn signal activation mechanism;

at least one vehicle-mounted camera;

a camera feed logic; and

an on-board video display, wherein the camera feed logic selects a video feed from one or more of the at least one vehicle-mounted cameras to the on-board video display, and wherein a selected video feed is from a vehicle-mounted camera having a field of view of a blind spot of a vehicle that is in the direction of the turn signal.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one vehicle-mounted cameras is a single camera that has a field of view of all blind spots for the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a proximity sensor that is mounted on the vehicle, wherein a proximity signal from the proximity sensor indicates a presence of an object in the blind spot; and

a warning device in a cabin of the vehicle, wherein the warning device provides a warning cue to a driver of the vehicle indicating that the object is in the blind spot.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the on-board video display is an in-dash display that is capable of displaying Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) based map information.