IMAGING AND DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20120154591A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Mirrors of America Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baur, Michael J., Blank, Rodney K., Larson, Mark L., Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• 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: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• 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 vehicular imaging and display system includes a rear backup camera at a rear portion of a vehicle, a video processor for processing image data captured by the rear camera, and a video display screen responsive to the video processor to display video images. During a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle, the video display screen displays video images captured by the rear camera. During forward travel of the equipped vehicle, the video display screen is operable to display images representative of a portion of the field of view of the rear camera to display images representative of an area sideward of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a turn signal indicator of the vehicle, (b) detection of a vehicle in a side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular vision system comprising:

a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle;

a video processor operable to process video image data captured by said rear backup video camera, wherein said video image data comprises at least a left zone image data set and a right zone image data set;

wherein said left zone image data set comprises video images of a left zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear of and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said right zone image data set comprises video images of a right zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

a video display screen for displaying video images;

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen displays video images captured by said rear backup video camera;

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said left zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane at the left side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said right zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane at the right side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

2. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein said video image data comprises a middle zone image data set that comprises video images of a middle zone between the left and right zones.

3. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane or right side lane are displayed a portion of said video display screen.

4. The vehicular vision system of claim 3, wherein said video display screen displays an icon at another portion of said video display screen to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness and understanding of the displayed image.

5. The vehicular vision system of claim 3, wherein said video display screen comprises a left display region and a right display region, and wherein said video display screen is operable to (a) display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane on said left display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (ii) detection of another vehicle in the left side lane adjacent to the left side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, and (b) display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane on said right display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle and (ii) detection of another vehicle in the right side lane adjacent to the right side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

6. The vehicular vision system of claim 5, wherein said video display screen comprises a middle display region between said left display region and said right display region, and wherein, during a reversing maneuver, said left, middle and right display regions display a wide angle rearward view.

7. The vehicular vision system of claim 5, wherein said video display screen comprises a middle display region between said left display region and said right display region, and wherein said middle display region of said video display screen displays an iconistic warning responsive to detection of another vehicle in the left side lane or right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle.

8. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen comprises a reconfigurable thin film transistor liquid crystal screen that is backlit by a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes.

9. The vehicular vision system of claim 8, wherein said video display screen is disposed in an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and behind a transflective mirror reflector of a transflective mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen, when displaying video images, is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying video images.

10. The vehicular vision system of claim 9, wherein said backlit liquid crystal display screen comprises at least about 85,000 individually addressable pixels.

11. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, comprising dynamic contrast control of said video display screen.

12. The vehicular vision system of claim 11, wherein said dynamic contrast control is operable to increase the contrast within individual video image frames when the video screen backlighting is locally dimmed.

13. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen is disposed in an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and behind a transflective mirror reflector of a transflective electrochromic mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen, when displaying video images, is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying video images.

14. The vehicular vision system of claim 13, wherein said video processor is operable to at least (a) provide on screen display capability, (b) provide video decoding, (c) at least partially control dimming of said transflective electrochromic mirror reflective element, and (d) at least partially control the intensity of said video display screen.

15. The vehicular vision system of claim 13, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly is configured to selectively receive at least one accessory module therein to update said interior rearview mirror assembly to provide at least one new function or feature.

16. The vehicular vision system of claim 13, comprising a forward facing camera having a forward field of view forward of the equipped vehicle and in the direction of travel of the equipped vehicle.

17. The vehicular vision system of claim 16, wherein said video processor processes image data captured by said forward facing camera to detect and recognize a road sign ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video display screen displays an iconistic representation of the detected and recognized road sign for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle, wherein said iconistic representation displayed by said video display screen is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said interior rearview mirror assembly and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when said video display screen is not operating to display said iconistic representation.

18. The vehicular vision system of claim 17, wherein said road sign comprises a stop sign.

19. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, when said video display screen is operating to display video images, said video display screen provides a contrast ratio of greater than about 250:

1.

20. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein said rear backup video camera has a rearward field of view of at least about 180 degrees.

21. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein, when said video display screen is operating to display video images, said video display screen provides a contrast ratio of greater than about 900:

1.

22. The vehicular vision system of claim 1, wherein said video image data comprises a middle zone image data set that comprises video images of a middle zone between the left and right zones, and wherein, during the reversing maneuver, said video images displayed by said video display screen are representative of said left zone image data set, said middle zone image data set and said right zone image data set.

23. A vehicular vision system comprising:

a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle;

a video processor operable to process video image data captured by said rear backup video camera, wherein said video image data comprises a left zone image data set, a middle zone image data set and a right zone image data set;

wherein said left zone image data set comprises video images of a left zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear of and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said right zone image data set comprises video images of a right zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said middle zone image data set comprises video images of a middle zone between the left and right zones;

a video display screen for displaying video images;

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen displays video images captured by said rear backup video camera;

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said left zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane at the left side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said right zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane at the right side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen comprises a left display region and a right display region, and wherein said left display region is operable to display said displayed images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane and said right display region is operable to display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane; and

wherein said video display screen comprises a middle display region between said left display region and said right display region, and wherein, during a reversing maneuver, said left, middle and right display regions display a wide angle rearward view.

24. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, wherein, during the reversing maneuver, said video images displayed by said video display screen are representative of said left zone image data set, said middle zone image data set and said right zone image data set.

25. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, wherein said video display screen displays an icon at a portion of said video display screen to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness and understanding of the displayed image.

26. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, wherein said rear backup video camera has a rearward field of view of at least about 180 degrees.

27. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, wherein said video display screen is operable to (a) display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane on said left display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (ii) detection of another vehicle in the left side lane adjacent to the left side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, and (b) display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane on said right display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle and (ii) detection of another vehicle in the right side lane adjacent to the right side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

28. The vehicular vision system of claim 27, wherein said middle display region of said video display screen is operable to display an iconistic warning responsive to detection of another vehicle in the left side lane or right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle.

29. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, wherein at least one of (a) said video display screen comprises a reconfigurable thin film transistor liquid crystal screen that is backlit by a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes, and (b) said video display screen is disposed in an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and behind a transflective minor reflector of a transflective mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen, when displaying video images, is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying video images.

30. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, wherein said video processor is operable to at least (a) provide on screen display capability, (b) provide video decoding, (c) at least partially control dimming of said transflective electrochromic mirror reflective element, and (d) at least partially control the intensity of said video display screen.

31. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, comprising a forward facing camera having a forward field of view forward of the equipped vehicle and in the direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video processor processes image data captured by said forward facing camera to detect and recognize a road sign ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video display screen is disposed in an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and behind a transflective minor reflector of a transflective mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said video display screen displays an iconistic representation of the detected and recognized road sign for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle, wherein said iconistic representation displayed by said video display screen is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said interior rearview mirror assembly and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when said video display screen is not operating to display said iconistic representation.

32. The vehicular vision system of claim 23, wherein, when said video display screen is operating to display video images, said video display screen provides a contrast ratio of greater than about 900:

1.

33. A vehicular vision system comprising:

a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle;

a video processor operable to process video image data captured by said rear backup video camera, wherein said video image data comprises at least a left zone image data set and a right zone image data set;

wherein said left zone image data set comprises video images of a left zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear of and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said right zone image data set comprises video images of a right zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

a video display screen for displaying video images;

wherein said video display screen comprises a reconfigurable thin film transistor liquid crystal screen that is backlit by a plurality of white light-emitting light emitting diodes;

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen displays video images captured by said rear backup video camera;

wherein said video display screen is disposed in an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and behind a transflective mirror reflector of a transflective electrochromic mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen, when displaying video images, is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying video images;

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said left zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane at the left side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said right zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane at the right side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said video processor is operable to at least (a) provide on screen display capability, (b) provide video decoding, (c) at least partially control dimming of said transflective electrochromic mirror reflective element, and (d) at least partially control the intensity of said video display screen.

34. The vehicular vision system of claim 33, wherein said video image data comprises a middle zone image data set that comprises video images of a middle zone between the left and right zones.

35. The vehicular vision system of claim 34, wherein, during the reversing maneuver, said video images displayed by said video display screen are representative of said left zone image data set, said middle zone image data set and said right zone image data set.

36. The vehicular vision system of claim 33, wherein said rear backup video camera has a rearward field of view of at least about 180 degrees.

37. The vehicular vision system of claim 33, wherein images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane are displayed at a left display region of said video display screen and wherein images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane are displayed at a right display region of said video display screen.

38. The vehicular vision system of claim 37, wherein said video display screen displays an icon at a middle display region of said video display screen to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness and understanding of the displayed image.

39. The vehicular vision system of claim 33, wherein said video display screen comprises a left display region and a right display region, and wherein said video display screen is operable to (a) display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane on said left display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (ii) detection of another vehicle in the left side lane adjacent to the left side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, and (b) display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane on said right display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle and (ii) detection of another vehicle in the right side lane adjacent to the right side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

40. The vehicular vision system of claim 39, wherein said video display screen comprises a middle display region between said left display region and said right display region, and wherein, during a reversing maneuver, said left, middle and right display regions display a wide angle rearward view.

41. The vehicular vision system of claim 39, wherein said video display screen comprises a middle display region between said left display region and said right display region, and wherein said middle display region of said video display screen displays an iconistic warning responsive to detection of another vehicle in the left side lane or right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle.

42. The vehicular vision system of claim 33, comprising a forward facing camera having a forward field of view forward of the equipped vehicle and in the direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video processor processes image data captured by said forward facing camera to detect and recognize a road sign ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video display screen displays an iconistic representation of the detected and recognized road sign for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle, wherein said iconistic representation displayed by said video display screen is viewable through said transflective mirror reflector of said interior rearview mirror assembly and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when said video display screen is not operating to display said iconistic representation.

43. The vehicular vision system of claim 33, wherein, when said video display screen is operating to display video images, said video display screen provides a contrast ratio of greater than about 900:

1.

44. A vehicular vision system comprising:

a rear backup video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle;

a video processor operable to process video image data captured by said rear backup video camera, wherein said video image data comprises a left zone image data set, a middle zone image data set and a right zone image data set;

wherein said left zone image data set comprises video images of a left zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear of and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said right zone image data set comprises video images of a right zone that encompasses where another vehicle may approach from the rear and/or may overtake the equipped vehicle in a right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle;

wherein said middle zone image data set comprises video images of a middle zone between the left and right zones;

a video display screen for displaying video images;

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen displays video images captured by said rear backup video camera, and wherein, during the reversing maneuver, said video images displayed by said video display screen are representative of said left zone image data set, said middle zone image data set and said right zone image data set;

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said left zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane at the left side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the left side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said video display screen is operable to display images representative of said right zone image data set captured by said rear backup video camera to display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane at the right side of the equipped vehicle responsive to at least one of (a) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (b) detection of another vehicle in or approaching the right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle and (c) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane or right side lane are displayed at a portion of said video display screen.

45. The vehicular vision system of claim 44, wherein said video display screen displays an icon at another portion of said video display screen to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness and understanding of the displayed image.

46. The vehicular vision system of claim 45, wherein said video display screen comprises a left display region and a right display region, and wherein said video display screen is operable to (a) display images representative of the scene occurring at the left side lane on said left display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a left turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle, (ii) detection of another vehicle in the left side lane adjacent to the left side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, and (b) display images representative of the scene occurring at the right side lane on said right display region responsive to at least one of (i) actuation of a right turn signal indicator of the equipped vehicle and (ii) detection of another vehicle in the right side lane adjacent to the right side of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

47. The vehicular vision system of claim 46, wherein said video display screen comprises a middle display region between said left display region and said right display region, and wherein, during a reversing maneuver, said left, middle and right display regions display a wide angle rearward view.

48. The vehicular vision system of claim 47, wherein said rear backup video camera has a rearward field of view of at least about 180 degrees.

49. The vehicular vision system of claim 46, wherein said video display screen comprises a middle display region between said left display region and said right display region, and wherein said middle display region of said video display screen displays an iconistic warning responsive to detection of another vehicle in the left side lane or right side lane adjacent to the equipped vehicle.

50. The vehicular vision system of claim 44, wherein said video display screen is disposed in an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and behind a transflective mirror reflector of a transflective mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly, wherein said video display screen, when displaying video images, is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle, and is substantially not viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when not displaying video images.