System, Method and Apparatus for Driver Training System with Dynamic Mirrors

• US 20130302759A1
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Training Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Training Systems LLC
• Inventors: Welles, Reginald T., Turpin, Darrell R., Turpin, Aaron J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,418,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/69
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/05 the view from a vehicle being simulated G09B9/052, G09B9/058 take precedence

Abstract

A training system has one or more displays that simulate or mimic rear view mirrors, showing, for example, what is visible behind the simulated vehicle. The training system includes sensors, software, and related hardware for determining a position of a trainee'"'"'s head within the simulated vehicle and calculating a viewing angle and/or distance between the trainee'"'"'s eye(s) and the rear view mirrors. Based upon the viewing angle and/or distance, a rear image is panned/zoomed on each of the rear view mirrors corresponding to the viewing angle and/or distance.

Claims

1. A training system, the training system providing training on operation of a vehicle, the training system comprising:

a computer, the computer having a storage device;

a plurality of training segments stored on the storage device and accessible by the computer, each of the training segments includes an image of what is visible behind the vehicle;

one or more graphics displays, at least one portion of one of the graphics displays corresponds to a rear view mirror of a target vehicle;

a sensor, the sensor configured to measure a position of a trainee'"'"'s head relative to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror;

software running on the computer, the software reads data from the sensor and the software calculates the position of the trainee'"'"'s head relative to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror; and

the software calculates a location and zoom level within the image of what is visible behind the vehicle from the position of the trainee relative to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror and the software displays a portion of the image of what is visible behind the vehicle at the location and the zoom level.

2. The training system of claim 1, wherein the software changes the location within the image of what is visible behind the vehicle when the trainee'"'"'s head moves.

3. The training system of claim 1, wherein the software changes the zoom level within the image of what is visible behind the vehicle when the trainee'"'"'s head moves closer to or farther away from the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror.

4. The training system of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror is a portion of a larger display, and the software presents a windshield view on a different section of the larger display.

5. The training system of claim 1, wherein the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror is a discrete display.

6. The training system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an array sensor, the array sensor providing three-dimensional positioning data related to the position of the trainee'"'"'s head with respect to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror.

7. The training system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one camera, the camera providing three-dimensional positioning data related to the position of the trainee'"'"'s head with respect to the at least one portion of the one of the graphics displays that corresponds to the rear view mirror.

8. The training system of claim 1, wherein the system updates the image of what is visible behind the vehicle to simulate movement of the vehicle and the software displays an updated portion of the image of what is visible behind the vehicle at the location and the zoom level.

9. A method of training a trainee in use of a vehicle, the training system comprising a computer that includes a storage device, the storage device having stored within a plurality of training segments, each of the training segments including an image of what is visible behind the vehicle;

a graphics displays that corresponds to a rear view mirror of the vehicle;

a sensor, the sensor configured to determine a position of a trainee'"'"'s head relative to the graphics displays;

the method includes;

(a) selecting a first segment of the training segments as the current segment;

(b) reading data from the sensor;

(c) calculating a location of the trainee'"'"'s head from the data;

(d) determining a viewing angle between the trainee'"'"'s head and the graphics display based upon the location of the trainee'"'"'s head;

(e) determining a distance between the trainee'"'"'s head and the graphics display based upon the location of the trainee'"'"'s head;

(f) displaying on the graphics display, a portion of the image of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment, the portion determined based upon the viewing angle and the distance;

(g) responsive to movement of the trainee'"'"'s head, repeating steps b-g; and

(h) responsive to simulated movement of the vehicle, selecting a next segment of the training segments as the current segment and repeating steps b-h.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the graphics display is a portion of a larger display.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein in step f, if the distance increases, displaying on the graphics display a smaller portion of the image of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein in step f, if the distance decreases, displaying on the graphics display a greater portion of the image of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensor provides three-dimensional data related to the position of the trainee'"'"'s head.

14. A system for training a trainee regarding the use of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a computer;

a plurality of training segments accessible by the computer, each of the training segments including an image of what is visible behind the vehicle;

a display operatively interfaced to the computer, the display physically located within the system to simulate a rear view mirror;

means for selecting a segment of the training segments as a current segment;

means for determining a location of a head of the trainee;

means for calculating an angle between the head of the trainee and the display;

means for calculating a distance between the head of the trainee and the display;

means for selecting and displaying a portion of the image of what is visible behind the vehicle in the current segment based upon the angle and the distance; and

means for sequencing through the segments to simulate movement of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for calculating an angle between the head of the trainee and the display calculates both a horizontal angle and a vertical angle and the means for selecting and displaying a portion of the image of what is visible behind the vehicle within the current segment is based upon the horizontal angle, the vertical angle, and the distance.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for determining the location of the head of the trainee uses a sensor array.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the display is a discrete display.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the display is part of a larger display.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each of the training segments further includes an image of what is visible in front of the vehicle and the system includes means for displaying the image of what is visible in front of the vehicle on a second portion of the larger display.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the display is mounted in a position within the system that relates to a position of a rear view mirror of the vehicle.