Display System

• US 20140055602A1
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics OTS Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Childs, John
• Application Number:
  US14/070,757
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055602A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method for video navigation is disclosed. The system and method may include one or more video cameras configured to capture views external to the vehicle, a control mechanism for adjusting the sight-line of the one or more video cameras, and a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured within the sight-line of the one or more video cameras.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:

one or more pairs of video cameras, each pair having a first camera with a first sight-line and a second camera with a second sight-line, the second camera being spaced apart from the first camera by a selectively variable separation distance;

a control mechanism for adjusting the first and second sight-lines, the control mechanism being configured to determine a desired convergence point and to adjust the first and second sight lines and the separation distance so that the first and second sight-lines intersect at the desired convergence point; and

a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured by the one or more pairs of video cameras.

32. A navigation system according to claim 31 further comprising:

one or more sensors for determining a direction of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s gaze.

33. A navigation system according to claim 32, wherein the control mechanism adjusts the first and second sight-lines of at least one of the one or more pairs of cameras using the determined direction of the occupant'"'"'s gaze.

34. A navigation system according to claim 32, wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of the set consisting of a sensor integrated into a helmet wearable by a vehicle occupant and a sensor integrated into eyeglasses wearable by a vehicle occupant.

35. A navigation system according to claim 31, wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point using at least one of the set consisting of a direction of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s gaze and a velocity of the vehicle.

36. A navigation system according to claim 31, wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point using a direction of a vehicle occupant'"'"'s gaze and a velocity of the vehicle.

37. A navigation system according to claim 31, further comprising:

a power supply;

a camera sync module; and

a video display adapter for sending video captured by the one or more cameras to the display panel.

38. A navigation system according to claim 37, wherein the video display adapter is an LCD-sync module or LCD shutter glasses system.

39. A navigation system according to claim 31, wherein he one or more video camera pairs are mounted to an exterior surface of the vehicle.

40. A navigation system according to claim 31, wherein the one or more video cameras and the display panel are integrated into a single armor panel.

41. A navigation system according to claim 38, wherein the armor panel is configured to replace an existing window or windshield.

42. A method of navigating a vehicle having first and second externally mounted video cameras and an internally mounted display panel, the method comprising:

determining a desired convergence point for the first and second video cameras;

adjusting at least one of the set consisting of a sightline of the first camera, a sight line of the second camera, and a separation distance between the first and second cameras so that the sightlines of the first and second cameras intersect at the desired convergence point;

capturing video images from the first and second cameras; and

displaying the video images from the first and second cameras on the display panel.

43. A method according to claim 42, further comprising:

determining a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the action of determining a desired convergence point is accomplished using the determined gaze direction.

45. A method according to claim 42, further comprising:

determining a vehicle velocity.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the action of determining a desired convergence point is accomplished using the determined vehicle velocity.

47. A method according to claim 42, wherein the vehicle has third and fourth externally mounted video cameras, the method further comprising:

determining a desired convergence point for the third and fourth video cameras;

adjusting at least one of the set consisting of a sightline of the third camera, a sight line of the fourth camera, and a separation distance between the third and fourth cameras so that the sightlines of the third and fourth cameras intersect at the desired convergence point;

capturing video images from the third and fourth cameras; and

displaying the video images from the third and fourth cameras on the display panel.