DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR DISPLAYING IMAGES ACQUIRED BY A CAMERA SYSTEM ONTO A REARVIEW ASSEMBLY OF A VEHICLE

• US 20150062342A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Hoek, Steven G., Lee, Ethan J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,884,591 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A display system for use in a controlled vehicle is provided, and includes a rearview assembly having a display device located behind a mirror element, a camera system configured to acquire images of a scene external of the controlled vehicle, and a processing system configured to receive a signal representative of the acquired images and to produce an image of the scene on the display device of the rearview assembly, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the photosensitivity of the camera system based on an input from at least one of an ambient light sensor and a direct glare sensor.

Claims

1. A display system for use in a controlled vehicle, comprising:

a rearview assembly having a display device located behind a mirror element;

a camera system configured to acquire images of a scene external of the controlled vehicle; and

a processing system configured to receive a signal representative of the acquired images and to produce images of the scene on the display device of the rearview assembly, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the photosensitivity of the camera system based on an input from at least one of an ambient light sensor and a direct glare sensor.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the mirror element is an electrochromic mirror.

4. The display system of claim 3, wherein the processing system is further configured to control a reflectivity of the electrochromic mirror element based on an input from at least one of the ambient light sensor and the direct glare sensor.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the photosensitivity of the camera system based on inputs from both the ambient light sensor and the direct glare sensor.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is disposed in the rearview assembly.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to generate a multiplexed signal that is used to adjust the photosensitivity of the camera system.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the photosensitivity of the camera system by adjusting the integration time of the camera system.

9. The display system of claim 8, wherein the processing system is further configured to generate a multiplexed signal that is used to adjust the integration time of the camera system.

10. A display system for displaying video images of a scene acquired by a camera system onto a rearview assembly of a vehicle, the display system comprising:

a display device positioned behind a mirror element of the rearview assembly; and

a processing system configured to receive signals representative of the acquired video images and to produce images of the scene on the display device of the rearview assembly, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the integration time of the camera system based on an input from at least one of an ambient light sensor and a direct glare sensor.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

12. The display system of claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the photosensitivity of the camera system based on inputs from both the ambient light sensor and the direct glare sensor.

13. The display system of claim 10, wherein the processing system is further configured to generate a multiplexed signal that is used to adjust the integration time of the camera system.

14. A display system for use in a controlled vehicle, comprising:

a rearview assembly having a display device located behind a mirror element;

a camera system configured to acquire video images of a scene external of the controlled vehicle; and

a processing system configured to receive signals representative of the acquired video images to produce images of the scene on the display device of the rearview assembly, wherein the processing system is further configured to generate a multiplexed signal that is used to adjust the integration time of the camera system based on an input from at least one sensor.

15. The display system of claim 14, wherein the display device comprises a liquid crystal display.

16. The display system of claim 14, wherein the mirror element is an electrochromic mirror.

17. The display system of claim 16, wherein the processing system is further configured to control a reflectivity of the electrochromic mirror element based on an input from the at least one sensor.

18. The display system of claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of an ambient light sensor and a direct glare sensor.

19. The display system of claim 18, wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the photosensitivity of the camera system based on inputs from both the ambient light sensor and the direct glare sensor.

20. The display system of claim 14, wherein the processing system is disposed in the rearview assembly.