Vehicle Camera System Having Live Video Indication

• US 20160039341A1
• Filed: 08/07/2014
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schondorf, Steven Yellin, Ghneim, Maher
• Granted Patent: US 10,000,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• 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 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/20 Details of the management of multiple sources of image data
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay

Abstract

A vehicle display displays a camera video having an indicator. The indicator is static on the display while the camera video is frozen on the display thereby notifying a viewer that the camera video is frozen and the indicator is dynamic on the display while the camera video is live on the display.

Claims

1. A method for a vehicle, comprising:

displaying on a display a camera video having an indicator, wherein the indicator is static on the display in response to the camera video being frozen on the display thereby notifying a viewer that the camera video is frozen and the indicator is dynamic on the display in response to the camera video being live on the display.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the indicator is dynamic on the display in response to the camera video being live on the display by at least one of the indicator moving along or around at least a portion of the display, a color of the indicator changing, a size of the indicator changing, and a brightness of the indicator changing.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the indicator is at least one of an overlay, a symbol, an icon, a graphic element, and a border element.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the camera video by a camera of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the camera is a rear view camera of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an indicator video having the indicator by a live video indication feed.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

combining the camera video and the indicator prior to displaying the camera video having the indicator.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing the camera video by a camera of the vehicle;

providing an indication video having the indicator by a live video indication feed; and

enabling the camera to provide the camera video and the live video indication feed to provide the indicator upon the vehicle being shifted rearward and otherwise disabling the camera and the live video indication feed.

9. A camera system for a vehicle, comprising:

a display configured to display a camera video having an indicator, wherein the indicator is static on the display in response to the camera video being frozen on the display thereby notifying a viewer that the camera video is frozen and the indicator is dynamic on the display in response to the camera video being live on the display.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the indicator is dynamic on the display in response to the camera video being live on the display by at least one of the indicator moving along or around at least a portion of the display, a color of the indicator changing, a size of the indicator changing, and a brightness of the indicator changing.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the indicator is at least one of an overlay, a symbol, an icon, a graphic element, and a border element.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein:

the display is a rear view display of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a rear view camera configured to provide the camera video.

14. A camera system for a vehicle, comprising:

a display; and

a video combiner configured to combine a camera video and an indication video to form a combined video, the indication video having an indicator set to be dynamic on the display in response to the combined video being live on the display, and set to be static on the display in response to the combined video being frozen on the display thereby notifying a viewer of the display that the camera video is frozen.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the indicator is dynamic on the display in response to the camera video being live on the display by at least one of the indicator moving along or around at least a portion of the display, a color of the indicator changing, a size of the indicator changing, and a brightness of the indicator changing.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the indicator is at least one of an overlay, a symbol, an icon, a graphic element, and a border element.

17. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a camera configured to provide the camera video to the video combiner, wherein the camera video is a surrounding of the vehicle; and

a live video indication feed configured to provide the indication video having the indicator to the video combiner.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the camera is a rear view camera.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the live video indication feed is independent of the camera.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a controller configured to enable the camera to provide the camera video and the live video indication feed to provide the indication video upon the vehicle being shifted rearward.