REAR VIEW MANUAL ADJUSTMENT PERSPECTIVE CHANGE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20180281685A1
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Published: 10/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: TSCHIRHART, MICHAEL DEAN
• Application Number:
  US15/942,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20180281685A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/40 characterised by the details of the power supply or the coupling to vehicle components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a display screen viewable by a driver of the motor vehicle. A manually adjustable mount is attached to the display screen and enables a three-dimensional orientation of the display screen to be manually adjusted by the driver. The manually adjustable mount transmits an electronic signal indicative of the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen. A rearview camera captures images of a scene behind the motor vehicle. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the display screen, the manually adjustable mount and the rearview camera. The electronic processor determines, based on the electronic signal from the manually adjustable mount, the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen. The electronic processor controls video content presented on the display screen. The video content is based on the images captured by the rearview camera. The controlling of the video content is based on the determined three-dimensional orientation of the display screen.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

a display screen viewable by a driver of the motor vehicle;

a manually adjustable mount attached to the display screen and configured to;

enable a three-dimensional orientation of the display screen to be manually adjusted by the driver; and

transmit an electronic signal indicative of the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen;

a rearview camera configured to capture images of a scene behind the motor vehicle; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the display screen, the manually adjustable mount and the rearview camera, the electronic processor being configured to;

determine, based on the electronic signal from the manually adjustable mount, the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen; and

control video content presented on the display screen, the video content being based on the images captured by the rearview camera, the controlling being based on the determined three-dimensional orientation of the display screen.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to control the video content presented on the display screen by changing a three-dimensional orientation of the rearview camera.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 2 wherein, in response to the driver rotating the display screen in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from a downward direction, the rearview camera rotates in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from a downward direction.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 2, wherein, in response to the driver changing the orientation of the display screen, the orientation of the rearview camera is changed to emulate a view of the driver in a conventional rearview mirror as an orientation of the rearview mirror is changed.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is configured to control the video content presented on the display screen by transmitting to the display screen a video signal based on a selected portion of the images captured by the rearview camera, the portion of the images that is selected being dependent upon the determined three-dimensional orientation of the display screen.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the display screen is disposed approximately at a midpoint of a top edge of a windshield of the motor vehicle.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the rearview camera is attached to a rear end of the motor vehicle.

8. A motor vehicle comprising:

a display screen viewable by a driver of the motor vehicle;

a manually adjustable mount attached to the display screen and configured to;

enable a three-dimensional orientation of the display screen to be manually adjusted by the driver; and

transmit an electronic signal indicative of the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen;

a rearview camera configured to capture images of a scene behind the motor vehicle; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the display screen, the manually adjustable mount and the rearview camera, the electronic processor being configured to;

determine, based on the electronic signal from the manually adjustable mount, the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen; and

transmit a video signal to the display screen, the video signal being based on a selected portion of the images captured by the rearview camera, the portion of the images that is selected is dependent upon the determined three-dimensional orientation of the display screen.

9. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein the video signal represents a selected portion of mirror images of the images captured by the rearview camera, the portion of the mirror images of the images that is selected for representation by the video signal being dependent upon the determined three-dimensional orientation of the display screen.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 9 wherein, in response to the driver rotating the display screen in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in a downward direction, the portion of the mirror images of the images captured by the rearview camera that is selected for representation by the video signal moves in a rightward direction relative to the mirror images of the images.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 10 wherein, in response to the driver rotating the display screen to face in a more downward direction, the portion of the mirror images of the images captured by the rearview camera that is selected for representation by the video signal moves in a downward direction relative to the mirror images of the images.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 8, wherein, in response to the driver rotating the display screen, the portion of the images captured by the rearview camera is selected to emulate a view of the driver in a conventional rearview mirror as the driver rotates the rearview mirror.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the display screen is disposed approximately at a midpoint of a top edge of a windshield of the motor vehicle.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the rearview camera is attached to a rear end of the motor vehicle.

15. A motor vehicle comprising:

a display screen viewable by a driver of the motor vehicle;

a manually adjustable mount attached to the display screen and configured to;

enable a three-dimensional orientation of the display screen to be manually adjusted by the driver; and

transmit an electronic signal indicative of the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen;

a rearview camera configured to capture images of a scene behind the motor vehicle;

an actuator coupled to the rearview camera and configured to adjust a three-dimensional orientation of the rearview camera; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the display screen, the manually adjustable mount, the actuator, and the rearview camera, the electronic processor being configured to;

determine, based on the electronic signal from the manually adjustable mount, the three-dimensional orientation of the display screen;

control the actuator such that a three-dimensional orientation of the rearview camera corresponds to the determined three-dimensional orientation of the display screen; and

transmit a video signal to the display screen, the video signal being based on the images captured by the rearview camera.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein, in response to the driver rotating the display screen in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from a downward direction, the actuator rotates the rearview camera in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from a downward direction.

17. The motor vehicle of claim 16 wherein, in response to the driver rotating the display screen to face in a more upward direction, the actuator rotates the rearview camera to face in a more upward direction.

18. The motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein, in response to the driver changing the orientation of the display screen, the actuator changes an orientation of the rearview camera to emulate a view of the driver in a conventional rearview mirror as an orientation of the rearview mirror is changed.

19. The motor vehicle of claim 15 wherein the display screen is disposed approximately at a midpoint of a top edge of a windshield of the motor vehicle.

20. The motor vehicle of claim 15 wherein the rearview camera is attached to a rear end of the motor vehicle.