REAR VIEW DISPLAY OBJECT REFERENTS SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20180316868A1
• Filed: 04/11/2018
• Published: 11/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2017
• 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:
  US15/950,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20180316868A1
• 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 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/602 with an adjustable viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• 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 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a display screen viewable by a driver of the motor vehicle. A rearview camera captures images of a scene behind the motor vehicle. Means provides video data indicative of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle as viewed in a rearward direction. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the display screen, the rearview camera, and the providing means. The electronic processor provides video content presented on the display screen. The video content is based on the images captured by the rearview camera and on the video data.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

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

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

means for providing video data indicative of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle as viewed in a rearward direction; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the display screen, the rearview camera, and the providing means, the electronic processor being configured to provide video content presented on the display screen, the video content being based on the images captured by the rearview camera and on the video data.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1, wherein the providing means comprises a second camera configured to capture images of the passenger compartment as viewed in a rearward direction from the display screen.

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

4. The motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the providing means comprises a memory device storing the video data indicative of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle as viewed in the rearward direction.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 4 further comprising a display orientation sensor configured to detect a three-dimensional orientation of the display screen and transmit an orientation signal to the electronic processor, the orientation signal being indicative of the detected three-dimensional orientation of the display screen, wherein the memory device stores the video data as a plurality of sets of video data, each said set of video data being stored in association with a respective three-dimensional orientation of the display screen.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 4 further comprising a driver camera configured to capture images of a human driver of the motor vehicle and transmit the images of the human driver to the electronic processor, the electronic processor being configured to determine a position of the human driver'"'"'s head or eyes based on the images of the human driver, wherein the memory device stores the video data as a plurality of sets of video data, each said set of video data being stored in association with a respective position of the human driver'"'"'s head or eyes.

7. 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.

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

9. A motor vehicle comprising:

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

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

means for providing video data indicative of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle as viewed in a rearward direction; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the display screen, the rearview camera, and the providing means, the electronic processor being configured to provide video content presented on the display screen, the video content including at least part of the captured images of the scene behind the motor vehicle, the video content also including semi-transparent or partially opaque representations of objects within the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

10. The motor vehicle of claim 9, wherein the providing means comprises a second camera configured to capture images of the passenger compartment as viewed in a rearward direction from the display screen.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the electronic processor is configured to control the video content presented on the display screen by changing a three-dimensional orientation of the second camera.

12. The motor vehicle of claim 9 wherein the providing means comprises a memory device storing the video data indicative of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle as viewed in the rearward direction.

13. The motor vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a display orientation sensor configured to detect a three-dimensional orientation of the display screen and transmit an orientation signal to the electronic processor, the orientation signal being indicative of the detected three-dimensional orientation of the display screen, wherein the memory device stores the video data as a plurality of sets of video data, each said set of video data being stored in association with a respective three-dimensional orientation of the display screen.

14. The motor vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a driver camera configured to capture images of a human driver of the motor vehicle and transmit the images of the human driver to the electronic processor, the electronic processor being configured to determine a position of the human driver'"'"'s head or eyes based on the images of the human driver, wherein the memory device stores the video data as a plurality of sets of video data, each said set video data being stored in association with a respective position of the human driver'"'"'s head or eyes.

15. The motor vehicle of claim 9 wherein the display screen is disposed approximately at a midpoint of a top edge of a windshield of the motor vehicle.

16. The motor vehicle of claim 9 wherein the rearview camera is attached to a rear end of the motor vehicle.

17. A motor vehicle comprising:

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

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

a second camera configured to capture images of the passenger compartment as viewed in a rearward direction from the display screen; and

an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the display screen, the first camera, and the second camera, the electronic processor being configured to provide video content presented on the display screen, the video content being based on the images captured by the first camera and on the images captured by the second camera.

18. The motor vehicle of claim 17 wherein outlines of objects within the passenger compartment are included within the video content, detail of the objects within the outlines being omitted from the video content.

19. The motor vehicle of claim 17 wherein the video content includes semi-transparent or partially opaque representations of objects within the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

20. The motor vehicle of claim 17 wherein the display screen is disposed approximately at a midpoint of a top edge of a windshield of the motor vehicle.