Vision system

• US 6,412,950 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Tech
• Inventors: Strumolo, Gary Steven, Miller, Ronald Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): DOWLING, WILLIAM C
• Application Number:
  US09/625,435
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 353/11, 353/12, 353/13, 353/14, 353/122, 396/429, 396/430, 396/544, 348/118, 348/148, 348/164
• US Class Current: 353/13
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0003 inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/10 characterised by the type of camera system used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission

Abstract

A vision system 10 which allows images of a vehicular ambient environment 52 to be selectively acquired and displayed upon a display portion 14. The system 10 may be operatively used within vehicle 12 and may be selectively removed from the vehicle 12 and deployed within the environment 52. Further, display portion 14 is adapted to selectively acquire and display images from an entertainment type device or DVD type player 38 and/or other images from a wide variety of other sources, thereby further increasing the overall utility of the vision system 10.

Claims

1. A vision system comprising:

a display portion;

a camera which is mounted upon the display portion and which selectively acquires images and which communicates said acquired images to said display portion; and

a mounting portion which selectively and removably receives said display portion.

2. The vision system of claim 1 wherein said camera comprises a night vision type camera.

3. The vision system of claim 1 wherein said display portion includes an electrical power source.

4. The vision system of claim 1 wherein said vision system includes a wireless communications device that is communicatively coupled to said display portion.

5. The vision system of claim 1 wherein said vision system includes an entertainment device that is communicatively coupled to said display portion.

6. The vision system of claim 1 wherein said vision system includes a member which is selectively and removably insertable into a cigarette lighter.

7. A vision system for use by a vehicle of the type having a battery, said vision system comprising:

a member which is mounted within said vehicle and which is selectively coupled to said battery; and

a portion that is removably secured within said member and which is adapted to acquire and display first images when secured within said member and which is further adapted to be selectively moved outside of said vehicle and to acquire and display second images when moved outside of said vehicle.

8. The vision system of claim 7 when said portion comprises a display screen and camera.

9. The vision system of claim 8 wherein said camera comprises a night vision camera.

10. The vision system of claim 8 wherein said display screen comprises a flat panel type of screen.

11. The vision system of claim 8 wherein said portion includes an electrical power supply.

12. The vision system of claim 7 wherein said vision system includes a wireless communications device that is communicatively coupled to said portion.

13. The vision system of claim 7 wherein said vision system includes an entertainment device that is communicatively coupled to said portion.

14. The vision system of claim 7 wherein said portion is movable within said vehicle and selectively acquires and displays a third image when moved within said vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said camera comprises a night vision type camera.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of coupling said apparatus to a vehicle battery.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

providing an electrical power supply; and

placing said electrical power supply within said apparatus.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said vehicle includes a passenger compartment, said method further comprising the steps of acquiring images of said passenger compartment.

15. A method comprising the steps of:

providing an image acquisition and display apparatus;

removably mounting said apparatus within a vehicle;

providing a camera;

providing a data acquisition device; and

communicatively coupling said apparatus to a selected one of said camera and said data acquisition device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said data acquisition device comprises a device that selectively accesses a global communication network.