Wide-angled image display system for automobiles

• US 7,466,338 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yiling Xie
• Original Assignee: Yiling Xie
• Inventors: Xie, Yiling
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/708,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20050190260A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148, 340/425.5, 340/463
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• 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 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• 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: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A wide-angled display system for automobiles incorporates the use of multiple cameras whose captured images are processed to produce an integrated view, as if viewed directly by human eyes. This integrated view avoids the blind spots inherent in the 3 rear view mirrors currently used. A pseudo-car image (PCI) program logic is described and claimed to transform images of large moving object into smaller objects taking up same length/volume, at the time the large object is approaching from behind, to correct driver misjudgment problem.

Claims

1. A wide-angled image display system for automobiles, comprising:

a. a plurality of cameras mounted on the rear and both sides of an automobile;

b. a display monitor mounted on the inside of the automobile into the center rearview mirror so that the images received from said cameras are projected and superimposed on the mirror surface of the center rearview mirror;

c. a control unit with image distributor that receives the images from said cameras and generates a composite wide-angled image on said display monitor; and

,

d. a set of program logic coded and loaded into the control unit, whereby said logic;

transforms images of larger vehicles behind into images of smaller vehicles in tandem, taking up the same length as the larger vehicles, before transmitting to said display monitor, when images of the larger vehicles appear from the two sides to the rear of current vehicle,

disables the transformation function of the larger image to smaller image when the front of that larger image is flush with the tail end of current vehicle, or if there is any portion of overlapping in the latitudinal direction.