Driver-assisting apparatus

• US 7,982,768 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cimb Chien, Eric Chien
• Original Assignee: Cimb Chien, Eric Chien
• Inventors: Chien, Eric, Chien, Cimb
• Primary Examiner(s): SENFI, BEHROOZ M
• Application Number:
  US11/047,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,360 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/143, 348/54, 348/341, 348/240, 348/333.01, 348/333.04, 348/333.13, 348/149, 348/118, 348/159, 348/208.16, 348/208.6, 348/222.1, 348/208.14, 348/211.9, 340/461, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/439, 340/901, 340/903, 340/462
• 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• 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 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views

Abstract

A driver-assisting apparatus includes a video camera and a display. The video camera is attached to a vehicle for taking pictures in a field further than a driver'"'"'s field of view with bare eyes. The display is connected with the camera for displaying the pictures. With the driver-assisting apparatus, the driver can see an object that is too far for her or him to see with the bare eyes. Thus, the driver can take actions to avoid running over or bumping into the object earlier with the driver-assisting apparatus than without.

Claims

1. A driver-assisting apparatus comprising:

multiple cameras attached to a vehicle for taking pictures in various front fields, with each camera taking pictures in a camera field of view that is different than other of the multiple cameras and further than a driver'"'"'s front field of view; and

at least one display connected with the multiple cameras for displaying the pictures overlapped onto the driver'"'"'s front field of view, wherein the multiple cameras include first and second cameras, with the camera field of view of each of the multiple cameras corresponds to a unique vehicle speed range, with first camera having a first maximum magnification rate larger than a second maximum magnification rate of the second camera having a shorter camera field of view, and wherein the pictures of the multiple cameras are shown in the at least one display, whereby the multiple cameras have a capability of taking overlapped pictures in front of the driver'"'"'s front field of view and showing the overlapped pictures to a driver by the at least one display to provide field information in front of and far away from the vehicle to the driver while the vehicle is driving at a high speed.

2. The driver-assisting apparatus according claim 1 wherein each camera comprises a zoom lens.

3. The driver-assisting apparatus according claim 2 wherein each camera comprises a zoom lens having a zoom at least 10×

.

4. The driver-assisting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a train.

5. The driver-assisting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a racing car.

6. The driver-assisting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is a boat.

7. The driver-assisting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle is an airplane.

8. The driver-assisting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiple cameras includes a third camera having the camera field of view further than the camera field of view of the first camera and a third maximum magnification rate larger the first maximum magnification rate of the first camera.

9. The driver-assisting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

the second maximum magnification rate of the second camera is 5×

;

the first maximum magnification rate of the first camera is 10×

; and

the third maximum magnification rate of the third camera is 20×

.

10. The driver-assisting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the multiple cameras include a fourth camera having a fourth maximum magnification rate;

the camera field of view of the fourth camera is further than the camera field of view of the third camera and the fourth maximum magnification rate is larger than the third maximum magnification rate of the third camera; and

the fourth maximum magnification rate of the fourth camera is 30×

.

11. An optical assisting apparatus for a driver of a vehicle at a high speed comprising:

an optical assembly having a capability of taking and enlarging pictures of a scenery away from a driver'"'"'s front field of view and comprising multiple optical devices each having a magnification rate to enlarge the pictures of the scenery; and

a display located near the driver'"'"'s front field of view and having a capability of showing the enlarged pictures of the scenery to the driver to allow the driver having a vision beyond a normal visible field of the driver at a high speed of the vehicle, wherein

the magnification rates of the optical devices are different from each other to make the optical devices taking overlapped pictures in front of the driver'"'"'s front field of view.