Vehicle video system

• US 9,428,111 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mokashi, Sumedh, Miller, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/976,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20160107575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method for capturing and displaying images includes a plurality of operations. A first video camera is fixedly attached to a vehicle at a first fixed location in a prescribed orientation relative to a cargo area defined within a vehicle body structure of a vehicle. An electronic display is provided within the vehicle. Video images of the cargo area are captured using the first video camera. The video images of the cargo area captured by the first video camera are processed and a simulated video overhead view of the cargo area is generated. A still image representing an overhead view of the vehicle is displayed on the electronic display, and the generated simulated video overhead view of the cargo area is superimposed on the display over an area of the still image corresponding to the location of the cargo area.

Claims

1. A method for capturing and displaying images, the method comprising:

fixedly attaching a first video camera to a vehicle at a first fixed location in a prescribed orientation aimed to capture images of a cargo area defined within a vehicle body structure of a vehicle;

providing an electronic display within the vehicle;

capturing video images of the cargo area using the first video camera;

processing the video images of the cargo area captured by the first video camera and generating a simulated video overhead view of the cargo area; and

displaying on the electronic display a still image representing an overhead view of the vehicle, and superimposing on the display over an area of the still image corresponding to the location of the cargo area the generated simulated video overhead view of the cargo area.

2. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes the first fixed location being a rearward exterior surface of a cabin structure of a pickup truck adjacent to the cargo area of the pickup truck.

3. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the displaying on the electronic display includes switching between displaying the simulated video overhead view of the cargo area over the still image of the vehicle on the electronic display and displaying the actual video images of the cargo area captured by the first video camera on the electronic display without of the still image of the vehicle.

4. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes aiming the first video camera to also capture images of an area rearward of the vehicle adjacent to the cargo area,

the processing of the video images includes generating a simulated video overhead view of the area rearward of the vehicle, and

the displaying on the electronic display includes displaying of the simulated overhead view of the area rearward of the vehicle over an area adjacent to a rearward area of the still image of the vehicle.

5. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 4, wherein

the displaying on the electronic display includes switching between displaying the simulated video overhead view of the cargo area over the still image of the vehicle on the electronic display with the simulated overhead view of the area rearward of the vehicle, and displaying the actual video images of the cargo area and the area rearward of the vehicle captured by the first video camera on the electronic display without of the still image of the vehicle.

6. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes fixedly attaching a plurality of additional video cameras to mutually differing prescribed locations around an outer periphery of the vehicle in prescribed orientations providing respective video images of areas around the outer periphery of the vehicle, and

the processing of the video images includes processing video images captured by each of the plurality of additional video cameras, generate further simulated overhead views of the prescribed locations around the outer periphery of the vehicle, and

the displaying on the electronic display includes superimposing the further simulated overhead views to corresponding areas around the still image of the vehicle on the display.

7. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 6, wherein

the displaying on the electronic display includes switching between displaying the simulated video overhead views, and displaying the actual video captured by the first video camera and the plurality of additional video cameras on the electronic display without of the still image of the vehicle.

8. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes the first fixed location being an interior surface an enclosed cargo structure, the enclosed cargo structure including a floor, upright walls and a roof structure defining the cargo area, with the interior surface being one of the upright walls of the enclosed cargo structure.

9. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes fixedly attaching a second video camera to the vehicle at a second prescribed location spaced from the first prescribed location to capture an additional video image of the cargo area.

10. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 9, wherein

the processing of the video images includes processing the video image from the first video camera and the video image of the second video camera such that the simulated video overhead view is a composite image based upon the video images captured the first and second video cameras.

11. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes aiming the first video camera to further capture a view of a trailer hitch receiver installed to the cargo area such that a vehicle operator viewing the electronic display observes the trailer hitch receiver as the vehicle moves toward a trailer hitch of a trailer.

12. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the processing the video images includes determined a location of a movable member mounted to a rear portion of the vehicle for movement between a first position and a second position such that in the first position, the movable member blocks the first video camera from capturing a video image of the an area rear of the vehicle, and in the second position the movable member does not block the first video camera from capturing a video image of the an area rear of the vehicle,

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes attaching a second video camera to the movable member such that with the movable member in the first position, the second video camera is positioned at a second fixed location in a prescribed orientation relative to the vehicle to capture a video image of the area rear of the vehicle, and with the movable member in the second position, the second video camera is obscured.

13. The method for capturing and displaying images according to claim 1, wherein

the fixedly attaching of the first video camera includes fixedly mounting a plurality of additional video cameras to mutually differing prescribed locations around an outer periphery of the vehicle in prescribed orientations providing respective video images of areas around the outer periphery of the vehicle, the plurality of additional video cameras including a front video camera fixed to a front portion of the vehicle, a rear video camera fixed to a rear portion of the vehicle and a pair of side video cameras fixed to opposite sides of the vehicle, and

the processing the video images includes process the video images captured by each of the plurality of additional video cameras to generate further simulated overhead views of the prescribed locations around the outer periphery of the vehicle, and

the displaying on the electronic display includes superimposing the further simulated overhead views to corresponding areas around the still image of the vehicle on the display such that the simulated video overhead view shows at least the portion of the cargo area, an area in front of the vehicle, an area behind the vehicle and areas along each side of the vehicle superimposed over a still image of the vehicle.