Vehicle sun visor with a multi-functional touch screen with multiple camera views and photo video capability

• US 9,457,642 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Be TopNotch, LLC
• Original Assignee: Be TopNotch, LLC
• Inventors: Kothari, Ankit Dilip
• Primary Examiner(s): Bailey, Frederick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahmud, Farhan
• Application Number:
  US14/623,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20160082888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 3/0204 Sun visors
• 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 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0035 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• 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 2300/8013 for child monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A vehicle sun visor system with a touch screen display is configured to display video feed from one or more cameras. A front facing polarized and/or photochromic camera shows the area of view which is normally blocked by the deployed sun visor, allowing the user to view traffic lights, road signs, etc. without the distraction of glare. Software image processing may also be used to reduce glare and improve visibility. In addition the sun visor system also has a “see-me” camera which allows the user to use the screen as a mirror, and one or more rear-view cameras which can be used to see the passenger area of a vehicle through the touch-screen display. Any of the cameras may be used to take photos or videos, which may be viewed on the display and transmitted wirelessly to other electronic devices or cloud storage.

Claims

1. An automotive visualization system comprising:

a plurality of cameras;

a display apparatus comprising a display screen, wherein said display apparatus is mounted on or configured to be mounted on a vehicle sun visor such that when said sun visor is deployed, the display screen of said display apparatus faces toward a user of the sun visor;

a computer processor;

non-volatile computer memory storing computer instructions configured to;

receive an image from at least one of said plurality of cameras,

display said image on said display apparatus in real time,

display a graphical user interface (GUI) in a display screen of said display apparatus, said GUI comprising;

touch screen controls providing an option to select a camera view for display on said display apparatus, said camera view comprising at least one of a front view of the area in front of the vehicle, a passenger view of passengers seated in the rear section of the vehicle, and a user reflective view showing a reflection of the user seated in the vehicle, wherein said camera view is defined by said image received from said at least one camera and said image comprises still image data or video image data which can be stored in said memory and transferred to another device; and

a switching mechanism configured to cause said display apparatus to turn on and/or off in response to said switching mechanism, wherein said display screen automatically turns on when a cover of said sun visor is opened, and the display screen automatically turns off when the cover is closed.

2. The automotive visualization system of claim 1 wherein a first of said plurality of cameras is positioned in the vehicle sun visor such that, when said sun visor is deployed, an aperture of the camera faces toward the front of said vehicle, so as to capture a view of the area in front of said vehicle.

3. The automotive visualization system of claim 1 further comprising:

a rechargeable battery; and

a housing configured to contain said rechargeable battery, at least one of said plurality of cameras, said display apparatus, said computer processor, and said non-volatile computer memory in the form factor of a tablet PC;

wherein said housing is configured to be detachable from said vehicle sun visor and said at least one camera, said display apparatus, said computer processor, and said non-volatile computer memory are powered by said rechargeable battery when said housing is detached from said vehicle sun visor.

4. The automotive visualization system of claim 1, wherein said processor and said memory are configured to interface with a Head Up Display, wherein said computer instructions are further configured to:

send said image to said Head Up Display for display,

turn off said display apparatus when said Head Up Display is in use, and

turn on said display apparatus in response to a user action in order to receive additional user inputs.

5. The automotive visualization system of claim 2, wherein said first camera produces a front image that is a polarized front image.

6. The automotive visualization system of claim 2 further comprising:

a second camera placed in a position in said vehicle that faces toward a user of a sun visor in said vehicle, and

wherein said display apparatus is configured to display a user image of said user, produced by said second camera, in response to a command entered by said user.

7. The automotive visualization system of claim 1 wherein said computer instructions are further configured to automatically transfer images and/or videos captured by said plurality of cameras to another location over a wireless connection.

8. The automotive visualization system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cameras comprise:

one or more rear cameras placed in a position that faces a rear passenger seat of the vehicle, and

wherein said display apparatus is configured to display a rear view produced by said one or more rear cameras, in response to user input.

9. The automotive visualization system of claim 8, wherein said display apparatus is configured to:

display multiple rear views in a split view mode displaying each of said multiple rear views in a separate section of the display apparatus simultaneously, and

wherein said computer instructions are further configured to switch to an enlarged view of one of said multiple rear views in response to user input.

10. The automotive visualization system of claim 1, wherein said computer instructions are further configured to:

adjust focus and/or zoom of at least one of said plurality of cameras in response to user input.

11. The automotive visualization system of claim 10, wherein said computer instructions are further configured to:

save a focus and/or zoom level as a default camera setting,

wherein a separate default camera setting is stored for each of said plurality of cameras, and

wherein said default camera setting is used when a camera view of at least one of said plurality of cameras is displayed.

12. The automotive visualization system of claim 1, wherein the display apparatus is configured to receive electrical power from an inductive charging coil embedded in the sun visor, wherein when the sun visor is stowed the inductive charging coil comes into proximity with a magnetic field generated by another charging coil embedded in the ceiling of said vehicle, and produces an electric current that is used to charge the display apparatus.

13. The automotive visualization system of claim 1, wherein said computer instructions are further configured to reduce glare affecting the image received from at least one of said plurality of cameras.

14. The automotive visualization system of claim 1, wherein said touch screen controls further comprise an auto share option for automatically uploading and sharing still or video images received from at least one of said plurality of cameras.

15. The automotive visualization system of claim 1, wherein said display apparatus is configured to operably couple to a hinge system of a vehicle sun visor, wherein said hinge system comprises electrical leads with rotatable contacts that are configured to provide electrical power to said display apparatus.

16. An automotive audio visual system comprising:

a housing;

a first camera positioned on a first side of said housing;

a display apparatus on a second side of said housing;

a computer processor;

non-volatile computer memory storing computer instructions configured to;

receive a first image from said first camera,

display said first image on said display apparatus in real time; and

a switching mechanism configured to cause said display apparatus to turn on and/or off in response to said switching mechanism, wherein said display screen of said display apparatus automatically turns on when a cover of said sun visor is opened, and the display screen automatically turns off when the cover is closed;

wherein said housing is mounted on a vehicle sun visor and draws electrical power for said first camera, display apparatus, computer processor, said non-volatile computer memory through a wiring harness connected to a hinge system of said sun visor.

17. The automotive audio visual system of claim 16 further comprising:

a second camera positioned on said second side of said housing; and

wherein said computer instructions are further configured to;

receive a second image from said second camera, and

display said second image on said display apparatus in real time.

18. The automotive audio visual system of claim 16 further comprising:

a second camera positioned elsewhere in or on said vehicle,

an external camera interface to interface with said second camera, and

wherein said computer instructions are further configured to;

receive a second image from said second camera, and

display said second image on said display apparatus in real time.

19. The automotive audio visual system of claim 16 wherein said first camera is configured to capture a polarized first image.

20. The automotive audio visual system of claim 16, further comprising a rechargeable battery disposed in said housing,

wherein said housing is configured to be detachable from said vehicle sun visor,

wherein said camera, said display apparatus, said computer processor, and said non-volatile computer memory are powered by said rechargeable battery when said housing is detached from said vehicle sun visor.

21. An automotive visual system for monitoring traffic signals, road signs, and such from a motor vehicle, said visual system comprising:

a vehicle having a windshield and a sun visor;

a display apparatus comprising a display screen on one side thereof and a camera on the opposite side,

wherein said display apparatus is mounted on said sun visor positioned behind said windshield, such that when said sun visor is deployed the display screen of said display apparatus faces toward a user of the sun visor and an aperture of said camera faces toward the front of said vehicle so as to capture a view of the area in front of said vehicle,

wherein said display screen automatically turns on when a cover of said sun visor is opened, and the display screen automatically turns off when the cover is closed,

wherein said display apparatus draws electrical power through a wiring harness connected to a hinge system of said sun visor.

22. The automotive visual system of claim 21 further comprising:

a head up display,

wherein a still image and/or video captured by said camera is a view of the area in front of the vehicle displayed on said head up display.

23. The automotive visual system of claim 21, further comprising a rechargeable battery,

wherein said display apparatus is configured to be detachable from said vehicle sun visor, and is powered by said rechargeable battery when said display apparatus is detached from said vehicle sun visor.

24. An automotive audio visual system comprising:

a sun visor;

a display apparatus installed on said sun visor such that when said sun visor is deployed, said display apparatus faces a user of said sun visor, said display apparatus comprising a display screen and at least one camera;

wherein an aperture of said at least one camera is configured to face the user of said sun visor at least when said sun visor is deployed;

non-volatile computer memory storing computer instructions configured to;

receive an image from said camera when said sun visor is deployed,

display said image on said display apparatus in real time, wherein said image is a reflection of the user comprising still image data or video image data which can be stored in said memory and transferred to another device;

wherein said display screen automatically turns on when a cover of said sun visor is opened, and the display screen automatically turns off when the sun visor cover is closed.

25. The automotive audio visual system of claim 24, wherein said computer instructions are further configured to:

store images and/or videos captured by said camera in response to user input.

26. The automotive audio visual system of claim 24, further comprising one or more rear cameras placed in a position that faces a rear passenger seat of the vehicle, and

wherein said display apparatus is configured to display a rear view produced by said one or more rear cameras, in response to user input.

27. The automotive audio visual system of claim 24, wherein said display apparatus is configured to be detachable from said vehicle sun visor.

28. The automotive audio visual system of claim 24, wherein said display screen comprises touch screen controls which include an auto share option for automatically uploading and sharing still or video images received from said at least one camera.