A back-up camera refers to a camera mounted at the rear of a vehicle and which is directed rearward of the vehicle in order allow the camera to capture images of objects behind the vehicle as well as outside of a driver's field of view. A display device mounted on the dashboard of the vehicle receives image information from the back-up camera and displays images captured by the camera. A back-up camera thus enables a driver to “see” what is behind the vehicle and outside the driver's field of view.
A problem with prior art back-up cameras is that when a trailer is attached to a vehicle, they are unable to capture images behind the trailer. A back-up camera that is able to “see” behind the vehicle as well behind a trailer attached to the vehicle would be an improvement over the prior art.
The camera 106 is a digital camera. It outputs digital data that represents one or more images captured on a conventional image capture device. Images are captured as frames. The camera 106 outputs digital data representing a captured image frame, to a conventional Bluetooth transceiver, not visible in
The wireless communications carried-out between the camera 107 and its mating Bluetooth transceiver 109 are described in the Applicant's co-pending patent application entitled “Smart Trailer,” which is filed contemporaneously herewith and identified by application Ser. No. ______. The “Smart Trailer” patent application is also identified by the Applicant's docket number 2011P713US. The entire content of the “Smart Trailer” application is incorporated herein by reference.
When the trailer 102 is attached to the vehicle 104 and carrying a load 110 that blocks the field of view of the camera 106, the camera 106 is configured to be relocated from the vehicle 104 to a location behind the trailer and behind the trailer's load where the camera 106 can capture images of objects behind the trailer and its load and which would otherwise be blocked from the driver's view. The camera 106 is thus made moveable by an attachment mechanism, also referred to herein as an attaching device 114 that is configured to enable the camera 106 to be attached and detached from the exterior surface of a first vehicle such as an automobile or truck and to be attached to a different surface of a different vehicle, typically a trailer attached to the first vehicle or a load riding on a trailer. Different attachment mechanisms described below enable the camera to be attachable and detachable to and from a vehicle surface, whether the surface be one of a tow vehicle 104, the trailer 102 or a load 110 carried on the trailer.
In one embodiment the attaching device 114 is a hook and loop fastener, an example of which is a VELCRO® fastener. In another embodiment the attaching device can be a magnet, suction cup or an elastic strap. In yet another embodiment the attaching device can be a metallic strap or an adhesive or custom cradle that is fixed to the trailer to which the camera docks.
The output 208 from the image processor 206 is provided to a conventional Bluetooth transceiver 107. The terms, Bluetooth and Bluetooth wireless technology are terms used to describe the technology that was originally developed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). It defines a wireless communication link, operating in the unlicensed industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band at 2.4 GHz using a frequency hopping transceiver. The link protocol is based on time slots.
The Bluetooth transceiver 107 receives a signal 208 from the image processor 206. It modulates the signal from the image processor 206 onto a radio frequency carrier, which it broadcasts as short-range radio frequency signals. Such signals, when received by a mating or corresponding Bluetooth transceiver, are demodulated and the signals representing the captured image recovered in the Bluetooth-receiving device using techniques well-known in the art.
The image capture device 200, image processor 206 and the Bluetooth transceiver 107 are controlled by a central processor unit or CPU 210. The CPU 210 executes program instructions stored in a memory device 212, which is coupled to the CPU via a conventional address/data/control bus 214. The CPU 210 thus effectuates control over the capture device 200, image processor 206 and Bluetooth transceiver 107 via an external and separate control bus 216.
Importantly, the camera components depicted in
In the embodiment shown in
In an alternate embodiment, the CPU 210 is configured to control the servo-motor by connecting the servo-motor to the aforementioned address/data/control bus 216.
As described above, in a preferred embodiment the radio frequency transceivers are compliant with the Bluetooth communications standard and derivatives thereof. In an alternate embodiment radio frequency communications can be effectuated by one or more of the I.E.E.E. 801.XXX communications standards, such as 802.11(a), (b), (g) and (n) as well as derivatives thereof. Examples of such communications standards include the nearly ubiquitous WI-FI communications standards.
In one embodiment, operating power for the camera 106 is provided by the vehicle to which it is attached. Such power can be readily obtained by a conventional prior art trailer connector. In an alternate embodiment however power to the devices can be supplied by a battery located in or attached to the camera housing 218.
In a first step 302, a camera such as the one described above, which is already attached to a first vehicle at a point of attachment such as one of the attachment mechanisms described above, is removed from a vehicle by an individual, such as the vehicle's driver. At step 304, the camera is attached to a second and different attachment mechanism located on a second vehicle, typically embodied as a trailer being towed by the first vehicle. At step 306, the camera captures image frames of areas behind the first vehicle and behind the second vehicle, which areas are obscured from the driver's field of view. In step 308, captured images are transmitted wirelessly from the camera, received by a receiver in the first vehicle and displayed on a display device. In one embodiment, step 308 includes a step of remotely controlling the camera from within the first vehicle in order to allow a driver or other operator in the first vehicle to pan and zoom the camera as needed. At step 310, the camera can be removed from its point of attachment to the second vehicle and be re-attached to a point of attachment to the first vehicle and used thereafter to “see” behind the first vehicle. Images captured from the first point of attachment on the first vehicle can thereafter be captured as shown in step 312. The process depicted in
The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only. The true scope of the invention is set forth in the appurtenant claims.