The disclosure relates to the field of automotive displays, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for viewing in a rearward direction from a motor vehicle.
A driver must normally turn his head around to look out the rear window while backing up, which is awkward and requires the driver to use a steering wheel that is in front of the driver, and thus in the opposite direction from the rearward direction in which he is looking. Alternatively, the user can use rearview mirrors when backing up, but rearview mirrors provide only a small image, making it difficult for the driver to see objects that are behind the vehicle. More recently, a rearwardly directed camera on the vehicle may capture video that is displayed on a center stack display when the vehicle is in reverse. However, the center stack display is typically small, making it difficult for the driver to see all objects behind the vehicle and judge distances.
The present invention may capture rearview images by use of a camera, and project the images onto the windshield so that the driver may view a large rearview image while looking in a forward direction. Thus, the driver may be enabled to drive the vehicle in the reverse direction while looking forward, and may therefore drive backwards more safely and faster.
In one embodiment, the invention comprises a vehicle including a rear view camera, a windshield, an image projector associated with the windshield, a sensor detecting when the vehicle is in a reverse gear, and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to each of the rear view camera, the image projector and the sensor. The electronic processor causes the image projector to project images captured by the rear view camera onto the windshield in response to the sensor detecting that the vehicle is in a reverse gear.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises a display method for a motor vehicle. It is detected when the motor vehicle is in a reverse gear. Video images of a space behind the motor vehicle are captured. In response to the detecting that the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the captured video images are projected onto a windshield of the motor vehicle.
In yet another embodiment, the invention includes a vehicle having a rear view camera, a front view camera, a windshield, a rear window, a first image projector associated with the windshield, a second image projector associated with the rear window, and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to each of the rear view camera, the front view camera, the first image projector and the second image projector. The processor receives a signal indicating that the vehicle is in a reverse gear, and, in response to receiving the signal, causes the first image projector to project images captured by the rear view camera onto the windshield, and causes the second image projector to project images captured by the front view camera onto the rear window.
The invention may have the advantage that the driver may better and more easily see and view in a rearward direction, and may more easily steer the vehicle while looking in the rearward direction.
The invention may solve the problem of the driver not getting a full view of the road in a rear view.
The invention may enable a driver to drive smoothly in a rearward direction without having to turn his head.
A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A display technology such as head up display (HUD) or full windshield head up display (FW-HUD) technology may be used to project the rear views and/or rear view video captured by one or more cameras onto the front windshield and front side windows in real time.
In one embodiment, front view video and/or images may be captured by one or more cameras and may be displayed on the center stack display of the vehicle. Views of 180°, 270° or 360°, for example, along the horizon may be captured and projected onto the windows and windshield of the vehicle. Further, the images and video may be inversed when projected such that the driver may turn the steering wheel counterclockwise in order to turn left relative to a rearward view, and may turn the steering wheel clockwise in order to turn right relative to a rearward view. For example, the view through the rear right side window may be projected onto the front left side window; and the view through the rear left side window may be projected onto the front right side window. Thus, inversion of the rearward images and video may enable the driver to turn the steering wheel in the direction that his intuition tells him to when viewing the rearward view on his windshield.
During use, processor 18 may detect, via communication bus 24, when the PRNDL shift lever is in the reverse (“R”) position. In response to detecting that PRNDL shift lever is in the reverse position, processor 18 may cause the images and/or video captured by rear view camera 12 to be projected onto windshield 16 by projector 14, and may cause the images and/or video captured by front view camera 22 to be presented on center stack display 20.
In response to detecting that PRNDL shift lever is in any other position than reverse, processor 18 may cease the projection of images and/or video onto windshield 16, and may no longer cause the images and/or video captured by front view camera 22 to be presented on center stack display 20. Thus, the driver may again view in a forward direction through the windshield, and the center stack display may again present textual or graphic images, for example.
Next, in step 404, video images of a space behind the motor vehicle are captured. For example, rearview camera 12 may capture images of the environment in the rearward direction, which is opposite to the forward direction in which the driver of the vehicle typically faces.
In a last step 406, in response to the detecting that the vehicle is in a reverse gear, the captured video images are projected onto a windshield of the motor vehicle. For example, in response to detecting that the PRNDL is in “R”, the images captured by camera 12 may be projected onto front windshield 16, as shown in
The foregoing description may refer to “motor vehicle”, “automobile”, “automotive”, or similar expressions. It is to be understood that these terms are not intended to limit the invention to any particular type of transportation vehicle. Rather, the invention may be applied to any type of transportation vehicle whether traveling by air, water, or ground, such as airplanes, boats, etc.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom for modifications can be made by those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/217,579 filed on Sep. 11, 2015, which the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62217579 | Sep 2015 | US |