Patent Application
20130096820
The present disclosure relates to automotive vehicles, and more particularly to driver assistance devices for automotive vehicles.
Mirrors are used to enhance the field of vision seen by a driver of a vehicle. The mirrors are used to allow the driver to view vehicles located behind and beside them. The mirrors are typically secured to the top-center of the windshield area and either side of the vehicle for convenience of the driver. However, the driver's vision is still obstructed at several locations by structural elements that cannot be removed from the vehicle, such as the pillars on either side of the windshield, and at “blind-spots” on either side of the vehicle that are out of range of the driver's direct vision and the mirrors in a standard mirror arrangement.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
A display system for a vehicle comprises display screens mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, such as on the pillars connecting the roof to the lower vehicle body. Cameras are mounted on the exterior of the vehicle to record images corresponding to the positions of the display screens. A sensor is directed toward a driver for the vehicle to sense a driver eye position. An ECU for the display system analyzes the driver eye position and determines a line of sight. An image from the camera is displayed on the display screen that corresponds to the driver's line of sight. Consequently, rather than the vehicle obstructing the driver's view the display system provides images to the driver of what would be seen if the vehicle body was not there. Thus, the display system provides virtually transparent portions of the vehicle body which widens the field of view provided to the driver.
A display system for a vehicle comprises a first display screen mounted to a first mounting position for the vehicle and an ECU controllably connected to the first display screen. A camera is mounted to the vehicle to provide images from outside of the vehicle. At least one sensor is located within the passenger compartment and directed toward a driver seat. A first image is displayed on the first display screen, wherein the first image is determined by the ECU based upon a predicted point of view of the driver using information from the at least one sensor.
Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. Throughout the application the relative directions such as forward and rear are in reference to the direction which a driver for the vehicle 10 would primarily be facing when operating the vehicle 10.
There is at least a first screen 14A mounted at a first mounting location 20A and a second screen 14B mounted at a second mounting location 20B. However, each display screen 14A-F may be a panel of multiple displays all mounted at that mounting locations 20A-F. The first mounting location 20A is one of the A-pillars and the second mounting location 20B is the other A-pillar.
The camera 16A-F and the display screens 14A-F are connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) 18 (not all connections shown) which controls the display screens 14A-F. In addition, at least one sensor 22 is located in the passenger compartment 26 and is directed toward a driver of the vehicle 10. The sensor 22 detects a driver's eye position to provide a three-dimensional location of the driver's eye position within the passenger compartment 26. For easier detection in all three dimensions multiple sensors 22 may be used. Therefore, the sensor 22 is preferably an array of sensors. The sensor 22 may be a low resolution camera, an ultrasonic sensor, or a combination of the like. The sensor 22 may be used by other systems within the vehicle 10 as well. For example, the sensor 22 may be a driver monitoring camera, or a sensor used by an occupant detection system.
The ECU 18 determines a driver head position and eye direction based upon the sensor 22. Using the three-dimension coordinates for the eye position the ECU 18 calculates the projected line of sight for the driver at that time. The ECU 18 calculates the driver's projected perspective through the mounting locations 20A-F of the display screens 14A-F. That is, the ECU 18 determines what the driver would be able to see if the vehicle 10 was not obstructing the view at that mounting location 20A-F. The ECU 18 then displays the moving images 24A-F (only one shown) captured by the cameras 16A-F on the display screens 14A-F which correspond to the projected perspective of the driver. The display screens 14A-F should have sufficient resolution to allow the driver to quickly see and understand what objects 28 are outside of the vehicle.
Rather than the vehicle 10 obstructing the driver's view at the mounting locations 20A-F the display system 12 provides images 24A-F to the driver of what would be seen if the vehicle 10 body was not there. Thus, the display system 12 provides virtually transparent portions of the vehicle 10 body at the mounting locations 20A-F which widens the field of view provided to the driver.
Referring to
While the embodiment above illustrates mounting locations 20A, B for the display screen 14A, B on the A-pillars other locations about the vehicle can utilize the display system 12. For example, display screens 14A-F may be mounted to provide views of typical “blind spot” areas, rear views, etc.
Referring back to
Alternatively, the cameras 16A-F may be moveably mounted to the vehicle 10. After the ECU 18 determines the line of sight the cameras 16A-F can be moved to record images that will correspond to that line of sight. The ECU 18 may control the camera to rotate or translate to obtain the correct viewing angle. Allowing for camera 16A-F movement may increase the number of viewing angles available. However, after the ECU 18 determines the lines of sight for the driver, and moves the camera 16A-F the ECU 18 may still need to use only a selected portions of the recorded image to show on the display screen 14A-F.
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited, since those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to the Oct. 14, 2011, filing date of, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/547,374, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61547374 | Oct 2011 | US |
