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US6498620B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Vision system for a vehicle including an image capture device and a display system having a long focal length

Assignee: Magna Donnelly Corp
•
Filing: 1996-05-22
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Granted: 2002-12-24
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Expires: 2016-05-22
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Abstract

Abstract A rearview vision system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display system displays an image synthesized from output of the image capture device. The display system is preferably contiguous with the forward field of view of the vehicle driver at a focal length that is forward of the vehicle passenger compartment. A plurality of image capture devices may be provided and the display system displays a unitary image synthesized from outputs of the image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location, such as forward of the vehicle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenneth Schofield
  • 👤 Mark L. Larson
  • 👤 Keith J. Vadas

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 09:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/181; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q5/00; B60Q5/005; B60Q5/006; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/20; B60R1/22; B60R1/23; B60R1/26; B60R1/28; B60R1/30; B60R1/12; B60R2001/1223; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/10; B60R2300/105; B60R2300/107; B60R2300/20; B60R2300/205; B60R2300/30; B60R2300/303; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/802; B60R2300/8066

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 88
Claim 1
Independent Claim 175 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system displaying a rear image output of said at least one image capture device, said display system including a screen located in said vehicle cabin, the displayed rear image displayed on said display system being substantially within the forward field of view of the vehicle driver, said display positioned at a surface of one of a dashboard, a facia, a header, a windshield and an interior rearview mirror, said display chosen from one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a field emission display, a cathode ray tube, an electroluminescent display, a light-emitting diode display, and a deformable mirror display; wherein the displayed rear image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 175 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system displaying a rear image output of said at least one image capture device, said display system including a screen located in said vehicle cabin, the displayed rear image displayed on said display system being substantially within the forward field of view of the vehicle driver, said display positioned at a surface of one of a dashboard, a facia, a header, a windshield and an interior rearview mirror, said display chosen from one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a field emission display, a cathode ray tube, an electroluminescent display, a light-emitting diode display, and a deformable mirror display; wherein the displayed rear image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein the displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially infinite.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system displays the rear image either generally above or generally below the central forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system includes an opaque viewing portion which blocks view of near field objects located between the forward field of view of the vehicle driver and the displayed image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 45 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system defines an observation cone within which an image displayed by the display system can be observed and further including accommodating means for accommodating variation in relationship between a driver's head and said observation cone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The rearview vision system in claim 5 wherein said accommodating means includes adjustment means for adjusting said observation cone in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
The rearview vision system in claim 5 wherein said accommodating means includes establishing the rearward field of view captured by said capture device and displayed on said display system beyond that normally observed by a driver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 44 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system defines an observation cone within which an image displayed by the display system can be observed, wherein said observation cone is adjustable in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
The rearview vision system in claim 8 including an adjustment mechanism which adjusts said observation cone in said at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
The rearview vision system in claim 9 wherein said adjustment mechanism includes an electrically operated actuator which is controllable by a driver-operable switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system has a variable luminance output which is varied as a function of ambient light levels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 45 words
The rearview vision system in claim 11 wherein the luminance output of said display system is responsive to one of a vehicle headlight activation control, an ambient light sensor, and an indication of ambient light level developed by said at least one image capture device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 30 words
The rearview vision system in claim 11 wherein said display system includes a user comfort level setting to establish a desired luminance output level at a particular ambient light level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 30 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system includes an image generator and an image magnifier which magnifies the displayed rear image generated by said image generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display device is an opaque display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 24 words
The rearview vision system in claim 15 wherein said opaque display is in-line with the generally forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 40 words
The rearview vision system in claim 15 wherein said opaque display is at an angle with the generally forward field of view of the driver and directed toward the vehicle driver's generally forward field of view by a reflection device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 51 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said at least one image capture device includes at least two image capture devices and wherein said display system displays a rear image synthesized from outputs of said at least two image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 28 words
The rearview vision system in claim 18 wherein the rear image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
The rearview vision system in claim 19 wherein the rear image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is approximately 8:3.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
The rearview vision system in claim 20 wherein said display system also displays a supplemental image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 21 words
The rearview vision system in claim 21 wherein said display system is reconfigurable in order to selectively display different supplemental images.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 50 words
The rearview vision system in claim 21 wherein said supplemental image includes at least one of pager information, telephone number listing, global positioning system output, map, route guidance information, intelligent vehicle highway system information, vehicle radio control settings, vehicle environmental system settings, vehicle speed, vehicle heading, and turn signal indicators.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 16 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system also displays a supplemental image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 21 words
The rearview vision system in claim 24 wherein said display system is reconfigurable in order to selectively display different supplemental images.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 50 words
The rearview vision system in claim 24 wherein said supplemental image includes at least one of pager information, telephone number listing, global positioning system output, map, route guidance information, intelligent vehicle highway system information, vehicle radio control settings, vehicle environmental system settings, vehicle speed, vehicle heading, and turn signal indicators.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 27 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein the rear image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is between approximately 4:1 and 2:1.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 24 words
The rearview vision system in claim 27 wherein the rear image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is approximately 8:3.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 39 words
The rearview vision system in claim 4 wherein said housing includes a bezel around at least a portion of the displayed image, wherein said bezel has a narrow portion adjacent the forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 188 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system displaying a rear image captured by said at least one image capture device, wherein said display system includes a screen located in the vehicle cabin, wherein said rear image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1 and is substantially within the forward field of view of the vehicle driver, said display positioned at a surface of one of a dashboard, a facia, a header, a windshield and an interior rearview mirror, said display chosen from one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a field emission display, a cathode ray tube, an electroluminescent display, a light-emitting diode display, and a deformable mirror display; wherein said rear image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 188 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system displaying a rear image captured by said at least one image capture device, wherein said display system includes a screen located in the vehicle cabin, wherein said rear image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1 and is substantially within the forward field of view of the vehicle driver, said display positioned at a surface of one of a dashboard, a facia, a header, a windshield and an interior rearview mirror, said display chosen from one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a field emission display, a cathode ray tube, an electroluminescent display, a light-emitting diode display, and a deformable mirror display; wherein said rear image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 24 words
The rearview vision system in claim 30 wherein the rear image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is approximately 8:3.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 16 words
The rearview vision system in claim 30 wherein said display system also displays a supplemental image.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 20 words
The rearview vision system in claim 32 wherein display system is reconfigurable in order to selectively display different supplemental images.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 50 words
The rearview vision system in claim 32 wherein said supplemental image includes at least one of pager information, telephone number listing, global positioning system output, map, route guidance information, intelligent vehicle highway system information, vehicle radio control settings, vehicle environmental system settings, vehicle speed, vehicle heading, and turn signal indicators.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 51 words
The rearview vision system in claim 30 wherein said at least one image capture device includes a plurality of image capture devices and wherein the rear image is synthesized from a plurality of images captured by said plurality of image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 148 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of said vehicle; and a display system which displays a rear image output of said at least one image capture device, said display system including a screen located in the vehicle cabin; wherein said display system includes at least one image generator associated with said at least one image capture device and an optical correction system which amplifies the rear image generated by said image generator to increase the focal length of the rear image generated by the image generator; wherein the displayed rear image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 148 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed generally rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of said vehicle; and a display system which displays a rear image output of said at least one image capture device, said display system including a screen located in the vehicle cabin; wherein said display system includes at least one image generator associated with said at least one image capture device and an optical correction system which amplifies the rear image generated by said image generator to increase the focal length of the rear image generated by the image generator; wherein the displayed rear image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 15 words
The rearview vision system in claim 31 wherein said display system is an opaque display.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 24 words
The rearview vision system in claim 37 wherein said opaque display is in-line with the generally forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 40 words
The rearview vision system in claim 37 wherein said opaque display is at an angle with the generally forward field of view of the driver and directed toward the vehicle driver's generally forward field of view by a reflection device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim 26 words
The rearview vision system in claim 37 wherein said display displays the rear image substantially contiguous with the forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim 22 words
The rearview vision system in claim 40 wherein said display displays the rear image laterally substantially directly forward of the vehicle driver.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim 29 words
The rearview vision system in claim 40 wherein said display displays the rear image positioned either above or below the central forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim 31 words
The rearview vision system in claim 37 wherein a portion of said display blocks the view of near field objects between the vehicle driver's forward field of view and said display.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim 46 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said display system defines an observation cone within which a rear image displayed by the display system can be observed and further including accommodating means for accommodating variation in relationship between a driver's head and said observation cone.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim 30 words
The rearview vision system in claim 44 wherein said accommodating means includes adjustment means for adjusting said observation cone in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim 39 words
The rearview vision system in claim 44 wherein said accommodating means includes said image generator establishing the rearward field of view captured by said capture device and displayed on said display system beyond that normally observed by a driver.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim 44 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said display system defines an observation cone within which an image displayed by the display system can be observed, wherein said observation cone is adjustable in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim 28 words
The rearview vision system in claim 47 including an adjustment mechanism which adjusts said observation cone in said at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim 23 words
The rearview vision system in claim 48 wherein said adjustment mechanism includes an electrically operated actuator which is controllable by a driver-operable switch.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim 26 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said display system has a variable luminance output which is varied as a function of ambient light levels.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim 45 words
The rearview vision system in claim 50 wherein the luminance output of said display system is responsive to one of a vehicle headlight activation control, an ambient light sensor, and an indication of ambient light level developed by said at least one image capture device.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim 29 words
The rearview vision system in claim 50 wherein said display system includes a user comfort level to establish a desired luminance output level at a particular ambient light level.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim 45 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 including a plurality of image capture devices and a plurality of image generators, each associated with one or more of said image capture devices and wherein said optical correction system merges images captured by said image capture device.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim 165 words
A vehicular vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising; at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed to capture images external the vehicle; and a display system displaying an image captured by said at least one image capture device, said display system including a screen located in the vehicle cabin, the displayed image displayed on said display system being substantially within the forward field of view of the vehicle driver, said display positioned at a surface of one of a dashboard, a facia, a header, a windshield and an interior rearview mirror, said display chosen from one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a field emission display, a cathode ray tube, an electroluminescent display, a light-emitting diode display, and a deformable mirror display; wherein the displayed image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim 165 words
A vehicular vision system for a vehicle having a cabin, comprising; at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed to capture images external the vehicle; and a display system displaying an image captured by said at least one image capture device, said display system including a screen located in the vehicle cabin, the displayed image displayed on said display system being substantially within the forward field of view of the vehicle driver, said display positioned at a surface of one of a dashboard, a facia, a header, a windshield and an interior rearview mirror, said display chosen from one of a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, a field emission display, a cathode ray tube, an electroluminescent display, a light-emitting diode display, and a deformable mirror display; wherein the displayed image is displayed on said screen and wherein said displayed image comprises a focal length that is substantially the depth of the field of the driver viewing objects beyond said vehicle.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim 19 words
The vehicular vision system in claim 54 wherein the displayed image comprises a focal length that is substantially infinite.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim 31 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system displays the rear image either generally above or generally below the central forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim 38 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system includes an opaque viewing portion which blocks view of near field objects located between the forward field of view of the vehicle driver and the displayed image.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim 45 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system defines an observation cone within which an image displayed by the display system can be observed and further including accommodating means for accommodating variation in relationship between a driver's head and said observation cone.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim 30 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 58 wherein said accommodating means includes adjustment means for adjusting said observation cone in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim 36 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 58 wherein said accommodating means includes establishing the rearward field of view captured by said capture device and displayed on said display system beyond that normally observed by a driver.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim 44 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system defines an observation cone within which an image displayed by the display system can be observed, wherein said observation cone is adjustable in at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim 28 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 61 including an adjustment mechanism which adjusts said observation cone in said at least one of a horizontal and a vertical direction.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim 23 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 62 wherein said adjustment mechanism includes an electrically operated actuator which is controllable by a driver-operable switch.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim 26 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system has a variable luminance output which is varied as a function of ambient light levels.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim 45 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein the luminance output of said display system is responsive to one of a vehicle headlight activation control, an ambient light sensor, and an indication of ambient light level developed by said at least one image capture device.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim 30 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 64 wherein said display system includes a user comfort level setting to establish a desired luminance output level at a particular ambient light level.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim 29 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system includes an image generator and an image magnifier which magnifies the displayed image generated by said image generator.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim 15 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display device is an opaque display.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim 24 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 68 wherein said opaque display is in-line with the generally forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim 40 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 68 wherein said opaque display is at an angle with the generally forward field of view of the driver and directed toward the vehicle driver's generally forward field of view by a reflection device.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim 49 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said at least one image capture device includes at least two image capture devices and wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said at least two image capture devices which approximates a view from a single location.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim 27 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 71 wherein the image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is between approximately 4:1 and approximately 2:1.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim 23 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 72 wherein the image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is approximately 8:3.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim 16 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 73 wherein said display system also displays a supplemental image.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim 21 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 74 wherein said display system is reconfigurable in order to selectively display different supplemental images.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim 50 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 74 wherein said supplemental image includes at least one of pager information, telephone number listing, global positioning system output, map, route guidance information, intelligent vehicle highway system information, vehicle radio control settings, vehicle environmental system settings, vehicle speed, vehicle heading, and turn signal indicators.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim 16 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system also displays a supplemental image.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim 21 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said display system is reconfigurable in order to selectively display different supplemental images.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim 50 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein said supplemental image includes at least one of pager information, telephone number listing, global positioning system output, map, route guidance information, intelligent vehicle highway system information, vehicle radio control settings, vehicle environmental system settings, vehicle speed, vehicle heading, and turn signal indicators.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim 26 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 54 wherein the image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is between approximately 4:1 and 2:1.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim 23 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 80 wherein the image displayed by said display system has an aspect ratio that is approximately 8:3.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim 40 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 57 wherein said display system includes a bezel around at least a portion of the displayed image, wherein said bezel has a narrow portion adjacent the forward field of view of the vehicle driver.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim 20 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 30 wherein the displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially infinite.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim 20 words
The vehicle vision system in claim 36 wherein the displayed rear image comprises a focal length that is substantially infinite.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2005-12-23 2006-06-24 2006-12-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2009-12-23 2010-06-24 2010-12-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2013-12-23 2014-06-24 2014-12-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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