Reproduction of backward images of a combination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10682954-B2
Application number	US-201716333805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2017
Priority date	Sep 16, 2016
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

The operation of combinations of a vehicle and a trailer is to be rendered safer. For this purpose a method for reproducing images from backward cameras of a combination of a vehicle and a trailer is suggested. A first image (RV) from a first backward camera, which is arranged on the vehicle, and a second image (TR) from a second backward camera are simultaneously reproduced on a display unit in the vehicle. For the reproduction a predeterminable window (F) of the display unit is used in order to represent exclusively the second image (TR) from the second camera of the trailer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for reproducing images of backward cameras of a combination of a vehicle and a trailer, the method comprising:
capturing a first image by a first backward camera, which is arranged on the vehicle;
capturing a second image by a second backward camera, which is arranged on the trailer; and
simultaneous reproduction of the first image and the second image on a display unit in the vehicle,
wherein for the reproduction a predeterminable window of the display device is used in order to exclusively represent the second image of the second camera of the trailer while a position of the trailer is determined, and in dependency on the position of the trailer, a position of the window is fixed within the display area, and
wherein the position of the window is configured to be dynamically changed when the position of the trailer is monitored automatically relative to the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first camera is a rear camera of the vehicle, and on the display unit in a display area adjacent to the window the first image of this rear camera is represented.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first camera is a camera on the left exterior mirror of the vehicle, and on the display unit in a display area adjacent to the window the first image of this camera on the left exterior mirror is represented, and wherein a third camera is arranged on the right exterior mirror, and on the display unit in a display area adjacent to the window a third image of this third camera on the right exterior mirror is represented.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein a fourth camera is arranged in the rear of the vehicle, and on the display unit in a display area adjacent to the window a fourth image of this fourth camera is represented.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a dimension of the trailer is determined, and automatically in dependency on the dimension of the trailer a contour of the window is formed.

6. An imaging system for reproducing images of a combination of a vehicle and a trailer comprising:
a first camera, which is arrangeable on the vehicle to face towards the rear, for capturing a first image;
a second camera, which is arrangeable on the trailer to face towards the rear, for capturing a second image; and
a display unit for simultaneous reproducing of the first image and the second image in the vehicle,
wherein in a display area of the display unit, a predeterminable window is provided in order to exclusively represent the second image of the second camera of the trailer while a position of the trailer is determined, and in dependency on the position of the trailer, a position of the window is fixed within the display area, and
wherein the position of the window is configured to be dynamically changed when the position of the trailer is monitored automatically relative to the vehicle.

7. The imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein in a use position of the display unit the window in the display area is arranged in the center at the top.

8. The imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein in a use position of the display unit the window in the display area is arranged in the center.

9. The imaging system according to claim 6 , wherein in a use position of the display unit below the window in the display area, a further window each for an image of the first camera and for an image of the third camera are arranged.

10. A vehicle comprising an imaging system according to claim 6 .

Assignees

• Connaught Electronics Ltd

Inventors

• Finan Brian
• Hanniffy Alan

Classifications

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N21/47

  End-user applications · CPC title

• H04N21/4316

  for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window · CPC title

• B60R2300/70

  characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images · CPC title

• H04N7/181

  for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources · CPC title