Patent US5949331A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5949331A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display enhancements for vehicle vision system
Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc
•
Filing: 1997-09-22
•
Granted: 1999-09-07
•
Expires: 2017-09-22
Abstract
Abstract A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one image capture device which may be directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A display system displays an image synthesized from an output of the image capture device. The display system enhances the displayed image by visually informing the driver of what is occurring in the area surrounding the vehicle. For example, hazards, such as objects too close to the vehicle for safe lane-change maneuver, can be highlighted such as by flashing the image of the hazard or displaying the hazard in a particular color.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Schofield
- 👤 Mark L. Larson
- 👤 Keith J. Vadas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:21
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/02; B60Q1/04; B60Q1/14; B60Q1/1415; B60Q1/1423; B60Q9/00; B60Q9/008; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/08; B60R1/083; B60R1/088; B60R1/12; B60R1/20; B60R1/22; B60R1/23; B60R1/26; B60R11/00; B60R11/04; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/0153; B60R21/01538; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0818; B60S1/0822; B60S1/0833; B60S1/0844; G; G01; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42; G01J1/4204; G01J1/4228; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/16; G08G1/167; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/239; H04N7/181; B60Q2300/00; B60Q2300/05; B60Q2300/054; B60Q2300/056; B60Q2300/20; B60Q2300/21; B60Q2300/30; B60Q2300/31; B60Q2300/314; B60Q2300/33; B60Q2300/332; B60Q2300/3321; B60Q2300/40; B60Q2300/41; B60Q2300/42; B60R1/30; B60R2001/1223; B60R2001/1253; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/10; B60R2300/101; B60R2300/103; B60R2300/105; B60R2300/106; B60R2300/107; B60R2300/20; B60R2300/205; B60R2300/207; B60R2300/30; B60R2300/302; B60R2300/303; B60R2300/304; B60R2300/305; B60R2300/307; B60R2300/40; B60R2300/404; B60R2300/50; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/802; B60R2300/8026; B60R2300/804; B60R2300/8053; B60R2300/806; B60R2300/8066; B60R2300/8086; B60R2300/8093; B60S1/0874; B60S1/0885; H04N2013/0074; H04N2013/0081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 70
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A vehicular rearview vision system, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and adapted to capturing images of objects; and a display system which displays an image which comprises a rearward facing view of objects captured by said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by including an image enhancement comprising a visual prompt perspectively related to objects in the image displayed and which visually informs the driver of what is occurring in the area surrounding the vehicle including relative position of objects behind vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A vehicular rearview vision system, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and adapted to capturing images of objects; and a display system which displays an image which comprises a rearward facing view of objects captured by said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by including an image enhancement comprising a visual prompt perspectively related to objects in the image displayed and which visually informs the driver of what is occurring in the area surrounding the vehicle including relative position of objects behind vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The rearview vision system for a vehicle in claim 1 wherein said image enhancement comprises a graphic overlay superimposed on the displayed image indicating distances of objects from the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The rearview vision system of claim 2 wherein said graphic overlay comprises at least one horizontal mark superimposed on the displayed image.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The rearview vision system for a vehicle in claim 3 wherein said at least one horizontal mark is adjusted in response to vehicle speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The rearview vision system for a vehicle in claim 3 wherein said at least one horizontal mark comprises a plurality of short horizontal lines superimposed on the image at regular rearward intervals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The rearview vision system for a vehicle in claim 5 wherein said lines are positioned to correspond to boundaries of the lane in which the vehicle is travelling.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The rearview vision system for a vehicle in claim 6 wherein said lines are moved laterally to correspond to positions of curved lane boundaries when the vehicle is turning.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The rearview vision system in claim 7 including a monitoring device for monitoring vehicles turning.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The rearview vision system in claim 8 wherein said monitoring device comprises one of a monitor of movement of the vehicle's steering system, a monitor of an output of an electronic compass, and a monitor of the vehicle's differential drive system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said image is enhanced by a graphic overlay superimposed on the displayed image including indicia of the anticipated travel of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The rearview vision system in claim 10 wherein said graphic overlay is disabled when the vehicle's gear actuator is not in reverse gear.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said at least one image capture device comprises at least two image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing substantially seamless panoramic view.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The rearview vision system in claim 12 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying said outputs of both said image capture devices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 12 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said at least one image capture device comprises at least three image capture devices including at least two side image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and at least one center image capture device laterally between said side image capture devices and wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing substantially seamless panoramic view.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rearview vision system in claim 15 wherein said at least three image capture devices are at substantially the same height.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The rearview vision system in claim 15 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying said outputs of both said image capture devices.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 15 wherein each of said image capture devices comprises a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said at least one image capture device comprises a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
A vehicular rearview vision system, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by visually highlighting hazards in the area surrounding the vehicle, wherein said visually highlighting hazards comprises modifying the displayed images which include said hazards.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
A vehicular rearview vision system, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by visually highlighting hazards in the area surrounding the vehicle, wherein said visually highlighting hazards comprises modifying the displayed images which include said hazards.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
88 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by visually highlighting hazards in the area surrounding the vehicle, wherein said highlighting hazards includes at least one of displaying the hazard in a particular color and flashing the image of the hazard.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
88 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by visually highlighting hazards in the area surrounding the vehicle, wherein said highlighting hazards includes at least one of displaying the hazard in a particular color and flashing the image of the hazard.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rearview vision system in claim 20 wherein said hazards include objects too close to said vehicle for safe lane-change maneuver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A rearview vision system in claim 21 wherein said highlighting hazards includes at least one of displaying the object too close to said vehicle in a particular color and flashing the image of the object too close to said vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The rearview vision system in claim 20 including a speed transducer which provides an input to said display system such that a determination that objects are too close to said vehicle is a function of vehicle speed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The rearview vision system in claim 20 wherein said display system responds to activation of the vehicle turn signal to visually highlight objects too close to said vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 20 including a sensing system for sensing distance of objects from the vehicle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The rearview vision system in claim 26 wherein said sensing system comprises one of radar, ultrasonic sensing and infrared detection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
The rearview vision system in claim 20 wherein said at least one image capture device comprises at least two image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing substantially seamless panoramic view.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 28 wherein said at least two image capture devices include stereoscopic distance-sensing capabilities.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The rearview vision system in claim 28 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying said outputs of both said image capture devices.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 28 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
77 words
The rearview vision system in claim 20 wherein said at least one image capture device comprises at least three image capture devices including at least two side image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and at least one center image capture device laterally between said side image capture devices and wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing substantially seamless panoramic view.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rearview vision system in claim 32 wherein said at least three image capture devices are at substantially the same height.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The rearview vision system in claim 32 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying said outputs of both said image capture devices.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 32 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
99 words
A vehicular rearview vision system, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system includes a graphic overlay superimposed on the displayed image indicating distances of objects from the vehicle and visually highlighting of images of objects too close to the vehicle for safe lane-change maneuver, wherein said visually highlighting comprises modifying the displayed images which include said objects too close to the vehicle.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
99 words
A vehicular rearview vision system, comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system includes a graphic overlay superimposed on the displayed image indicating distances of objects from the vehicle and visually highlighting of images of objects too close to the vehicle for safe lane-change maneuver, wherein said visually highlighting comprises modifying the displayed images which include said objects too close to the vehicle.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
116 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system includes a graphic overlay superimposed on the displayed image indicating distances of objects from the vehicle and visually highlighting of images of objects too close to the vehicle for safe lane-change maneuver, wherein said visually highlighting includes at least one of displaying the object too close to said vehicle in a particular color and flashing the image of the object too close to said vehicle.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
116 words
A rearview vision system for a vehicle comprising: at least one image capture device positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the vehicle; and a display system which displays an image from said at least one image capture device; wherein said display system includes a graphic overlay superimposed on the displayed image indicating distances of objects from the vehicle and visually highlighting of images of objects too close to the vehicle for safe lane-change maneuver, wherein said visually highlighting includes at least one of displaying the object too close to said vehicle in a particular color and flashing the image of the object too close to said vehicle.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said graphic overlay comprises at least one horizontal mark superimposed on the displayed image.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 including a monitoring device for monitoring vehicles turning.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
The rearview vision system in claim 39 wherein said monitoring device comprises one of a monitor of movement of the vehicle's steering system, a monitor of an output of an electronic compass and a monitor of the vehicle's differential drive system.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
37 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 including a speed transducer wherein said graphic overlay is adjusted in response to vehicle speed and highlighting of objects too close to said vehicle is a function of vehicle speed.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said display system responds to activation of the vehicle turn signal to visually highlight objects too close to said vehicle.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
54 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said at least one image capture device comprises at least two image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing substantially seamless panoramic view.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
The rearview vision system in claim 43 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying said outputs of both said image capture devices.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 43 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 43 wherein said at least two image capture devices include stereoscopic distance-sensing capabilities.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
77 words
The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said at least one image capture device comprises at least three image capture devices including at least two side image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and at least one center image capture device laterally between said side image capture devices and wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a rearward-facing substantially seamless panoramic view.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
21 words
The rearview vision system in claim 47 wherein said at least three image capture devices are at substantially the same height.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
The rearview vision system in claim 47 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying said outputs of both said image capture devices.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 47 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 37 including a sensing system for sensing distance of objects from the vehicle.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
The rearview vision system in claim 51 wherein said sensing system comprises one of radar, ultrasonic sensing and infrared detection.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
108 words
A vehicular vision system, comprising: at least two image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and adapted to capturing images of objects; and a display system which displays an image of objects captured by said at least two image capture devices, wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a substantially seamless panoramic view; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by including an image enhancement comprising a visual prompt perspectively related to objects in the image displayed and which visually informs the driver of what is occurring in the area surrounding the vehicle.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
108 words
A vehicular vision system, comprising: at least two image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and adapted to capturing images of objects; and a display system which displays an image of objects captured by said at least two image capture devices, wherein said display system displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices which approximates a substantially seamless panoramic view; wherein said display system enhances the displayed image by including an image enhancement comprising a visual prompt perspectively related to objects in the image displayed and which visually informs the driver of what is occurring in the area surrounding the vehicle.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vision system for a vehicle in claim 53 wherein said image enhancement comprises a graphic overlay superimposed on the displayed image indicating distances of objects from the vehicle.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
21 words
The vision system of claim 54 wherein said graphic overlay comprises at least one horizontal mark superimposed on the displayed image.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vision system for a vehicle in claim 55 wherein said at least one horizontal mark is adjusted in response to vehicle speed.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vision system for a vehicle in claim 55 wherein said at least one horizontal mark comprises a plurality of short horizontal lines superimposed on the image at regular spacial intervals.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vision system for a vehicle in claim 57 wherein said lines are positioned to correspond to boundaries of the lane in which the vehicle is travelling.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vision system for a vehicle in claim 58 wherein said lines are moved laterally to correspond to positions of curved lane boundaries when the vehicle is turning.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vision system in claim 59 including a monitoring device for monitoring vehicles turning.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
40 words
The vision system in claim 60 wherein said monitoring device comprises one of a monitor of movement of the vehicle's steering system, a monitor of an output of an electronic compass, and a monitor of the vehicle's differential drive system.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
25 words
The rearview vision system in claim 53 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying said outputs of both said image capture devices.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
19 words
The rearview vision system in claim 53 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
20 words
The rearview vision system in claim 53 wherein said at least two image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-06 | 2003-03-08 | 2003-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-06 | 2007-03-08 | 2007-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-06 | 2011-03-08 | 2011-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |