US6559761B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Display system for vehicle environment awareness
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 2001-10-05
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Granted: 2003-05-06
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Expires: 2021-10-05
Abstract
Abstract An overhead-view display system for a vehicle is provided. The display system comprises a reference vehicle indicator within an overhead field of view and at least three field of view display segments. Each display segment represents a physical region adjacent the reference vehicle and includes a first indicator adapted to display the existence of another vehicle within the region and the relative distance between the reference vehicle and the other vehicle. In another embodiment, each field of view display segment includes a second indicator adapted to represent a direction of change of relative distance between the reference vehicle and the other vehicle, and possibly the vehicle types. Thus, the disclosed display system communicates information on the vehicle's operating environment to the vehicle operator quickly, completely and with minimal driver distraction.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Hugh Miller
- 👤 Gary Steven Strumolo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/20; B60R1/22; B60R1/23; B60R1/27; G; G01; G01C; G01C21/00; G01C21/26; G01C21/34; G01C21/36; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G08; G08G; G08G1/00; G08G1/16; G08G1/166; G08G1/167; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/20; B60R2300/205; B60R2300/30; B60R2300/302; B60R2300/304; B60R2300/305; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/8066; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An overhead-view display system for a vehicle comprising: a reference vehicle indicator within an overhead field of view, indicative of said vehicle within an operating environment; and at least three field of view display segments wherein each display segment represents a physical region adjacent said vehicle and wherein each display segment comprises a first indicator element adapted to display the existence of another vehicle within said region and a relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle, and wherein each display segment comprises a second indicator element adapted to display a direction of change of relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An overhead-view display system for a vehicle comprising: a reference vehicle indicator within an overhead field of view, indicative of said vehicle within an operating environment; and at least three field of view display segments wherein each display segment represents a physical region adjacent said vehicle and wherein each display segment comprises a first indicator element adapted to display the existence of another vehicle within said region and a relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle, and wherein each display segment comprises a second indicator element adapted to display a direction of change of relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 1 wherein each display segment comprises multiple indicator elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 1 wherein each display segment comprises multiple indicator elements each representing a different distance from said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 1 wherein each of said first indicator elements is adapted to indicate at least two different colors wherein each color is indicative of a relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 3 wherein each indicator element is adapted to indicate at least two different colors wherein each color is indicative of a relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 1 wherein said relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle is indicated by activating said first indicator element at a correlated distance within said display segment from said reference vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 1 wherein said second indicator element is adapted to change color as a function of said direction of change of relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 1 wherein said second indicator element comprises a direction arrow.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An overhead-view display system according to clairn 1 wherein said first indicator element is adapted to change color as a function of said relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle and said second indicator element comprises a direction arrow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An overhead-view display system according to clairn 1 wherein said first indicator element is adapted to change color as a function of said relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle and said second indicator element comprises a direction arrow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 1 wherein said at least three field of view display segments correspond to regions rearward, left-rearward, and right-rearward of said vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 10 wherein said at least three field of view display segments includes regions left-forward and right-forward of said vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
An overhead-view display system for a vehicle comprising: a reference vehicle indicator within an overhead field of view, indicative of said vehicle within an operating environment; and at least three field of view display segments wherein each display segment represents a physical region adjacent said vehicle and wherein each display segment comprises first indicator means for displaying the existence of another vehicle within said region and a relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle, and wherein each display segment comprises second indicator means for displaying a direction of change of relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
An overhead-view display system for a vehicle comprising: a reference vehicle indicator within an overhead field of view, indicative of said vehicle within an operating environment; and at least three field of view display segments wherein each display segment represents a physical region adjacent said vehicle and wherein each display segment comprises first indicator means for displaying the existence of another vehicle within said region and a relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle, and wherein each display segment comprises second indicator means for displaying a direction of change of relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 12 wherein said first indicator means comprises an icon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 12 wherein said first indicator means comprises a colored diode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
An overhead-view display system according to claim 12 wherein said second indicator means comprises a dual-colored diode wherein each color is activated as a function of a direction of change of relative distance between said vehicle and said another vehicle.
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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) | 2006-05-05 | 2006-11-04 | 2007-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-05 | 2010-11-04 | 2011-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-05 | 2014-11-04 | 2015-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |