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Title:
VEHICLE CAMERA SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/073208
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A camera system for a vehicle is provided. The camera system comprises a first camera configured to capture a first side rear view from the vehicle and a second camera configured to capture a second side rear view from the vehicle; a display device configured to display a default image from at least one of the first and second cameras, and a controller configured to change the image displayed on the display device from the default image on receipt of a predetermined indicator signal.

Inventors:
RANSOM STEVEN ANDREW (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2018/052847
Publication Date:
April 18, 2019
Filing Date:
October 05, 2018
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
RANSOM STEVEN ANDREW (GB)
International Classes:
B60R1/00
Domestic Patent References:
WO2004035352A12004-04-29
WO2015193851A12015-12-23
Foreign References:
EP1647447A22006-04-19
EP2722834A12014-04-23
US20110043634A12011-02-24
US20130182113A12013-07-18
JP2001151015A2001-06-05
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
GILES, Ashley Simon (GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1 . A camera system for a vehicle comprising: a first camera configured to capture a first side rear view from the vehicle: a second camera configured to capture a second side rear view from the vehicle; a display device configured to display a default image from at least one of the first and second cameras; and a controller configured to change the image displayed on the display device from the default image on receipt of a predetermined indicator signal.

2. A camera system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured such that the user can select which camera view is the default view shown on the display device.

3. A camera system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is hard wired to a control module of the indicator system.

4. A camera system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the controller is connected to the indicator control module by a trigger wire which transmits a pulsed indicator signal from the indicator control module.

5. A camera system according to claim 4, wherein the controller converts the pulsed signal into a continuous signal so that the display device displays a continuous image.

6. A camera system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is hard wired to an indicator switch of the indicator system.

7. A camera system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first camera is configured to be mounted on an offside rear of the vehicle.

8. A camera system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second camera is configured to be mounted on a nearside rear of the vehicle.

9. A camera system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the cameras is configured to be mounted to a frame of the vehicle.

10. A camera system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to show a rear view from the vehicle, when a reverse gear of the vehicle is selected.

1 1. A camera system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle is a motorcycle.

12. A method of operating a camera system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a first camera on the vehicle such that the first camera captures a first side rear view from the vehicle;

positioning a second camera on the vehicle such that the second camera captures a second side rear view from the vehicle;

displaying an image from at least one of the first and second cameras on a display device; and

receiving a predetermined indicator input to a controller from an indicator system of the vehicle, the controller changing the image displayed on the display device from the default image on receipt of the predetermined indicator input.

13. A method of operating a camera system according to claim 12, further comprising the step of enabling a user to input to the controller which camera view is the default view shown on the display device.

14. A method of operating a camera system according to claim 12, wherein the controller is connected to an indicator control module by a trigger wire which transmits a pulsed indicator signal from an output terminal of the indicator control module, and wherein the controller converts the pulsed signal into a continuous signal so that the display device displays a continuous image.

15. A method of operating a camera system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the step of changing the image displayed on the display screen, comprises changing the default view to a combined view from both rear view cameras when a reverse gear of a vehicle is selected.

16. A method of operating a camera system as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14, further comprising positioning a third camera on the vehicle such that the third camera captures a substantially centred rear view from the vehicle, wherein the step of changing the image displayed on the display screen, comprises changing the default view to a view from the third camera when a reverse gear of a vehicle is selected.

Description:
Vehicle Camera System Technical Field This invention relates to a camera system for a vehicle and particularly although not exclusively, to a rear view camera system for a motorcycle which is responsive to input from the motorcycle electronic turn signal indicator system.

Background

Drivers of vehicles such as motor cycles are required to be observant and attentive to their surroundings whilst on the road. This is particularly necessary for overtaking, turning and changing lanes. Often, this requires a driver to turn the head in order to find and assess the position of other vehicles on the road. Generally, mirrors are orientated to extend the area of view to the rear of the vehicle, allowing more of the space around the vehicle to be viewed without the need for the driver to turn the head. However even with the extended view offered by mirrors, there remains an area of road that cannot be seen whilst the driver is facing forward. This is known as the blind spot. At higher speeds, particularly at speeds over 50mph in vehicles such as motorcycles, if the driver turns his head to check the blind spot, the wind can catch the drivers' helmet and can wrench the drivers' neck. Continuous head turning can also cause neck ache, particularly on longer journeys, which can generate a reluctance to make this vital blind spot check. Statement of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera system for a vehicle comprising a first camera configured to capture a first side rear view from the vehicle and a second camera configured to capture a second side rear view from the vehicle, a display device configured to display an image from at least one of the first and second cameras, a controller configured to receive an indicator input from an indicator system of the vehicle, the controller being configured to change the image displayed on the display device from the default image on receipt of a predetermined indicator signal. The display may be configured to display the right-side rear view in right hand drive countries as the default view, and to display the left-side rear view in left hand drive countries as the default view or vice versa. The predetermined indicator signal may be an offside signal where the default view is a nearside rear view and may be a nearside signal where the default view is an offside rear view.

The default view may be selectable by the user. For example, where the user drives extensively in a city, he or she may select the nearside view as the default view, to aid with lane changing. In this arrangement, the offside rear view will be displayed when the offside indicator is operated.

Alternatively, where the user drives on open roads and overtakes frequently, he or she may select the offside rear view as the default image, so that the nearside rear view will be shown on the display when the near side indicator is operated. The default view may be a blank screen with no image shown.

The controller may be hard wired to the vehicle indicator system. For example, the controller may be hard wired to an indicator control circuit which may comprise part of an indicator control module of the vehicle. In an embodiment of the invention, the controller may be hard wired to a nearside indicator relay.

The controller may be connected to the indicator system by a trigger wire which receives a pulsed indicator signal from the indicator system. For example, the trigger wire may receive a pulsed indicator signal from an output of an indicator control circuit or an indicator relay.

The controller may convert the pulsed signal into a continuous output signal so that the display device receives a continuous electronic feed and thus displays a continuous image.

The controller may be hard wired to an indicator switch of the indicator system. The indicator switch, when operated to give a left turn signal, may send a trigger signal to the controller to switch the view from the first camera to the second camera, and when the indicator switch self-cancels or is actively switched off or operated to give a right turn signal, may send a second trigger signal to the controller to switch the view displayed on the display device from the second camera back to the first camera.

The first camera may be configured to be mounted on an offside rear of the vehicle, and the second camera may be configured to be mounted on a nearside rear of the vehicle.

At least one of the cameras may be configured to be mounted to a frame of the vehicle. At least one of the cameras may be configured to be mounted to an indicator light assembly or indicator light mounting bracket of the vehicle.

The first camera and the second camera may be arranged such that the views captured by the two cameras cover the entire view from the rear of the vehicle. The central rear view from the vehicle may be displayed by combining at least part of the views from the first and second cameras. The camera system may further comprise a third camera configured to capture the central rear view from a vehicle.

The camera system may further comprise a third camera configured to capture the rear view from a vehicle. The controller may be configured to receive a signal when the vehicle is in reverse gear. The camera system may be configured to display a rear view from the vehicle, such as the image captured by the third camera, automatically upon the user selecting a reverse gear. The vehicle may be a motorcycle. Alternatively, the vehicle may be any other vehicle, such as a bicycle, car, truck, tractor, agricultural vehicle, forestry vehicle or ground care vehicle.

The controller may be integrated into the display device. The display device may comprise a waterproof unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera system for a vehicle comprising a first camera configured to capture the offside rear view from the vehicle and a second camera configured to capture the nearside rear view from the vehicle, a display device configured to display an image from at least one of the first and second cameras, a controller configured to receive an indicator input from an indicator system of the vehicle, the controller being configured such that when no nearside indicator signal is received by the controller, the image from the first camera (default offside view) is displayed on the display device, and when a nearside indicator signal is received by the controller the image from the second camera is displayed. Thus the display is configured to display the right-side rear view in right hand drive countries as the default view , and to display the left-side rear view in left hand drive countries as the default view. The controller may be hard wired to the vehicle indicator system. For example, the controller may be hard wired to an indicator control circuit which may comprise part of an indicator control module of the vehicle. In an embodiment of the invention, the controller may be hard wired to a nearside indicator relay. The controller may be connected to the indicator system by a trigger wire which receives a pulsed indicator signal from the indicator system. For example, the trigger wire may receive a pulsed indicator signal from an output of an indicator control circuit or an indicator relay. The controller may convert the pulsed signal into a continuous output signal so that the display device receives a continuous electronic feed and thus displays a continuous image.

The controller may be hard wired to an indicator switch of the indicator system. The indicator switch, when operated to give a left turn signal, may send a trigger signal to the controller to switch the view from the first camera to the second camera, and when the indicator switch self-cancels or is actively switched off or operated to give a right turn signal, may send a second trigger signal to the controller to switch the view displayed on the display device from the second camera back to the first camera.

The first camera may be configured to be mounted on an offside rear of the vehicle, and the second camera may be configured to be mounted on a nearside rear of the vehicle. At least one of the cameras may be configured to be mounted to a frame of the vehicle. At least one of the cameras may be configured to be mounted to an indicator light assembly or indicator light mounting bracket of the vehicle.

The vehicle may be a motorcycle. The controller may be integrated into the display device. The display device may comprise a waterproof unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a camera system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a first camera on the vehicle such that the first camera captures a first side rear view from the vehicle;

positioning a second camera on the vehicle such that the second camera captures a second side rear view from the vehicle;

displaying an image from at least one of the first and second cameras on a display device; and

receiving a predetermined indicator input to a controller from an indicator system of the vehicle, the controller changing the image displayed on the display device from the default image on receipt of the predetermined indicator input.

A method of operating a camera system for a vehicle may comprising the steps of: positioning a first camera on the vehicle such that the first camera comprises an offside rear view from the vehicle; positioning a second camera on the vehicle such that the second camera comprises a nearside rear view from the vehicle; positioning a third camera on the vehicle such that the third camera comprises a central rear view from the vehicle; a controller receiving an indicator input from an indicator system of the vehicle and/or a reversing input from a reversing system of the vehicle, enabling the user to select a default view from at least one of the first camera, second camera, third camera views and/or no view and displaying the default view on the display device; such that when an offside indicator signal is received by the controller, the view from the first camera is displayed, when a nearside indicator signal is received by the controller, the view from the second camera is displayed, when a reversing signal is received by the controller, the view from the third camera is displayed and when no signal is received by the controller, the default view is displayed.

The method may further comprise the step of enabling the user to modify the view or views to be displayed upon the receiving of a signal to the controller and displaying the corresponding view on the display device. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a camera system for a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of positioning a first camera on the vehicle such that the first camera comprises a first side rear view from the vehicle; positioning a second camera on the vehicle such that the second camera comprises a second side rear view from the vehicle; displaying an image from at least one of the first and second cameras on a display device; receiving an indicator input to a controller from an indicator system of the vehicle, such that the image from the first camera is displayed on the display device when no nearside indicator signal is received by the controller, and the image from the second camera is displayed when a nearside indicator signal is received by the controller.

Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of a motorcycle fitted with a rear view camera system; and

Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating how the camera system operates. Detailed Description In this specification, the nearside is the side of the vehicle nearest a curb when the vehicle is driving on a road and is not overtaking another vehicle. The offside is the side of the vehicle furthest from a curb. Thus in a country where vehicles drive on the left hand side of the road, the near side is the left hand side of the vehicle and the offside is the right hand side of the vehicle. The invention is applicable to any vehicle, but for the purposes of illustrating the invention, the description below relates to the use of the camera system on a motorcycle. The camera system 2 will be described in an arrangement in which the first side rear view is an offside rear view and the second side rear view is a nearside rear view. It is envisaged that the first and second rear views may be any other rear views.

With reference to Figure 1 , a camera system 2 for a motorcycle 1 comprises a display device 4, a first camera 6, a second camera 8 and a controller 10. The controller 10 may be built in to the display device 4, or may be a separate control module. The controller 10 may be hard wired to an indicator control module 11 of the motorcycle. The display device 4 is mounted to the front of the motorcycle, such as on the handle bar or integrated into an instrument console of the vehicle. The display device 4 is positioned so that it does not restrict a rider's view or access to instruments or controls of the motorcycle 1. The first camera 6 and the second camera 8 are mounted to the rear of the motorcycle 1. In the illustrated embodiment the cameras 6, 8 are mounted to respective indicator light brackets 12, 14 of rear indicator lights 16, 18 of the motorcycle 1. The first camera 6 is orientated to capture the offside rear view from the motorcycle 1 and the second camera 8 positioned to capture the nearside rear view from the motorcycle 1. The camera system 2 may further comprise an optional third camera 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the third camera 9 is mounted to the rear of the motorcycle 1. The third camera 9 may be orientated to capture the central rear view from the motorcycle 1. With reference to Figure 2, the controller 10 is connected to the display device 4, the first camera 6, and the second camera 8 and is connected to the indicator control module 1 1 of the indicator system by a trigger wire 20. Where the indicator control module 1 1 comprises a relay. The trigger wire 20 is connected to the nearside indicator terminal (not shown) on an output side of the relay 11 , so that when the rider of the motorcycle 1 switches on the nearside indicator in the conventional manner using a switch on a left hand grip assembly 22 of the motorcycle 1 , a pulsed signal in the form of a pulsed electrical current is input to the controller 10. The controller 10 responds to this signal by switching the image on the display device 4 from the view from the first (off side) camera 6 to the view from the second (near side) camera 8. The trigger wire 20 carries a pulsed indicator signal from the motorcycle indicator electronics to the controller 10, the controller 10 then converts this signal into a steady signal which it outputs to the display device 4, so that the display device 4 displays a continuous image from the second camera 8. The display device 4 displays the image from the second camera 8 until the controller senses no pulse on the trigger wire 20 for a predetermined period. This may be achieved by a delay function programmed in the controller. The predetermined period is set to be just greater than the maximum period between pulses when the nearside indicator is switched on. When the controller 10 has determined that there has been no new pulse on the trigger wire 20 for a time equal to the predetermined period, the controller 10 switches the image on the display device 4 back to the view from the first camera 6 only.

Table 1

Wth reference to Figure 1 , Table 1 above sets out what is shown on the display device 4 in response to the status of the vehicle indicator system.

In an alternative arrangement, the view from both cameras 6, 8 may be displayed on the display device 4 in response to a nearside indicator signal on the trigger wire 20, and only the view from the first camera 6 may be displayed in response to the controller 10 sensing no signal on the trigger wire 20 for the predetermined period. This "two image" mode may be selectable by the rider on a control panel of the display device 4, and the two images may, for example, be displayed as a split screen image.

In other arrangements, the default view displayed on the display device 4 may modifiable by a user. The user may select the default view to be the view captured by the first camera 6, the second camera 8, the third camera 9 and/or no view. For example, the display device 4 may be configured to allow the user to select the default view by displaying a screen with optional selectable settings upon initial start-up of the camera system 2. The default view may be changeable by the user at any time. The default view may alternatively or additionally be selectable through an application on a personal device, such as a smartphone.

In arrangements in which the camera system 2 comprises the third camera 9, the controller 100 may be connected to a reverse control module 24 of the motorcycle 1. The reverse control module may be a component such as a gearbox switch or a reversing light unit. The controller 10 may be connected to the reverse control module 24 by a connecting wire 26.

Table 2

Table 2 above sets out what is shown on the display device 4 in alternative

embodiments in which the camera system 2 further comprises a third camera 9.

The controller 10 may be configured to receive a signal from the reverse control module 24 through the connecting wire 26, indicating that the vehicle is in reverse gear. Upon receiving the signal indicating the vehicle is in reverse, the view from the third camera 9 may be displayed on the display device 4. Upon receiving no signal, or a signal indicating that the vehicle is no longer in reverse, no view or image may be displayed on the display device 4. The indicator control module 11 and the reverse control module 24 may be contained within the same module which may be connected to the controller 10 by a single wire. The single wire may be configured to pass data from the motorcycle 1 to the controller 10.

In alternative arrangements, the camera system 2 may be configured to enable the user to select a default view from at least one of the first camera 6, second camera 8 and/or third camera 9, and display the default view on the display device 4. The camera system 2 may be configured such that when an offside indicator signal is received by the controller 10, the view from the first camera 6 is displayed, when a nearside indicator signal is received by the controller 10, the view from the second camera 8 is displayed, when a reversing signal is received by the controller 10, the view from the third camera 9 is displayed and when no signal is received by the controller, the default view is displayed.

The camera system 2 may be configured to enable the user to modify the view or views to be displayed on the display device 4 upon the receiving of a signal by the controller