To clear the line-of-sight (LOS) on a window in a lidar system within a vehicle, ultrasonic transducers are physically attached to the interior surface of the window to remove debris. When debris is detected at the window, the ultrasonic transducers are directed to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency thereby generating an ultrasonic wave which causes the debris to bounce off the window. In some scenarios, the ultrasonic transducers vibrate with a particular phase shift to generate a travelling wave that causes the debris to sweep across the window. Additionally, windshield wipers, spray from a nozzle, and/or a hydrophobic or oleophobic coating may be used in combination with the ultrasonic transducers to remove the debris from the window.

To clear the line-of-sight (LOS) on a window in a lidar system within a vehicle, ultrasonic transducers are physically attached to the interior surface of the window to remove debris. When debris is detected at the window, the ultrasonic transducers are directed to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency thereby generating an ultrasonic wave which causes the debris to bounce off the window. In some scenarios, the ultrasonic transducers vibrate with a particular phase shift to generate a travelling wave that causes the debris to sweep across the window. Additionally, windshield wipers, spray from a nozzle, and/or a hydrophobic or oleophobic coating may be used in combination with the ultrasonic transducers to remove the debris from the window.

A shading device comprises: a shading member formed using a dimming glass plate capable of changing light transmittance, the shading member having a plate shape; a display apparatus being capable of transmitting light and disposed on a surface of the shading member, the surface being to face an operator during use of the shading member, in such a manner that a display portion faces the operator; an image pickup device to pick up, as an image, a region which an opposite surface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; a data processing circuit to generate display image data to be displayed on the display portion during use of the shading member, based on the image pickup data generated by the image pickup device; and a switch to change light transmittance of the dimming glass plate.

A shading device comprises: a shading member formed using a dimming glass plate capable of changing light transmittance, the shading member having a plate shape; a display apparatus being capable of transmitting light and disposed on a surface of the shading member, the surface being to face an operator during use of the shading member, in such a manner that a display portion faces the operator; an image pickup device to pick up, as an image, a region which an opposite surface of the surface faces, and generate image pickup data; a data processing circuit to generate display image data to be displayed on the display portion during use of the shading member, based on the image pickup data generated by the image pickup device; and a switch to change light transmittance of the dimming glass plate.

A vehicle includes a front seat, a rear seat, and a mirror body. The front seat is arranged to face rearward in a travel direction. The rear seat is arranged, at a rearward side of the front seat, to face frontward in the travel direction. The mirror body is arranged at a rearward position of the rear seat and reflects a vehicle frontward side.

According to one embodiment, a vehicle-mounted monitor display system includes a camera which captures an image of outside scenery which is a blind spot of a driver created by a pillar, a display which displays an image on the pillar, and an image processing device which generates a display image by cutting out the image captured by the camera in conformity with a display range of the pillar, and outputs the display image to the display. In the image processing device, a resolution of the display image is reduced in a state where a vehicle equipped therewith is moving.

According to one embodiment, a vehicle-mounted monitor display system includes a camera which captures an image of outside scenery which is a blind spot of a driver created by a pillar, a display which displays an image on the pillar, and an image processing device which generates a display image by cutting out the image captured by the camera in conformity with a display range of the pillar, and outputs the display image to the display. In the image processing device, a resolution of the display image is reduced in a state where a vehicle equipped therewith is moving.

A viewing device for a vehicle including: a supporting body provided at a vehicle body side; a pivoting body that is pivotably supported at the supporting body, with a gap being provided between the pivoting body and the supporting body in a radial direction of pivoting; a viewing instrument that is provided at the pivoting body, that facilitates viewing by a vehicle occupant, and that is folded in or folded out as a result of the pivoting body being pivoted to one side or to another side; and a restricting portion that is provided at one of the supporting body or the pivoting body, and that restricts communication between one side and another side of the gap, with the restriction of communication between the one side and the other side of the gap being released when the viewing instrument is folded in or folded out.

A viewing device for a vehicle including: a supporting body provided at a vehicle body side; a pivoting body that is pivotably supported at the supporting body, with a gap being provided between the pivoting body and the supporting body in a radial direction of pivoting; a viewing instrument that is provided at the pivoting body, that facilitates viewing by a vehicle occupant, and that is folded in or folded out as a result of the pivoting body being pivoted to one side or to another side; and a restricting portion that is provided at one of the supporting body or the pivoting body, and that restricts communication between one side and another side of the gap, with the restriction of communication between the one side and the other side of the gap being released when the viewing instrument is folded in or folded out.

A method of assisting a driver of a vehicle with visualization of an ambient environment comprises generating a mirror image signal corresponding to a field of view of a traditional driving mirror. A surround image signal corresponding to a field of view of an ambient environment adjacent the vehicle is generated. A vehicle speed signal is generated. The mirror image signal, the surround image signal, and the vehicle speed signal are received, and at least one of a driver mirror signal and a driver surround signal is responsively produced. A video image corresponding to at least one of the driver mirror signal and the driver surround signal is selectively displayed to the driver. A frame rate of at least one of the mirror image signal and the surround image signal is adjusted by the signal processor responsive to the vehicle speed signal. A drive assist system is also provided.