Patent classifications
B60R2001/1215
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NOTIFYING A VEHICLE OCCUPANT ABOUT A SEVERITY AND LOCATION OF POTENTIAL VEHICLE THREATS
An example method includes detecting a potential threat to a vehicle that is external to the vehicle, determining a severity level of the potential threat and a location of the potential threat relative to the vehicle, and displaying an indication of the potential threat on an electronic display in a particular portion of the electronic display corresponding to the location and with a particular display attribute corresponding to the severity level. The particular portion is one of a plurality of different portions of the electronic display each corresponding to different threat locations, and the particular display attribute is one of a plurality of different display attributes corresponding to different severity levels. A corresponding system that detects and displays notifications of potential threats is also disclosed.
VEHICULAR IMAGING SYSTEM WITH EXTENDABLE CAMERA
A vehicular imaging system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a camera device disposed at a body portion of the vehicle. The camera device includes structure that supports a camera and that is movable between a stowed position, where the structure and camera are within the body portion, and an extended position, where the structure and camera are extended outward from the body portion so that the camera is positioned with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The structure includes a plurality of individually movable elements that are disposed adjacent one another and that cooperate to form the outer surface. The individually movable elements, when moved relative to the body portion of the vehicle, cooperate to extend and retract the camera. The camera, when the structure is in the extended position, captures image data and provides captured image data to the ECU.
APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING SIDE MIRROR OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND METHOD THEREOF
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for controlling a side mirror of an autonomous vehicle and a method thereof. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to detect whether a vehicle is autonomously driven and to fold the side mirror such that a mirror surface is in close contact with a vehicle body surface or side window glass or to insert the side mirror into the inner space of the vehicle when the vehicle is autonomously driven. Through the present disclosure, it is possible to notify an external vehicle of information indicating that the vehicle is driven in an autonomous driving mode.
Motor vehicle comprising an electronic rear-view mirror
A motor vehicle has at least one electronic rearview mirror, particularly an exterior and/or side mirror, that has a display apparatus, particularly a display, for images recorded by an exterior camera that is provided particularly outside the motor vehicle. The operator control element provided for adjusting an image detail from the image, which image detail is to be displayed on the display apparatus, and/or an orientation for the exterior camera is a mirror operator control element, developed for the purpose of adjusting a mirror face of a conventional exterior mirror, and/or a rotary/push control of a man/machine interface.
VEHICULAR CAMERA WITH THERMAL COMPENSATING MEANS
A vehicular camera includes a camera housing having a first portion and a second portion joined to the first portion. The first portion of the camera housing accommodates a lens and has an attaching portion having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). A circuit board includes circuitry disposed at a circuit board substrate that has a second CTE that is different from the first CTE. The circuitry includes an imager. The circuit board substrate is attached at the attaching portion of the first portion of the camera housing. When the vehicular camera is operated at an operating temperature greater than 50 degrees C., the attaching portion expands a greater degree than the circuit board substrate. When the vehicular camera is operated at an operating temperature below −20 degrees C., the attaching portion contracts a greater degree than the circuit board substrate
INDICATOR OPTIC FOR VEHICLE LIGHTING MODULE
A lighting module for a vehicle is disclosed. The lighting module comprises a light source configured to generate a light emission in an emission direction substantially along a forward operating direction of the vehicle. A circuit is in connection with the light source. The lighting module further comprises an optic device comprising a body forming a receiving surface. The receiving surface is configured to receive an input emission of the light emission. The optic device is configured to transmit the input emission through the body, emit a first portion of the input emission along a primary path directed toward a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and emit a second portion of the input emission along a stray light path into a light trap formed by the body and arranged substantially opposite the light extraction surface.
Vehicular accessory system
A vehicular accessory system includes an attachment element adhered at an interior surface of a windshield of a vehicle and an accessory assembly attached to the attachment element. The accessory assembly includes circuitry disposed in the housing, the circuitry including a video camera. The video camera, when the accessory assembly is attached to the attachment element, has a field of view into the interior of the vehicle that encompasses the head of a potential driver of the vehicle. The video camera captures an image of the face of the potential driver and, responsive to image processing by image recognition software of the vehicular accessory system, the vehicular accessory system determines that the potential driver is an authorized driver who is authorized to operate the vehicle and, responsive to this determination, enables the ignition system to allow the motor of the vehicle be started.
Vehicle mirror device and illuminatable mirror display device
A vehicle mirror device includes a mirror housing attached to a vehicle and a mirror that is held by the mirror housing and transmits light from inside of the mirror housing while reflecting light from outside of the mirror housing. The mirror housing accommodates therein a light source, a reflector having a reflective surface that reflects light of the light source, and a mask having a light transmitting part through which the light from the light source reflected by the reflector is projected. The light source and the reflector are arranged so that the light is projected toward the light transmitting part of the mask by one time of reflection, and the reflector is arranged so that the reflected light is projected at an angle with respect to a normal line of a reflective surface of the mirror.
POLARIZED ELECTRO-OPTIC ELEMENT
A vehicular rearview assembly is provided that includes a display configured to emit light of a first polarization. A reflective polarizer is positioned adjacent the display. The reflective polarizer is configured to transmit the light of the first polarization and reflect light of a second polarization and an electro-optic element is positioned on an opposite side of the reflective polarizer than the display. The electro-optic element is configured to transition between substantially clear and substantially darkened states. The electro-optic element includes a plurality of electrochromic molecules substantially aligned with the second polarization of the light such that the electro-optic element is configured to substantially absorb the light of the second polarization when in the darkened state.
Driver assist system for vehicle
A driver assist system for a vehicle includes at least one non-visual sensor and a forward-viewing camera disposed that is part of a multi-camera vision system of the vehicle that includes at least two side cameras and a rear backup camera. A video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle. During a driving or parking maneuver of the vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by at least some of the cameras are displayed by the video display screen, and at least one indication is provided to the driver of the vehicle during the driving maneuver. A unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by the multi-camera vision system and approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the vehicle.