The invention relates to a method and system for adapting to a driver position an image displayed on a monitor in a cab of the vehicle. The invention further relates to a vehicle including such a system. The invention is particularly well suited for heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses and construction equipment. The invention may also be used in other vehicles such as a car.

A vehicle includes a cabin and a vehicle body including a cargo area rearward of the cabin. A tailgate assembly is mounted to the vehicle body that closes the cargo area. The tailgate assembly includes a rear-mounted video camera. An electronic control unit receives image data from the rear-mounted video camera. A connector communicatively couples the electronic control unit and the rear-mounted video camera. The connector has a closed configuration with the tailgate assembly mounted to the vehicle body and an open configuration with the tailgate assembly removed from the vehicle body. The electronic control unit includes logic that, wherein executed by a processor, causes the electronic control unit to receive signals from an alarm circuit when the connector is in the closed configuration and detect when the signals from the alarm circuit have stopped when the connector is in the open configuration.

A camera that picks up an image behind a vehicle in order to display an image behind the vehicle on an electronic rear-view mirror and a monitor installed on the vehicle is provided with an optical system configured to have a high resolution region that has a high image-forming magnification and a peripheral region that is formed around the high resolution region and has a lower image-forming magnification than the high resolution region and to form an optical image on an image sensor; and an image pickup means configured to output an image based on an optical image formed on the image sensor, wherein the camera is arranged on the vehicle such that a ground surface that is behind and near the vehicle and the position 80 cm high from the ground surface is included within a second field range in which an image is formed on the image sensor via the second region of the optical system.

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.

A vehicular camera monitoring system a driver-side camera, a driver-side video display screen disposed at a driver-side cabin region of an interior cabin of the vehicle, a passenger-side camera and a passenger-side video display screen disposed at a passenger-side cabin region of the interior cabin of the vehicle. Upon completion of a parking maneuver of the vehicle, and until a period of time elapses following powering down of the vehicle upon completion of the parking maneuver of the vehicle, the driver-side video display screen displays driver-side video images of a driver-side region sideward of the driver side of the vehicle and rearward of the vehicle and the passenger-side video display screen displays passenger-side video images of a passenger-side region sideward of the passenger side of the vehicle and rearward of the vehicle.

A camera system for a vehicle provides for the generation of different perspectives with a single camera to improve location accuracy. The camera system includes a camera configured for generating an image of an area proximate the vehicle and a mirror mounted proximate the camera and within a field of view of the camera. The mirror provides a secondary view of the area proximate the vehicle to the camera that is included as part of a single image.

A method for detecting an object via a vehicular vision system includes disposing first and second cameras at respective locations at a vehicle so as to have respective first and second fields of view rearward of the vehicle. The locations are vertically and horizontally spaced apart by respective vertical and horizontal separation distances. With the first and second cameras disposed at the respective locations, the first field of view at least partially overlaps the second field of view. An electronic control unit (ECU) is provided that includes an image processor. Image data is captured by the cameras and provided to the ECU and processed at the ECU. The ECU, responsive to processing of captured image data and based on the separation distances, determines presence of an object in the overlapping region of the first and second fields of view and determines the location of the object relative to the vehicle.

A method for determining features of a trailer being towed by a vehicle includes initiating a calibration drive of the vehicle and capturing frames of image data via a vehicle camera, and, via processing by an image processor of frames of captured image data, determining features of the trailer being towed by the vehicle during the calibration drive. The features of the trailer are determined by determining features that have similar changes between a current frame of captured image data and a previous frame of captured image data captured during the calibration drive. The features are tracked over multiple frames of captured image data for different angular positions of the trailer relative to the vehicle to determine trailer length from the hitch ball of the vehicle to an axle of the trailer. The trailer angle is determined based on the determined trailer length.

A system for visibility enhancement for a motor vehicle assistant system for warning the driver of hazardous situations due to at least one object being located within a critical range defined relative to the motor vehicle includes at least a first sensor means comprising a camera installed in a rear view equipment of the motor vehicle adapted to record at least one image, and an image processing means adapted to receive a first input signal from the first sensor means containing the at least one image and a second input signal containing at least one position profile of the at least one object located within the critical range, and manipulate the at least one image to generate a contrast manipulated image. A corresponding method of visibility enhancement is also described.

A communication interface that facilitates communications over powerlines between a trailer and a vehicle. The communication interface includes a housing having first contact and a second contact accessible from an exterior of the housing. The first contact is electrically coupled to the second contact via a powerline that connects an electrical system of the vehicle with an electrical system of the trailer. The communication interface includes a powerline communication controller having a first set of terminals coupled to a first connector and a second set of terminals coupled to the powerline. The powerline communication controller is configured to receive a first signal from a device of the trailer that indicates a condition regarding a defined region of the trailer. The powerline communication controller is configured to generate, based on the first signal, a second signal representative of the condition, and introduce the second signal onto the first power signal.