CAMERA-BASED SIDE MIRROR FUNCTION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A motor vehicle includes a motor vehicle body having an interior forming a passenger compartment. At least one camera is arranged on the outside of the motor vehicle body for imaging an area to the side and behind of the motor vehicle. In the interior of the motor vehicle, particularly in the region of an instrument panel, a monitor or display is arranged in or on an air outlet. The monitor is connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area to occupants, and in particular a driver, in the passenger compartment.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A side view system for a motor vehicle body having an interior and an exterior comprising: a camera arranged on the exterior of the motor vehicle body for generating an imaged area adjacent the motor vehicle body; and an air outlet arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle body; and a monitor supported on the air outlet and connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area thereon while the system is active.

14. The side view system according to claim 13, wherein the air outlet comprises a housing with at least one side wall configured to delimit a flow duct for supplied air, wherein the monitor is arranged on the housing.

15. The side view system according to claim 14, further comprising a mount configured on a back side of the monitor, wherein the mount includes a basic body arranged approximately transversely in the center in the flow duct.

16. The side view system according to claim 15, wherein the basic body supports itself on the inside of the side wall with a plurality of webs extending transversely in the housing.

17. The side view system according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of webs are arranged upstream on the basic body offset with respect to the monitor.

18. The side view system according to claim 14, wherein an outer edge of the monitor lies within a circumferential boundary of the flow duct formed by the side wall.

19. The side view system according to claim 18, further comprising a circumferential flow gap formed between the outer edge of the monitor and an inside of the side wall.

20. The side view system according to claim 19, wherein the circumferential flow gap has a substantially constant width between the monitor and the side wall.

21. The side view system according to claim 18, further comprising at least one adjusting element is moveably mounted on one of the outer edge of the monitor or a downstream end of the side wall.

22. The side view system according to claim 21, wherein the adjusting element is configured as an air guide element.

23. The side view system according to claim 21, wherein the adjusting element is mechanically connected to an air guide element pivotably mounted with respect to an axis running in longitudinal direction of the flow duct.

24. The side view system according to claim 13, wherein the monitor comprises a liquid crystal display.

25. A motor vehicle comprising: a motor vehicle body having an exterior and an interior; a camera arranged on the exterior of the motor vehicle body and orientated against a forward travelling direction of the motor vehicle for generating an imaged area adjacent the motor vehicle body; an air outlet arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle body; and a monitor supported on the air outlet and connected to the camera for continuously displaying the imaged area thereon while the system is active.

26. The motor vehicle according to claim 25, further comprising a vehicle door, wherein the camera is embedded on the exterior in the vehicle door.

27. The motor vehicle according to claim 26, wherein the vehicle door comprises a trim molding arranged thereon and the camera is embedded into the trim molding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of a motor vehicle;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective isolated representation of the air outlet arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a cross section through the air outlet according to FIG. 2 in longitudinal direction;

[0030] FIG. 4 is an isolated representation of the mount with the monitor according to FIG. 3; and

[0031] FIG. 5 is a further isolated representation of the mount, however with an adjusting element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

[0033] The motor vehicle 1 shown in schematic lateral view in FIG. 1 is configured as passenger car. It includes a self-supporting motor vehicle body 2 and an interior 3 functioning as passenger compartment or cell. In the interior 3, in particular in the region of an instrument panel 4 which is schematically indicated in FIG. 1, at least one air outlet 10 according to FIG. 2 is arranged.

[0034] As indicated, furthermore, in FIG. 1, a camera 6, which is orientated against the forward or travelling direction F of the motor vehicle 1 outside on a side vehicle door 7, is located. In terms of data and imaging, the camera 6 is coupled to a monitor 30 arranged in the interior 3. The combination of camera 6 and monitor 30 can completely supersede a conventional lateral rear-view mirror function or outside mirror function of the motor vehicle and can function as a digital outside mirror.

[0035] Because of its small size and its embedding in the vehicle door 7, for example in a trim molding of the vehicle door, the camera 6 can be aerodynamically arranged particularly favorably outside on the motor vehicle. The aerodynamic drag of the motor vehicle 1 and also the fuel consumption of the motor vehicle can thus be reduced. Finally, the motor vehicle 1 can be designed without outside mirror or free of outside mirrors.

[0036] The air outlet 10 shown isolated and in perspective view in FIG. 2 includes a housing 12 with a side wall 14. The housing 12 in this case is designed tubular. In the present exemplary embodiment, it has an approximately circular cross section. In this regard, merely one cylindrical side wall 14 is provided. Other embodiments of the housing 12 can include an oval or polygonal, for example rectangular cross section. Typically, the housing 12 is produced from an injection molded plastic part. The air outlet 10 or its housing 12 can be embedded flush into the instrument panel 4 flush with the surface so that for example an outflow surface 16 of the housing 12, which is formed on an end section 15 of the side wall 14 located downstream, terminates approximately flush with an interior trim or with the instrument panel 4. However, other embodiments are also conceivable in which the air outlet 10 with its housing 12 is arranged outside an instrument panel, so that an outside of the housing 12 is also visible to the end user.

[0037] On or in the housing 12, a monitor 30 which is schematically shown in FIG. 2 is arranged. The monitor 30 has a planar front side 31. The front side 31 of the monitor 30 can be configured, furthermore, as a liquid crystal display or LCD. In particular, the monitor 30 serves for reproducing a two-dimensional camera image.

[0038] In the embodiment shown here, front side 31 of the monitor 30 lies approximately in the outflow surface 16, which is formed by the end section 15 of the side wall on the downstream side. The monitor 30 is thus integrated flush with the outflow surface 16 of the air outlet 10. Based on the longitudinal direction of the flow duct 18, which is formed by the side wall 14 or transversely delimited by the side wall 14, it can also be set back from the outflow surface 16 or project from the outflow surface 16 in longitudinal direction or axial direction.

[0039] Here, a surrounding outer edge 34 of the monitor 30 is arranged spaced from an inside 22 of the side wall 14. In this regard, a surrounding and closed flow gap 24 is located between the monitor 30 and the side wall 14. The flow gap 24 in this case is annular in shape. By way of the flow gap, an airflow 20 supplied to the air outlet 10 for example via a blower 8 can be directed past the monitor 30 into the interior 3 of the vehicle 1.

[0040] In terms of assembly, the monitor 30 is provided with a back side 32 with a mount 40 facing away from the front side 31. The mount 40 includes a basic body 41 which tapers against the flow direction of the airflow 20 and which is arranged transversely in the middle in the flow duct 18 of the housing 12. The basic body 41 runs against the direction of the airflow 20 starting out from the back side 32 of the monitor 30 in a conical or concavely tapering manner. An axial distance from the back side 32 of the monitor 30, the basic body 41 includes three webs 42 which radially project to the outside, as are most clearly shown in FIG. 4. The individual webs are arranged equidistantly in circumferential direction, approximately at an angular distance of 120° relative to one another. The webs 42 are arranged on the basic body 41 axially offset with respect to the monitor 30. That axial offset makes possible forming a circumferential uninterrupted flow gap 24 between the outer edge 34 of the monitor 30 and of the inside 22 of the side wall 14 of the housing 12. For the sake of a simple and intuitive representation, only the outer edge 34 of the monitor 30 is shown in FIG. 4.

[0041] Viewing FIG. 2 it appears as if the monitor 30 floats freely in the middle of the housing 12. This should be considered advantageous not only under the aspect of design. On the contrary, the monitor 30 through its central arrangement in the housing 12 can conceal any mechanical components for the air control or air deflection.

[0042] On the ends located radially outside, the individual webs 42 include a foot 44 adapted to the contour of the side wall 14 in each case. By the feet 44, the mount 40 can be fixed on an inside 22 of the housing 12 on the side wall 14 in a clamping or form-fit manner.

[0043] Complementarily to the representation according to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 additionally shows an adjusting element 26 which projects through the flow gap 24 and which is actuatable from the outside in a pivotable or shiftable manner. Additionally connected to the adjusting element 26 is an air guide element 28, which is located in the flow duct 18 and which in the manner of a fin is pivotably or shiftably moveably mounted within the flow duct 18. The air guide element 28, thus the adjusting element 26, is pivotably mounted in the present exemplary embodiment about an axis 5 which runs in longitudinal direction of the flow duct. By way of a pivot movement of the adjusting element 26, the air flow 20 is preferentially continuously adjustable within a preset space angle 21.

[0044] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.