Method and system for displaying an image

Abstract

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for displaying an image that includes selecting a camera unit horizontal field of view (FOV) of about eighteen degrees and selecting a system magnification of less than 1.0. The method and apparatus also includes determining an aspect ratio for the image based on the selected camera unit horizontal FOV and the selected system magnification, receiving energy from a scene for forming the image and displaying the image on a display.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to vision systems and, more particularly, to a method and system for displaying an image. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION During daylight hours, the driver of a vehicle is able to detect and recognize objects that would be difficult, if not impossible, to detect or recognize at night. For example, on a sunny day, a deer approximately 500 meters ahead of a vehicle should be readily detectable and recognizable. At night, however, particularly when the headlights provide the only illumination, the deer will not be detectable, much less recognizable, at that distance because it will be beyond the range of the headlights. Moreover, by the time the driver detects the deer, and well before recognizing what it is, the vehicle will be much closer to the deer than during daylight. Accordingly, the risk of a resulting accident is much higher at night than during the day. Consequently, in order reduce the risk of accidents, night ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method and system for displaying an image that substantially eliminates or reduces at least some of the disadvantages and problems associated with previous methods and systems.

Technical advantages of particular embodiments of the present invention include an auxiliary vision system having a camera unit with a horizontal FOV of about eighteen degrees, a selected system magnification of approximately 0.4 to 1.0 and an aspect ratio determined based on the system magnification and the horizontal FOV of the camera unit. Such a system is particularly suited to present an auxiliary image that better enables a driver to properly perceive depth in the image. Furthermore, the horizontal FOV of the camera unit of about eighteen degrees presents a beneficial amount of horizontal information to the driver to effectively see potential hazards in the roadway in front of the vehicle, especially in combination with a system magnification selected between 0.4 and 1.0 and a displayed image aspect ratio based on such camera unit horizontal FOV and selected system magnification. Moreover, this horizontal FOV of the camera unit coupled with a selected magnification of between 0.4 and 1.0 can more effectively be utilized and packaged in an auxiliary vehicle system.

Problems solved by technology

During daylight hours, the driver of a vehicle is able to detect and recognize objects that would be difficult, if not impossible, to detect or recognize at night.

At night, however, particularly when the headlights provide the only illumination, the deer will not be detectable, much less recognizable, at that distance because it will be beyond the range of the headlights.

Accordingly, the risk of a resulting accident is much higher at night than during the day.

For example, the illumination of the image may be poor because a large amount of light is lost due to refraction.

As another example, the image may be distorted because of the windshield's varying curvature.

For example, the excess information may distort the depth perception of the driver, particularly when the image displayed for the driver is one that has been minified.

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