Interior rearview mirror for motor vehicles and motor vehicles equipped with such a rearview mirror

Abstract

The invention relates to an interior rearview mirror (1) for a motor vehicle, said rearview mirror (1) comprising a mirror (3) and a camera (5) configured to be oriented towards the interior of the vehicle, characterized in that said camera (5) is configured to orient itself independently of said mirror (3). [Fig. 1]

Description

Title of the invention: Interior rearview mirror for a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a rearview mirror

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of motor vehicles and more particularly to an interior rearview mirror. The present invention relates even more particularly to a rearview mirror configured for integration into an interior monitoring system of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Every vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror located in the vehicle's passenger compartment, generally in the middle of the vehicle, between the driver's seat and the front passenger seat, and fixed to the ceiling of the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0003] Such rearview mirrors are mounted in an adjustable manner inside the vehicle, for example via a double pivot or articulated mounting configuration, where the rearview mirror comprises a main body (or housing) in which a mirror is disposed, said main body and the mirror are fixed together and can therefore be adjusted relative to an interior part of the vehicle by means of a pivoting movement around this double pivot or articulated configuration.

[0004] Thus, the main body of the rearview mirror and the mirror can pivot around one or two ball pivots, allowing the user to adjust the rear field of vision provided by the mirror of said rearview mirror.

[0005] Such interior rearview mirrors may include a camera and be associated with a driver monitoring system (or DMS for "Driver Monitoring System" in English), the camera being configured to monitor the driver and / or the occupants of the vehicle.

[0006] Surveillance systems use cameras to determine, for example, the driver's gaze direction, attention level, and / or state of drowsiness. Therefore, it is essential that the camera located in the rearview mirror be able to film the driver and / or vehicle occupants as clearly as possible.

[0007] The present invention thus proposes to remedy at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new type of interior rearview mirror for motor vehicles, said rearview mirror comprising a mirror and a camera configured to be oriented towards the interior of the vehicle, characterized in that said camera is configured to orient itself independently of said mirror.

[0008] The interior rearview mirror according to the invention makes it possible to simplify and optimize the use of a camera mounted in the interior rearview mirror of a vehicle automotive, thus making it possible to improve the images acquired by said camera, and in particular to move the camera to target specific areas of the passenger compartment independently and distinctly from the mirror, for example towards the driver of the vehicle.

[0009] According to one possible feature, said rearview mirror includes an actuator configured to orient the camera according to at least two degrees of freedom.

[0010] Having a camera capable of moving along at least two degrees of freedom allows for better adjustment of the camera, so that it films the area(s) of interest, such as the driver and / or the passenger compartment, in the best possible way.

[0011] According to another possible feature, said actuator is configured to orient said camera according to azimuth and / or elevation. The actuator is thus advantageously configured to, on the one hand, rotate the camera around a horizontal axis, i.e. the azimuth, and on the other hand, rotate the camera around a vertical axis, i.e. the elevation or the tilt.

[0012] According to another possible feature, said camera is configured to orient itself according to the position of the eyes of a vehicle driver. Advantageously, the said camera can be oriented independently of the interior rearview mirror, in order to continuously film the driver of the vehicle, and more particularly the eyes of said driver.

[0013] According to another possible feature, said camera is configured to monitor the alertness level of a motor vehicle driver. Advantageously, the rearview mirror camera can be oriented independently of the interior rearview mirror, in order to continuously and as accurately as possible monitor the driver's level of fatigue or alertness.

[0014] According to another possible feature, said camera is configured to detect the number of passengers in a motor vehicle. Advantageously, the camera in the interior rearview mirror can also acquire an image of the passenger compartment, enabling the detection of the number of passengers or occupants and thus determining whether they have fastened their seat belts. This eliminates the need for seat occupancy sensors, particularly in the rear seats, which are expensive and time-consuming to install, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of motor vehicles equipped with an interior rearview mirror according to the invention.

[0015] According to another possible characteristic, said camera has a resolution of at least 2 megapixels, and preferably of at least 5 megapixels.

[0016] The interior rearview mirror camera has a minimum resolution to be able to acquire a useful and relevant image of the passenger compartment, in particular when it comes to determining the number of occupants in the passenger compartment and / or monitoring the driver's level of vigilance.

[0017] According to another possible feature, said camera has a shooting angle of at least 140°, and preferably of at least 180°. Advantageously, the camera should have a sufficiently wide viewing angle to acquire an image of the driver and / or the passenger compartment, while being compatible with the permitted range of motion of said camera.

[0018] The invention also relates to an interior monitoring system for a motor vehicle, characterized in that said system includes a rearview mirror as defined above. The rearview mirror according to the invention is advantageously configured to be integrated into an interior vehicle monitoring system, that is to say a system comprising an electronic entity, such as the vehicle's on-board computer, configured to process the images acquired by means of the camera of the interior rearview mirror, in order to determine the state of vigilance of the driver of the vehicle and / or the number of occupants in the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

[0019] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle, for example thermal, electric or hybrid, characterized in that said vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror as defined above, or an interior monitoring system as mentioned above.

[0020] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a very schematic and three-quarter perspective view of an interior rearview mirror according to the invention; - [Fig.2] is a very schematic view of an interior vehicle monitoring system including an interior rearview mirror of [Fig.1]; - Fig. 3 illustrates a very schematic and three-quarter perspective view of an interior rearview mirror according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0021] In the following description, the term "include" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it permits the presence of other elements in the vehicle, or the structure to which it relates. It is understood that the term "include" includes the terms "consist of". Furthermore, it should be noted that in the various figures, the same reference numerals designate identical or similar elements.

[0022] Fig. 1 thus illustrates a very schematic and three-quarter perspective view of an interior rearview mirror 1 according to the invention, an interior rearview mirror advantageously intended to equip a motor vehicle, for example thermal, hybrid or electric, and more particularly to be integrated into an interior monitoring system of a motor vehicle.

[0023] The interior rearview mirror 1 thus comprises a mirror 3 and a camera 5 configured to be oriented towards the interior of the vehicle. Said rearview mirror 1 advantageously comprises a main body 7 (or housing), for example made of plastic, in which the mirror 3 and the camera 5 are mounted.

[0024] Furthermore, the rearview mirror 1 is configured to be mounted in an adjustable manner on an interior part of a vehicle (such as a passenger compartment ceiling or the roof of a vehicle, or similar) via a mounting structure or mechanism 9. Said rearview mirror 1 is advantageously fixed to the windscreen of the vehicle.

[0025] The mirror 3 is advantageously a prismatic mirror with a wedge-shaped glass element or substrate covered with a reflective coating, which can be tilted (for example using a tilting mechanism) between a daytime vision orientation and a night vision orientation.

[0026] It should be noted that the rearview mirror can also be of the electrochromatic type, that is to say that the rearview mirror comprises two glass surfaces (acting as a mirror) between which is placed an electrochemical gel, as well as a light sensor, an electric current flowing in the electrochemical gel according to the light detected by said sensor so as to make said gel more or less opaque (or darken), and limit the possible glare of the driver.

[0027] In addition, said rearview mirror may also be of the digital type, the rearview mirror comprising a camera and a screen acting as a mirror on which the images, generally filmed at the rear of the vehicle, by said camera are displayed.

[0028] Said mounting structure 9 includes for example a joint or pivot allowing the mirror 3 and the main body 7 to be oriented so that the driver of the vehicle can adjust the position of the mirror 3, and therefore the rear field of vision provided by the mirror 3 of said rearview mirror 1, and thus view a rear area of ​​the vehicle.

[0029] The camera 5 advantageously has a resolution of at least 2 megapixels, and preferably at least 5 megapixels. In addition, said camera 5 advantageously has a viewing angle of at least 140°, and preferably at least 180°.

[0030] The interior rearview mirror 1 also includes an actuator 11 (represented schematically by dotted lines) which is configured to orient or move the camera 5 independently of the mirror 3 (and the main body 7). The actuator 11 is for example located in the main body 7, behind the camera 5.

[0031] Thus, said actuator 11 is advantageously configured to orient the camera 5 according to at least two degrees of freedom, for example two degrees of rotational freedom.

[0032] Said actuator 11 is advantageously configured to orient said camera 5, in the mounted position, according to: - azimuth, that is to say, rotating the camera 5 around a horizontal axis (for example the transverse axis of the vehicle); - elevation (or tilt), that is to say, rotating the camera 5 around a vertical axis.

[0033] Said camera 5 is advantageously configured to monitor the level of vigilance of a driver of a motor vehicle and / or detect the number of passengers of a motor vehicle (i.e. the number of occupants in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle).

[0034] Thus, when the camera 5 is configured to measure the vigilance level of a vehicle driver, the camera 5 is oriented towards the interior of the vehicle and is configured to capture images of the driver, for example of the eyes or head of the vehicle driver.

[0035] Said camera 5 is configured to move according to the azimuth and elevation according to the position of the driver's eyes, and to keep said camera 5 on the eyes of the driver of the vehicle, that is to say, the camera 5 is configured to keep the driver's eyes in its shooting angle.

[0036] Fig. 2 illustrates, for its part, a very schematic view of an interior monitoring system 20 of a motor vehicle including the interior rearview mirror 1.

[0037] Said monitoring system 20 comprises as follows: - the interior rearview mirror 1; - an electronic entity 22, such as the vehicle's on-board computer, configured to process images acquired by means of the camera 5 of the interior rearview mirror 1, in order to determine the driver's state of alertness and / or the number of occupants in the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0038] The electronic entity 22 is configured to determine the position of the driver's eyes or head, by means of images acquired by the camera and is also configured to control the actuator 11 and move the camera 5 accordingly, for example so as to keep the driver's eyes or head in the field of vision of the camera 5.

[0039] Said monitoring system 20 is also configured to be in communication with a vehicle control module 30 via a vehicle communication bus 32.

[0040] The communication bus 32 can be configured to transmit signals relating to vehicle states to the electronic unit 22. For example, the communication bus 32 can transmit to the electronic unit 22 the ignition status, the open or partially open door status, etc. This information and control signals can be used by the electronic unit 22 to activate and / or adjust the camera 5 for the monitoring driver alertness and / or determining the number of people in the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0041] It will be noted that the electronic entity 22 can include a processor 36 having one or more circuits configured to receive signals from the communication bus 32 and control the surveillance system 20, as well as a memory 38 configured to store instructions for controlling the operations of the system 20, as well as the image or images recorded by the camera 5, the processor 36 being for example in communication with the memory 38.

[0042] Thus, the electronic entity 22 is for example configured to store one or more features or profiles used to identify the eyes or head of the vehicle driver in the images acquired or recorded by the camera 5, and to allow prior adjustment of the position of the camera 5.

[0043] The electronic entity 22 can also be in communication with one or more devices or systems of the vehicle, such as a dashboard, an audio / video system 42 (or A / V system), a display console 44 (for example an infotainment system), etc.

[0044] The electronic entity 22 can also be in communication with a human-machine interface 46 configured to receive one or more commands to control certain aspects of the system 20, such as its activation and / or deactivation.

[0045] Said human-machine interface 46 is for example integrated into one or more devices of the vehicle, such as the A / V system 42, the display console 44, and / or various devices commonly used in motor vehicles, for example a switch on the steering wheel, steering wheel controls, etc.

[0046] Thus, the electronic entity 22 is configured to process images using one or more algorithms to dynamically determine the driver's position and thus adjust the camera 5, by means of the actuator 11, to follow the driver's eyes and / or head (in order to assess the driver's level of vigilance).

[0047] The actuator 11 can thus adjust both the azimuth and the elevation of the camera 5 to keep the eyes and / or head of the driver within the field of view of said camera 5. It should be noted that the adjustment can be pre-calibrated, for example by driver detection, and / or be made manually by the driver of the vehicle.

[0048] In addition, the camera 5 of said interior rearview mirror 1 can also acquire an image of the vehicle's interior, so that the electronic entity 22 of the monitoring system can detect the number of passengers or occupants in the interior, and thus determine whether they have properly fastened their seat belts.

[0049] The monitoring system 20 may also include warning means, means which are separate from or integrated into existing vehicle devices, such as the A / V system 42, the display console 44, etc.

[0050] Said system 20 is thus configured to trigger an audible and / or visual alert, by means of said alert means, if there is detection of a lack of vigilance on the part of the driver, such as falling asleep, and / or if one of the occupants of the passenger compartment has not put on his seat belt.

[0051] Fig. 3, meanwhile, illustrates a very schematic and perspective view of a variant embodiment of the rearview mirror 1' according to the invention.

[0052] Unlike the rearview mirror 1 of [Fig.1] where the camera 5 and the actuator 11 are located behind the mirror 3, the rearview mirror 1' comprises a camera 5 and an actuator 11 which are housed in an external casing 8, for example located or fixed on the lower part of the main body 7 of said rearview mirror 1'.

[0053] In an unrepresented embodiment of the invention, the interior rearview mirror includes a plurality of light sources configured to illuminate the driver, for example, the driver's eyes.

[0054] The lighting provided by these light sources is advantageously located in the near infrared range (i.e. a wavelength between 0.78 pm and 3 pm), so as not to dazzle the driver, while remaining within a detection spectrum of the rearview mirror camera according to the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Interior rearview mirror (1) for a motor vehicle, said rearview mirror (1) comprising a mirror (3) and a camera (5) configured to be oriented towards the interior of the vehicle, characterized in that said camera (5) is configured to orient itself independently of said mirror (3).

2. Interior rearview mirror (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said rearview mirror (1) includes an actuator (11) configured to orient the camera (5) according to at least two degrees of freedom.

3. Interior rearview mirror (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said actuator (11) is configured to orient said camera (5) according to azimuth and / or elevation.

4. Interior rearview mirror (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said camera (5) is configured to orient itself according to the position of the eyes of a vehicle driver.

5. Interior rearview mirror (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said camera (5) is configured to monitor the alertness level of a motor vehicle driver.

6. Interior rearview mirror (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said camera (5) is configured to detect the number of passengers in a motor vehicle.

7. Interior rearview mirror (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said camera (5) has a resolution of at least 2 megapixels.

8. Interior rearview mirror (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said camera (5) has a viewing angle of at least 140°, and preferably of at least 180°.

9. Motor vehicle interior monitoring system (20), characterized in that said system (20) comprises an interior rearview mirror (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle, characterized in that said vehicle comprises an interior rearview mirror (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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