IP Library Granted Patent US 12676955
Granted Patent B2
US 12676955 · App. 18/306,741 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Electronic mirror system, imaging device, and electronic mirror

Inventors: Yasutaka Matsumoto (Tokyo, JP); Yoshimasa Niibo (Kanagawa-Ken, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
H04N17/002B60R1/12B60R1/22G08B21/187H04N5/268B60R2001/1253B60R2300/8046G02F1/137G02F1/163
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12676955
App. No.
18/306,741
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic mirror system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first imaging device and an electronic mirror. The first imaging device acquires an image. The electronic mirror can display the image acquired by the first imaging device. The first imaging device includes a detector and a notifier. The detector detects a failure. The notifier notifies the electronic mirror of the detected failure. The electronic mirror includes an annunciator. The annunciator announces information on the notified failure.

Claims (68)

1 . An electronic mirror system comprising:

a first imaging device configured to acquire a first image; and

an electronic mirror configured to be in a display mode and in a mirror mode, the electronic mirror displays the first image acquired by the first imaging device in the display mode, the electronic mirror serves as a mirror in the mirror mode, wherein

the first imaging device comprises:

a detector configured to detect a failure;

a notifier configured to notify the electronic mirror of the detected failure,

the electronic mirror comprises:

an annunciator configured to announce information on the detected failure; and

a controller configured to switch the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode according to whether the detected failure has occurred, a type of the detected failure, and a level of the detected failure,

the controller is configured to:

determine the type of the detected failure is a frame rate drop; and

determine the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at a first level;

in response to determining the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop and the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at the first level, (1) the controller restricts switching the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode, and (2) the annunciator announces first information for the detected failure being the frame rate drop at the first level, the first information indicating that the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop,

the controller is configured to further determine the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at a second level higher than the first level, and

in response to determining the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop and the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at the second level, (1) the controller switches the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode, and (2) the annunciator announces second information for the detected failure being the frame rate drop at the second level, the second information indicating that the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop.

2 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 1 , wherein

the detector is configured to generate a failure signal capable of identifying the type of the detected failure,

the notifier is configured to notify the generated failure signal, and

the annunciator is configured to announce the information in a form capable of identifying the type of the detected failure according to the generated failure signal.

3 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 1 , wherein

the first imaging device further comprises an image sensor and a signal processor, and

the detector comprises:

a first detector configured to detect a failure of the image sensor; and

a second detector configured to detect a failure of the signal processor.

4 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 3 , wherein

the image sensor comprises a first terminal configured to output a pixel signal and a second terminal configured to output a signal indicating the failure of the image sensor, and

the signal processor comprises a third terminal configured to output a processed signal and a fourth terminal configured to output a signal indicating the failure of the signal processor.

5 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 1 , wherein the annunciator is configured to announce the information by using at least one of audio and display.

6 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 1 , further comprising a second imaging device, wherein

the controller is configured to switch between a first state in which the first image acquired by the first imaging device is displayed and a second state in which a second image acquired by the second imaging device is displayed, according to the detected failure.

7 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to switch between the first state and the second state according to the type of the detected failure.

8 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to switch between the first state and the second state according to the type and the level of the detected failure.

9 . An imaging device comprising:

an image sensor configured to acquire an image;

a detector configured to detect a failure; and

a notifier capable of notifying an electronic mirror of the detected failure, the electronic mirror including:

an annunciator configured to announce information on the detected failure; and

a controller configured to switch the electronic mirror from a display mode to a mirror mode according to whether the detected failure has occurred, a type of the detected failure, and a level of the detected failure, the electronic mirror displays the image acquired by the imaging sensor in the display mode, the electronic mirror serves as a mirror in the mirror mode, wherein

the controller is configured to:

determine the type of the detected failure is a frame rate drop; and

determine the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at a first level,

in response to determining the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop and the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at the first level, (1) the controller restricts switching the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode, and (2) the annunciator announces first information for the detected failure being the frame rate drop at the first level, the first information indicating that the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop,

the controller is configured to further determine the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at a second level higher than the first level, and

in response to determining the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop and the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at the second level, (1) the controller switches the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode, and (2) the annunciator announces second information for the detected failure being the frame rate drop at the second level, the second information indicating that the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop.

10 . The imaging device according to claim 9 , wherein

the detector is configured to generate a failure signal capable of identifying the type of the detected failure, and

the notifier is configured to notify the generated failure signal.

11 . The imaging device according to claim 9 , further comprising a signal processor, wherein

the detector comprises:

a first detector configured to detect a failure of the image sensor; and

a second detector configured to detect a failure of the signal processor.

12 . The imaging device according to claim 11 , wherein

the image sensor comprises a first terminal configured to output a pixel signal and a second terminal configured to output a signal indicating the failure of the image sensor, and

the signal processor comprises a third terminal configured to output a processed signal and a fourth terminal configured to output a signal indicating the failure of the signal processor.

13 . An electronic mirror comprising:

a connector connectable to an imaging device configured to acquire an image, the imaging device including:

a detector configured to detect a failure; and

a notifier configured to notify the electronic mirror of the detected failure via the connector; and

an annunciator configured to announce information on the detected failure; and

a controller configured to switch the electronic mirror from a display mode to a mirror mode according to whether the detected failure has occurred, a type of the detected failure, and a level of the detected failure, the electronic mirror displays the image acquired by the imaging device in the display mode, the electronic mirror serves as a mirror in the mirror mode, wherein

the controller is configured to:

determine the type of the detected failure is a frame rate drop; and

determine the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at a first level,

in response to determining the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop and the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at the first level, (1) the controller restricts switching the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode, and (2) the annunciator announces first information for the detected failure being the frame rate drop at the first level, the first information indicating that the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop,

the controller is configured to further determine the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at a second level higher than the first level, and

in response to determining the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop and the level of the detected failure is the frame rate drop at the second level, (1) the controller switches the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode, and (2) the annunciator announces second information for the detected failure being the frame rate drop at the second level, the second information indicating that the type of the detected failure is the frame rate drop.

14 . The electronic mirror according to claim 13 , wherein the annunciator is configured to announce the information by using at least one of audio and display.

15 . The electronic mirror system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller switches the electronic mirror from the display mode to the mirror mode in case the type of the detected failure is an abnormal video transmission, a sensitivity abnormality, a dynamic range abnormality, a linearity abnormality, a display position deviation, an image sticking, or a left-right inversion abnormality.