Display System
A system and method for video navigation is disclosed. The system and method may include one or more video cameras configured to capture views external to the vehicle, a control mechanism for adjusting the sight-line of the one or more video cameras, and a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured within the sight-line of the one or more video cameras.
1 - 30 . (canceled)
31 . A navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:
one or more pairs of video cameras, each pair having a first camera with a first sight-line and a second camera with a second sight-line, the second camera being spaced apart from the first camera by a selectively variable separation distance;
a control mechanism for adjusting the first and second sight-lines, the control mechanism being configured to determine a desired convergence point and to adjust the first and second sight lines and the separation distance so that the first and second sight-lines intersect at the desired convergence point; and
a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured by the one or more pairs of video cameras.
32 . A navigation system according to claim 31 further comprising:
one or more sensors for determining a direction of a vehicle occupant's gaze.
33 . A navigation system according to claim 32 , wherein the control mechanism adjusts the first and second sight-lines of at least one of the one or more pairs of cameras using the determined direction of the occupant's gaze.
34 . A navigation system according to claim 32 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of the set consisting of a sensor integrated into a helmet wearable by a vehicle occupant and a sensor integrated into eyeglasses wearable by a vehicle occupant.
35 . A navigation system according to claim 31 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point using at least one of the set consisting of a direction of a vehicle occupant's gaze and a velocity of the vehicle.
36 . A navigation system according to claim 31 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point using a direction of a vehicle occupant's gaze and a velocity of the vehicle.
37 . A navigation system according to claim 31 , further comprising:
a power supply;
a camera sync module; and
a video display adapter for sending video captured by the one or more cameras to the display panel.
38 . A navigation system according to claim 37 , wherein the video display adapter is an LCD-sync module or LCD shutter glasses system.
39 . A navigation system according to claim 31 , wherein he one or more video camera pairs are mounted to an exterior surface of the vehicle.
40 . A navigation system according to claim 31 , wherein the one or more video cameras and the display panel are integrated into a single armor panel.
41 . A navigation system according to claim 38 , wherein the armor panel is configured to replace an existing window or windshield.
42 . A method of navigating a vehicle having first and second externally mounted video cameras and an internally mounted display panel, the method comprising:
determining a desired convergence point for the first and second video cameras;
adjusting at least one of the set consisting of a sightline of the first camera, a sight line of the second camera, and a separation distance between the first and second cameras so that the sightlines of the first and second cameras intersect at the desired convergence point;
capturing video images from the first and second cameras; and
displaying the video images from the first and second cameras on the display panel.
43 . A method according to claim 42 , further comprising:
determining a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant.
44 . The method of claim 43 , wherein the action of determining a desired convergence point is accomplished using the determined gaze direction.
45 . A method according to claim 42 , further comprising:
determining a vehicle velocity.
46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the action of determining a desired convergence point is accomplished using the determined vehicle velocity.
47 . A method according to claim 42 , wherein the vehicle has third and fourth externally mounted video cameras, the method further comprising:
determining a desired convergence point for the third and fourth video cameras;
adjusting at least one of the set consisting of a sightline of the third camera, a sight line of the fourth camera, and a separation distance between the third and fourth cameras so that the sightlines of the third and fourth cameras intersect at the desired convergence point;
capturing video images from the third and fourth cameras; and
displaying the video images from the third and fourth cameras on the display panel.