IP Library Granted Patent US 12,220,984
Granted Patent B2
US 12,220,984 · App. 17/548,378 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

User perspective alignment for vehicle see-through applications

Inventors: Rajendramayavan Rajendran Sathyam (Peachtree City, GA); Jin Woo Jung (Johns Creek, GA)
Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Company of America, Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
B60K35/00B60W40/08G06F3/013G06V20/597G06V40/18B60K35/10B60K35/28B60K2360/149B60K2360/176B60K2360/31B60W2540/223B60W2540/225
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,220,984
App. No.
17/548,378
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Examples of the disclosure relate to example systems and methods for operating a see-through display for a vehicle. An example system includes a video camera positioned to capture video related to a vehicle structure that blocks a view of the driver. The system also includes a see-through display disposed inside the vehicle between the vehicle structure and the driver. The system also includes a processor configured to determine an eye position of the driver and process the captured video based on the eye position to determine a portion of the captured video to be displayed. The processor is to render the portion of the captured video to create a see-through effect relative to the vehicle structure. To determine the eye position, the processor receives user input for adjusting the portion of the captured video to create a match between the rendered portion and an unobstructed view of the external environment.

Claims (37)

1. A see-through system for a vehicle, comprising:

a video camera positioned to capture video related to a vehicle structure that blocks a view of a driver of the vehicle;

a see-through display screen disposed on an inside of the vehicle between the vehicle structure and the driver; and

a processor configured to:

determine an eye position of the driver;

process the captured video based, at least in part, on the eye position of the driver to determine a portion of the captured video to be displayed on the see-through display screen; and

render the portion of the captured video to create a see-through effect relative to the vehicle structure;

wherein to determine the eye position of the driver comprises receiving user input from the driver for adjusting the portion of the captured video to create a match between the rendered portion and an unobstructed view of the external environment.

2. The see-through system of claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises instructions to move the portion of the captured video up or down, left or right, and zoom in or out.

3. The see-through system of claim 1 , wherein to determine the eye position of the driver comprises to determine initial eye position coordinates before receiving the user input.

4. The see-through system of claim 3 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are predefined eye position coordinates that are specified relative to the video camera.

5. The see-through system of claim 3 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are predefined eye position coordinates that are specified relative to a seat position, and wherein the initial eye position coordinates are determined based on the seat position.

6. The see-through system of claim 3 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are determined from a user defined preset.

7. The see-through system of claim 3 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are determined from a learned preset acquired by analyzing behavior of the user over time.

8. The see-through system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle structure that blocks the view of the driver is an A-pillar.

9. The see-through system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle structure that blocks the view of the driver is a first A-pillar, the see-through system further comprising:

a second video camera positioned to capture video related to a second A-pillar; and

a second see-through display screen disposed inside the vehicle between the second A-pillar and the driver.

10. A method of operating a see-through system for a vehicle comprising:

determining an eye position of a driver;

processing captured video based, at least in part, on the eye position of the driver to determine a portion of the captured video to be displayed on a see-through display screen disposed on an inside of the vehicle and positioned between the driver and a vehicle structure that blocks the driver's view of the external environment; and

rendering the portion of the captured video to create a see-through effect relative to the vehicle structure;

wherein determining the eye position of the driver comprises receiving user input from the driver for adjusting the portion of the captured video to create a match between the rendered portion and an unobstructed view of the external environment.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the eye position of the driver comprises determining initial eye position coordinates before receiving the user input.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are predefined eye position coordinates that are specified relative to a video camera used for capturing the captured video.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are predefined eye position coordinates that are specified relative to a seat position, and wherein the initial eye position coordinates are determined based on the seat position.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are determined from a user defined preset.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the initial eye position coordinates are determined from a learned preset acquired by analyzing behavior of the user over time.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle structure that block the driver's view of the outside environment is an A-pillar.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions to direct the actions of a processor to operate a see-through system of a vehicle, the instructions to direct the processor to:

determine an eye position of a driver;

process captured video based, at least in part, on the eye position of the driver to determine a portion of the captured video to be displayed on a see-through display screen disposed on an inside of the vehicle and positioned between the driver and a vehicle structure that blocks the driver's view of the external environment; and

render the portion of the captured video to create a see-through effect relative to the vehicle structure;

wherein to determine the eye position of the driver comprises to receive user input from the driver for adjusting the portion of the captured video to create a match between the rendered portion and an unobstructed view of the external environment.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein to determine the eye position of the driver comprises obtaining initial eye position coordinates that are predefined eye position coordinates that are specified relative to a video camera used to capture the captured video.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein to determine the eye position of the driver comprises obtaining initial eye position coordinates according to a sensed seat position and predefined eye position coordinates that are specified relative to the seat position.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein to determine the eye position of the driver comprises obtaining initial eye position coordinates from a user defined preset or a learned preset acquired by analyzing behavior of the user over time.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SUPPORTIVE DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 72222 FRAME 267. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 23, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC.
Reel/Frame 072930/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 072222/0267 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2021
From: RAJENDRAN SATHYAM, RAJENDRAMAYAVAN; JUNG, JIN WOO
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS COMPANY OF AMERICA, DIVISION OF PANASONIC CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA
Reel/Frame 058365/0589 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63133052 · Dec 31, 2020
Related Publication 20220203833A1 · Jun 30, 2022
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