IP Library › Patent Application 19283316
Patent Application
App. No. 19/283,316

METHOD FOR DISPLAYING REARWARD IMAGE OF VEHICLE

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
19/283,316
Abstract

A method for displaying a rearward image of a vehicle includes varying reflectivity of an electro-optic layer for incident light to transmit a portion of the incident light and to reflect another portion of the incident light; displaying on a display at least the portion of the rearward image; and switching the electro-optic layer between a first posture and a second posture. When the electro-optic layer is in the first posture, at least the portion of the rearward image is displayed, and when in the second posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light varies between at least two values based on at least one of a first illuminance or a second illuminance. The first illuminance indicates brightness around the vehicle and the second illuminance indicates intensity of light emitted on a front surface of the electro-optic layer.

Claims (58)

1 . A method for displaying at least a portion of a rearward image of a vehicle captured by an image capture device, the method comprising:

varying reflectivity of an electro-optic layer for incident light to transmit a portion of the incident light and to reflect another portion of the incident light;

displaying on a display at least the portion of the rearward image; and

switching the electro-optic layer between a first posture and a second posture, wherein

when the electro-optic layer is in the first posture, at least the portion of the rearward image is displayed,

when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light varies between at least two values including a first value and a second value based on at least one of a first illuminance or a second illuminance the second value being larger than the first value,

the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is equal to or more than the second value when the electro-optic layer is in the first posture,

the first illuminance indicates brightness around the vehicle and is detected by a first illuminance sensor, and

the second illuminance indicates intensity of light emitted on a front surface of the electro-optic layer and is detected by a second illuminance sensor.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the electro-optic layer includes a transmissive-reflective layer,

the first posture is a posture that a driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle by at least the portion of the rearward image displayed on the display, and

the second posture is a posture that the driver views rearward of the vehicle by way of a mirror image that appears on the transmissive-reflective layer.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic layer is switched between the first posture and the second posture by changing a posture of a housing including the electro-optic layer.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the display is coupled to the image capture device that captures at least the portion of the rearward image via a network.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising controlling operation of the electro-optic layer, wherein

when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is controlled by varying a value of a voltage applied to the electro-optic layer, and

when the electro-optic layer is in the first posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is not controlled.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is changeable between at least three values.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electro-optic layer includes an electrochromic layer and a transmissive-reflective layer.

8 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the electro-optic layer is switched between the first posture and the second posture by changing a tilt of the housing by switching a position of a lever attached to the housing.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the displaying of at least the portion of the rearward image is omitted.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is a first reflectivity when the following conditions are satisfied:

the first illuminance is lower than a first threshold value, the second illuminance is equal to or higher than a second threshold value, and the electro-optic layer is in the second posture,

the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is a second reflectivity when the following conditions are satisfied:

the first illuminance is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, the second illuminance is lower than the second threshold value, and the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, and

the second reflectivity is lower than the first reflectivity.

11 . A method for displaying at least a portion of a rearward image of a vehicle on a display of a display device, the method comprising:

capturing at least the portion of the rearward image of the vehicle;

varying reflectivity of an electro-optic layer for incident light to transmit a portion of the incident light and to reflect another portion of the incident light;

displaying on the display at least the portion of the rearward image; and

switching the electro-optic layer between a first posture and a second posture, wherein

when the electro-optic layer is in the first posture, at least the portion of the rearward image is displayed,

when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light varies between at least two values including a first value and a second value based on at least one of a first illuminance or a second illuminance the second value being larger than the first value,

the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is equal to or more than the second value when the electro-optic layer is in the first posture,

the first illuminance indicates brightness around the vehicle and is detected by a first illuminance sensor, and

the second illuminance indicates intensity of light emitted on a front surface of the display device and is detected by a second illuminance sensor.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein

the electro-optic layer includes a transmissive-reflective layer, the first posture is a posture that a driver of the vehicle views rearward of the vehicle by at least the portion of the rearward image displayed on the display, and

the second posture is a posture that the driver views rearward of the vehicle by way of a mirror image that appears on the transmissive-reflective layer.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the electro-optic layer is switched between the first posture and the second posture by changing a posture of a housing including the electro-optic layer.

14 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein

the first illuminance sensor is provided in a body of the vehicle, and

the first illuminance sensor and the display device are coupled via a vehicle network.

15 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein

when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is controlled by varying a value of a voltage applied to the electro-optic layer, and

when the electro-optic layer is in the first posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is not controlled by applying voltage.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is changeable between at least three values.

17 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the electro-optic layer includes an electrochromic layer and a transmissive-reflective layer.

18 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the electro-optic layer is switched between the first posture and the second posture by changing a tilt of the housing by switching a position of a lever attached to the housing.

19 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein when the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, the displaying of at least the portion of the rearward image is omitted.

20 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein

the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is a first reflectivity when the following conditions are satisfied:

the first illuminance is lower than a first threshold value, the second illuminance is equal to or higher than a second threshold value, and the electro-optic layer is in the second posture,

the reflectivity of the electro-optic layer for the incident light is a second reflectivity when the following conditions are satisfied:

the first illuminance is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, the second illuminance is lower than the second threshold value, and the electro-optic layer is in the second posture, and

the second reflectivity is lower than the first reflectivity.