Abstract:
A method and apparatus for coupling a vehicle view monitoring system between a vehicle and a cell phone are disclosed. Coupling a camera to a vehicle, connecting a controller to the camera, and connecting a cellular phone to the controller, the controller activates the camera to facilitate displaying one of a front portion and a rear portion of the vehicle on a display panel of the cellular phone are also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to a camera and more specifically to connecting the camera that is present in a vehicle to a cellular phone via a control unit. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Consumers who use vehicles employ a reverse parking camera and assist system to determine a rear view of the vehicle. The reverse parking camera and assist system determines if the rear view of the vehicle is clear, or if there are obstructions present in the line of sight of the vehicle. This information is relayed to a driver of the vehicle. However, due to a high expense associated with purchasing and maintaining the reverse parking camera and assist system, a low cost alternative is required. The need has existed for many years, yet there is no fully satisfactory system to meet the need. In accordance with a long recognized need, there has been developed a camera that is connected to a cellular phone via a control unit. A software application in the cellular phone displays the rear view of the vehicle to enable effective navigation by the driver. The camera itself is compact and easily interchangeable with cellular phones of various types. It is a versatile device in that it can be used to display the rear view of the vehicle on a display panel of the cellular phone as the need dictates. Importantly, the camera in the vehicle connected to the cellular phone is efficient in operation. 
         [0003]    CN Patent Number 202753909 U describes a vehicle mounted monitoring system, and particularly to a vehicle mounted rear view mirror monitoring system. The vehicle mounted rear view mirror monitoring system comprises a backstage server, a cell phone, a vehicle mounted intelligent terminal, a front camera, a rear camera and a microphone device. The vehicle mounted intelligent terminal, the front camera, the rear camera and the microphone device are arranged in a rear view mirror shell body. According to the vehicle mounted rear view mirror monitoring system, the backstage server transmits relative protocols to the vehicle mounted intelligent terminal through the internet and achieves functions of photographing, video recording, monitoring and remote monitoring through the cameras and microphones arranged in a rear view mirror. In addition, a user can monitor conversations of people in a vehicle by calling an anti-theft number through the cell phone by sending a short message. A global position system (GPS) is connected with the vehicle-mounted rear view mirror monitoring system. A vehicle owner transmits an instruction of position query to the vehicle mounted intelligent terminal by sending a short message. Position information can be transmitted back to the cell phone of the user. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect, a vehicle view monitoring system  10  is described. The vehicle view monitoring system  10  comprises a camera  12  coupled to a vehicle. A control unit  14  is connected to the camera  12 . A cellular phone  16  is connected to the control unit  14 , wherein the control unit  14  activates the camera  12  to facilitate displaying one of a front portion and a rear portion of the vehicle on a display panel of the cellular phone  16 . 
         [0005]    In another aspect of the invention, a control unit  14  for a vehicle view monitoring system  10  is described. The control unit  14  is adapted to receive a first electronic signal from a camera  12  that is coupled to a vehicle. The control unit  14  transmits a second electronic signal to a cellular phone  16 , wherein the second electronic signal is indicative of a view of one of a front portion and a rear portion of the vehicle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a control unit in electrical communication with a cellular phone and a camera. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a vehicle view monitoring system  10 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, a control unit  14  is in electronic communication with a camera  12  and is configured to transmit an electronic signal to a cellular phone  16 . 
         [0008]    The camera  12  is any type of camera that enables functioning of the control unit  14  therein. The camera  12  is one of a digital video camera/digital photo frame camera to capture video recordings/photographic images. The camera  12  is coupled to one of a front portion and a rear portion of a vehicle. More specifically, the camera  12  captures a video recording/photographic image of a view of one of the front portion and the rear portion of the vehicle. 
         [0009]    An electronic signal containing the video recording/photographic image is transmitted from the camera  12  to the control unit  14 . The electronic signal transmitted from the camera  12  to the control unit  14  is a first electronic signal. In an embodiment, the camera  12  may be connected to the control unit  14  via wiring means. Alternatively, the camera  12  may be connected to the control unit  14  via a USB/Bluetooth/infrared transmission means or any other wireless transmission means known in the art. The control unit  14  may process the signal received from the camera  12  and transmit a corresponding electronic signal that may be capable of being received and displayed on a display panel of a cellular phone  16 . The electronic signal transmitted from the control unit  14  to the cellular phone  16  is a second electronic signal. The second electronic signal may have the same characteristics of the first electronic signal. The cellular phone  16  may be connected to the control unit  14  via a network. In an embodiment, the network may be a wired/wireless network. Alternatively, the electronic signal received from the control unit  14  by the cellular phone  16  may be processed within the cellular phone  16  itself. The video recording/photographic image is displayed on the display panel of the cellular phone  16  to intimate the user of the video recording/photographic image that is captured by the camera  12 . In an embodiment, the cellular phone  16  may access the video recording/photographic image from the control unit  14  via an application that is stored in the cellular phone  16 . 
         [0010]    A gear sensor  18  is connected to the control unit  14 . Specifically, the gear sensor  18  transmits an electronic signal to the control unit  14  when a gear of the vehicle has been engaged in reverse gear. Alternatively, the gear sensor  18  transmits an electronic signal to the control unit  14  when the gear of the vehicle has been engaged in forward gear. When the gear of the vehicle has been engaged in forward gear, the control unit  14  activates the camera  12  to capture a video recording/photographic image of the view in a forward portion of the vehicle. When the gear of the vehicle has been engaged in reverse gear, the control unit  14  activates the camera  12  to capture a video recording/photographic image of the view in a rear portion of the vehicle. An electronic signal from the camera  12  containing the video recording/photographic image of the view in the forward portion of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle is transmitted to the control unit  14  when the gear of the vehicle has been engaged in one of the forward gear and reverse gear respectively. 
         [0011]    In an alternate embodiment, the control unit  14  includes a switch. The switch may be activated by a user to activate the camera  12  to capture the video recording/photographic image of the view in the forward portion of the vehicle. In addition, the switch may be activated by the user to activate the camera  12  to capture the video recording/photographic image of the view in the rear portion of the vehicle. The switch may be located either on the control unit  14  or on a dash board of the vehicle for easy accessibility by the user. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, two independent cameras may be coupled to the front portion of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle to capture the video recording/photographic image of the view in the forward portion of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle respectively. In an alternate embodiment, a single camera may be adapted to be swiveled about a vertical axis to capture the video recording/photographic images of a 360 degree view around the vehicle. The captured video recording/photographic images of the 360 degree view around the vehicle may be displayed on the display panel of the cellular phone  16 . In an embodiment, the camera  12  may be mounted on a front bumper, a rear bumper, and on a top portion of the vehicle. Alternatively, the camera  12  may be mounted anywhere about the vehicle that enables effective functioning of the vehicle view monitoring system  10  thereto. 
         [0013]    An operation of the vehicle view monitoring system  10  is described as an example. When a gear of the vehicle has been engaged in one of the reverse gear and the forward gear, the gear sensor  18  transmits an electronic signal to the control unit  14  indicating that the gear of the vehicle has been engaged in one of the reverse gear and the forward gear respectively. Alternatively, the control unit  14  receives an electronic signal that the vehicle has been engaged in reverse gear or forward gear via a communication bus such as but not limited to CAN, Flexray and the like. Therein the control unit  14  activates the camera  12  to capture one of the video recording/photographic image of the view in one of the forward portion and the rear portion of the vehicle. The video recording/photographic image captured by the camera  12  is therein transmitted to the cellular phone  16  and displayed on the display panel of the cellular phone  16  via the control unit  14 . Therefore, the user can view the video recording/photographic image on the display panel of the cellular phone  16  in a cost effective manner via an application installed on the cellular phone  16 . The application required to view the video recording/photographic image may be downloaded by the cellular phone  16  from the internet. In yet another alternate embodiment, the control unit  14  may receive an electronic signal transmitted from the cellular phone  16  by the user in order to activate the camera  12 . The electronic signal received by the control unit  14  from the cellular phone  16  is a third electronic signal. The activated camera  12  therein transmits an electronic signal containing the video recording/photographic image of the forward portion of the vehicle and the rear portion of the vehicle to the control unit  14 . 
         [0014]    The above described control unit  14  in electrical communication with the cellular phone  16  and the camera  12  is cost effective and highly reliable. The control unit  14  in electrical communication with the cellular phone  16  and the camera  12  facilitates viewing one of the front portion and the rear portion of the vehicle. 
         [0015]    Exemplary embodiments of a vehicle view monitoring system  10  are described above in detail. The systems are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather components of each system may be utilized separately and independently from other components described herein. 
         [0016]    While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.