Abstract:
A display system for a vehicle comprises a display mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and at least one camera mounted to the vehicle and facing at least partially in a rear direction. A sensor is connected to the display system for the vehicle. An ECU is controllably connected to the display and the at least one camera. The ECU provides an image from the at least one camera when a predetermined threshold of brake application is sensed or anti-lock brake activity is sensed.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to the Nov. 15, 2011, filing date of, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/559,763, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to automotive vehicles, and more particularly to driver assistance devices for automotive vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Rear view mirror and backup camera systems are used to assist a driver in backing up a vehicle and to view vehicles located behind them. Rear view mirrors are typically secured to the top-center of the windshield area for convenience of the driver. However, the mirror may be partially or fully obstructed by window pillars, passengers, luggage, headrests, or other objects located in the passenger area of the vehicle. Therefore, backup camera systems typically are used to view areas immediately behind the vehicle when the vehicle is in reverse. 
         [0004]    The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A display system for a vehicle comprises a display mounted within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and at least one camera mounted to the vehicle and facing at least partially in a rear direction. A sensor is connected to a brake system for the vehicle. An ECU is controllably connected to the display and the at least one camera. The ECU provides an image from the at least one camera when a predetermined threshold of brake application is sensed or anti-lock brake activity is sensed. 
         [0006]    A method of controlling a display system for a vehicle comprises sensing a brake application with a sensor for the vehicle. Then comparing the brake application to predetermined threshold. A display screen is changed to display an image from at least one camera when the predetermined threshold of brake application is exceed or anti-lock brake activity is sensed. 
         [0007]    Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a vehicle and utilizing a rear view display of the present invention; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of an exemplary vehicle display utilizing the rear view display of  FIG. 1  during braking. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements.  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrate a vehicle  10  and a rear view display system  12  of the present invention. The rear view display system  12  includes a display screen  14  mounted to the vehicle in an easily accessible location for a driver to observe. The display screen  14  may be mounted on an instrument panel of the vehicle  10  and utilized by other systems such as a navigation or audio system. Alternatively, the display screen  14  may also be mounted in the traditional rear-view mirror position. The display screen  14  is connected to at least one camera  16  mounted to the rear of the vehicle  10 . 
         [0012]    The camera  16  and the display screen  14  are connected to an ECU  18  which controls the display screen  14 . The display screen  14  may be set to show the navigation system, or radio system display that is selected by the driver of the vehicle  10 . Additionally, when the vehicle  10  is in reverse the display screen  14  may show the image from one camera  16  or connected system, such as a back-up assist system. However, during heavy braking the ECU  18  may automatically switch the display screen  14  to show an image from the camera  16 . The ECU  18  controls the image on the display screen  14 . By having the display screen  14  show an image of the rear of the vehicle  10  the operator will have minimal eye and/or head movement required to view the rear of the vehicle  10  during heavy braking situations. 
         [0013]    Typically, during a heavy or panic braking situation a competent driver observes the vehicles/objects directly in front of and directly behind them. Drivers with less experience may fixate on the vehicle directly in front, failing to provide the driver directly behind with a sufficient reaction time. By displaying the rear environment of the heavy braking vehicle  10  in an efficient manner, the driver can view both vehicles directly in front of and behind them with minimal change in line of sight. Therefore, with the rear view display system  12  the driver may be able to avoid an impact with one or both vehicles by monitoring distances of between the vehicles. The brake inputs can thereby be adjusted in a manner that will stop the vehicle  10  without impacting the vehicle directly in front, while simultaneously allowing the driver of the vehicle directly behind ample time to respond to the situation. 
         [0014]    The display screen  14  may return to the originally displayed screen after a predetermined period of time or upon completion of the braking event. The camera  16  may also be used by other vehicle  10  systems, such as a vehicle  10  back-up and park assist systems. Additional features such as sensors or cameras for other systems may be connected to the ECU  18  as well to send information that may be displayed or used to display the image on the display screen  14 . 
         [0015]    Specifically, the display system  12  utilizes data from at least one sensor  20  to determine when braking is occurring. The sensor(s)  20  may indicate actuation of the brakes and may also include information regarding the strength of the brake application. The sensor(s)  20  would provide the information used to determine if a heavy braking situation is occurring, e.g. pressure increase in the master cylinder to be compared to a predetermined threshold. The sensor(s)  20  could be a longitudinal deceleration sensor, a wheel speed sensor(s), a master cylinder pressure sensor, a brake pedal angle sensor, or an anti-lock brake sensor. Any or all of these sensors  20  may be connected to the rear display system  12  and used to determine if heavy braking is occurring. Therefore, the strength of brake application is determined by measuring a longitudinal deceleration with a longitudinal deceleration sensor, calculating a longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle  10  using a wheel speed sensor, measuring a pressure differential using a master cylinder pressure sensor for the brake system, measuring a brake pedal travel using a brake pedal angle sensor, and detecting anti-lock brake activity using an anti-lock brake sensor. 
         [0016]    Normally, a backup camera system only displays information when the vehicle  10  is in reverse. The backup camera system could be modified to display the rear view of the vehicle  10  during heavy braking (panic) situations. The ECU  18  may compare the data from the sensor(s)  20  to a predetermined threshold, e.g. braking resulting in an excess of 0.7 g in the longitudinal direction. The ECU  18  may switch the display screen  14  to show the image from the camera  16  any time the predetermined threshold is exceeded or if anti-lock brake activity is sensed. 
         [0017]    Other crash mitigation systems do not display the environment of outside the vehicle  10  forcing the driver to utilize rear and side view mirrors. Therefore, the display system  12  may also be utilized by other crash mitigation systems for the vehicle  10 . Additionally another radar unit may be installed in the rear of the vehicle  10  and a crash mitigation system can autonomously adjust the braking behavior of the vehicle  10  based on the probably of an impact from objects in front of and behind the vehicle  10 . 
         [0018]    While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited, since those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.