Abstract:
A camera or fiber optic lens is raised from an automobile on a retractable support to a height sufficient to view over SUVs to perceive an image of traffic beyond an obstructive SUV and transmit the image to a display that is viewable by the driver.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is drawn to providing an automobile driver with a higher view of the highway traffic in front of the driver. More particularly, it is an apparatus and method for selectively raising a camera element associated with a passenger car to a high position in order to obtain a view of the road conditions beyond a view-obstructing vehicle, such as an SUV. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     In the 1980&#39;s, minivans were “invented” and increased greatly in popularity. In the 1990&#39;s, the fasted growing segment of vehicles were “sport utility vehicles” or SUVs. One reason for the popularity of these vehicles is their higher height, which gives drivers a commanding view of the road. However, this has led to another problem for other drivers. 
     These other drivers have become increasingly frustrated when driving a “normal” car to see what is happening in front of them when a taller vehicle, such as an SUV, minivan, pick-up or panel truck, etc., pulls in front of them on the highway. The taller vehicle blocks the other driver&#39;s vision of the traffic further up the highway. 
     This can cause particular problems for those who believe in “defensive driving.” If a defensive driver leaves a car length between him and the vehicle in front of him for every 10 miles per hour he is traveling, a gap is created that will usually be filled by fast drivers or those in a hurry. 
     If the defensive driver can see through the back and front window of the vehicle which pulled in front of him, then no problem exists. The defensive driver can keep the proper distance between his vehicle and the vehicle in front of him by coasting until the proper space is again made between his vehicle and the one in front of him. 
     When a taller vehicle, like an SUV, minivan, panel or pick-up truck, pulls in front of the defensive driver in an “normal” car, the defensive driver now has no choice but to slow down until he has again reached the proper spacing because he cannot get any advance warning by spotting brake lights of vehicles beyond the taller vehicle. Even when the defensive driver slows down, he is basically “blind” in that he must rely on the proper and timely braking of the taller vehicle for warning of road hazards since he cannot see the roadway beyond the taller vehicle blocking his vision. 
     To date, the most common “solution” to this problem has been to abandon the “normal” car and purchase an SUV to gain a relatively higher view over traffic. This “solution” is unacceptable for many drivers and only causes more problems for those in “normal” cars. 
     A better solution would be to provide a higher view for “normal” cars. A few inventions have provided means for mounting cameras on vehicles, but do not provide the necessary higher view. Other inventions provide means for gaining a higher view from vehicles, but are not applicable for ordinary cars. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,258 discloses a combination spotlight and camera for mounting on the roof of a vehicle. It lacks sufficient mounting height to see over obstructing vehicles and does not provide a display to the driver. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,835 discloses a monitor camera for mounting the front or rear of a vehicle, with an image pickup device being able to be accommodated within a support member for protection. It lacks sufficient mounting height to see over obstructing vehicles and does not explicitly provide a display to the driver. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,880 discloses a camera mounted on a vehicle for vehicle following with dynamic recognition. It lacks sufficient mounting height to see over obstructing vehicles and does not provide a display to the driver. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,148 discloses a road situation perceiving system that can use a video camera and a CRT display for perceiving snow, ice, a person, an animal and other impediments and obstacles existing on a road ahead of a subject vehicle, without relying on a driver&#39;s visual judgment. It lacks disclosure to a sufficient mounting height to see over obstructing vehicles. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,027,200, 5,121,200, 5,289,321, and 5,680,123 disclose systems for monitoring the rear and lateral views of vehicles using video cameras. They lack disclosure of forward viewing and sufficient mounting height to see over obstructing vehicles. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,949,186 and 4,514,068 disclose various surveillance cameras mounted on vehicles. They lack sufficient mounting height to see over obstructing vehicles and do not provide a display to the driver. 
     For use in non-traffic environments, U.S. Pat. No. 4,518,990 discloses mounting three television cameras on a military land vehicle for the driver, gunner and commander, respectively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,005 discloses using upper and lower pivoting support arms to mount a spotter scope or camera on an all-terrain vehicle, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,757 discloses a rapid deployment surveillance vehicle for detecting illegal immigration that uses a camera atop a telescopic mast erection/retraction assembly carried on an off-road vehicle with a leveling system. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problems caused by taller vehicles by providing a higher view of traffic with an apparatus and method for selectively raising a camera element associated with a passenger car to a high position in order to obtain a view of the road conditions beyond a view-obstructing taller vehicle, such as an SUV. 
     The camera element can be a lens associated with a fiber optic wire or a miniaturized imaging device such as a CCD (charge coupled device). Image processing means (including image stabilization) can be located in the car. The means for selectively raising the camera element can be telescopic (i.e., similar to a power antenna) or a hinged support (i.e., a pivoting mast). The viewing means inside the car can be associated with a HUD (heads up display), a navigational system display (i.e., an LCD or CRT in the center console or dashboard), or a flat display located at the top portion of the driver-side windshield. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide drivers with a view of traffic beyond obstructive, oversized vehicles, such as SUVs. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an electronic viewing means at a height sufficient to view over obstructive, oversized vehicles, such as SUVs, via a retractable support. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a driver with a display of images perceived by an electronic viewing means at a height sufficient to view over obstructive, oversized vehicles, such as SUVs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention having a camera mounted on a pivoting support. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment the present invention having a fiber optic lens mounted on a pivoting support. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment the present invention having a camera mounted on a telescoping support. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment the present invention having a fiber optic lens mounted on a telescoping support. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a some driver displays included in the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment the present invention having a fiber optic lens mounted on a telescoping support. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system and method for providing a high-mounted view of traffic to a driver. An electronic viewing means is raised from a collapsed condition to an erected condition at a sufficiently high, forward-facing position above a moving automotive passenger vehicle so as to view over an oversized vehicle. The viewing means is primarily directed to perceive traffic in front of said vehicle. An image is displayed to the driver by electronically processing at least one image of the traffic in front of the vehicle as viewed from said high mounted position. 
     The electronic viewing means is raised either telescopically or pivotally and can be a miniaturized electronic camera or a fiber optic lens associated with an electronic camera. The image is provided to the driver by a suitable display, such as a CRT or LCD mounted near the driver on the dashboard, console, ceiling or A-pillar, as well as by a HUD projected on the windshield or a printer mounted on the console or dashboard. A single image or a series of images can be displayed. If a series of images is displayed, such as by video, the images are preferably processed electronically to stabilize the viewed images. 
     As used herein, the term “camera” refers to any electronic imaging means capable of capturing an image representative of a perceivable condition, including, but not limited to, color, black &amp; white and infrared electronic video and still cameras incorporating CCDs (charge-coupled devices), CMOS or CIDs (charge-injected devices). The terms “electronic viewing means” and “camera element” refer to a camera or optics associated with a camera. 
     In a first embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, a miniaturized camera  10  is mounted on an end  12  opposite from a pivot  13  of a pivoting support  11  that is movable between a collapsed position  14 , such as adjacent a roof line of the vehicle  15 , to an erected position  16 . In an erected position  16 , the camera  10  is at a sufficient vertical height  17  to view over a vehicle  18  obstructing the driver&#39;s view of traffic. 
     In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, a fiber optic lens  20  associated with a camera  29  is mounted on an end  22  opposite from a pivot  23  of a pivoting support  21  that is movable between a collapsed position  24 , such as adjacent a roof line of the vehicle  25 , to an erected position  26 . In an erected position  26 , the fiber optic lens  20  is at a sufficient vertical height  27  to view over a vehicle  28  obstructing the driver&#39;s view of traffic. 
     For these pivoting support embodiments, it is also possible to provide for pivot  13 ,  23  to rotate perpendicularly sideways at an acute angle, as illustrated at  19 , so as to view around traffic from the side. 
     In a third embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, a miniaturized camera  30  is mounted on the movable end  32  of a telescoping support  31  that is movable between a collapsed position, such as adjacent a wheel well  34  of the vehicle  35 , to an erected position  36 . In an erected position  36 , the camera  30  is at a sufficient vertical height  37  to view over a vehicle  38  obstructing the driver&#39;s view of traffic. 
     In yet another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, a fiber optic lens  40  associated with a camera  49  is mounted on the movable end  42  of a telescoping support  41  that is movable between a collapsed position, such as adjacent a wheel well  44  of the vehicle  45 , to an erected position  46 . In an erected position  46 , the fiber optic lens  40  is at a sufficient vertical height  47  to view over a vehicle  48  obstructing the driver&#39;s view of traffic. 
     For these telescoping embodiments, it is also possible to provide means for telescoping support  31 ,  41  to be selectively rotated about its vertical axis, so as to provide views in directions other than a forward-facing direction. This modification would be useful for when the system is employed for security or surveillance purposes. 
     In any of these embodiments, the image perceived by the camera may be sent to a display means by wired or wireless means. Within the vehicle, image processing/stablization means and cameras associated with a fiber optic lens can be located in any suitable location, including, but not limited to, a trunk, wheel well, ceiling, roof pillar, door pillar, door, firewall, engine compartment, rear deck, glove compartment, dashboard or under-seat location. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 5, the display means will typically be located conveniently for the driver to view, such as by a ceiling/windshield-mounted LCD  52 , windshield-displayed HUD  54 , or console/dash-mounted navigation system CRT/LCD  56 , although other displays and locations are also possible, including, but not limited to, a console-mounted thermal or inkjet printer display and an A-pillar, steering wheel or instrument panel display location. A driver wearable display, such as could be incorporated into a pair of eye glasses, could also be employed. 
     At present, there is no single preferred embodiment of the invention, since different embodiments are suited to different applications of the invention. For example, the pivoting support is generally better suited for: (i) use in OEM applications wherein the elements can be cosmetically hidden; (ii) use in supporting heavier miniaturized cameras; and (iii) use in applications wherein the vehicle has a roof line of sufficient length to incorporate the pivoting support in a collapsed condition. The telescoping support is better suited for: (i) use in retrofit applications wherein the support replaces an existing power antenna; (ii) use in supporting lighter fiber optic lens assemblies; and (iii) use in applications wherein no suitable length of roof line is available for a pivoting support. Likewise, HUD and dashboard mounted CRT displays are generally easier to incorporate into OEM applications whereas ceiling and console mounted LCDs are easier to incorporate as a retrofit. However, even these generalities have exceptions, since it is also possible to retrofit the present invention to use OEM HUD or navigation system displays. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG.  6 . In this system, a video camera  610  having a CCD imaging means is mounted within a vehicle  620 . Suitable locations include spaces within a trunk or a wheel well  622 . A retractable mast  630 , such as or similar to a standard telescoping power antenna is also mounted on the vehicle  620 , preferably near the camera  610 . The mast  630  can be connected  631  to the automobile radio and used, at a first height  632 , as a radio antenna, and at a second height  634 , for traffic perception. A fiber optic lens employing optical fiber  648 , such as typically used in fiberscopes and borescopes, is preferably mounted on a reel  650 , with a camera adapter lens  614  at one end mounted to the video camera  610  and the objective lens  642  and side-viewing tip adapter  644  attached to a tip portion  646  of the mast  630 . As the mast  630  is extended, the optical fiber  648  unwinds from the reel  650  and are rewound when the mast  630  is retracted. 
     Since the tip portion  646  of the mast will tend to oscillate in use on a highway, electronic image stabilization  660  can be incorporated into or downstream from camera  610 . The stabilized image  670  is then displayed on the display means  680  for the driver to view. 
     The erection and retraction of the support/mast in the present invention is accomplished by any suitable means and is preferably actuated by a switch provided near the driver. 
     An apparatus and method for providing high mounted view of traffic has now been shown. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variations in the present invention will be possible without departing from the scope of the invention as disclosed. Accordingly, the present invention should be determined only from the claims presented herewith.