Patent Description:
The invention can be applied in heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses and construction equipment. Although the invention will be described with respect to a truck, the invention is not restricted to this particular vehicle, but may also be used in other vehicles such as buses, construction equipment and passenger cars. The invention may also be used on other transportation means such as ships, boats and aeroplanes.

An autonomous or a semi-autonomous vehicle is a vehicle capable of sensing its environment and navigating without the use of human input. Such vehicles are often capable of transitioning from an autonomous driving mode, where the vehicle has an autonomous driving functionality, and a manual driving mode, where the vehicle has a manual driving functionality in which a driver manually operates the vehicle. It is envisioned that autonomous driving only will be allowed on roads or in zones that are preapproved or certified. When driving the vehicle to such a certified road for autonomous driving, the driver will have to control the vehicle and when entering the certified road the vehicle can enter the autonomous driving mode. In the autonomous driving mode, the driver of the vehicle may engage in activities that are not related to the driving of the vehicle, such as for example resting, working or using multimedia applications. Therefore, the position of the driver seat in an autonomous vehicle may be adjusted both along a longitudinal and/or a lateral direction defined by the vehicle, and along and/or around a vertical axis.

The autonomous vehicles are typically equipped with camera monitoring systems (CMS) where video cameras replace mirrors. The images captured by said video cameras are often displayed on at least two display units mounted within the vehicle at both sides of the driver seat. These display units must be specifically positioned and orientated for giving the driver the same field of vision in any positions of the driver seat. In particular, in Europe, the use of such display units in a motor vehicle is conditioned to the respect of specific requirements defined in the Regulation UN ECE n°<NUM>.

Display systems that automatically adjust the position of a display within a vehicle are already known in the state of the art, in particular from the documents <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The document <CIT> discloses a display system configured to display image to occupant of a vehicle through a plurality of display panels. The location where the image is displayed may vary depending on the driver seat position within the vehicle. In particular, when the driver seat is a normal driving position, the image is displayed on the dashboard, whereas when the driver seat is in a rest position, the image is displayed on the headliner. This system thus constrains the driver to move his head if he wishes to see both display panels at the same time. Thus, this system does not give the driver the same field of vision in any positions of the driver seat.

The document <CIT> discloses a display system configured to display information or image to an occupant sitting in a seat of a vehicle through a unique display. The position and/or the orientation of the display may vary depending on the current occupant position in the seat. However, this system is specifically configured to adjust the position of a display connected to the roof of the vehicle, over the head of an occupant sitting in a rear seat. It is thus not configured to adjust the position of two displays disposed at both sides of the driver seat so as to permit the occupant of the driver seat to see both displays in any positions of the driver seat. <CIT> shows a vehicle with a display apparatus, having a control unit which adjusts the position of the display of front passenger seat side.

There is thus a need in autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles to provide an improved display system suitable for adjusting the orientation of at least two display units disposed at both sides of the driver seat in a vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle, in which the previously mentioned problems are avoided.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle according to the independent claim <NUM>. The dependent claims <NUM> to <NUM> contain further developments of the vehicle. The display system of the vehicle comprises:.

Thus configured, the system of the present invention permits to adjust the orientation of the display units so that the occupant seated in the driver seat can see both display units at the same viewing angle in any positions of the driver seat. This automatic adjustment is performed very shortly after the real time monitoring of the driver seat position so that it is almost simultaneous to the movement of the driver seat.

According to another aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method according to independent claim <NUM>. The dependent claims <NUM> and <NUM> contain further developments.

In the drawings:
<FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are schematic top views of the cab of a vehicle equipped with a display system according to the invention, respectively in first, second and third driver seat positions.

<FIG> shows a vehicle <NUM>, more specifically a truck. Although the invention will be described with respect to a truck, the invention is not restricted to this particular vehicle, but may be used in other vehicles.

The vehicle <NUM> comprises a cab <NUM> and three video cameras, respectively a left camera <NUM>, a central camera <NUM> and a right camera <NUM>, for example embedded in a sun visor mounted outside of the cab <NUM>. The left, central and right cameras <NUM>-<NUM> are respectively positioned at the left, central and right part of the sun visor. These cameras are correctly positioned to capture images in surrounding areas, behind the cab <NUM> for the left and right cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and in front of the cab <NUM> for the central camera <NUM>. The images captured by the cameras <NUM>-<NUM> are transmitted in the form of electronic signals to a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to convert said electronic signals in image data that can be displayed on corresponding display units, respectively a left display unit <NUM>, a central display unit <NUM> and a right display unit <NUM>, that are mounted within the cab <NUM> to be positioned at the left side of a driver seat <NUM> for the left display unit <NUM> and at the right side of the driver seat <NUM> for the central and right display units <NUM>, <NUM>. Each display unit <NUM>-<NUM> is pivotally connected to the cab <NUM> via a pivot point such that its orientation relative to the driver seat <NUM> is adjustable. This orientation may be defined, for instance, by the angle between an axis connecting each display unit <NUM>-<NUM> to the center of gravity of the driver seat <NUM> and a longitudinal direction D defined by the vehicle <NUM>. This angle may also vary when the driver seat <NUM> is moving in the cab <NUM>. In particular, the driver seat <NUM> may be slidably movable along rails <NUM> so that its position along the longitudinal direction D is adjustable. The distance between the driver seat <NUM> and the steering wheel <NUM> may thus be shortened or increased. Furthermore, the driver seat <NUM> may pivot around a vertical axis so that its angular position relative to the longitudinal direction D is adjustable. These adjustments are not limitative for the invention. Further adjustments of the position and/orientation of the driver seat <NUM> within the vehicle <NUM> may be possible. In particular, in further embodiments (not shown) of the vehicle <NUM>, the driver seat <NUM> may be movable along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D or along a vertical direction.

The controller <NUM> and the display units <NUM>-<NUM> form the main components of the display system <NUM> according to the invention.

The display system <NUM> further comprises a seat position sensor device <NUM> that is adapted to sense in real time the current position of the driver seat <NUM> and to output corresponding seat position data to the controller <NUM>. In particular, the seat position sensor device <NUM> is adapted to determine, for instance, one or a plurality of the following features:.

The seat position sensor device <NUM> may be chosen among a video camera, pressure sensors, electromagnetic sensors and ultrasonic sensors.

The display system <NUM> further comprises a display orientating device <NUM> that is adapted to control the orientation of each display unit <NUM>-<NUM> in the cab <NUM>. The display orientating device <NUM> is coupled to the controller <NUM> and is controlled by said controller <NUM> based on the seat position data provided by the seat position sensor device <NUM>. The display orientating device <NUM> may thus adjust the orientations of each display unit <NUM>-<NUM> relative to the driver seat <NUM> to permit to an occupant sitting in the driver seat <NUM> to see the three display units <NUM>-<NUM> at the same viewing angle in any positions of the driver seat <NUM>. In particular, these display units <NUM>-<NUM> may preferably be oriented so as to provide to said occupant a field of vision that is in accordance with the Regulation UN ECE n°<NUM>.

The method for adjusting the orientation of each display unit <NUM>-<NUM> is detailed in the following paragraphs, in reference to the <FIG>.

In reference in <FIG>, it is illustrated the orientation of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> of the display system <NUM> when the driver seat <NUM> is in its normal position of use. In this normal position of use, the driver seat <NUM> is parallel to the longitudinal direction D and is distant from the steering wheel <NUM> to permit to an occupant seated in the driver seat <NUM> to hold the steering wheel <NUM> in his hands with his arms slightly bent.

In a first step, the current position of the driver seat <NUM> is sensed by the seat position sensor device <NUM>. The seat position sensor device <NUM> may thus determine seat position data corresponding to said current position of the driver seat <NUM>.

In a second step, the determined seat position data are transmitted to the controller <NUM> that is coupled to the seat position sensor device <NUM>.

In a third step, the controller <NUM> determines the orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> based on said determined seat position data. The determined orientations may result from a complex calculation in which the relative positions and orientations between the display units <NUM>-<NUM> and the driver seat <NUM> are the main parameters. This complex calculation is specifically adapted to find the best orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> that permit to an occupant seated in the driver seat <NUM> to see each display unit <NUM>-<NUM> at the same viewing angle in any positions of the driver seat <NUM>. This third step is performed automatically by the controller <NUM>. In the embodiment shown, the determined orientations may for example be expressed by the respective angles α1, α2 and α3 between an axis connecting the left, central and right display units <NUM>-<NUM> to the center of gravity of the driver seat <NUM> and the longitudinal direction D.

In a fourth step, the controller <NUM> controls the display orientating device <NUM> so that it adjusts the orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> to the determined orientations.

In reference to <FIG>, it is illustrated the orientation of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> of the display system <NUM> when the driver seat <NUM> has been pivotally moved about a vertical axis from the normal position of use of <FIG>. In this second position of use, the driver seat <NUM> is obliquely oriented relative to the longitudinal direction D.

After performing the four steps previously mentioned, the display system <NUM> determines the new orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM>, expressed by the angles α1', α2' and α3' in <FIG>, and the orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> are adjusted by the display system <NUM> to said new orientations.

In reference to <FIG>, it is illustrated the orientation of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> of the display system <NUM> when the driver seat <NUM> has been moved along the rails <NUM> from the normal position of use of <FIG> to be closer to the steering wheel <NUM>.

After performing the four steps previously mentioned, the display system <NUM> determines the new orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM>, expressed by the angles α1", α2" and α3" in <FIG>, and the orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> are adjusted by the display system <NUM> to said new orientations.

The display system <NUM> may further comprise a memory storing reference data relative to the specific positions of use illustrated in <FIG>, or relative to a plurality of further reference positions of the driver seat <NUM>. Thus, during the third step previously mentioned, the controller <NUM> is adapted to compare the seat position data received from the seat position sensor device <NUM> with said reference data and to determine if the current position of the driver seat <NUM> corresponds to a specific reference position stored in the memory. Therefore, when the current position of the driver seat <NUM> corresponds to a specific reference position stored in the memory, the complex calculation for the determination of the best orientations of the display units <NUM>-<NUM> may advantageously be avoided, these best orientations being already stored in the memory for each reference position of the driver seat <NUM>. This results in a reduced execution time of the fourth step and, accordingly, of the method of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A vehicle (<NUM>) comprising :
- video cameras (<NUM>-<NUM>) arranged outside the vehicle (<NUM>) and adapted to capture images around the vehicle (<NUM>);
- a driver seat (<NUM>) mounted within the vehicle (<NUM>), the position of said driver seat (<NUM>) within the vehicle (<NUM>) being variable; and
- a display system (<NUM>), the display system (<NUM>) comprising:
- at least two display units (<NUM>-<NUM>) mounted within a vehicle (<NUM>) so as to be positioned at both sides of a driver seat (<NUM>), said display units (<NUM>-<NUM>) being adapted to display the images captured by the video cameras (<NUM>-<NUM>), wherein the orientation of each display unit (<NUM>-<NUM>) relative to the driver seat (<NUM>) is adjustable;
- a display orientating device (<NUM>) adapted to control the orientation of each display unit (<NUM>-<NUM>) within the vehicle (<NUM>);
- a seat position sensor device (<NUM>) adapted to sense in real time the position of the driver seat (<NUM>) within the vehicle (<NUM>) and to output corresponding seat position data; and
- a controller (<NUM>) coupled to the display orientating device (<NUM>) and to the seat position sensor device (<NUM>) and adapted to automatically control the display orientating device (<NUM>) based on the seat position data received from the seat position sensor device (<NUM>) such that the orientations of the at least two display units (<NUM>-<NUM>) relative to the driver seat (<NUM>) are adjusted to permit to an occupant seated in the driver seat (<NUM>) to see both display units (<NUM>-<NUM>) at the same viewing angle in any positions of the driver seat (<NUM>).