Display System

Abstract

A system and method for video navigation is disclosed. The system and method may include one or more video cameras configured to capture views external to the vehicle, a control mechanism for adjusting the sight-line of the one or more video cameras, and a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured within the sight-line of the one or more video cameras.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A navigation system for a vehicle, comprising:
 one or more pairs of video cameras, each pair having a first camera with a first sight-line and a second camera with a second sight-line, the second camera being spaced apart from the first camera by a selectively variable separation distance;   a control mechanism for adjusting the first and second sight-lines, the control mechanism being configured to determine a desired convergence point and to adjust the first and second sight lines and the separation distance so that the first and second sight-lines intersect at the desired convergence point; and   a display panel positioned within the vehicle for displaying the views captured by the one or more pairs of video cameras.   
     
     
         32 . A navigation system according to  claim 31  further comprising:
 one or more sensors for determining a direction of a vehicle occupant's gaze. 
 
     
     
         33 . A navigation system according to  claim 32 , wherein the control mechanism adjusts the first and second sight-lines of at least one of the one or more pairs of cameras using the determined direction of the occupant's gaze. 
     
     
         34 . A navigation system according to  claim 32 , wherein the one or more sensors includes at least one of the set consisting of a sensor integrated into a helmet wearable by a vehicle occupant and a sensor integrated into eyeglasses wearable by a vehicle occupant. 
     
     
         35 . A navigation system according to  claim 31 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point using at least one of the set consisting of a direction of a vehicle occupant's gaze and a velocity of the vehicle. 
     
     
         36 . A navigation system according to  claim 31 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to determine the desired convergence point using a direction of a vehicle occupant's gaze and a velocity of the vehicle. 
     
     
         37 . A navigation system according to  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a power supply;   a camera sync module; and   a video display adapter for sending video captured by the one or more cameras to the display panel.   
     
     
         38 . A navigation system according to  claim 37 , wherein the video display adapter is an LCD-sync module or LCD shutter glasses system. 
     
     
         39 . A navigation system according to  claim 31 , wherein he one or more video camera pairs are mounted to an exterior surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
         40 . A navigation system according to  claim 31 , wherein the one or more video cameras and the display panel are integrated into a single armor panel. 
     
     
         41 . A navigation system according to  claim 38 , wherein the armor panel is configured to replace an existing window or windshield. 
     
     
         42 . A method of navigating a vehicle having first and second externally mounted video cameras and an internally mounted display panel, the method comprising:
 determining a desired convergence point for the first and second video cameras;   adjusting at least one of the set consisting of a sightline of the first camera, a sight line of the second camera, and a separation distance between the first and second cameras so that the sightlines of the first and second cameras intersect at the desired convergence point;   capturing video images from the first and second cameras; and   displaying the video images from the first and second cameras on the display panel.   
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 42 , further comprising:
 determining a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the action of determining a desired convergence point is accomplished using the determined gaze direction. 
     
     
         45 . A method according to  claim 42 , further comprising:
 determining a vehicle velocity.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the action of determining a desired convergence point is accomplished using the determined vehicle velocity. 
     
     
         47 . A method according to  claim 42 , wherein the vehicle has third and fourth externally mounted video cameras, the method further comprising:
 determining a desired convergence point for the third and fourth video cameras;   adjusting at least one of the set consisting of a sightline of the third camera, a sight line of the fourth camera, and a separation distance between the third and fourth cameras so that the sightlines of the third and fourth cameras intersect at the desired convergence point;   capturing video images from the third and fourth cameras; and   displaying the video images from the third and fourth cameras on the display panel.