System and method for providing front-oriented visual information to vehicle driver

Abstract

This invention provides a camera system installed on the front end of a vehicle, either on the left front, the right front, or both sides, that prevents accidents resulting from the driver's propensity to protrude into oncoming traffic to view that traffic. The camera is linked via wired or wireless connection to an onboard computer and a commercially available navigation display that is placed within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The driver reviews a visual description on the display of any oncoming traffic in the form of motor vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, animals and the like on the navigation display via a single screen, split screen or alternating screens. The camera system is furnished with a speed sensor that detects when the vehicle reaches a threshold speed of 3 miles per hour to activate or de-activate the camera. This camera system can be retrofitted into older vehicles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing front-oriented visual information to a vehicle driver comprising:
 at least one camera located at least in one of the group consisting of the left front quarter panel or the right front quarter panel, mounted so that the camera does not protrude from the left or right quarter panel;   a speed sensor for detecting vehicle speed;   a display within the vehicle for providing the driver with at least one of images and video feed of a scene imaged by the camera; and   an onboard computer for processing the detected vehicle speed and for selectively allowing the images and video feed to be displayed on the display based upon whether the vehicle speed is less than a threshold speed.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the display is an onboard navigation screen. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the camera images a field of view of approximately 90 degrees in at least one of horizontal plane and a vertical plane. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set for in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera includes a first camera is mounted on the left front quarter panel and a second camera mounted on the right front quarter panel. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the display of at least one of images and video from the camera and a display of at least one of images and video from the other camera is displayed on a split screen image. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the camera includes a user-controllable zoom lens. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the camera is furnished with a co-mounted proximity sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the proximity sensor in constructed and arranged to detect a near object and causes a visual alert message to be displayed on the display. 
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the proximity alert provides by a sound alert signal. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the threshold speed is approximately 3 miles per hour. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the threshold speed can be adjusted by the driver of the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the system is voice activated. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the threshold speed can be modified by the driver by a spoken command that is received and processed by the computer. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the threshold speed can be set at one of a sequence of speed ranges. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a voice activation process and wherein the threshold speed is variably set by the driver. 
     
     
         16 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the display is a projected display. 
     
     
         17 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a proximity and speed sensor that determines the range of an oncoming object and wherein the computer provides an alert when the object is at least one of (a) within a predetermined distance and (b) approaching at a predetermined speed. 
     
     
         18 . The system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the camera is located in a front headlight pod and includes a wireless link to communicate with at least one of the display and computer. 
     
     
         19 . The system as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the pod includes a solar power assembly that powers the camera and wireless link. 
     
     
         20 . A method for providing visual information to a driver of a vehicle comprising steps of:
 selectively activating at least one camera when the vehicle is operating below a threshold speed, the camera being mounted to one of the group consisting of a left front quarter panel or a right front quarter panel of the vehicle without protruding from the left or right front quarter panel;   receiving and displaying visual information from the camera of at least one of images and video of a scene in a location containing oncoming traffic.   
     
     
         21 . A system for providing visual information to a driver of a vehicle, comprising:
 at least one camera located at least in one of the group consisting of the left front quarter panel or the right front quarter panel, mounted so that the camera does not protrude from the left or right quarter panel;   a display within the vehicle that provides the driver with at least one of images or video feed of a scene imaged by the camera; and   an onboard computer that causes the images or video feed to be displayed on the display.