US 6,611,202 · Granted 2003-08-26
The Backup Camera Patent That Made Reversing Safer
This patent covers a system that puts a live camera feed on your car's display screen while also showing helpful information overlays at the same time. It lets you see what's behind your car when backing up, plus distance warnings or parking guides, all in one view.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a vehicle display system that simultaneously shows a live external camera image and electronically generated overlays (like distance markers, guidelines, or status information) on a single screen visible to the driver. What's protected is the specific combination of capturing external video, processing it, and layering additional on-screen graphics so both are viewable at the same time without cluttering the view.
Why it matters
This patent tackled a real safety problem: drivers couldn't see obstacles directly behind their vehicles, leading to thousands of accidents annually. By bundling camera feedback with helpful visual cues on one display, it created a practical solution that became standard in modern vehicles. The patent's broad claims on this integrated approach gave its assignee, Donnelly Corporation, a strong position in the automotive display market.
Real-world use
When you reverse your car and a backup camera image appears on your dashboard screen with lines showing your vehicle's path, that combined display is exactly what this patent describes.
Original USPTO abstract
A vision system for a vehicle is provided that comprises a vehicle equipped with an image capture device. The image capture device captures an image external of the vehicle. A display screen viewable by an occupant of the vehicle is also provided and a control electronically generates indicia that are displayed on the screen. The image external the vehicle and the indicia are simultaneously displayed on the screen so as to be simultaneously viewable by the occupant of the vehicle. Preferably, the indicia generated on the screen are related to a function of the vehicle that is not associated with the image external the vehicle displayed on the screen.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,611,202
- Filing date
- 2001-02-05
- Grant date
- 2003-08-26
- Assignee
- Donnelly Corporation
- Inventor(s)
- SCHOFIELD KENNETH, LARSON MARK L, VADAS KEITH J
- CPC class
- H04N7/18
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