Camera system for a vehicle and method for controlling a camera system

In combination with a vehicle, a camera system comprising:

• a camera unit mounted on the vehicle for viewing an area outside the vehicle;
• an image processing unit operatively connected to said camera unit for receiving image data from said camera unit;
• a display unit operatively connected to said image processing unit;
• a control unit operatively connected to said display unit, said control unit receiving vehicle operation data including vehicle speed data;
• said display unit displaying a screen image generated from the image data provided by said camera unit, said display unit transitioning between a screen image defined by a first viewing angle and a screen image defined by a second viewing angle, the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle extending substantially in a vertical plane, and the first viewing angle being greater than the second viewing angle;
• said display unit further displaying, concurrently with the screen image generated from the image data, supplemental information based on the vehicle operation data, the supplemental information including vehicle speed information indicative of a vehicle speed of the vehicle and information indicating a transition behavior of said display unit transitioning between a screen image defined by the first viewing angle and a screen image defined by the second viewing angle, wherein said display unit performs a smooth transition between a screen image defined by the first viewing angle and a screen image defined by the second viewing angle with a transition duration between 0.5 seconds and 2 seconds;
• and
• said control unit controlling said display unit as a function of the vehicle speed data such that said display unit transitions from a screen image defined by the first viewing angle to a screen image defined by the second viewing angle when the vehicle speed falls below a threshold value, wherein said control unit controls said display unit as a function of the vehicle speed data such that said display unit transitions from a screen image defined by the second viewing angle to a screen image defined by the first viewing angle when the vehicle speed rises above a threshold value.