Object detecting arrangement

• US 10,025,995 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Sorstedt, Joakim Lin, Brannstrom, Mattias Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US15/177,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20160379063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 348148, 348142, 348169, 348135, 340937, 340988, 382103, 382104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/73 using feature-based methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/422 Technical drawings; Geographical maps
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

An object detecting arrangement is configured to detect objects in a field surrounding a vehicle hosting the arrangement. The arrangement comprises an imaging unit configured to capture images of the field. The imaging unit is arranged at the vehicle such that the field is in a direction of at least one of a side of the vehicle, and a rear of the vehicle. The arrangement further comprises a processing unit configured to detect objects in the field. The processing unit is configured to determine an object detecting capability. In addition, the arrangement comprises an illumination unit configured to illuminate the field when the object detecting capability is lower than a first predetermined threshold value. The present disclosure also relates to a lane keeping arrangement, a positioning arrangement and a method of detecting objects.

Claims

1. An object detecting arrangement configured to detect objects in a field surrounding a vehicle hosting the arrangement, the arrangement comprising:

an imaging unit configured to capture images of the field, wherein the imaging unit is arrangeable at the vehicle such that the field is in a direction of at least one of a side of the vehicle and a rear of the vehicle, wherein the direction of the side of the vehicle is essentially perpendicular to an intended direction of travel of the vehicle;

a positioning arrangement configured to determine a geographic position of the vehicle;

a processing unit configured to detect objects in the field by processing images captured by the imaging unit, wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine an object detecting capability representative of a capability of the processing unit to detect objects in the field based on the geographic position of the vehicle; and

an illumination unit configured to illuminate the field when the object detecting capability is lower than a first predetermined threshold value.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the object detecting capability by processing the images captured by the imaging unit and by a comparison of the images captured with images stored in a database comprising identification of a lack of detection of an object with an expected detection of an object.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a distance to an object in the field, and wherein the object detecting capability is based on the distance such that the object detecting capability is lower in case of greater distance to the object than in case of a shorter distance to the object.

4. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the illumination unit comprises ground lights arrangeable to illuminate a ground surface surrounding the vehicle upon entry into, or upon exit from, the vehicle, to improve light conditions at the ground surface.

5. The arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the illumination unit is configured to illuminate the field with a higher luminosity when the object detecting capability is lower than a second predetermined threshold value, than when the object detecting capability is between the first predetermined threshold value and the second predetermined threshold value, wherein the object detecting capability below the second predetermined threshold value is lower than an object detecting capability between the first predetermined threshold value and the second predetermined threshold value.

6. A lane keeping arrangement comprising an object detecting arrangement according to claim 1.

7. A positioning arrangement comprising:

an object detecting arrangement according to claim 1; and

a processing unit and a communication unit configured to receive electronic map data representative of an environment surrounding the vehicle from a database holding the electronic map data, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine a position of the vehicle by comparing a position of an object detected by the object detecting arrangement with a position of the object in the electronic map data.

8. A vehicle comprising an object detecting arrangement according to claim 1.

9. A method of detecting objects in a field surrounding a vehicle using an object detecting arrangement hosted in the vehicle, wherein the arrangement comprises an imaging unit configured to capture images of the field, a positioning arrangement configured to determine a geographic position of the vehicle, a processing unit, and an illumination unit, wherein the imaging unit is arranged at the vehicle such that the field is in a direction of at least one of a side of the vehicle and a rear of the vehicle, and wherein the direction of the side of the vehicle is essentially perpendicular to an intended direction of travel of the vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing images of the field using the imaging unit;

detecting, using the processing unit, objects in the field by processing images captured by the imaging unit;

determining, using the processing unit, an object detecting capability representative of a capability of the processing unit to detect objects in the field based on the geographic position of the vehicle; and

illuminating, using the illumination unit, the field when the object detecting capability is lower than a predetermined threshold value.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein determining the object detecting capability comprises processing the images captured by the imaging unit using the processing unit and by a comparison of the images captured with images stored in a database comprising identification of a lack of detection of an object with an expected detection of an object.

11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising determining a distance to an object in the field, wherein determining the object detecting capability comprises determining the object detecting capability based on the distance such that the object detecting capability is lower in case of a greater distance to the object than in case of a shorter distance to the object.

12. The method according to claim 9 further comprising:

receiving electronic map data representative of an environment surrounding the vehicle from a database holding the electronic map data, using a communication unit of a positioning arrangement that includes the object detecting arrangement; and

determining a position of the vehicle by comparing a position of an object detected by the object detecting arrangement with a position of the object in the electronic map data, using a processing unit of the positioning arrangement.