Vehicle environment imaging systems and methods

• US 10,293,664 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiujie, Wang, Jinsong, Zhang, Wende, Xiao, Xinhua, Yin, Jie, Grimm, Donald K., Bozeman, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Charles J
• Application Number:
  US15/434,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20180229587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 701 49
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00357 Air-conditioning arrangements specially adapted for particular vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0075 the input being solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00821 the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00978 Control systems or circuits characterised by failure of detection or safety means; Diagnostic methods
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 1/12 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/71 responsive to temperature changes, rain, wind or noise
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/73 responsive to movement or presence of persons or objects
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/767 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/44 Sensors therefore E05Y2400/322, E05Y2400/33, E05Y2400/55, E05Y2400/56, E05Y2400/852 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/45 Control modes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/525 Car-jacking prevention
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vehicle includes a vision system configured to output a signal indicative of exterior conditions in a vicinity of the vehicle and a temperature sensor configured to output a signal indicative of an interior temperature of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a plurality of articulable openings arranged to allow fluid flow communication between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to adjust at least one articulable opening toward an open position in response to the interior temperature exceeding a temperature threshold. The controller is also programmed to adjust at least one articulable opening toward a closed position in response to detection via the vision system of a threat condition in the vicinity of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a plurality of detectors each configured to output a respective signal, the plurality of detectors including a vision-based imaging device and a light sensor;

wherein the vision-based imaging device is configured to output the respective signal indicative of exterior conditions in a vicinity of the vehicle;

wherein the light sensor is configured to output the respective signal indicative of a light level in the vicinity of the vehicle;

a plurality of articulable openings arranged to allow fluid flow communication between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle;

and a controller in communication with the plurality of detectors and programmed with a diligence mode engageable on demand by an operator of the vehicle;

wherein the diligence mode is automatically engaged by the controller when the respective signal from the light sensor is below a predefined threshold;

wherein the controller is programmed to, when the diligence mode is engaged;

detect an object in the vicinity of the vehicle via the vision-based imaging device;

determine a threat assessment score for the object based on at least one weighting factor, the at least one weighting factor being increased when the object is in a rear of the vehicle or at an oblique rear angle relative to a field of view of the operator;

determine a proximity of the object from the vehicle;

when the object is determined to be within a first distance threshold from the vehicle, obtain a speed of the object and a trajectory of movement the object, based in part on the vision-based imaging device;

when the object is determined to be within the first distance threshold from the vehicle, employ the speed, the trajectory and the proximity of the object from the vehicle to calculate a time of arrival at the vehicle, via the controller;

and adjust at least one of the plurality of articulable openings toward a closed position in response to the threat assessment score being greater than a threat threshold and based in part on the time of arrival of the object at the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to receive a weather forecast signal and the threat assessment score is based in part on a precipitation condition.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to select a location to adjust at least one of the plurality of articulable openings toward an open position based on a sunload detection.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmed to select at least one of:

a quantity of the plurality of articulable openings to adjust toward an open position and a magnitude of the one open position based on the threat assessment score.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to receive a signal from a user device indicative of a schedule and initiate a cooling mode at a predetermined time prior to a scheduled user arrival at the vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to determine an expected arrival time of a user at the vehicle based on usage patterns, and initiate a cooling mode at a predetermined time prior to the expected arrival time.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to:

send a given geographic location of the vehicle to a remote server, via a wireless communications network;

receive statistical crime data associated with the given geographic location from the remote server, via the wireless communications network; and

increase the at least one weighting factor based at least partially on the statistical crime data.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle includes a user interface display and the controller is programmed to alert the operator in response to the threat assessment score being greater than a threat threshold, via a message on the user interface display.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein:

the controller is programmed to override a cooling demand and fully close the at least one articulable opening prior to the time of arrival of the object at the vehicle.

10. A method of controlling a vehicle having at least one articulable opening, a plurality of detectors each configured to output a respective signal, and a controller in communication with the plurality of detectors, the plurality of detectors including a vision-based imaging device and a light sensor, the method comprising:

configuring the vision-based imaging device to output the respective signal indicative of exterior conditions in a vicinity of the vehicle;

configuring the light sensor to output the respective signal indicative of a light level in the vicinity of the vehicle;

configuring the at least one articulable opening to allow fluid flow communication between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle;

programming the controller with a diligence mode engageable on demand by an operator of the vehicle;

configuring the diligence mode to be automatically engaged by the controller when the respective signal from the light sensor is below a predefined threshold;

detecting an object in the vicinity of the vehicle via the vision-based imaging device;

when the diligence mode is engaged, determining a threat assessment score for the object based on at least one weighting factor, via the controller;

wherein the at least one weighting factor is increased when the object is in a rear of the vehicle or at an oblique rear angle relative to a field of view of the operator;

determining a proximity of the object from the vehicle;

when the object is determined to be within a first distance threshold from the vehicle, obtaining a speed of the object and a trajectory of movement the object, based in part on the vision-based imaging device;

when the object is determined to be within the first distance threshold from the vehicle, employing the speed, the trajectory and the proximity of the object from the vehicle to calculate a time of arrival at the vehicle, via the controller;

and adjusting the at least one articulable opening toward a closed position in response to the threat assessment score being greater than a threat threshold and based in part on the time of arrival of the object at the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of detectors includes a temperature sensor, the method further comprising:

measuring a current passenger cabin temperature, via the temperature sensor;

adjusting the at least one articulable opening toward an open position in response to the passenger cabin temperature exceeding a temperature threshold, at a predetermined time prior to an expected passenger arrival time at the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined time is based on a difference between the current passenger cabin temperature and the temperature threshold.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

selecting a location to adjust the at least one articulable opening toward the open position based on a sunload detection.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the controller is capable of communicating with a wireless communications network, the method further comprising:

sending a given geographic location of the vehicle to a remote server, via the wireless communications network;

receiving statistical crime data associated with the given geographic location from the remote server, via the wireless communications network; and

increasing the at least one weighting factor based at least partially on the statistical crime data, via the controller.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the vehicle includes a user interface display, the method further comprising:

programming the controller to alert the operator in response to the threat assessment score being greater than the threat threshold, via a message on the user interface display.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

programming the controller to override a cooling demand and fully close the at least one articulable opening prior to the time of arrival of the object at the vehicle.