Vehicle and control method thereof

• US 10,347,130 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Eunhyung, Kim, Jongho, Lee, Doyoung, Kim, Jihwan, Chun, Sinae
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Uhl, Lindsay J
• Application Number:
  US15/594,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20170249842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/50 characterised by the display information being shared, e.g. external display, data transfer to other traffic participants or centralised traffic controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vehicle configured to share a captured image with another vehicle, the vehicle including a first camera configured to capture the image; a first display; a second display; a speed sensor configured to sense a speed of the vehicle; a distance sensor configured to sense a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a first vehicle immediately ahead of the vehicle; a transceiver configured to implement data communication between the vehicle and the first vehicle; and a processor configured to control the first camera, the first display, the distance sensor, the speed sensor and the transceiver. The processor is further configured to determine a state of the vehicle based on the speed of the vehicle and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance, display a first image captured by the first camera on the first display when the vehicle is in a first state, wherein the first state is a state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a first speed and less than a second speed, and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than a first distance and less than a second distance, display a second image captured by a second camera on the first display when the vehicle is in a second state, wherein the second state is a state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the second speed, and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, and display the first image on the first display and the second image on the second display when the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is repeatedly increased and reduced within a predetermined time on the first distance or the second distance. In addition, the second camera is a camera installed in a second vehicle, the second vehicle being any one of one or more vehicles ahead of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured to be installed in a vehicle, the electronic device comprising:

a user interface;

a display configured to display an image according to a user input via the user interface; and

a processor connected with a communication unit and the display;

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a first image that is captured by a first camera installed in a preceding vehicle via the communication unit, from the preceding vehicle,

receive a second image that is captured by a second camera installed in the vehicle from the vehicle,

control the display to display a composite image including at least a portion of the first image and at least a portion of the second image, wherein the composite image further includes an align-image aligning at least one parameter of the first image with at least one parameter of the second image based on a same parameter of each image and a wireframe image of the preceding vehicle extracted from the second image,

control the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on a front field of view image of the vehicle with a guide line, or

control the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on the same parameter of each image in real time with the guide line,

wherein the electronic device further comprises;

a speed sensor unit; and

a distance sensor unit,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

sense a speed of the vehicle using the speed sensor unit,

sense a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a first vehicle immediately ahead of the vehicle using the distance sensor unit, and

determine a state of the vehicle based on the speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance thereof,

wherein the state of the vehicle includes;

a first state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a first speed and less than a second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than a first distance and less than a second distance,

a second state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, or

a third state in which the speed of the vehicle is less than the first speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is less than the first distance, and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

when the vehicle is in the first state, control the display to display the first image,

when the vehicle is in the second state, control the display to display the second image, and

when the vehicle is in the third state, control the display to display the second image with traffic information.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an area image that is securing a front field of view via the communication unit from the preceding vehicle, and

wherein the first image includes the area image.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to receive the area image that is securing the front field of view, via the communication unit from the preceding vehicle, when the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle is shorter than a prescribed distance.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle and the preceding vehicle travel in the same direction, and

wherein when the velocity of the vehicle is less than a prescribed velocity and the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a prescribed distance, the processor is further configured to display the composite image.

5. An electronic device configured to be installed in a vehicle, the electronic device comprising:

a user interface; and

a processor connected with a communication unit,

wherein the processor is configured to;

receive a first image that is captured by a first camera installed in a preceding vehicle via the communication unit from the preceding vehicle,

receive a second image that is captured by a second camera installed in the vehicle from the vehicle,

generate a composite image including at least a portion of the first image and at least a portion of the second image,

wherein the electronic device further comprises a display configured to display a composite image according to a user input via the user interface, wherein the composite image further includes an align-image aligning at least one parameter of the first image with at least one parameter of the second image based on a same parameter of each image and a wireframe image of the preceding vehicle extracted from the second image,

control the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on a front field of view image of the vehicle with a guide line, or

control the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on the same parameter of each image in real time with the guide line,

wherein the electronic device further comprises;

a speed sensor unit; and

a distance sensor unit,

wherein the processor is further configured to;

sense a speed of the vehicle using the speed sensor unit,

sense a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a first vehicle immediately ahead of the vehicle using the distance sensor unit, and

determine a state of the vehicle based on the speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance thereof,

wherein the state of the vehicle includes;

a first state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a first speed and less than a second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than a first distance and less than a second distance,

a second state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, or

a third state in which the speed of the vehicle is less than the first speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is less than the first distance, and

wherein the processor is further configured to;

when the vehicle is in the first state, control the display to display the first image,

when the vehicle is in the second state, control the display to display the second image, and

when the vehicle is in the third state, control the display to display the second image with traffic information.

6. A control method of an electronic device configured to be installed in a vehicle, the control method comprising:

receiving a first image that is captured by a first camera installed in a preceding vehicle via a communication unit, from the preceding vehicle;

receiving a second image that is captured by a second camera installed in the vehicle from the vehicle; and

controlling a display to display a composite image including at least a portion of the first image and at least a portion of the second image, wherein the composite image further includes an align-image aligning at least one parameter of the first image with at least one parameter of the second image based on a same parameter of each image and a wireframe image of the preceding vehicle extracted from the second image;

controlling the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on a front field of view image of the vehicle, or

controlling the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on the same parameter of each image in real time;

sensing a speed of the vehicle using a speed sensor unit;

sensing a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a first vehicle immediately ahead of the vehicle using a distance sensor unit; and

determining a state of the vehicle based on the speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance thereof,

wherein the state of the vehicle includes;

a first state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a first speed and less than a second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than a first distance and less than a second distance,

a second state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, or

a third state in which the speed of the vehicle is less than the first speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is less than the first distance, and

wherein the method further comprises;

when the vehicle is in the first state, controlling the display to display the first image;

when the vehicle is in the second state, controlling the display to display the second image; and

when the vehicle is in the third state, controlling the display to display the second image with traffic information.

7. The control method according to claim 6, further comprising:

receiving an area image that is securing a front field of view via the communication unit from the preceding vehicle, and

wherein the first image includes the area image.

8. The control method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the area image that is securing the front field of view, via the communication unit, from the preceding vehicle when the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle is shorter than a prescribed distance.

9. The control method according to claim 6, further comprising:

controlling the display to display the composite image, when the velocity of the vehicle is less than a prescribed velocity and the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle is less than a prescribed distance,

wherein the vehicle and the preceding vehicle travel in the same direction.

10. A control method of an electronic device configured to be installed in a vehicle, the control method comprising:

receiving a first image that is captured by a first camera installed in a preceding vehicle via a communication unit from a preceding vehicle;

receiving a second image that is captured by a second camera installed in the vehicle from the vehicle;

generating a composite image including at least a portion of the first image and at least a portion of the second image, wherein the composite image further includes an align-image aligning at least one parameter of the first image with at least one parameter of the second image based on a same parameter of each image and a wireframe image of the preceding vehicle extracted from the second image;

controlling a display to display the composite image according to a user input via the user interface;

controlling the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on a front field of view image of the vehicle, or

controlling the display to display the align-image aligning the at least one parameter of the first image with the at least one parameter of the second image based on the same parameter of each image in real time;

sensing a speed of the vehicle using a speed sensor unit;

sensing a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a first vehicle immediately ahead of the vehicle using a distance sensor unit; and

determining a state of the vehicle based on the speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance thereof,

wherein the state of the vehicle includes;

a first state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than a first speed and less than a second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than a first distance and less than a second distance,

a second state in which the speed of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the second speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is equal to or greater than the second distance, or

a third state in which the speed of the vehicle is less than the first speed and the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is less than the first distance, and

wherein the method further comprises;

when the vehicle is in the first state, controlling the display to display the first image;

when the vehicle is in the second state, controlling the display to display the second image; and

when the vehicle is in the third state, controlling the display to display the second image with traffic information.