Vehicle image capture corporation

• US 10,356,373 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Christoffersson, Joakim, Christensen, Claus Allan, Olesen, Anna
• Primary Examiner(s): Hasan, Mainul
• Application Number:
  US14/063,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: 348148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A vehicle image capture system may include a vehicle mounted image capture device adapted to capture one or more images external of a vehicle, a navigation system adapted to determine an instantaneous position of the vehicle, and a user interface arranged to allow a user to input a first position. The system is adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the first position, and to capture one or more images if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity.

Claims

1. An image capture system for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an image capture device adapted to be mounted in a vehicle and to capture one or more images external of the vehicle, wherein the image capture system includes an object recognition system;

a navigation system comprising a positioning system; and

a user interface adapted to be mounted in the vehicle to allow a user in the vehicle to input a first position and a direction, wherein the image capture device, the navigation system, and the user interface are adapted to communicate with each other;

wherein the image capture system is adapted to, while the vehicle is driven along a route, compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the first position, and in response to the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position being within a predetermined proximity, the image capture device is adapted to capture one or more images;

wherein the image capture device is adapted to capture one or more images a preselected plural number of times on different dates in response to the instantaneous position of the vehicle being within a predetermined proximity of the first position, resulting in a series of images captured on different dates within the predetermined proximity of the first position;

wherein the image capture device is adapted to capture one or more images only in response to the vehicle approaching the first position from the direction input to the user interface; and

the image capture system further comprising processing means configured to sort chronologically the series of images and present the chronologically sorted series of images along a timeline on a display, and wherein the user interface is further arranged to allow a user to scroll along the timeline to present the series of images as a movie clip; and

wherein the image capture device is adapted to capture several images in a sequence every time the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, and that the object recognition system is adapted to select an image among the several images which selected image is added to the series of images, and wherein the selection of an image among the several images is based on at least one characteristic of the selected image.

2. The image capture system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface of the vehicle image capture system further comprises a display suitable for presenting the series of images.

3. The image capture system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface further is to allow a user to input two or more different positions, and that the image capture system is adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the two or more positions, and if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and any one of the two or more positions are within a predetermined proximity, to capture one or more images.

4. The image capture system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture system is adapted to send data to and/or receive data from one or more electronic presentation devices.

5. A vehicle comprising a vehicle image capture system according to claim 1.

6. An image capture system for use in a vehicle, the system comprising:

an image capture device adapted to be mounted in a vehicle and to capture one or more images external of the vehicle;

an object recognition system;

a user interface adapted to be mounted in the vehicle to allow a user in the vehicle to input a first position and a direction; and

a processor configured to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle determined by a vehicle navigation system with the first position and, in response to the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position being within a predetermined proximity, to communicate with the image capture device to capture one or more images;

wherein the image capture device is adapted to, while the vehicle is driven along a route, capture one or more images a preselected plural number of times on different dates in response to the instantaneous position of the vehicle being within a predetermined proximity of the first position, resulting in a series of images captured on different dates within the predetermined proximity of the first position;

wherein the image capture device is adapted to capture one or more images only in response to the vehicle approaching the first position from the direction input to the user interface;

wherein the processor is configured to sort chronologically the series of images and present the chronologically sorted series of images along a timeline on a display, and the user interface is further arranged to allow a user to scroll along the timeline to present the series of images as a movie clip; and

wherein the image capture device is adapted to capture several images in a sequence every time the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, the object recognition system is adapted to select an image among the several images which selected image is added to the series of images, and the selection of an image among the several images is based on at least one characteristic of the selected image.

7. The image capture system of claim 6 wherein the user interface of the vehicle image capture system further comprises a display suitable for presenting the series of images.

8. The image capture system of claim 6 wherein the user interface is further adapted to allow a user to input two or more different positions, and the processor is adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the two or more positions, and if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and any one of the two or more positions are within a predetermined proximity, to communicate with the image capture device to capture one or more images.

9. The image capture system of claim 6 wherein the processor is configured to send and/or receive data to/from one or more electronic presentation devices.

10. A vehicle comprising a vehicle image capture system according to claim 6.