Vehicle camera display system

• US 20020017985A1
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Vadas, Keith J., Larson, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,611,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• 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 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 : using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 : using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 : using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 : using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 : using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 : using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 : using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• 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 2300/304 : using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 : merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 : virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 : triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• 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: B60R 2300/802 : for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 : in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 : for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 : for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 : for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 : for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 : for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 : characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 : including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 : the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 : with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 : arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle is provided that comprises a vehicle equipped with an image capture device. The image capture device captures an image external of the vehicle. A display screen viewable by an occupant of the vehicle is also provided and a control electronically generates indicia that are displayed on the screen. The image external the vehicle and the indicia are simultaneously displayed on the screen so as to be simultaneously viewable by the occupant of the vehicle. Preferably, the indicia generated on the screen are related to a function of the vehicle that is not associated with the image external the vehicle displayed on the screen.

Claims

1. A rearview vision system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least two image capture devices positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of said vehicle; and

a display system which displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices and which approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location.

2. The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said single location is forward of the driver with respect to said direction of travel and said rearward-facing view is unobstructed by the vehicle.

3. The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said image capture devices are spatially separated.

4. The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein the displayed image includes a dead space which would be occupied by said vehicle in said view.

5. The rearview vision system in claim 4 wherein said dead space is the size of a footprint of said vehicle in said view.

6. The rearview vision system in claim 4 wherein said dead space includes perspective lines which are aligned with said direction of travel.

7. The rearview vision system of claim 1 wherein said at least two image capture devices comprises at least three image capture devices.

8. The rearview vision system in claim 7 wherein said at least three image capture devices include at least two side image capture devices positioned on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and at least one center image capture device laterally between said side image capture devices.

9. The rearview vision system in claim 7 wherein said at least three image capture devices are at substantially the same height.

10. The rearview vision system in claim 7 wherein said at least three image capture devices are aimed along non-parallel axes.

11. The rearview vision system in claim 8 wherein the displayed image includes an image portion from each of said image capture devices and wherein said image portion from said center image capture device has a vertically central portion and vertically upper and lower portions, wherein said upper and lower portions are laterally wider than the said central portion.

12. The rearview vision system in claim 8 wherein the displayed image includes an image portion from each of said image capture devices and wherein said image portion from said center image capture device is compressed.

13. The rearview vision system in claim 8 wherein the displayed image includes an image portion from each of said image capture devices and wherein each of said image portions has a horizontal field of view that is less than 70 degrees.

14. The rearview vision system in claim 13 wherein said horizontal field of view of said center image portion from said center capture device is less than approximately 12 degrees.

15. The rearview vision system in claim 14 wherein said horizontal field of view of said image portion from said center image capture device is between approximately 3 degrees and approximately 8 degrees.

16. The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system includes multiple contiguous display surfaces, one of said surfaces for each of said images.

17. The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying all of said images.

18. The rearview vision system in claim 1 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.

19. The rearview vision system in claim 8 wherein the displayed image includes an image portion from said center image capture device which has a horizontal width that is narrower than the horizontal width of image portions from said side image capture devices.

20. The rearview vision system in claim 19 wherein said horizontal width of said image portion from said center image capture device is dynamically adjustable.

21. The rearview vision system in claim 20 wherein said horizontal width of said image portion from said center image capture device is adjustable in response to vehicle speed.

22. A rearview vision system for a vehicle, comprising:

at least three image capture devices mounted to the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of said vehicle, at least two of said image capture devices being side image capture devices respectively mounted on opposite lateral sides of said vehicle and at least one of said image capture devices being a center image capture device mounted between said side image capture devices; and

a display system which displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices, the displayed image including an image portion from each of said image capture devices;

wherein the image portion from said center image capture devices is compressed.

23. The rearview vision system in claim 22 wherein said image portion from said center image capture device is vertically compressed.

24. The rearview vision system in claim 23 wherein said image portion from said center image capture device is compressed by deleting particular ones of said lines.

25. The rearview vision system in claim 24 wherein a greater number of lines are removed further away from a vertical center of said image portion from said center image capture device.

26. The rearview vision system in claim 24 including adjusting values of adjacent pixels as a function of pixel values of removed lines.

27. The rearview vision system in claim 22 wherein said image portion from said center image capture device has a vertically central portion and vertically upper and lower portions, wherein said upper and lower portions are laterally wider than said central portion.

28. The rearview vision system in claim 22 including a dead space vertically below said image portion from said center image capture device.

29. The rearview vision system in claim 28 wherein said dead space is the size of a footprint of said vehicle in said view.

30. The rearview vision system in claim 28 wherein said dead space includes perspective lines which are aligned with said direction of travel.

31. The rearview vision system in claim 22 wherein said display system includes multiple contiguous display surfaces, one of said surfaces for each of said image portions.

32. The rearview vision system in claim 22 wherein said display system includes a display surface for displaying all of said image portions.

33. The rearview vision system in claim 22 wherein each of said image capture devices is a CMOS imaging array.

34. The rearview vision system in claim 22 wherein said at least three image capture devices are at substantially the same height on the vehicle.

35. The rearview vision system in claim 22 wherein said at least three image capture devices are aimed along non-parallel axes.

37. The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said graphic overlay includes indicia of the anticipated path of travel of the vehicle.

38. The rearview vision system in claim 37 wherein said graphic overlay is disabled when the vehicle'"'"'s gear actuator is not in reverse gear.

39. The rearview vision system in claim 37 wherein said indicia has a form that responds to the rate of turn of the vehicle.

40. The rearview vision system in claim 39 wherein said indicia form responds to at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s steering system, the vehicle'"'"'s differential system, and a compass.

41. The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said graphic overlay has a form that is a function of at least one of the direction or travel and speed of the vehicle.

42. The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein said graphic overlay is a distance indicia indicating distances behind the vehicle of objects juxtaposed within the grid.

43. The rearview vision system in claim 42 wherein said indicia has a form that responds to the rate of turn of the vehicle.

44. The rearview vision system in claim 43 wherein said indicia form responds to at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s steering system, the vehicle'"'"'s differential system, and a compass.

45. The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein the displayed image approximates a rearward-facing view from a single location.

46. The rearview vision system in claim 45 wherein said single location is forward of the driver with respect to said direction of travel.

47. The rearview vision system in claim 36 wherein the displayed image includes a dead space which would be occupied by said vehicle in said view.

48. The rearview vision system in claim 47 wherein said dead space is the size of a footprint of said vehicle in said view.

49. The rearview vision system in claim 47 wherein said dead space includes perspective lines which are aligned with said direction of travel.

36. A rearview vision system for a vehicle having a gear actuator, comprising:

at least two image capture devices positioned on the vehicle and directed rearwardly with respect to the direction of travel of said vehicle;

a display system which displays an image synthesized from outputs of said image capture devices; and

image enhancement means for enhancing the displayed image including a graphic overlay superimposed on said image.