Method for monitoring the interior and/or exterior of a vehicle, and a vehicle having at least one survaillance camera

• US 20040032493A1
• Filed: 06/16/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Wuerz-Wessel, Alexander, Gehrig, Stefan, Menjon, Valery, Stein, Fridtjof, Franke, Uwe
• Application Number:
  US10/462,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/306 using a re-scaling of images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8013 for child monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8073 for vehicle security, e.g. parked vehicle surveillance, burglar detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A method for monitoring a space of a vehicle. The method includes sensing the space using a first sensor including at least one surveillance camera so as to produce an image data, performing an evaluation of the image data, selecting at least one area of the space using the evaluation of the image data, sensing the at least one area using a second alignable sensor having a restricted spatial sensing range so as to produce a second data, and evaluating the second data. In addition, a vehicle that includes a first sensor having at least one surveillance camera disposed in an interior of the vehicle, the first sensor having a field of view at least partially covering at least one of the interior and an exterior of the vehicle, and a second alignable sensor having a restricted spatial sensing range, an alignment of the second sensor being controllable using the first sensor.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a space of a vehicle comprising:

sensing the space using a first sensor including at least one surveillance camera so as to produce an image data;

performing an evaluation of the image data;

selecting at least one area of the space using the evaluation of the image data;

sensing the at least one area using a second alignable sensor having a restricted spatial sensing range so as to produce a second data; and

evaluating the second data.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the space of the vehicle includes at least one of an interior of the vehicle and an exterior of the vehicle.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising aligning the second sensor.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the aligning of the second sensor is performed using a control unit based on the evaluation of the image data.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the aligning is performed electronically.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the aligning is performed using a motor.

7. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein the evaluation of the image data is performed automatically using the control unit.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the evaluation of the image data includes analyzing at least one of a movement, a contour and a color.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the evaluating of the second data includes analyzing at least one of a distance and a relative speed of an object in the at least one area.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the image data has curvilinear coordinates and further comprising transforming the image data so as to have cylindrical or plane coordinates before the evaluation of the image data is performed.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a first sensor including at least one surveillance camera disposed in an interior of the vehicle, the first sensor having a field of view covering at least one of a portion of the interior and a portion of an exterior of the vehicle; and

a second alignable sensor having a restricted spatial sensing range, an alignment of the second sensor being controllable using the first sensor.

13. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein the first sensor is disposed in a region of the inside mirror.

14. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein the first sensor includes two surveillance cameras jointly forming a stereo image camera.

15. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein the second sensor includes at least one of a digital camera, an infrared camera, a laser point sensor and a radar sensor.

16. The vehicle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second sensor includes a zoom function controllable as a function of a distance.

17. The vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein the second sensor is capable of stereoscopic sensing.

18. The vehicle as recited in claim 11, wherein the second sensor is at least partially disposed in a region of a dashboard of the vehicles.

19. The vehicle as recited in claim 11 wherein the second sensor is at least partially disposed at a one of a bumper, a headlamp and a roof edge of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle as recited in claim 111 wherein the first sensor produces image data and further comprising:

an electric or motor drive;

a control unit; and

a selection stage for performing an automated evaluation of the image data, wherein the drive and the control unit are configured to align the second sensor using the automated evaluation.