SINGLE VISION SENSOR OBJECT DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20050137774A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rupp, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,389,171 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/081 using distance control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/085 using several actuators; Coordination of the lane keeping system with other control systems

Abstract

A sensing system (10) for a vehicle (12) includes a single vision sensor (14) that has a position on the vehicle (12). The single vision sensor (14) detects an object (40) and generates an object detection signal. A controller (16) is coupled to the vision sensor (14) and generates a safety system signal in response to the position of the vision sensor (14) and the object detection signal.

Claims

1. A sensing system for a vehicle comprising:

a single vision sensor having a position with coordinates on the vehicle, detecting at least one object, and generating at least one object detection signal; and

a controller coupled to said vision sensor and generating a safety system signal in response to said coordinates and said at least one object detection signal.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said single vision sensor is a single two-dimensioned vision sensor.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said single vision sensor is a vision sensor selected from one of a camera, a charged coupled device, an infrared detector, a sensor having at least one photodiode, and a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller performs an adaptive cruise control task in response to said safety system signal.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller determines position of said single vision sensor relative to a predetermined reference on the vehicle.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller determines position of said single vision sensor relative to a hoodline of the vehicle.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller determines size and up-angle of said at least one object and in response thereto determines range of said at least one object.

8. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a memory coupled to said controller and storing a predetermined position of said signal vision sensor.

9. A method of performing safety system operations within a vehicle comprising:

determining coordinates of only a single vision sensor on the vehicle;

detecting at least one object with said single vision sensor and generating at least one object detection signal; and

generating a safety system signal in response to said determined coordinates and said at least one object detection signal.

10. A method as in claim 9 wherein determining position of a single vision sensor comprises:

determining distance between the single vision sensor and a reference on the vehicle; and

determining relative vertical positioning of said single vision sensor relative to said reference.

11. A method as in claim 9 further comprising:

initially as an assumed default, determining said at least one object to be at a same elevation as the vehicle; and

generating said object detection signal in response to said initial determination.

12. A method as in claim 9 further comprising reducing traveling speed of the vehicle when height and width of said object appear to increase in size.

13. A method as in claim 9 further comprising determining said at least one object to be at a different elevation than the vehicle when said at least one object appears to maintain a same height and width, but change in vertical position.

14. A method as in claim 9 further comprising determining object parameters and generating said safety system signal in response to said object parameters.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein determining object parameters comprise determining up-angle of said detected object.

16. A method as in claim 14 wherein determining object parameters comprises determining size and up-angle of said at least one object and in response thereto determining range of said at least one object.

17. A method as in claim 14 wherein determining object parameters comprises determining at least one parameter selected from object range, range rate, height, width, size, and acceleration.

18. A method as in claim 9 wherein generating a safety system signal comprises generating an adaptive cruise control signal.

19. A method as in claim 9 further comprising determining orientation of said single vision sensor and generating said safety system signal in response to said orientation.

20. An adaptive cruise control system for a vehicle comprising:

a single vision sensor having a position with coordinates on the vehicle, detecting at least one object, and generating at least one object detection signal; and

a controller coupled to said vision sensor, determining size and up-angle of said at least one object in response to said coordinates and said at least one object detection signal, and in response thereto determining range of said at least one object,

wherein said controller reduces speed of the vehicle in response to said range.