3D navigation system for motor vehicles

• US 20060164412A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Rummel, Carlo, Bergmann, Carsten, Stoschek, Arne, Dupont, Cedric
• Granted Patent: US 8,108,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

A 3D navigation system for motor vehicles includes a set-up combining a first motor vehicle and an environment scanner to generate a three-dimensional image of an environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle as well as at least a second motor vehicle and a communications connection between the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle for transmitting the three-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at last a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle to the second motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A 3-dimensional (3D) navigation system for motor vehicles, comprising:

a combination of a first motor vehicle and an environment scanner for generating a three-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle as well as of at least a second motor vehicle; and

a communications connection between the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle for transmitting the three-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at last a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle to the second motor vehicle.

2. A 3D navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the combination combines at least twenty, preferably one hundred motor vehicles each having an environment scanner for generating a 3-dimensional image of the environment around the respective motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the respective motor vehicle.

3. A 3D navigation system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a stationary base station; and

and a communications connection between the first motor vehicle and the stationary base station for transmitting the 3-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle to the stationary base station.

4. A 3D navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the second motor vehicle comprises:

a communications connection between the second motor vehicle and the stationary base station for transmitting the 3-dimensional image of an area around the second motor vehicle to the second motor vehicle.

5. A 3D navigation system according to claim 4, wherein the second motor vehicle comprises:

a database of the 3-dimensional image of the area around the second motor vehicle.

6. A 3D navigation system according to claim 5, wherein the second motor vehicle further comprises:

a navigation module for updating the database after receiving a 3-dimensional images of an area around the motor vehicle or a 3-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle.

7. A 3D navigation system according to claim 6, wherein the second motor vehicle further comprises:

a display device for displaying a 3-dimensional image of the environment around the second motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the second motor vehicle.

8. A method for three-dimensional (3D) navigation, comprising the steps of:

generating a 3-dimensional image of an environment around a first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle; and

transmitting the 3-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle to at least one second motor vehicle.

9. A method for 3D navigation according to claim 8, further comprising:

updating of the database after receiving a 3-dimensional image of an area around the second motor vehicle from a stationary base station or a 3-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle.

10. A method for 3D navigation according to claim 9, further comprising:

the display of a 3-dimensional image of the environment around the second motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the second motor vehicle with the help of a display device mounted in the second motor vehicle.

11. A method for 3-dimensional navigation, comprising the steps of:

generating a 3-dimensional image of an environment around a first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle;

generating a 3-dimensional image of an environment around a second motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the second motor vehicle;

transmitting the 3-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle as well as the 3-dimensional image of the environment around the second motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the second motor vehicle to a stationary base station; and

updating of the database assigned to the stationary base station after receiving a 3-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle, provided that the received image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle differs from the corresponding 3-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle stored in the database in the same way as a 3-dimensional image of the same environment recorded by the second motor vehicle before a certain waiting period.

12. A 3-dimensional (3D) navigation system for motor vehicles, comprising:

a combination of at least twenty motor vehicles each having an environment scanner for generating a 3-dimensional image of the environment around the respective motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the respective motor vehicle;

and a communications connection between every motor vehicle and a stationary base station for transmitting the 3-dimensional image of the environment around the respective motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the respective motor vehicle to the stationary base station.

13. A 3D navigation system according to claim 12, wherein the base station comprises:

a database of a 3-dimensional image of an area; and

a navigation module for updating the database after receiving a 3-dimensional image of the environment around a motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the motor vehicle.

14. A 3D navigation system according to claim 12, wherein the base station comprises:

a database of a 3-dimensional image of an area; and

a navigation module for updating the database after receiving a 3-dimensional image of the environment around a motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the motor vehicle, provided that the received 3-dimensional image of the environment around the motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the motor vehicle differs from the corresponding 3-dimensional image of the environment around the motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the motor vehicle stored in the database in the same way as a 3-dimensional image of the same environment recorded by another motor vehicle before a certain waiting period.