Method of Producing a Total Image of the Environment Surrounding a Motor Vehicle

• US 20090273674A1
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: RUSS, Artur, DEBON, Renaud, BEMBENEK, Sascha
• Granted Patent: US 8,908,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple 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 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method of producing a total image of the surrounding environment of a motor vehicle uses an image sensor device connected with the motor vehicle, which supplies image data in a first acquisition range of the vehicle environment. At least a first image part of the total image is based on image data of the image sensor device from the first acquisition range. In addition to the image sensor device, a distance sensor device connected with the motor vehicle is used which supplies distance data in a second acquisition range of the vehicle environment, the second acquisition range covering an additional range of the vehicle environment which is not covered by the first acquisition range. At least a second image part of the total image, which is at least partially situated outside the first image part, is based on the distance data of the distance sensor device from the additional range.

Claims

1. A method of producing a total image of a surrounding environment of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

basing at least a first image part of the total image on image data of an image sensor device arranged in the motor vehicle, the first image sensor device supplying image data for a first acquisition range of the vehicle environment; and

basing at least a second image part of the total image, which second image part is at least partially situated outside of the first image part, on distance data of a distance sensor device arranged in the motor vehicle, the distance sensor device supplying distance data in a second acquisition range of the vehicle environment, the second acquisition range covering an additional range of the vehicle environment not covered by the first acquisition range.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of providing a soft visual transition between the first image part and the second image part in the total image of the surrounding environment of the motor vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first acquisition range and the second acquisition range partially overlap, the method further comprising the acts of superimposing a virtual image that visualizes distance information supplied by the distance sensor device in the partially overlapping range of the total image on an image generated based upon the image data of the image sensor device.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the first acquisition range and the second acquisition range partially overlap, the method further comprising the acts of superimposing a virtual image that visualizes distance information supplied by the distance sensor device in the partially overlapping range of the total image on an image generated based upon the image data of the image sensor device.

5. In a motor vehicle having an image sensor device and a parking assistance system, a method for producing a total image of a vehicle environment surrounding the vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

acquiring at least a first image part of the total image based upon image data of the image sensor device that supplies image data in a first acquisition range of the vehicle environment;

acquiring at least a second image part of the total image, which second image part is at least partially situated outside the first image part, based upon distance data of a distance sensor device of the parking assistance program which supplies distance data in a second acquisition range of the vehicle environment not covered by the first acquisition range of the image sensor device; and

producing the total image from the at least first and second image parts.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the distance sensor device supplies distance data using an ultrasound-based parking assistance system.