Imaging System for Vehicle

• US 20100265048A1
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Byren, Steven V., Shriner, Richard D., Higgins-Luthman, Michael J., Lu, Yuesheng, Gibson, Joel S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,451,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/005 Reinforcements made of different materials, e.g. hybrid or composite cords
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• 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 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• 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 2300/806 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: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor (12) and a display device (15) for displaying images representative of image data captured by the imaging sensor. The imaging sensor (12) has a rearward field of view when mounted at the vehicle. The imaging system generates a plurality of graphic overlays (130a, 130b, 130c) on the displayed images to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of an object rearward of the vehicle. The graphic overlays comprises a plurality of graphic overlay segments. The graphic overlay segments convey three dimensional information to a person viewing the displayed images and the graphic overlays. The imaging system may adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of at least one of the plurality of graphic overlay segments in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a distance threshold.

Claims

1. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging sensor, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view when mounted at the vehicle;

a display device for displaying images representative of image data captured by said imaging sensor; and

wherein said imaging system generates a plurality of graphic overlays on said displayed images to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of an object rearward of the vehicle, said graphic overlays comprising a plurality of graphic overlay segments, said graphic overlay segments conveying three dimensional information to a person viewing said displayed images and said graphic overlays.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging system adjusts at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of at least one of said plurality of graphic overlay segments in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a distance threshold

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said each of said overlays comprises at least two segments, and wherein said imaging system is operable to adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of a first graphic overlay segment in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a first distance threshold, and wherein said imaging system is operable to adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of a second graphic overlay segment in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a second distance threshold.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said graphic overlays are displayed so as to generally correspond to the distortion in said displayed images.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said graphic overlays are adjusted in response to an object detection system so as to not be displayed at areas of said displayed image that are representative of a detected object.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging system generates an alignment graphic overlay on said displayed images to assist the driver of the vehicle to align the vehicle with a targeted object.

7. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein said alignment graphic overlay comprises a centrally located overlay extending rearward from a centerline of the vehicle.

8. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein said imaging sensor is offset from the centerline of the vehicle, said alignment graphic overlay being displayed as a sideward perspective view of a virtual alignment graphic overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of the alignment graphic overlay.

9. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein said graphic overlay segments comprise a side graphic overlay segment extending upward and inward along each side of the image so as to be indicative of segments extending rearward from the sides of the vehicle, and wherein said alignment graphic overlay is viewed by the driver as having a different virtual height dimension than said side graphic overlay segments to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said graphic overlays.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said graphic overlay segments comprise a graphic overlay segment extending upward and inward along each side of the image so as to be indicative of segments extending rearward from the sides of the vehicle, and wherein said graphic overlay segments are viewed by the driver as having a virtual height dimension to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said graphic overlays.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein said graphic overlay segments are displayed as three dimensional graphic overlay segments having a virtual height and a virtual thickness.

12. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein said imaging system generates an alignment graphic overlay on said displayed images to assist the driver of the vehicle to align the vehicle with a targeted object, and wherein said alignment graphic overlay comprises a centrally located overlay extending rearward from generally a centerline of the vehicle.

13. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein said three dimensional graphic overlay segments comprise first and second segments, said first segment comprising a different color segment than said second segment.

14. The imaging system of claim 13, wherein a color scheme of said first and second segments is selectively adjustable by the driver of the vehicle to configure said graphic overlays for the vision characteristics of the driver of the vehicle.

15. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein said three dimensional graphic overlay segments are displayed such that images of the rearward scene rearward of and toward either side of the vehicle are viewable through said three dimensional graphic overlay segments.

16. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging sensor has a lens for focusing a field of view onto an image plane of said imaging sensor, and wherein said lens comprises a multi-element wide angle lens, and wherein said multi-element wide angle lens comprises at least one plastic aspheric element and wherein an outer element comprises a wide angle glass element, and wherein one of (a) said multi-element wide angle lens comprises a seven element lens, said seven element lens comprising two plastic elements and five glass elements, and (b) said multi-element wide angle lens comprises a five element lens, said five element lens comprising two plastic elements and three glass elements.

17. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging sensor has a lens for focusing a field of view onto an image plane of said imaging sensor, and wherein a material of a lens barrel and a material of a lens holder are selected to have substantially similar thermal expansion characteristics to substantially offset thermal expansion of said lens barrel and said lens holder to generally maintain the focus of said imaging sensor.

18. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging sensor, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view when mounted at the vehicle;

a display device for displaying images representative of image data captured by said imaging sensor;

wherein said imaging system generates a plurality of graphic overlays on said displayed images to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of an object rearward of the vehicle, said graphic overlays comprising a plurality of graphic overlay segments;

wherein said graphic overlay segments comprise a side graphic overlay segment extending upward and inward along each side of the image so as to be indicative of segments extending rearward from the sides of the vehicle and wherein said graphic overlay segments comprise an alignment graphic overlay segment to assist the driver of the vehicle to align the vehicle with a targeted object; and

wherein at least one of said graphic overlay segments is viewed by the driver as having a virtual height dimension to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said graphic overlays, and wherein said at least one of said graphic overlay segments is displayed as a three dimensional graphic overlay segment having a virtual height and a virtual thickness.

19. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said graphic overlay segments comprises at least two segment portions, and wherein said imaging system is operable to adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of a first segment portion in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a first distance threshold, and wherein said imaging system is operable to adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of a second segment portion in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a second distance threshold.

20. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein said alignment graphic overlay comprises a centrally located overlay extending rearward from a centerline of the vehicle.

21. The imaging system of claim 20, wherein said alignment graphic overlay is displayed as a three dimensional graphic overlay segment, and wherein said imaging sensor is offset from the centerline of the vehicle, said alignment graphic overlay being displayed as a sideward perspective view of a virtual alignment graphic overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said alignment graphic overlay.

22. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein said graphic overlays are adjusted in response to an object detection system so as to not be displayed at areas of said displayed image that are representative of a detected object.

23. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein said side graphic overlay segments include laterally extending horizontal linear marks to assist the driver in judging distances rearward of the vehicle.

24. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein at least one of said graphic overlay segments comprises first and second segment portions, said first segment portion comprising a different color segment than said second segment portion.

25. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein said at least one three dimensional graphic overlay segment is displayed such that images of the rearward scene rearward of and toward either side of the vehicle are viewable through said at least one three dimensional graphic overlay segment.

26. The imaging system of claim 25, wherein said imaging system adjusts at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of at least one of said at least one three dimensional graphic overlay segment in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a distance threshold.

27. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein a color scheme of said graphic overlay segments is selectively adjustable by the driver of the vehicle to configure said graphic overlay segments for the vision characteristics of the driver of the vehicle.