Rear Camera Backup Assistance With Touchscreen Display

• US 20110001614A1
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ghneim, Maher M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/36 for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers , visual guide means, signalling aids B60D1/465 takes precedence; vehicle signalling in general B60Q; optical arrangements specially adapted for viewing trailer-hitches B60R1/003
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/173 Reversing assist
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

Assistance for a backup maneuver of a motor vehicle in which a first point of interest on the vehicle is moved toward a second point of interest remote from the vehicle. A rear contextual view is displayed on an electronic display obtained from a rearward directed image sensor on the vehicle. A zoom window is manually placed on the electronic display to include the second point of interest. The zoom window is enlarged, and the location of the second point of interest is manually identified within the enlarged zoom window. The identified location of the second point of interest is transformed into target positional coordinates. The rear contextual view redisplayed with a target icon at the target positional coordinates. The location of the first point of interest is manually identified on the rear contextual view and transformed into starting positional coordinates. A start icon is displayed at the starting positional coordinates in the rear contextual view. A target line is determined between the target positional coordinates and the starting positional coordinates. A path line icon is displayed in the rear contextual view corresponding to the determined target line. A bearing line is displayed in the rear contextual view extending from the start icon. The target positional coordinates are re-determined as the rear contextual view shifts during the backup maneuver. The target icon and the path line icon are updated in response to the re-determined target positional coordinates.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a backup maneuver of a motor vehicle in which a first point of interest on the vehicle is moved toward a second point of interest remote from the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a rear contextual view on an electronic display visible to a driver of the vehicle, wherein the rear contextual view is obtained from a rearward directed image sensor on the vehicle, and wherein the rear contextual view includes the first point of interest and the second point of interest;

manually configuring the placement of a zoom window on the electronic display to include the second point of interest;

enlarging on the electronic display the portion of the rear camera view contained in the zoom window;

manually identifying the location of the second point of interest within the enlarged zoom window;

transforming the identified location of the second point of interest into target positional coordinates within the rear contextual view;

redisplaying the rear contextual view;

displaying a target icon at the target positional coordinates in the rear contextual view;

manually identifying on the rear contextual view the location of the first point of interest;

transforming the identified location of the first point of interest into starting positional coordinates within the rear contextual view;

displaying a start icon at the starting positional coordinates in the rear contextual view;

determining a target line between the target positional coordinates and the starting positional coordinates;

displaying a path line icon in the rear contextual view corresponding to the determined target line;

displaying a bearing line in the rear contextual view extending from the start icon in a direction parallel with the axis of the vehicle projected into the rear contextual view;

re-determining the target positional coordinates as the rear contextual view shifts during the backup maneuver; and

updating the target icon and the path line icon in response to the re-determined target positional coordinates.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic display is comprised of a touchscreen display, and wherein the steps of manually configuring placement of the zoom window, manually identifying the location of the second point of interest, and manually identifying the location of the first point of interest each include the action of manually tapping a corresponding position on the touchscreen display.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of manually configuring placement of the zoom window further includes the action of dragging on the touchscreen display.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the bearing line is displayed as an icon that includes distance markers.

5. A backup assist apparatus for a motor vehicle to assist a backup maneuver wherein a first point of interest on the vehicle is moved toward a second point of interest remote from the vehicle, comprising:

an image sensor for detecting a rearward directed image from the vehicle;

an electronic display visible to a driver of the vehicle; and

a camera module coupled to the electronic display and the image sensor generating a rear contextual view on the electronic display in response to the rearward directed image, wherein the camera module is responsive to manual user input to configure the placement of a zoom window on the electronic display that includes the second point of interest, wherein the camera module enlarges on the electronic display the portion of the rear camera view contained in the zoom window, wherein the camera module is responsive to manual input to identify the location of the second point of interest within the enlarged zoom window, wherein the camera module transforms the identified location of the second point of interest into target positional coordinates within the rear contextual view, wherein the camera module redisplays the rear contextual view, wherein the camera module displays a target icon at the target positional coordinates in the rear contextual view, wherein the camera module is responsive to manual input to identify on the rear contextual view the location of the first point of interest, wherein the camera module transforms the identified location of the first point of interest into starting positional coordinates within the rear contextual view, wherein the camera module displays a start icon at the starting positional coordinates in the rear contextual view, wherein the camera module determines a target line between the target positional coordinates and the starting positional coordinates, wherein the camera module displays a path line icon in the rear contextual view corresponding to the determined target line, wherein the camera module displays a bearing line in the rear contextual view extending from the start icon in a direction parallel with the axis of the vehicle projected into the rear contextual view, wherein the camera module re-determines the target positional coordinates as the rear contextual view shifts during the backup maneuver, and wherein the camera module updates the target icon and the path line icon in response to the re-determined target positional coordinates.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the electronic display is comprised of a touchscreen display, and wherein the manual placement of the zoom window, the manual identification of the location of the second point of interest, and the manual identification of the location of the first point of interest each include manually tapping a corresponding position on the touchscreen display.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the manual placement of the zoom window further includes dragging on the touchscreen display.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the bearing line is displayed as an icon that includes distance markers.