METHOD FOR MONITORING AN ENVIRONMENT OF A VEHICLE

• US 20120121136A1
• Filed: 07/20/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Gloger, Joachim, Ruland, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• 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: G06V 10/16 using multiple overlapping images; Image stitching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors

Abstract

A method for monitoring an environment (U) of a vehicle (F), wherein the environment (U) and objects (O1, O2) present therein are detected by means of at least a first image detection unit (1) and a second image detection unit (2), of which the detection regions overlap at least partially and form an overlap region, wherein an overall image (G) is produced from individual images detected by means of the image detection units (1, 2) by means of an image processing unit, the overall image (G) showing the vehicle (F) and its environment (U) from a bird'"'"'s eye view. There is a progression of at least one boundary line (L1 to L3) which extends from an origin to the image edge of the overall image in such a way that the boundary line (L1 to L3) extends away from the objects (O1, O2).

Claims

1. A method for monitoring an environment (U) of a vehicle (F), wherein the environment (U) and objects (O1, O2) present therein are detected by means of at least a first image detection unit (1) and a second image detection unit (2), the detection regions of which at least partially overlap and form an overlap region, wherein an overall image (G) is produced from individual images detected by means of the image detection units (1, 2), said overall image (G) showing the vehicle (F) and its environment (U) from a bird'"'"'s eye perspective, and wherein, depending upon determined positions of the objects (O1, O2) in the overall image (G) between a first individual image region (EB1) and a second individual image region (EB2), a progression of at least one boundary line (L1 to L3) extending from an origin to the image edge of the overall image (G) is predefined so that the boundary line (L1 to L3) extends away from the objects (O1, O2).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the boundary line (L1 to L3) is predefined so that a tolerance region (T1 to T3) is produced between the boundary line (L1 to L3) and the respective object (O1, O2).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a virtual observation point onto the overall image (G) is predefined variably in dependence upon the positions of the objects (O1, O2).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the overall image (G) is subdivided in dependence upon the positions of the objects (O1, O2) in such a way that an individual image region (EB1, EB2) of one of the image detection units (1, 2) is shown interrupted through at least one individual image region (EB1, EB2) of the respective other image detection unit (1, 2).