DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20130128049A1
• Filed: 01/16/2013
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Larson, Mark L., Vadas, Keith J.
• Application Number:
  US13/742,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20130128049A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/14 having dimming means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 : using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 : using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 : using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 : using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 : using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 : using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 : using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 : combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 : using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/304 : using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• 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 2300/404 : triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/50 : characterised by the display information being shared, e.g. external display, data transfer to other traffic participants or centralised traffic controller
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 : for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 : in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 : for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 : for bad weather conditions or night vision
• 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: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 : characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 : including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 : the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 : with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 : arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a first imager disposed at a left side of the vehicle, a second imager disposed at a rear of the vehicle and a third imager disposed at a right side of the vehicle. The first, second and third imagers have respective fields of view and the first imager is spatially separated from the second imager and the third imager is spatially separated from the second imager. A display system has a single display screen that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The display screen is operable to display an image derived from image data captured by the first, second and third imagers. The display screen displays an image synthesized from image data captured by each of the first, second and third imagers. The displayed image approximates a view from a single virtual camera location.

Claims

1. A driver assistance system suitable for use in a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

a first imager disposed at a left side of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system, said first imager having a first field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;

said first imager comprising a first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements;

a second imager disposed at a rear of the equipped vehicle and having a second field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;

said second imager comprising a second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements;

a third imager disposed at a right side of the equipped vehicle and having a third field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;

said third imager comprising a third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements;

wherein said first imager at said first side of the equipped vehicle is spatially separated from said second imager at said rear of the equipped vehicle and wherein said third imager at said second side of the equipped vehicle is spatially separated from said second imager at said rear of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said first field of view overlaps said second field of view and wherein said third field of view overlaps said second field of view;

wherein a photosensor element of said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible;

wherein a photosensor element of said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible;

wherein a photosensor element of said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible;

a display system comprising a single display screen that is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said display screen is operable to display an image derived from image data captured by said first, second and third imagers, and wherein said display screen displays an image synthesized from image data captured by each of said first, second and third imagers; and

wherein the displayed image approximates a view from a single virtual camera location.

2. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the displayed image is substantially without duplicate images of objects.

3. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the displayed image approximates a substantially seamless view from the single virtual camera location.

4. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the displayed image comprises a panoramic view rearward of the equipped vehicle.

5. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third imagers are aimed along non-parallel axes.

6. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein (i) said photosensor element of said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible by at least one first register, (ii) said photosensor element of said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible by at least one second register, and (iii) said photosensor element of said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible by at least one third register.

7. The driver assistance system of claim 6, wherein (i) said at least one first register comprises at least one of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register, (ii) said at least one second register comprises at least one of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register, and (iii) said at least one third register comprises at least one of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register.

8. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein at least two of said first, second and third imagers are at substantially the same height at the equipped vehicle.

9. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said first and third imagers are at substantially the same height at the equipped vehicle.

10. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein an electronically generated overlay is superimposed on the image displayed by said single display screen to enhance the driver'"'"'s understanding of what is in the area adjacent to the equipped vehicle.

11. The driver assistance system of claim 10, wherein said overlay enhances judgment by a driver of the equipped vehicle of the location of other vehicles and objects external the equipped vehicle.

12. The driver assistance system of claim 11, wherein said overlay provides a visual cue to the driver of the equipped vehicle.

13. The driver assistance system of claim 12, wherein said visual cue assists the driver to judge a distance to an object rearward of the equipped vehicle.

14. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein compression of at least one of said first image data, said second image data and said third image data in the synthesized image reduces distortion in the displayed image.

15. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate, (b) said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate and (c) said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate.

16. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein a first lens images light external the equipped vehicle onto said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements and a second lens images light external the equipped vehicle onto said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements and a third lens images light external the equipped vehicle onto said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements.

17. The driver assistance system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said first lens, said second lens and said third lens comprises a plastic lens.

18. The driver assistance system of claim 17, wherein each of each of said first lens, said second lens and said third lens comprises a plastic lens.

19. The driver assistance system of claim 18, wherein each of said first lens, said second lens and said third lens comprises a molded plastic lens.

20. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said display screen is disposed at or proximate an interior mirror assembly location of the equipped vehicle.

21. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said display screen comprises a display screen selected from the group comprising (i) a plasma display screen and (ii) a field emission display screen.

22. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said display screen comprises a back lit liquid crystal display screen.

23. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said single virtual camera location is external of the equipped vehicle.

24. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said single virtual camera location is forward of the equipped vehicle.