MULTI-CAMERA VISION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
- at least three image capture devices disposed at a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system;
said at least three image capture devices comprising a first image capture device disposed at a driver-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a first location;
said at least three image capture devices comprising a second image capture device disposed at a passenger-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a second location;
said at least three image capture devices comprising a third image capture device disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle at a third location;
wherein said first image capture device has a first field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said second image capture device has a second field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said third image capture device has a third field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said first field of view of said first image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third image capture device defining a first overlap zone;
wherein said second field of view of said second image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third image capture device defining a second overlap zone;
wherein said first image capture device captures first image data;
wherein said second image capture device captures second image data;
wherein said third image capture device captures third image data;
an image processor;
wherein first image data captured by said first image capture device is received at said image processor;
wherein second image data captured by said second image capture device is received at said image processor;
wherein third image data captured by said third image capture device is received at said image processor;
wherein, responsive to processing by said image processor of received image data, a synthesized image is generated without duplication of objects present in said first overlap zone and in said second overlap zone and wherein said synthesized image approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said synthesized image is displayed by a single display screen of a display device that is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle;
wherein a trailer is attached at the rear of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein said synthesized image assists the driver of the equipped vehicle in executing a maneuver of the equipped vehicle with the trailer attached thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle includes first, second and third image capture devices having respective first, second and third fields of view exterior of the vehicle. The first field of view overlaps with the third field of view defining a first overlap zone, and the second field of view overlaps with the third field of view defining a second overlap zone. Responsive to processing of captured image data, a synthesized image is generated without duplication of objects present in the first and second overlap zones and the synthesized image approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the vehicle. The synthesized image is displayed by a single display screen that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle and the synthesized image assists the driver in executing a maneuver of the vehicle with a trailer attached thereto.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
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at least three image capture devices disposed at a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system; said at least three image capture devices comprising a first image capture device disposed at a driver-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a first location; said at least three image capture devices comprising a second image capture device disposed at a passenger-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a second location; said at least three image capture devices comprising a third image capture device disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle at a third location; wherein said first image capture device has a first field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said second image capture device has a second field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said third image capture device has a third field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said first field of view of said first image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third image capture device defining a first overlap zone; wherein said second field of view of said second image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third image capture device defining a second overlap zone; wherein said first image capture device captures first image data; wherein said second image capture device captures second image data; wherein said third image capture device captures third image data; an image processor; wherein first image data captured by said first image capture device is received at said image processor; wherein second image data captured by said second image capture device is received at said image processor; wherein third image data captured by said third image capture device is received at said image processor; wherein, responsive to processing by said image processor of received image data, a synthesized image is generated without duplication of objects present in said first overlap zone and in said second overlap zone and wherein said synthesized image approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said synthesized image is displayed by a single display screen of a display device that is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle; wherein a trailer is attached at the rear of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said synthesized image assists the driver of the equipped vehicle in executing a maneuver of the equipped vehicle with the trailer attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
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at least three image capture devices disposed at a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system; said at least three image capture devices comprising a first CMOS image capture device disposed at a driver-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a first location; said at least three image capture devices comprising a second CMOS image capture device disposed at a passenger-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a second location; said at least three image capture devices comprising a third CMOS image capture device disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle at a third location; wherein said first CMOS image capture device has a first field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said second CMOS image capture device has a second field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said third CMOS image capture device has a third field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said first field of view of said first CMOS image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third CMOS image capture device defining a first overlap zone; wherein said second field of view of said second CMOS image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third CMOS image capture device defining a second overlap zone; wherein said first CMOS image capture device captures first image data; wherein said second CMOS image capture device captures second image data; wherein said third CMOS image capture device captures third image data; an image processor; wherein first image data captured by said first CMOS image capture device is received at said image processor via at least one of an analog data stream and a digital data stream; wherein second image data captured by said second CMOS image capture device is received at said image processor via at least one of an analog data stream and a digital data stream; wherein third image data captured by said third CMOS image capture device is received at said image processor via at least one of an analog data stream and a digital data stream; wherein, responsive to processing by said image processor of received image data, a synthesized image is generated without duplication of objects present in said first overlap zone and in said second overlap zone and wherein said synthesized image approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said synthesized image is displayed by a single display screen of a display device that is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle; wherein a trailer is attached at the rear of the equipped vehicle; wherein said synthesized image assists the driver of the equipped vehicle in executing a maneuver of the equipped vehicle with the trailer attached thereto; and wherein at least one of (i) said multi-camera vision system provides guidance when backing the equipped vehicle with the trailer attached thereto and (ii) said multi-camera vision system provides guidance when backing the equipped vehicle into a loading dock with the trailer attached thereto. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
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at least three image capture devices disposed at a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system; said at least three image capture devices comprising a first CMOS image capture device disposed at a driver-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a first location; said at least three image capture devices comprising a second CMOS image capture device disposed at a passenger-side portion of the equipped vehicle at a second location; said at least three image capture devices comprising a third CMOS image capture device disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle at a third location; wherein said first CMOS image capture device has a first field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said second CMOS image capture device has a second field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said third CMOS image capture device has a third field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said first field of view of said first CMOS image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third CMOS image capture device defining a first overlap zone; wherein said second field of view of said second CMOS image capture device overlaps with said third field of view of said third CMOS image capture device defining a second overlap zone; wherein said first CMOS image capture device captures first image data; wherein said second CMOS image capture device captures second image data; wherein said third CMOS image capture device captures third image data; an image processor; wherein first image data captured by said first CMOS image capture device is received at said image processor; wherein second image data captured by said second CMOS image capture device is received at said image processor; wherein third image data captured by said third CMOS image capture device is received at said image processor; wherein, responsive to processing by said image processor of received image data, a synthesized image is generated without duplication of objects present in said first overlap zone and in said second overlap zone and wherein said synthesized image approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said synthesized image is displayed by a single display screen of a display device that is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle; wherein a trailer is attached at the rear of the equipped vehicle; wherein said synthesized image assists the driver of the equipped vehicle in executing a maneuver of the equipped vehicle with the trailer attached thereto; wherein said first CMOS image capture device is disposed at the equipped vehicle at substantially the same height relative to ground as is said second CMOS image capture device, and wherein said first location where said first CMOS image capture device is disposed at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle is a first distance forward of where the driver sits when operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein said second location where said second CMOS image capture device is disposed at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle is a second distance forward of where the driver sits when operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein said first distance is substantially the same as said second distance and wherein said third CMOS image capture device is at a height relative to ground that is lower than the height relative to ground of said first and second CMOS image capture devices, and wherein said third location is a third distance rearward of where the driver sits when operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein said third distance is larger than either of said first and second distances; wherein the image displayed by said display screen comprises a graphic overlay and wherein at least one of (i) said graphic overlay comprises indicia of the anticipated path of travel of the equipped vehicle, (ii) said graphic overlay comprises indicia indicating distance to objects exterior the equipped vehicle, (iii) said graphic overlay comprises enhancements that assist visually distinguishing objects close to the equipped vehicle, (iv) said graphic overlay comprises indicia that responds to the equipped vehicle'"'"'s steering system, (v) said graphic overlay draws the attention of the driver of the equipped vehicle to a potential hazard present in the image displayed by said display device, and (vi) said graphic overlay includes indicia of the anticipated path of travel of the equipped vehicle; and wherein at least one of (i) said synthesized image displayed by said display device approximates a panoramic view as would be viewed from a single virtual camera located exterior the equipped vehicle and (ii) said synthesized image displayed by said display device approximates a substantially seamless panoramic view as would be viewed from a single virtual camera located exterior the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification