VEHICLE IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM

• US 20140125803A1
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Christoffersson, Joakim, Christensen, Claus Allan, Olesen, Anna
• Granted Patent: US 10,356,373 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

A vehicle image capture system is provided. The system may include a vehicle mounted image capture device adapted to capture one or more images external of a vehicle, a navigation system adapted to determine an instantaneous position of the vehicle, and a user interface arranged to allow a user to input a first position. The system is adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the first position, and to capture one or more images if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity.

Claims

1. A vehicle image capture system, the system comprising:

a vehicle mounted image capture device being adapted to capture one or more images external of a vehicle;

a navigation system; and

a user interface being arranged to allow a user to input a first position, the image capture device, the navigation system and the user interface being adapted to communicate with each other;

wherein the image capture system is adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the first position, and if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, to capture one or more images.

2. The image capture system according to claim 1 wherein the image capture device is arranged to capture one or several images a preselected number of times, such as every time, when the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, resulting in a series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N captured within the predetermined proximity of the first position.

3. The image capture system according to claim 2, wherein the user interface of the vehicle image capture system further comprises a display suitable for presenting the series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N.

4. The image capture system according to claim 2, further comprising processing means arranged to sort chronologically the series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N and present the chronologically sorted series of images along a timeline on a display, and that the user interface further is arranged to allow a user to scroll along the timeline for presenting the series of images I₁, 1₂, I₃, . . . I_N as a movie clip.

5. The image capture system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture system includes an object recognition system.

6. The image capture system according to claim 5, wherein the image capture device is arranged to capture several images in a sequence every time the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, and that the object recognition system is arranged to select an image among the several images which selected image is added to the series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N, and wherein the selection of an image among the several images is based on at least one characteristic of the selected image.

7. The image capture system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture system is arranged to capture one or more images only when the vehicle is approaching the first position from a preselected direction.

8. The image capture system according to claim 1, wherein the user interface further is arranged to allow a user to input two or more different positions, and that the image capture system is adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the two or more positions, and if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and any one of the two or more positions are within a predetermined proximity, to capture one or more images.

9. The image capture system according to claim 1, wherein the image capture system is arranged to send and/or receive data to/from one or more electronic presentation devices.

10. A vehicle comprising a vehicle image capture system according to claim 1.

12. The image capture system of claim 1 wherein the image capture device is arranged to capture one or several images a preselected number of times, such as every time, when the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, resulting in a series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N captured within the predetermined proximity of the first position.

13. The image capture system of claim 2 wherein the user interface of the vehicle image capture system further comprises a display suitable for presenting the series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N.

14. The image capture system of claim 2 wherein the processor is arranged to sort chronologically the series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N and present the chronologically sorted series of images along a timeline on a display, and the user interface is further arranged to allow a user to scroll along the timeline for presenting the series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N as a movie clip.

15. The image capture system of claim 1 further comprising an object recognition system.

16. The image capture system of claim 5 wherein the image capture device is arranged to capture several images in a sequence every time the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, the object recognition system is arranged to select an image among the several images which selected image is added to the series of images I₁, I₂, I₃, . . . I_N, and the selection of an image among the several images is based on at least one characteristic of the selected image.

17. The image capture system of claim 1 wherein one or more images are captured only when the vehicle is approaching the first position from a preselected direction.

18. The image capture system of claim 1 wherein the user interface is further arranged to allow a user to input two or more different positions, and the processor is adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle with the two or more positions, and if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and any one of the two or more positions are within a predetermined proximity, to communicate with the image capture device to capture one or more images.

19. The image capture system of claim 1 wherein the processor is arranged to send and/or receive data to/from one or more electronic presentation devices.

20. A vehicle comprising a vehicle image capture system according to claim 1.

11. A vehicle image capture system comprising:

a vehicle mounted image capture device adapted to capture one or more images external of a vehicle;

a user interface arranged to allow a user to input a first position; and

a processor adapted to compare an instantaneous position of the vehicle determined by a vehicle navigation system with the first position and, if the instantaneous position of the vehicle and the first position are within a predetermined proximity, to communicate with the image capture device to capture one or more images.