VEHICLE CAMERA ALIGNMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140184799A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kussel, Marcel
• Granted Patent: US 9,491,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having an exterior field of view. The imaging sensor is operable to capture image data. The imaging sensor includes or is associated with an inclination sensor. At least one other inclination sensor is disposed at the vehicle. A processing system is operable to process outputs of the inclination sensors to determine an alignment or misalignment of the at least one imaging sensor at the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

at least one imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having an exterior field of view, said imaging sensor capturing image data, said at least one imaging sensor including an inclination sensor;

at least one other inclination sensor disposed at the vehicle; and

a processing system that is operable to process outputs of said inclination sensors to determine an alignment or misalignment of said at least one imaging sensor at the vehicle.

2. The vision system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of imaging sensors having respective exterior fields of view and capturing respective image data, wherein each of said imaging sensors includes a respective inclination sensor.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein said at least one other inclination sensor comprises an inclination sensor of one of said plurality of imaging sensors.

4. The vision system of claim 2, wherein said processing system processes outputs of said inclination sensors of said plurality of imaging sensors to determine a misalignment of one of said plurality of imaging sensors at the vehicle.

5. The vision system of claim 2, comprising a display screen in the vehicle and viewable by the driver of the vehicle.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said vision system is operable to display images representative of said captured image data on said display screen.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein said vision system is operable in a virtual top view vision mode, and wherein, when operating in said virtual top view vision mode, said processing system processes image data captured by said plurality of imaging sensors to at least one of combine and manipulate said image data, and wherein, when operating in said virtual top view vision mode, said vision system displays an exterior scene around the vehicle.

8. The vision system of claim 7, wherein the displayed exterior scene is around the vehicle and has a first limited extension in a first dimension and a second limited extension in a second dimension, and wherein said second dimension is generally orthogonal to said first dimension, and wherein the result of a tangent steradian accuracy of said at least one inclination sensor divided by a longer one of said first and second limited extensions is greater than the highest resolution of at least one of said imaging sensors having its field of view along said longer limited extension'"'"'s path.

9. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said at least one other inclination sensor comprises a plurality of inclination sensors.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said at least one other inclination sensor comprises an inclination sensor of the vehicle.

11. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a plurality of cameras disposed at the vehicle and having respective exterior fields of view, said cameras capturing image data;

wherein each of said cameras includes a camera inclination sensor;

at least one vehicle inclination sensor disposed at the vehicle; and

a processing system that is operable to process outputs of said camera inclination sensors and said vehicle inclination sensor to determine an alignment or misalignment of said cameras at the vehicle.

12. The vision system of claim 11, comprising a display screen in the vehicle and viewable by the driver of the vehicle, wherein said vision system is operable to display images representative of captured image data on said display screen.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said vision system is operable in a virtual top view vision mode, and wherein, when operating in said virtual top view vision mode, said processing system processes captured image data to at least one of combine captured image data and manipulate captured image data, and wherein, when operating in said virtual top view vision mode, said vision system displays an exterior scene around the vehicle on said display screen.

14. The vision system of claim 13, wherein the displayed exterior scene is around the vehicle and has a first limited extension in a first dimension and a second limited extension in a second dimension, and wherein said second dimension is generally orthogonal to said first dimension, and wherein the result of a tangent steradian accuracy of said camera inclination sensor divided by a longer one of said first and second limited extensions is greater than the highest resolution of said camera having its field of view along said longer limited extension'"'"'s path.

15. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said processing system is operable to compare an output of each of said camera inclination sensors with an output of said vehicle inclination sensor to determine a degree of misalignment of each of said cameras at the vehicle.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein, responsive to said comparison of outputs resulting in a determination of a misalignment of at least one of said cameras, said vision system is operable to adjust one of (i) said at least one of said cameras and (ii) processing of image data captured by said at least one of said cameras.

17. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said camera inclination sensors and said vehicle inclination sensor each comprise a multi axis inclination sensor, and wherein said processing system can determine at least two of (i) a roll of the sensor, (ii) a pitch of the sensor and (iii) a yaw of the sensor.

18. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a plurality of cameras disposed at the vehicle and having respective exterior fields of view, said cameras capturing image data;

a camera inclination sensor at each of said plurality of cameras, wherein said camera inclination sensors are fixedly disposed relative to the respective cameras;

at least one vehicle inclination sensor fixedly disposed at the vehicle; and

wherein said camera inclination sensors and said vehicle inclination sensor comprise multi axis inclination sensors;

wherein said processing system is operable to process outputs of said camera inclination sensors and said vehicle inclination sensor;

wherein said processing system is operable to determine at least two of (i) a roll of each of said inclination sensors, (ii) a pitch of each of said inclination sensors and (iii) a yaw of each of said inclination sensors;

wherein said processing system compares an output of each of said camera inclination sensors with an output of said vehicle inclination sensor to determine a degree of misalignment of each of said cameras at the vehicle;

a display screen in the vehicle and viewable by the driver of the vehicle, wherein said vision system is operable to display images representative of captured image data on said display screen; and

wherein said vision system is operable in a virtual top view vision mode, and wherein, when operating in said virtual top view vision mode, said processing system processes captured image data to at least one of combine captured image data and manipulate captured image data, and wherein, when operating in said virtual top view vision mode, said vision system displays an exterior scene around the vehicle on said display screen.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein, responsive to said comparison of outputs resulting in a determination of a misalignment of at least one of said cameras, said vision system is operable to adjust one of (i) said at least one of said cameras and (ii) processing of image data captured by said at least one of said cameras.

20. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said processing system is operable to determine (i) a roll of each of said inclination sensors, (ii) a pitch of each of said inclination sensors and (iii) a yaw of each of said inclination sensors.