DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20140192181A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taylor, David W., McCarthy, Kevin C., Lynam, Niall R., Schofield, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,966 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/0408 transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/976 massaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/006 indicating risk of collision between vehicles or with pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• 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 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/406 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 : Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 : Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 : Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 : Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 : Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 : Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 : Geometric correction
• 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 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 : Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A driver assist system for a vehicle includes a camera and a control having an image processor, which processes image data captured by the camera. At least one non-visual sensor is operable to detect objects external of the vehicle and to provide non-visual sensor data to the control. During at least one of (i) a reversing maneuver and (ii) a parking maneuver, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the camera are displayed by a video display screen that is viewable by the driver to assist the driver in operating the vehicle. The control provides an indication to the vehicle driver, with the indication including at least one of (i) a visual indication displayed by the video display screen and (ii) an audible indication. The indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by the non-visual sensor of an object external of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A driver assist system for a vehicle, said driver assist system comprising:

a CMOS camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assist system;

said CMOS camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;

said CMOS camera comprising a lens and a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows of photosensing elements and columns of photosensing elements;

said CMOS camera viewing objects external of the equipped vehicle that are located within said field of view of said CMOS camera;

a control;

said control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said CMOS camera;

at least one non-visual sensor;

said non-visual sensor selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor and a radar sensor;

said non-visual sensor operable to detect objects external of the equipped vehicle;

said non-visual sensor providing non-visual sensor data to said control;

a video display screen viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen comprises one of (a) a liquid crystal display screen backlit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and (b) an organic light emitting diode display screen;

wherein, during at least one of (i) a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera are displayed by said video display screen to assist the driver in operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera with a display intensity of at least about 200 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle;

said control providing an indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is at least one of (i) reversing the equipped vehicle and (ii) parking the equipped vehicle;

said indication comprising at least one of (i) a visual indication displayed by said video display screen and (ii) an audible indication; and

wherein said indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by said non-visual sensor of an object external of the equipped vehicle.

2. The driver assist system of claim 1, wherein said indication comprises a visual indication displayed by said video display screen, and wherein said visual indication comprises a visual cue generated responsive, at least in part, to detection of an object external of the equipped vehicle by said non-visual sensor.

3. The driver assist system of claim 2, wherein said visual cue at least one of (i) indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (ii) indicates proximity to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iii) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle and indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iv) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle and (v) highlights an object that the equipped vehicle is in jeopardy of colliding with.

4. The driver assist system of claim 3, wherein said indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to said image processor processing image data captured by said CMOS camera.

5. The driver assist system of claim 3, wherein said indication comprises an audible indication and wherein said visual cue is accompanied by an audible alert.

6. The driver assist system of claim 5, wherein said audible alert alerts the driver that the equipped vehicle is approaching an object proximate to the equipped vehicle.

7. The driver assist system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera with a display intensity of at least about 300 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) said video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display screen backlit by a plurality of white light emitting diodes and wherein at least some of said plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes are operable to each individually pass up to about 100 milliamps forward current.

8. The driver assist system of claim 1, wherein said driver assist system comprises a user input and wherein at least one of (i) said user input comprises at least one input for a telematics system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) said user input comprises at least one input for a navigational system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) said user input comprises at least one input for a navigation function of said driver assist system, (iv) said user input comprises at least one input for a biometric system of the equipped vehicle and (v) said user input comprises touch input.

9. The driver assist system of claim 8, wherein said video display screen is disposed at one of (i) a windshield electronics module of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an instrument panel of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a console of the equipped vehicle.

10. The driver assist system of claim 1, comprising at least one of (a) a control operable to control at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle in accordance with a characteristic of an occupant of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said at least one accessory comprises a seat adjustment system operable to adjust a seat of the equipped vehicle in accordance with a biometric characteristic of an occupant of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said seat adjustment system is operable to adjust a seat of the equipped vehicle in response to biometric data, said biometric data pertaining to the occupant of the seat of the equipped vehicle, and (b) a control operable to communicate with an external service provider via a wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider, and wherein said control receives an input from the driver of the equipped vehicle and responsive thereto establishes said wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider, and wherein said control controls at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle responsive to a geographic location of the equipped vehicle as determined by a global positioning system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein data from the external service provider is downloaded to said control via said wireless communication link, and wherein said control comprises memory for storing downloaded data at least after said wireless communication link established between said control and the external service provider is disconnected, and wherein said downloaded data comprises downloaded driving instruction data useful for instructing the driver of the equipped vehicle how to drive from an initial location to a destination location, and wherein driving instructions derived, at least in part, from said downloaded driving instruction data are displayed, when the equipped vehicle is not executing a reversing maneuver, by said video display screen for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said driving instructions are displayed by said video display screen in a step-by-step manner, with at least some driving instruction steps being displayed by said video display screen after said wireless communication link between said control and the external service provider is disconnected.

11. The driver assist system of claim 1, wherein said indication comprises a visual indication displayed by said video display screen and wherein said visual indication provides an indication of distance of a detected object from the equipped vehicle.

12. The driver assist system of claim 11, wherein said control provides said indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is parking the equipped vehicle during a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said non-visual sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

13. The driver assist system of claim 12, wherein said CMOS camera is part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising at least three CMOS cameras including said CMOS camera and at least two other CMOS cameras, wherein each of said at least three CMOS cameras has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein a first camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a driver-side of the equipped vehicle and a second camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and a third camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted generally centrally at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said third camera is operable as a rear backup camera when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle, and wherein images captured by said third camera are displayed by said video display screen when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle.

14. The driver assist system of claim 13, wherein said first camera mounted at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle has a field of view at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle and said second camera mounted at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle has a field of view at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and said generally centrally-mounted third camera has a field of view at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the field of view of said first camera mounted at the driver-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear, and wherein the field of view of said second camera mounted at the passenger-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear.

15. The driver assist system of claim 14, wherein a unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by said at least three CMOS cameras of said multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, 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, and wherein said synthesized image is displayed by said video display screen that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle.

16. The driver assist system of claim 1, wherein said CMOS camera comprises wide-angle optics and wherein distortion of images captured by said CMOS camera is, at least in part, electronically corrected.

17. The driver assist system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display screen and wherein liquid crystal display screen comprises a multi-pixel TFT liquid crystal display screen.

18. A driver assist system for a vehicle, said driver assist system comprising:

a CMOS camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assist system;

said CMOS camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;

said CMOS camera comprising a lens and a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows of photosensing elements and columns of photosensing elements;

said CMOS camera viewing objects external of the equipped vehicle that are located within said field of view of said CMOS camera;

a control;

said control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said CMOS camera;

at least one non-visual sensor;

said non-visual sensor selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor and a radar sensor;

said non-visual sensor operable to detect objects external of the equipped vehicle;

said non-visual sensor providing non-visual sensor data to said control;

a video display screen viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during at least one of (i) a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera are displayed by said video display screen to assist the driver in operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera with a display intensity of at least about 200 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle;

said control providing an indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is at least one of (i) reversing the equipped vehicle and (ii) parking the equipped vehicle;

said indication comprising at least one of (i) a visual indication displayed by said video display screen and (ii) an audible indication;

wherein said indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by said non-visual sensor of an object external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said CMOS camera is part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising at least three CMOS cameras including said CMOS camera and at least two other CMOS cameras, wherein each of said at least three CMOS cameras has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein a first camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a driver-side of the equipped vehicle and a second camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and a third camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted generally centrally at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said third camera is operable as a rear backup camera when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle, and wherein images captured by said third camera are displayed by said video display screen when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said first camera mounted at the driver-side has a field of view at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle and said second camera mounted at the passenger-side has a field of view at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and said generally centrally-mounted third camera has a field of view at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the field of view of said first camera mounted at the driver-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear, and wherein the field of view of said second camera mounted at the passenger-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear.

19. The driver assist system of claim 18, wherein said indication comprises a visual indication displayed by said video display screen, and wherein said visual indication comprises a visual cue generated responsive, at least in part, to detection of an object external of the equipped vehicle by said non-visual sensor, and wherein said visual cue at least one of (i) indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (ii) indicates proximity to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iii) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iv) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle and indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle and (v) highlights an object that the equipped vehicle is in jeopardy of colliding with.

20. The driver assist system of claim 19, wherein said indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to said image processor processing image data captured by at least one of said CMOS cameras.

21. The driver assist system of claim 19, wherein said indication comprises an audible indication and wherein said visual cue is accompanied by an audible alert, and wherein said audible alert alerts the driver that the equipped vehicle is approaching an object proximate to the equipped vehicle.

22. The driver assist system of claim 18, wherein said driver assist system comprises a user input and wherein at least one of (i) said user input comprises at least one input for a telematics system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) said user input comprises at least one input for a navigational system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) said user input comprises at least one input for a navigation function of said driver assist system, (iv) said user input comprises at least one input for a biometric system of the equipped vehicle and (v) said user input comprises touch input, and wherein said video display screen is disposed at one of (i) a windshield electronics module of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an instrument panel of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a console of the equipped vehicle.

23. The driver assist system of claim 18, wherein said indication comprises a visual indication displayed by said video display screen, and wherein said visual indication provides an indication of distance of a detected object from the equipped vehicle, and wherein said control provides said indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is parking the equipped vehicle during a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said non-visual sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

24. A driver assist system for a vehicle, said driver assist system comprising:

a CMOS camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assist system;

said CMOS camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;

said CMOS camera comprising a lens and a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows of photosensing elements and columns of photosensing elements;

said CMOS camera viewing objects external of the equipped vehicle that are located within said field of view of said CMOS camera;

wherein said CMOS camera comprises wide-angle optics and wherein distortion of images captured by said CMOS camera is, at least in part, electronically corrected;

a control;

said control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said CMOS camera;

at least one non-visual sensor;

said non-visual sensor selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic sensor and a radar sensor;

said non-visual sensor operable to detect objects external of the equipped vehicle;

said non-visual sensor providing non-visual sensor data to said control;

a video display screen viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during at least one of (i) a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera are displayed by said video display screen to assist the driver in operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera with a display intensity of at least about 200 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle;

said control providing an indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is at least one of (i) reversing the equipped vehicle and (ii) parking the equipped vehicle;

said indication comprising at least one of (i) a visual indication displayed by said video display screen and (ii) an audible indication;

wherein said indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to said image processor processing image data captured by said CMOS camera and to detection by said non-visual sensor of an object external of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said CMOS camera is part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising at least three CMOS cameras including said CMOS camera and at least two other CMOS cameras, wherein each of said at least three CMOS cameras has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein a first camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a driver-side of the equipped vehicle and a second camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and a third camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted generally centrally at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said third camera is operable as a rear backup camera when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle, and wherein images captured by said third camera are displayed by said video display screen when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said first camera mounted at the driver-side has a field of view at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle and said second camera mounted at the passenger-side has a field of view at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and said generally centrally-mounted third camera has a field of view at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the field of view of said first camera mounted at the driver-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear, and wherein the field of view of said second camera mounted at the passenger-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear.

25. The driver assist system of claim 24, wherein said indication comprises a visual indication displayed by said video display screen and wherein said visual indication comprises a visual cue generated responsive, at least in part, to detection of an object external of the equipped vehicle by said non-visual sensor, and wherein said visual cue at least one of (i) indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (ii) indicates proximity to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iii) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iv) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle and indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle, and (v) highlights an object that the equipped vehicle is in jeopardy of colliding with.

26. The driver assist system of claim 25, wherein said indication comprises an audible indication and wherein said visual cue is accompanied by an audible alert, and wherein said audible alert alerts the driver that the equipped vehicle is approaching an object proximate to the equipped vehicle.

27. The driver assist system of claim 24, wherein said driver assist system comprises a user input and wherein at least one of (i) said user input comprises at least one input for a telematics system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) said user input comprises at least one input for a navigational system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) said user input comprises at least one input for a navigation function of said driver assist system, (iv) said user input comprises at least one input for a biometric system of the equipped vehicle and (v) said user input comprises touch input, and wherein said video display screen is disposed at one of (i) a windshield electronics module of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an instrument panel of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a console of the equipped vehicle.

28. The driver assist system of claim 24, wherein said indication comprises a visual indication displayed by said video display screen, and wherein said visual indication provides an indication of distance of a detected object from the equipped vehicle, and wherein said control provides said distance indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is parking the equipped vehicle during a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said non-visual sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

29. The driver assist system of claim 28, wherein a unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by said at least three CMOS cameras of said multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, 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, and wherein said synthesized image is displayed by said video display screen that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle.

30. A driver assist system for a vehicle, said driver assist system comprising:

a CMOS camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assist system;

said CMOS camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;

said CMOS camera comprising a lens and a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows of photosensing elements and columns of photosensing elements;

said CMOS camera viewing objects external of the equipped vehicle that are located within said field of view of said CMOS camera;

wherein said CMOS camera comprises wide-angle optics;

a control;

said control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said CMOS camera;

at least one non-visual sensor;

said non-visual sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor;

said non-visual sensor operable to detect objects external of the equipped vehicle;

said non-visual sensor providing non-visual sensor data to said control;

a video display screen viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera are displayed by said video display screen to assist the driver in operating the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said CMOS camera with a display intensity of at least about 200 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle;

said control providing an indication to the driver of the equipped vehicle who is parking the equipped vehicle;

said indication comprising a visual indication displayed by said video display screen;

wherein said indication is provided responsive, at least in part, to detection by said non-visual sensor of an object external of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said CMOS camera is part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising at least three CMOS cameras including said CMOS camera and at least two other CMOS cameras, wherein each of said at least three CMOS cameras has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, and wherein a first camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a driver-side of the equipped vehicle and a second camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted at a passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and a third camera of said at least three CMOS cameras is mounted generally centrally at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said third camera is operable as a rear backup camera when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle, and wherein images captured by said third camera are displayed by said video display screen when the driver is reversing the equipped vehicle.

31. The driver assist system of claim 30, wherein said visual indication comprises a visual cue generated responsive, at least in part, to detection of an object external of the equipped vehicle by said non-visual sensor, and wherein said visual cue at least one of (i) indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (ii) indicates proximity to an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iii) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle, (iv) highlights an object external of the equipped vehicle and indicates distance to an object external of the equipped vehicle, and (v) highlights an object that the equipped vehicle is in jeopardy of colliding with.

32. The driver assist system of claim 31, wherein said indication is provided, at least in part, responsive to said image processor processing image data captured by at least one of said CMOS cameras.

33. The driver assist system of claim 31, wherein said first camera has a field of view at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle and said second camera has a field of view at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and said generally centrally-mounted third camera has a field of view at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the field of view of said first camera mounted at the driver-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear, and wherein the field of view of said second camera mounted at the passenger-side overlaps the field of view of said third camera mounted at the rear.

34. The driver assist system of claim 33, wherein distortion of images captured by said CMOS cameras is, at least in part, electronically corrected.

35. The driver assist system of claim 34, wherein a unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by said at least three CMOS cameras of said multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, 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, and wherein said synthesized image is displayed by said video display screen that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle,

36. The driver assist system of claim 35, wherein said video display screen comprises a liquid crystal display screen backlit by a plurality of white light emitting light emitting diodes and wherein said liquid crystal display screen comprises a multi-pixel TFT liquid crystal display screen.