Method for Identification of a Projected Symbol on a Street in a Vehicle, Apparatus and Vehicle

• US 20150254515A1
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: ZOBEL, Matthias
• Granted Patent: US 9,536,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/145 Illumination specially adapted for pattern recognition, e.g. using gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for recognizing projected information on the carriageway. In particular, the present invention relates to a camera-based driver assistance system which uses image processing methods to automatically recognize dynamic, in most cases colored, symbols or information which is/are projected onto the road by a vehicle ahead, and is able to respond in an appropriate manner based on the recognized symbols. For example, advice can be given to the driver or signals can be transmitted to vehicle devices in order to bring about an appropriate vehicle response. In particular, an emergency braking action or a distance alert can be brought about.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a projected symbol on a road in a vehicle, the method including the steps of producing an image of part of a road by a camera of the vehicle, detecting a symbol which is projected onto said part of the road by another road user in the image (S1), identifying the symbol found in the image (S2), and generating a signal based on the identified symbol in order to bring about a measure in the vehicle (S3).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the symbol comprises identifying a color of the symbol and/or identifying a variation in intensity of the symbol.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the symbol is selected from the group consisting of a distance line extending transversely to a direction of travel of the vehicle, a line, a triangle, a red triangle, a green triangle, a blue triangle, traffic sign symbols, a stop sign, a speed limit symbol, a traffic light symbol and any combination thereof.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying of the symbol is performed by an automatic image processing program in the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 4, further including the step of

transmitting the signal to a device of the vehicle for the device to bring about the measure,

wherein the measure is selected from the group consisting of a distance alert, a braking action, an acceleration, a warning given to a driver of the vehicle, an intervention in a longitudinal control of the vehicle, an intervention in a lateral control of the vehicle, an intervention in a longitudinal control and a lateral control of the vehicle, an intervention in vehicle dynamics, a transmission of telemetric information and any combination thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of performing situation recognition by the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of associating the identified symbol to the signal to be generated using associations stored in the vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of using the signal in a driver assistance system of the vehicle to produce a warning or to intervene in driving dynamics of the vehicle.

9. A device for identifying a projected symbol on a road for a vehicle, the device including

a camera configured and arranged to produce images of part of a road, and

a computing unit,

wherein the camera is configured and arranged to transmit images recorded by the camera to the computing unit,

wherein the computing unit is configured and arranged to identify a symbol which is projected onto said part of the road by another road user and is recorded in one of the images taken by the camera, and

wherein the computing unit is configured and arranged to generate a signal in order to bring about a measure in the vehicle based on the identified symbol.

10. A vehicle including

a device for identifying a projected symbol on a road according to claim 9, and

a driver assistance system,

wherein the device is configured and arranged to transmit the signal generated by the computing unit to the driver assistance system, and

wherein the driver assistance system is configured and arranged to bring about a measure based on the signal generated by the computing unit, which measure is selected from the group consisting of a distance alert, a braking action, an acceleration, a warning given to a driver of the vehicle, an intervention in a longitudinal control of the vehicle, an intervention in a lateral control of the vehicle, an intervention in a longitudinal control and a lateral control of the vehicle, an intervention in vehicle dynamics, a transmission of telemetric information and any combination thereof.