METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING A SURROUND-VIEW IMAGE OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF A VEHICLE, METHOD FOR PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE DRIVER-ASSISTANCE FUNCTION FOR A VEHICLE, SURROUND-VIEW SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20150358540A1
• Filed: 01/14/2014
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: KANTER, Pascal, Voetz, Henning
• Application Number:
  US14/760,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20150358540A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0035 relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/22 for reverse drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/249 for illuminating the field of view of a sensor or camera
• 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: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10048 Infrared image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20212 Image combination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30261 Obstacle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30264 Parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• 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 5/33 : Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method for generating a surround-view image of a vehicle '"'"'s surroundings, having a first vehicle camera for photographing a first partial area of the surroundings and at least one second vehicle camera for photographing a second partial area of the surroundings differing at least in part from the first partial area, including illuminating the surroundings with at least two illumination devices. Using at least one first illumination device, the first partial area of the surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation in the visible and/or infrared wavelength range. Using at least one second illumination device, the second partial area of the surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation at least in the infrared wavelength range. The method also includes reading in camera image data, so as by combining the image data, to generate the surround-view image of the surroundings, the image data representing photos of partial areas of the illuminated surroundings.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for generating a surround-view image of surroundings of a vehicle, the method comprising:

effectuating illumination of the vehicle surroundings with at least two illumination devices, where using at least one first illumination device, a first partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range, and using at least one second illumination device, a second partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation at least in the infrared wavelength range; and

reading in image data from vehicle cameras, the image data representing photos of the partial areas of the illuminated vehicle surroundings, so as by combining the image data, to generate the surround-view image of the surroundings of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle has the vehicle cameras, which include a first vehicle camera for photographing the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings and at least one second vehicle camera for photographing the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings differing at least in part from the first partial area of the surroundings.

14. A method for providing at least one driver-assistance function for a vehicle using a surround-view image of surroundings of the vehicle, the method comprising:

generating a surround-view image of surroundings of a vehicle, by performing the following;

effectuating illumination of the vehicle surroundings with at least two illumination devices, where using at least one first illumination device, a first partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range, and using at least one second illumination device, a second partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation at least in the infrared wavelength range; and

reading in image data from vehicle cameras, the image data representing photos of the partial areas of the illuminated vehicle surroundings, so as by combining the image data, to generate the surround-view image of the surroundings of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle has the vehicle cameras, which include a first vehicle camera for photographing the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings and at least one second vehicle camera for photographing the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings differing at least in part from the first partial area of the surroundings; and

evaluating the surround-view image generated, in order to provide the at least one driver-assistance function.

16. A device for generating a surround-view image of surroundings of a vehicle, comprising:

an illuminating arrangement to effectuate illumination of the vehicle surroundings with at least two illumination devices, where using at least one first illumination device, a first partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range, and using at least one second illumination device, a second partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation at least in the infrared wavelength range; and

a reading in arrangement to read in image data from vehicle cameras, the image data representing photos of the partial areas of the illuminated vehicle surroundings, so as by combining the image data, to generate the surround-view image of the surroundings of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle has the vehicle cameras, which include a first vehicle camera for photographing the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings and at least one second vehicle camera for photographing the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings differing at least in part from the first partial area of the surroundings.

17. A surround-view system for a vehicle, comprising:

a first vehicle camera for photographing a first partial area of a vehicle surroundings;

a second vehicle camera for photographing a second partial area of the vehicle surroundings differing at least in part from the first partial area of the surroundings;

at least one first illumination device for illuminating the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings with the aid of electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range;

at least one second illumination device for illuminating the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings with the electromagnetic radiation at least in the infrared wavelength range; and

a device for generating a surround-view image of surroundings of a vehicle, including;

an illuminating arrangement to effectuate illumination of the vehicle surroundings with the at least two illumination devices, where using the at least one first illumination device, the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range, and using the at least one second illumination device, the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation at least in the infrared wavelength range; and

a reading in arrangement to read in image data from vehicle cameras, the image data representing photos of the partial areas of the illuminated vehicle surroundings, so as by combining the image data, to generate the surround-view image of the surroundings of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle has the vehicle cameras, which include the first vehicle camera for photographing the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings and the at least one second vehicle camera for photographing the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings differing at least in part from the first partial area of the surroundings.

18. The surround-view system of claim 17, wherein the first vehicle camera is positioned to photograph a partial area of the surroundings in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle as the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings, the second vehicle camera is positioned to photograph a partial area of the surroundings in the reverse direction of travel of the vehicle as the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings, the at least one first illumination device features a headlight of the vehicle or is disposed in the area of a headlight of the vehicle, and the at least one second illumination device is disposed in the area of a taillight of the vehicle.

19. The surround-view system of claim 17, further comprising:

a first vehicle side camera on a first exterior mirror of the vehicle for photographing a first sideward partial area of the vehicle surroundings between the first partial area and the second partial area of the surroundings;

a second vehicle side camera on a second exterior mirror of the vehicle for photographing a second sideward partial area of the vehicle surroundings that is between the first partial area and the second partial area of the surroundings and differs from the first sideward partial area of the surroundings;

a first side illumination device at the first exterior mirror for photographing the first sideward partial area of the surroundings with the aid of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared wavelength range; and

a second side illumination device at the second exterior mirror for photographing the second sideward partial area of the surroundings with the aid of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared wavelength range.

20. A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:

a program code arrangement having program code for generating a surround-view image of surroundings of a vehicle, by performing the following;

effectuating illumination of the vehicle surroundings with at least two illumination devices, where using at least one first illumination device, a first partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range, and using at least one second illumination device, a second partial area of the vehicle surroundings is illuminated by electromagnetic radiation at least in the infrared wavelength range; and

p1 reading in image data from vehicle cameras, the image data representing photos of the partial areas of the illuminated vehicle surroundings, so as by combining the image data, to generate the surround-view image of the surroundings of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle has the vehicle cameras, which include a first vehicle camera for photographing the first partial area of the vehicle surroundings and at least one second vehicle camera for photographing the second partial area of the vehicle surroundings differing at least in part from the first partial area of the surroundings.