VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20160068160A1
• Filed: 11/16/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,428,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/331 Electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/148 Input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/152 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/331 Electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/52 Control of displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/589 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 : Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 : Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 : Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 : for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 : Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 : automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 : oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 : for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/001 : integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 : mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 : Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 : in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 : to the rear of the vehicle
• 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 2011/0026 : Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 : using a head-up display
• 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 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• 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 2300/302 : combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 : for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 : Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 : Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 : Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• 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: G06V 20/582 : of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 : of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a forward facing camera configured to be disposed at a windshield of a vehicle so as to have a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle. The forward facing camera is operable to capture image data for an adaptive speed control system of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process captured image data. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data, lane markers of the road along which the vehicle is traveling are detected. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of captured image data, road curvature of the road along which the vehicle is traveling is determined. The speed of the vehicle may be automatically reduced the responsive to determination of a driving condition or situation.

Claims

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

a forward facing camera configured to be disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vision system, wherein, when disposed at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said forward facing camera has a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

said forward facing camera comprising an imaging array sensor and a lens;

wherein said forward facing camera is operable to capture image data for an adaptive speed control system of the equipped vehicle;

an image processor operable to process captured image data;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, lane markers of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling are detected;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, other vehicles exterior the equipped vehicle are detected;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, road curvature of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling is determined;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, entering of the equipped vehicle into a road construction zone is determined; and

wherein, responsive to the determination that the equipped vehicle is entering into the road construction zone, speed of the equipped vehicle is automatically reduced.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, a traffic sign is recognized.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein said traffic sign comprises a road construction zone sign.

4. The vision system of claim 3, wherein a driver of the equipped vehicle is alerted that said road construction zone sign is recognized.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data recognizing that the equipped vehicle is approaching a curve of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, speed of the equipped vehicle is automatically reduced.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, a warning sign at or ahead of the curve is recognized.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein said warning sign comprises a speed limit appropriate for traveling around the curve and wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, the speed limit is determined.

8. The vision system of claim 7, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle is automatically reduced to or below the speed limit appropriate for traveling around the curve.

9. The vision system of claim 5, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, said adaptive speed control system increases the speed of the equipped vehicle to above the reduced speed when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road has been traveled by the equipped vehicle.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein image data captured by said forward facing camera is processed by said image processor for a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle.

11. The vision system of claim 10, wherein sign recognition is adapted to a current geographical location of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle is determined by a global positioning system.

12. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, a lane of a road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling is determined.

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

a forward facing camera configured to be disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vision system, wherein, when disposed at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said forward facing camera has a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

said forward facing camera comprising an imaging array sensor and a lens;

wherein said forward facing camera is operable to capture image data for an adaptive speed control system of the equipped vehicle;

an image processor operable to process captured image data;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, lane markers of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling are detected;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, other vehicles exterior the equipped vehicle are detected;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, road curvature of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling is determined;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, a school bus stopping signal is detected; and

wherein, responsive to the detection of the school bus stopping signal, speed of the equipped vehicle is automatically reduced.

14. The vision system of claim 13, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, a warning sign is recognized.

15. The vision system of claim 14, wherein said warning sign comprises characters and wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, the characters of said warning sign are determined.

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

a forward facing camera configured to be disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vision system, wherein, when disposed at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said forward facing camera has a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

said forward facing camera comprising an imaging array sensor and a lens;

wherein said forward facing camera is operable to capture image data for an adaptive speed control system of the equipped vehicle;

an image processor operable to process captured image data;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, lane markers of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling are detected;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, road curvature of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling is determined;

wherein the road lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling comprises a freeway;

wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, travel of the equipped vehicle on an exit ramp of the freeway is determined; and

wherein, responsive to the determination of travel of the equipped vehicle on an exit ramp of the freeway, speed of the equipped vehicle is automatically reduced.

17. The vision system of claim 16, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, a lane change by the equipped vehicle to enter the exit ramp is detected.

18. The vision system of claim 16, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, a warning sign is recognized.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said warning sign comprises characters and wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, the characters of said warning sign are determined.

20. The vision system of claim 19, wherein the characters of said warning sign comprise a reduced speed for the exit ramp off the freeway.

21. The vision system of claim 16, wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, said adaptive speed control system increases the speed of the equipped vehicle to above the reduced speed when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the off ramp has been traveled by the equipped vehicle.