INTEGRATED FAULT-TOLERANT AUGMENTED AREA VIEWING SYSTEM

• US 20160210861A1
• Filed: 10/02/2015
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Bergsagel, Jonathan Elliot, Nadampalli, Sunita, Shelburne, Thomas Ray, Byers, Ian Carl, Dubey, Aishwarya
• Granted Patent: US 10,395,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/404 triggering from stand-by mode to operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

An integrated fault-tolerant augmented area viewing system includes, for example, a subsystem processor for receiving a safety signal for blind spot monitoring from a blind spot sensor and for generating a subsystem processor video output signal in response to the received safety signal. Selector circuitry selects the subsystem processor video output signal or a master controller video output signal received from a master controller and generates a selected video output signal in response. The selector circuitry performs the selection of the video output signal selection in response to receiving a safety request signal generated in response to a user action. A buffer outputs the selected video output signal for displaying on a display for viewing by the user.

Claims

1. A circuit, comprising:

a subsystem processor for receiving a safety signal for blind spot monitoring from a blind spot sensor and for generating a subsystem processor video output signal in response to the received safety signal;

selector circuitry for selecting one of the subsystem processor video output signal and a master controller video output signal received from a master controller, the video output signal selection being performed in response to receiving a safety request signal generated in response to a user action; and

a buffer for outputting the selected video output signal for displaying on a display for viewing by the user.

2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the blind spot sensor is a video camera for generating a subsystem processor video input signal, the subsystem processor video input signal including video frames.

3. The circuit of claim 2, wherein the safety request signal for blind spot monitoring is asserted in response to a user actuating a control of a vehicle to which the first video camera is affixed.

4. The circuit of claim 2, comprising the master controller, wherein the master controller is formed upon a substrate upon which the subsystem processor is formed, and wherein the master controller is operable to configure a boot configuration of the subsystem processor.

5. The circuit of claim 4, comprising a bad frame detector for detecting bad frames in the subsystem processor video input signal.

6. The circuit of claim 5, wherein the bad frame detector is operable to detect bad frames in the selected video output signal.

7. The circuit of claim 5, comprising the display, wherein the display is coupled to receive the selected video output signal.

8. The circuit of claim 7, wherein bad frame detector is operable to receive successive video frames from the display and is operable to detect bad frames by comparing digital signatures, wherein each digital signature is associated with one of the successive video frames received from the display.

9. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the bad frame detector is operable to provide an indication of a video stream fault in response to one of the subsystem processor video input signal, the selected video output signal, and successive video frames received from the display.

10. The circuit of claim 8, wherein the bad frame detector is operable to provide an indication whether a video stream fault occurs off-substrate or on-substrate.

11. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the circuit is operable to generate the subsystem processor video output signal for display by including a warning video output signal as a portion of the subsystem processor video output signal in response to a detection of a bad frame in a video signal derived from the blind spot sensor.

12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the circuit is operable to generate the subsystem processor video output signal for display independently of an operating state of the master controller.

13. A system, comprising:

a subsystem processor formed on a substrate and for receiving a safety signal for blind spot monitoring from a blind spot sensor and for generating a subsystem processor video output signal in response to the received safety signal;

a master controller formed on the substrate and operable to configure the subsystem processor;

selector circuitry for selecting one of the subsystem processor video output signal and a master controller video output signal received from the master controller, the video output signal selection being performed in response to receiving a safety request signal generated in response to a user action; and

a display for receiving the selected video output signal and for displaying the received selected video output signal for viewing by the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the master controller is operable to load a boot image for the subsystem processor.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the selector circuitry is operable to select one of the subsystem processor video output signal and a master controller video output signal received from the master controller, and is operable to output the subsystem processor video output signal for display independently of an operating state of the master controller.

16. The system of claim 15, comprising a bad frame detector for detecting bad frames in the subsystem processor video input signal independently of the operating state of the master controller.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving in a subsystem processor formed on a substrate a safety signal for blind spot monitoring from a blind spot sensor;

generating on the substrate a subsystem processor video output signal in response to the received safety signal;

selecting one of the subsystem processor video output signal and a master controller video output signal received from a master controller, the video output signal selection being performed in response to receiving on the substrate a safety request signal generated in response to a user action; and

outputting the selected video output signal for displaying on a display for viewing by the user.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising booting a high-level operating system (HLOS) on the master controller in parallel with booting a subsystem processor for generating the subsystem processor video output signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the subsystem processor video output signal for display is generated by including a warning video output signal as a portion of the subsystem processor video output signal in response to a detection of a bad frame in a video signal derived from the blind spot sensor.

20. The method of claim 19, comprising determining whether bad frames are detected in one of a first and second writeback path of a video signal derived from the blind spot sensor, wherein the second writeback path is different from the first writeback path and includes a return portion for receiving frame information of selected video output signal frames displayed on the display.