Birds-Eye-View Monitoring System With Auto Alignment

• US 20160234436A1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yu, Mengmeng, Ma, Guanglin, Jiang, Ruyi
• Application Number:
  US14/972,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20160234436A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 Geometric correction
• 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 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A surround view monitoring system configured to synthesize a birds-eye-view image of an area around a vehicle includes a camera and a controller. The camera is configured to capture a present-image of a field-of-view about the vehicle and output a signal indicative of the present-image. The present-image includes a feature of the vehicle. The controller is configured to receive the signal, compare the present-image to a reference-image from an initial calibration of the system. The reference-image also includes the feature. The controller is further configured to determine a correction table for the present-image to align the feature in the present-image to the feature in the reference-image.

Claims

1. A surround view monitoring system configured to synthesize a birds-eye-view image of an area around a vehicle, said system comprising:

a camera configured to capture a present-image of a field-of-view about the vehicle and output a signal indicative of the present-image, wherein the present-image includes a feature of the vehicle; and

a controller configured to receive the signal, compare the present-image to a reference-image from an initial calibration of the system, wherein the reference-image includes the feature, and determine a correction table for the present-image to align the feature in the present-image to the feature in the reference-image.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the feature is an edge of the vehicle.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the correction table includes a pan angle, a yaw angle, and a roll angle.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to align the present-image on a periodic basis.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform the initial calibration only when the vehicle is moving, and an ambient light intensity is greater than an illumination threshold.