IMAGE PROCESSING FOR CAMERA BASED DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20160277651A1
• Filed: 03/17/2016
• Published: 09/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Sherman, Tom B., McMillan, Daniel G., Bush, Gregory S.
• Granted Patent: US 11,412,123 B2
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/44 Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A display system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises an imager configured to capture image data in a field of view rearward relative the vehicle. The system further comprises a display device and a controller. The display device comprises a screen disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The controller is in communication with the imager and the display device. The controller is operable to process the image data to identify at least one feature. Based on a position or orientation of the at least one feature in the image data, the controller adjusts at least one of a position and an orientation of a desired view of the image data for display on the screen.

Claims

1. A display system for a vehicle comprising:

an imager configured to capture image data in a field of view rearward relative to the vehicle;

a display device comprising a screen disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

a controller in communication with the imager and the display device, wherein the controller is operable to;

process the image data to identify at least one feature; and

adjust at least one of a position and an orientation of a desired view of the image data for display on the screen in response to a position or orientation of the at least one feature in the image data.

2. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the display device corresponds to a rear-view display device.

3. The display system according to claim 2, wherein the desired view corresponds to an angular offset of the image data for a rearview display device.

4. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of a vanishing point of a road and a horizon identified in the image data.

5. The display system according to claim 4, wherein the vanishing point is utilized to offset at least one of a horizontal position and a vertical position of the desired view of the image data.

6. The display system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one feature is utilized to offset at least one of a vertical position and a rotational orientation of the desired view of the image data.

7. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further operable to adjust a scale of the image data based on at least one user preference stored in a memory of the controller.

8. The display system according to claim 1, wherein the desired view corresponds to an offset of a vertical component and a horizontal component of the image data.

9. A method for displaying a rearward directed field of view for a vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing image data in the field of view;

processing the image data to identify at least one feature;

adjusting at least one of a position and an orientation of a desired view of the image data in response a position or orientation of the at least one feature in the image data; and

displaying the desired view on a rearview display of the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

receiving an input and adjusting the desired view of the image data in response to the input.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one of a vanishing point of a road and a horizon identified in the image data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adjusting comprises offsetting at least one of a horizontal position and a vertical position of the desired view based on a location of the vanishing point in the image data.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adjusting comprises offsetting a vertical position of the desired view based on a location of horizon in the image data.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the adjusting comprises offsetting a rotational orientation of the desired view based on an angle of the horizon in the image data.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising adjusting a scale of the image data based on a user preference.

16. An apparatus for displaying a rearward directed field of view for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a display device comprising a screen disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle;

a controller in communication with the display device and an imager configured to capture image data in the field of view, wherein the controller is operable to;

process the image data to identify at least one of a horizon and a vanishing point of a road; and

adjust at least one of a position and an orientation of a desired view of the image data for display on the screen in response a position or orientation of at least one of the horizon and the vanishing point.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to adjust an angular orientation of the desired view based on a slope of the horizon in the image data.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a linear position of the desired view based on a position of the vanishing point.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the desired view in the image data relative to a central focal point of the field of view in response to an input.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the controller is further configured to crop the image data to define the desired view based on the input.