Mirror Substitute Device and Vehicle

• US 20160288710A1
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: BRANDL, Juergen, FEY, Wolfgang
• Granted Patent: US 9,969,330 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 2021/0097 Amusement vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• 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: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

The present invention discloses a mirror substitute device for a vehicle, with at least one camera designed to cover at least a part of the surroundings of a vehicle and to provide a corresponding image signal, with an image processing device coupled to the camera and designed to process the image signal of the at least one camera and to output a processed image signal, and with at least one display device designed to display the processed image signal. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a corresponding vehicle.

Claims

1. A mirror substitute device (1) for a vehicle (2), comprising:

at least one camera (3-0-3-3) configured and arranged to monitor at least a part of surroundings of a vehicle (2) and to provide a corresponding initial image signal (4);

an image processing device (5) coupled to the at least one camera (3-0-3-3) and configured to process the initial image signal and to output a processed image signal (6); and

at least one display device (7-0-7-3) configured and arranged to display the processed image signal (6).

2. The mirror substitute device according claim 1, wherein the at least one camera (3-0-3-3) is configured and arranged to monitor at least the lateral and/or rear regions of the surroundings (8-1, 8-2, 9) of the vehicle (2).

3. The mirror substitute device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera includes a plurality of cameras configured to produce respective camera image signals that complement each other and are combined to form the initial image signal (4).

4. The mirror substitute device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device (5) has a communication interface (11) configured to obtain from a vehicle system (12) of the vehicle (2) at least data (13) about a direction of motion of the vehicle (2) and a speed of the vehicle.

5. The mirror substitute device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device (5) has a selection device (14) configured to select an image detail (15-1-15-2) from the initial image signal (4) and to output the image detail (15-1-15-2) as the processed image signal (6).

6. The mirror substitute device according to claim 5, wherein the selection device (14) is configured to select, when the vehicle (2) is moving forward, the image detail (15-1-15-2) that approximately corresponds to a theoretical image theoretically shown by an inside rear view mirror and/or lateral rear view mirror in the vehicle (2).

7. The mirror substitute device according to claim 5,

wherein the at least one camera (3-0-3-3) is configured and arranged to monitor a blind spot (16) of the vehicle (2);

and

wherein the selection device (14) is configured to select the image detail (15-1-15-2) which corresponds to the blind spot (16) of the vehicle (2).

8. The mirror substitute device according to claim 5, wherein the selection device (14) is configured to select and/or mark, when the vehicle (2) is moving backward at a speed below a first speed threshold value, the image detail (15-1-15-2) that shows the ground and/or the curbstone in the surroundings of the vehicle (2).

9. The mirror substitute device according to claim 5, wherein the selection device (14) is configured to select, when the vehicle (2) is loaded and/or is cornering and/or is moving uphill or downhill, the image detail (15-1-15-2) that shows a road behind the vehicle (2).

10. The mirror substitute device according to claim 5, wherein the selection device (14) is configured to select more than one said image detail (15-1-15-2) and to combine the selected image details (15-1-15-2) in the processed image signal (6);

and/or the selection device is configured to enlarge the image detail (15-1-15-2).

11. The mirror substitute device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device (5) has an image editing device (17) configured to:

change, particularly to normalize, brightness of at least one detail of the initial image signal (4); and

/or

change, particularly to increase, a contrast of at least one detail of the initial image signal (4); and

/or

change a coloration of at least one detail of the initial image signal (4); and

/or

stabilize contents of the initial image signal (4).

12. The mirror substitute device according to claim 1,

wherein the image processing device (5) has an object detection device (18) configured to detect objects (19-1-19-2) in the initial image signal (4) and/or in the processed image signal (6) and to mark at least one detected object (19-1-19-2) in the initial image signal (4);

and

wherein the object detection device (18) is configured to mark an object (19-1-19-2) by boxing the object and/or coloring the object with a predetermined color and/or zooming in on the object (19-1-19-2).

13. The mirror substitute device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device (5) has a calculating device (20) configured to generate a warning signal (21) based on the initial image signal (4) when the vehicle (2) is on a point of deviating from a traffic lane and/or when an object is in a blind spot (16) of the vehicle (2) and/or when an object is approaching the vehicle (2) from behind.

14. The mirror substitute device according to claim 1, wherein the image processing device (5) has a storage device (22) configured to store the initial image signal (4).

15. A vehicle (2) comprising a mirror substitute device (1) according to claim 1 mounted on a vehicle body.