MULTI-CAMERA VISION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
- a rear-mounted video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system;
said rear-mounted video camera having at least a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said rear-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least rearward of the equipped vehicle during a maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a front-mounted video camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle;
said front-mounted video camera having at least a forward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said front-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least forward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a first side-mounted video camera at a driver-side side portion of the equipped vehicle;
said first side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said first side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a second side-mounted video camera at a passenger-side side portion of the equipped vehicle;
said second side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;
said second side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a central data processor disposed in the equipped vehicle;
wherein captured image data is provided to said central data processor;
wherein image data captured by said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor;
wherein image data captured by at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor in order to detect objects that are within the field of view of at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera;
wherein detection of objects via processing at said central data processor of captured image data comprises use of an edge detection algorithm;
wherein the equipped vehicle is further equipped with a sensor system comprising at least one non-visual sensor selected from the group consisting of (i) a radar sensor and (ii) an ultrasonic sensor;
wherein said at least one non-visual sensor senses sensor data in a region external of the equipped vehicle;
wherein sensed sensor data is provided to said central data processor;
wherein data is provided to said central data processor via a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, via processing at said central data processor of at least one of received image data and received sensor data, a potential hazard present exterior the equipped vehicle is determined to exist;
wherein said rear-mounted video camera comprises a rear backup camera; and
wherein said rear backup camera has a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of a vehicle bumper of the equipped vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle includes a plurality of video cameras having respective fields of view external of the vehicle. Captured image data is provided to and processed at a central data processor in order to detect objects that are within the field of view of at least some of the video cameras. The vehicle is equipped with a sensor system having at least one non-visual sensor that senses sensor data in a region external of the vehicle. The sensed sensor data is provided to the central data processor. A potential hazard present exterior the vehicle is determined to exist via processing at the central data processor of at least one of received image data and received sensor data.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
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a rear-mounted video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system; said rear-mounted video camera having at least a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle; said rear-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least rearward of the equipped vehicle during a maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a front-mounted video camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle;
said front-mounted video camera having at least a forward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;said front-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least forward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a first side-mounted video camera at a driver-side side portion of the equipped vehicle;
said first side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;said first side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a second side-mounted video camera at a passenger-side side portion of the equipped vehicle; said second side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle; said second side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a central data processor disposed in the equipped vehicle; wherein captured image data is provided to said central data processor; wherein image data captured by said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor; wherein image data captured by at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor in order to detect objects that are within the field of view of at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera; wherein detection of objects via processing at said central data processor of captured image data comprises use of an edge detection algorithm; wherein the equipped vehicle is further equipped with a sensor system comprising at least one non-visual sensor selected from the group consisting of (i) a radar sensor and (ii) an ultrasonic sensor; wherein said at least one non-visual sensor senses sensor data in a region external of the equipped vehicle; wherein sensed sensor data is provided to said central data processor; wherein data is provided to said central data processor via a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle; wherein, via processing at said central data processor of at least one of received image data and received sensor data, a potential hazard present exterior the equipped vehicle is determined to exist; wherein said rear-mounted video camera comprises a rear backup camera; and wherein said rear backup camera has a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of a vehicle bumper of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
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a rear-mounted video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system; said rear-mounted video camera having at least a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle; said rear-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least rearward of the equipped vehicle during a maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a front-mounted video camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle;
said front-mounted video camera having at least a forward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;said front-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least forward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a first side-mounted video camera at a driver-side side portion of the equipped vehicle;
said first side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;said first side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a second side-mounted video camera at a passenger-side side portion of the equipped vehicle; said second side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle; said second side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a central data processor disposed in the equipped vehicle; wherein captured image data is provided to said central data processor; wherein image data captured by said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor; wherein image data captured by at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor in order to detect objects that are within the field of view of at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera; wherein detection of objects via processing at said central data processor of captured image data comprises use of an edge detection algorithm; wherein the equipped vehicle is further equipped with a sensor system comprising at least one non-visual sensor selected from the group consisting of (i) a radar sensor and (ii) an ultrasonic sensor; wherein said at least one non-visual sensor senses sensor data in a region external of the equipped vehicle; wherein sensed sensor data is provided to said central data processor; wherein data is provided to said central data processor via a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle; wherein, via processing at said central data processor of at least one of received image data and received sensor data, a potential hazard present exterior the equipped vehicle is determined to exist; and wherein said potential hazard arises from presence of traffic in a side lane to the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
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a rear-mounted video camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system; said rear-mounted video camera having at least a rearward field of view external of the equipped vehicle; said rear-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least rearward of the equipped vehicle during a maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a front-mounted video camera at a front portion of the equipped vehicle;
said front-mounted video camera having at least a forward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;said front-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least forward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a first side-mounted video camera at a driver-side side portion of the equipped vehicle;
said first side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle;said first side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a second side-mounted video camera at a passenger-side side portion of the equipped vehicle; said second side-mounted video camera having at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle; said second side-mounted video camera operable to capture video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle during the maneuver of the equipped vehicle; a central data processor disposed in the equipped vehicle; wherein captured image data is provided to said central data processor; wherein image data captured by said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor; wherein image data captured by at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera is processed at said central data processor in order to detect objects that are within the field of view of at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera; wherein detection of objects via processing at said central data processor of captured image data comprises use of an edge detection algorithm; wherein the equipped vehicle is further equipped with a sensor system comprising at least one non-visual sensor selected from the group consisting of (i) a radar sensor and (ii) an ultrasonic sensor; wherein said at least one non-visual sensor senses sensor data in a region external of the equipped vehicle; wherein sensed sensor data is provided to said central data processor; wherein, via processing at said central data processor of at least one of received image data and received sensor data, a potential hazard present exterior the equipped vehicle is determined to exist; wherein said rear-mounted video camera comprises a rear backup camera; wherein said rear backup camera has a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of a vehicle bumper of the equipped vehicle; wherein video images derived from image data captured by at least some of said front-mounted video camera, said first side-mounted video camera, said second side-mounted video camera and said rear-mounted video camera are output by said central data processor for display by a display device of the equipped vehicle; wherein said display device comprises a video screen operable to display said video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle who is operating the equipped vehicle; wherein said video images displayed by said video screen inform the driver of the environment in which the equipped vehicle is being operated; wherein a vehicle hitch is disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the rearward field of view of said rear-mounted video camera encompasses the vehicle hitch; wherein the vehicle hitch is configured to connect to a trailer tongue of a trailer to connect the trailer to the equipped vehicle; wherein said video images comprise an overlay that guides the driver of the equipped vehicle when hitching the trailer to the vehicle hitch of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said overlay aids in guiding connection of the vehicle hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of the trailer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification