METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING NOTIFICATIONS ON CAMERA DISPLAYS FOR VEHICLES

• US 20180197023A1
• Filed: 01/11/2017
• Published: 07/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: MURAD, MOHANNAD, MACHAK, JOSEPH, WUERGLER, MICHAEL A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,268,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/92 Driver displays
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/10 for generating image signals from different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for providing notifications on camera displays for vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, camera is mounted on a body of the vehicle, and is configured to generate camera images. A processor is configured to at least facilitate generating a display image based on a processing of the camera images, for display on a display screen within the vehicle; determining a fixed region of the display image corresponding to a fixed part of the vehicle; and providing notifications on the display image in the fixed region of the display image.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining camera images for a camera that is mounted on a vehicle, each of the camera images including a plurality of pixels;

generating, via a processor, a display image based on a processing of the camera images for display on a display screen within the vehicle;

determining a fixed region of the display image corresponding to a fixed part of the vehicle; and

providing notifications on the display image in the fixed region of the display image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the fixed region comprises:

analyzing pixels of the display image to determine which pixels are not moving over time; and

determining the fixed region to be a region associated with the pixels that are not moving over time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the fixed region corresponds to a bumper of the vehicle; and

the step of providing the notifications comprises providing the notifications on the fixed region of the display image corresponding to the bumper of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of determining the fixed region comprises determining the fixed region based on a known location of the bumper stored in a memory of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the camera images show a region behind the vehicle;

the method further comprises detecting, via one or more sensors, the presence of one or more objects in proximity to the vehicle; and

the step of providing the notifications comprises providing, in the fixed region of the display image, notifications pertaining to the detected objects.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the step of providing the notifications comprises providing, in the fixed region of the display image, notifications in a particular color based at least in part on a position of the object with respect to the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the method further comprises determining, using information provided by the one or more sensors, a direction of movement of the one or more objects in proximity to the vehicle; and

the step of providing the notifications comprises providing, in the fixed region of the display image, a notification corresponding to the determined direction of movement.

8. A system comprising:

a communication link configured to provide camera images for a camera that is mounted on a vehicle; and

a processor configured to at least facilitate;

generating a display image based on a processing of the camera images, for display on a display screen within the vehicle;

determining a fixed region of the display image corresponding to a fixed part of the vehicle; and

providing notifications on the display image in the fixed region of the display image.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate:

analyzing pixels of the display image to determine which pixels are not moving over time; and

determining the fixed region to be a region associated with the pixels that are not moving over time.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a memory configured to store a location of a bumper of the vehicle;

wherein;

the fixed region corresponds to a bumper of the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing the notifications on the fixed region of the display image corresponding to the bumper of the vehicle based on the stored location of the bumper.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the camera images show a region behind the vehicle;

the system further comprises one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of one or more objects in proximity to the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing, in the fixed region of the display image, notifications pertaining to the detected objects.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing, in the fixed region of the display image, notifications in a particular color based at least in part on a position of the object with respect to the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing, in the fixed region of the display image, a notification corresponding to the determined direction of movement.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

a camera mounted on the body, the camera configured to generate camera images; and

a processor configured to at least facilitate;

generating a display image based on a processing of the camera images, for display on a display screen within the vehicle;

determining a fixed region of the display image corresponding to a fixed part of the vehicle; and

providing notifications on the display image in the fixed region of the display image.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate:

analyzing pixels of the display image to determine which pixels are not moving over time; and

determining the fixed region to be a region associated with the pixels that are not moving over time.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

a memory configured to store a location of a bumper of the vehicle;

wherein;

the fixed region corresponds to a bumper of the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing the notifications on the fixed region of the display image corresponding to the bumper of the vehicle based on the stored location of the bumper.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein:

the camera images show a region behind the vehicle;

the system further comprises one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of one or more objects in proximity to the vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing, in the fixed region of the display image, notifications pertaining to the detected objects.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing, in the fixed region of the display image, notifications in a particular color based at least in part on a position of the object with respect to the vehicle.

19. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate providing, in the fixed region of the display image, a notification corresponding to the determined direction of movement.

20. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

a communication link configured to provide the camera images from the camera to the processor; and

a display screen configured to provide the display image, including the notifications on the fixed region thereof, based on instructions provided by the processor.