METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIEWING UNDERNEATH A VEHICLE AND A TRAILER

• US 20200133293A1
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: CHOWDHURY, FARIA, MURAD, MOHANNAD, CHANEY, JR., MICHAEL T.
• Application Number:
  US16/171,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20200133293A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/171 Vehicle or relevant part thereof displayed
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/176 Camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/177 Augmented reality
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• 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 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system and method are provided for aiding an operator in operating a vehicle. In one embodiment, a system includes a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle. The system further includes a control module configured to, by a processor, to determine a scene of the environment based on the sensor data, determine a terrain feature in the environment based on the sensor data, alter a graphic of a vehicle component based on the terrain feature, and generate display data to display the altered graphic and the terrain feature in the scene for viewing by the operator of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system to aid an operator in operating a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor system configured to generate sensor data sensed from an environment of the vehicle; and

a control module configured to, by a processor, to determine a scene of the environment based on the sensor data, determine a terrain feature in the environment based on the sensor data, alter a graphic of a vehicle component based on the terrain feature, and generate display data to display the altered graphic and the terrain feature in the scene for viewing by the operator of the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to, by the processor, determine at least one of a height, a width, and a depth of the terrain feature, and wherein the control module alters a position of the graphic based on the at least one of the height, the width, and the depth.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to, by the processor, determine an actual position of the vehicle component and alter the graphic of the vehicle component based on the actual position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to, by the processor, generate display data to fade at least one of the scene and the altered graphic after the vehicle has stopped moving.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the control module is further configured to fade the at least one of the scene and the altered graphic based on a first in first out method.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the terrain feature includes at least one of a rock, a hole, debris, and a curb.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is at least one of a tire and a suspension system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to, by the processor, receive user input data indicating a viewing angle and select the graphic based on the viewing angle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the display data displays the scene and the altered graphic according to a virtual reality.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system includes a plurality of at least one of lidars, radars, ultrasounds, and cameras disposed about the vehicle.

11. A method for aiding an operator in operating a vehicle, comprising:

receiving sensor data from a sensor system that senses an environment of the vehicle;

determining, by a processor, a scene of the environment based on the sensor data;

determining, by the processor, a terrain feature in the environment based on the sensor data;

altering, by the processor, a graphic of a vehicle component based on the terrain feature; and

generating display data to display the altered graphic and the terrain feature in the scene for viewing by the operator of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining at least one of a height, a width, and a depth of the terrain feature, and wherein the altering is based on the at least one of the height, the width, and the depth.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining an actual position of the vehicle component and wherein the altering the graphic of the vehicle component is further based on the actual position.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating display data to fade at least one of the scene and the altered graphic after the vehicle has stopped moving.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the fading the at least one of the scene and the altered graphic is based on a first in first out method.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the terrain feature includes at least one of a rock, a hole, debris, and a curb.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle component is at least one of a tire and a suspension system.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving user input data indicating a viewing angle and selecting the graphic based on the viewing angle.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the display data displays the scene and the altered graphic according to a virtual reality.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor system includes a plurality of at least one of lidars, radars, ultrasounds, and cameras disposed about the vehicle.