Blind spot warning system for an automotive vehicle

• US 6,859,148 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2002
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tascillo, Anya Lynn, Miller, Ronald Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/065,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085196A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 340/937, 340/435, 340/436, 340/438, 340/903, 340/472, 340/901, 348/148, 382/104
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A warning system (12) for a source vehicle (10) is illustrated. A camera (20) generates a plurality of images. A controller (30) is coupled to an indicator (36). The controller (30) generates a size signal and position signal for a rear-approaching vehicle. The controller (30) activates an indicator when a rear-approaching vehicle enters a blind spot (14) in response to the size signal and position signal.

Claims

1. A warning system for a subject vehicle proximate a rear approaching vehicle comprising:

a rear-facing camera generating a plurality of images, said camera having a rear field of view adjacent to a blind spot;

an indicator;

a controller coupled to the indicator receiving the plurality of images, said controller generating a size and position signal for the rear approaching vehicle from the plurality of images, said controller activating an indicator when the rear approaching vehicle transitions into a blind spot from the rear field of view as determined in response to said size and position signal.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said camera has a rear field of view adjacent to and including a portion of the blind spot.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said camera comprises a low light camera.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller comprises a fuzzy neural network for classifying the object in response to the size and position signal.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said rear-facing camera is disposed on the rear of the vehicle.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said rear-facing camera is mounted to a rear panel of the subject vehicle.

7. A warning system for a blind spot of an automotive vehicle thereof comprising:

a rear-facing camera generating a plurality of images, said camera having a rear field of view adjacent to a blind spot;

an indicator; and

a controller coupled to the indicator receiving the plurality of images, said controller generating a size, a position and a track for a rear approaching vehicle from the plurality of images, said controller activating an indicator when the rear approaching vehicle transitions into a blind spot from the rear field of view as determined in response to said size, track and position.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said camera has a rear field of view adjacent to the blind spot.

9. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said camera comprises a low light camera.

10. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said controller comprises a fuzzy neural network for classifying the object in response to the size and position signal.

11. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said camera comprises a rear-facing camera.

12. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein said rear-facing camera is mounted to a rear panel.

13. A method of warning of a vehicle within a blind spot comprising:

generating a plurality of images of an object from a rear-facing camera having a rear field of view;

determining a size and a position of the abject from the plurality of images;

determining a transition of the object from the rear field of view into the blind spot; and

generating a warning when the object enters the blind spot from the rear field of view in response to size of the object.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 further comprising determining a trajectory from the plurality of images of the object.

15. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein generating a plurality of images comprises generating a plurality of images from a camera.

16. A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said camera comprises a low light camera.

17. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein generating a warning comprises generating an audible warning.

18. A method as recited in claim 13 wherein generating a warning comprise;

generating a visual warning.