Vehicle drive assist system

• US 7,640,108 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Toshihiro, Sakiyama, Kazuhiro, Sako, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolda; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diacou; Ari M
• Application Number:
  US11/504,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 340/937, 340/932.2, 701/301, 701/207, 701/211, 701/216, 701/223, 180/204
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• 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: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/484 for showing outline of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/102 using 360 degree surveillance camera system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• 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 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 : merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/306 : using a re-scaling of images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 : from a bird's eye viewpoint
• 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 2300/8053 : for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 : for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 : for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/10 : Automatic or semi-automatic parking aid systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/32 : Vehicle surroundings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/06 : Automatic manoeuvring for parking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 : by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/028 : Guided parking by providing commands to the driver, e.g. acoustically or optically
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 : with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 : Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera

Abstract

A vehicle drive assist system comprises a camera for picking up an image of an area existing in an advancing direction of a vehicle; display means for displaying the image picked up by the camera; steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle for steering the vehicle; traveling path predicting means for predicting a traveling path of the vehicle on the basis of the steering angle detected by the steering angle detecting means; and drive assist means for overlaying on the display means drive assist information containing the vehicle predictive traveling path predicted by the traveling path predicting means and guide lines prolonged from the lines defining the width of the vehicle body on the image of the area existing in the vehicle advancing direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle parking assist device comprising:

a camera operable to pick up an image of an area around a vehicle;

a display operable to display the image picked up by the camera; and

a drive assist unit that automatically selects one of a normal parking mode and a series parking mode, the vehicle drive assist device mounted in the vehicle including a navigation device that determines a position of the vehicle,

wherein the drive assist unit judges whether the vehicle is parking in a parking lot or on a road based on the position of the vehicle determined by the navigation device, and the drive assist unit selects the normal parking mode when the vehicle is parking in the parking lot or selects the series parking mode when the vehicle is parking on the road;

wherein when the normal parking mode is selected, the camera is directed to backward of the vehicle so as to pick up an image of a backward area of the vehicle and the display displays the image of the backward area of the vehicle; and

wherein when the series parking mode is selected, the camera is directed to sideward of the vehicle so as to pick up an image of a side area of the vehicle and the display displays the image of the side area of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle parking assist device according to claim 1,

wherein the vehicle includes a light for illuminating an area around the vehicle;

wherein the normal parking mode is selected, the light is directed to the backward of the vehicle to illuminate the backward area of the vehicle; and

wherein the series parking mode is selected, the light is directed to the sideward of the vehicle to illuminate the side area of the vehicle.