Vision system for vehicle

• US 7,881,496 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Camilleri, Joseph, Gibson, Joel S., Schofield, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOTSINGER, SEAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/239,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 348113-120, 348148-149, 340988-996, 340901-905, 340933-943, 735105-134, 752105-134, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106
• US Class Current: 382/104
• 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• 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 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• 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 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 : from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 : Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 348/904 : Separation or joining of side and center panels

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having an imaging sensor, a camera microcontroller, a display device having a display element, a display microcontroller, and at least one user input selectively actuatable by a user. The imaging device communicates an image signal to the display device via a communication link. The display microcontroller affects the image signal in response to the at least one user input. The camera microcontroller monitors the image signal on the communication link and adjusts a function of the imaging device in response to a detection of the affected image signal. The vision system may adjust a display or sensor of the system in conjunction with a distance detecting system.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

an imaging device having an imaging sensor;

a camera microcontroller;

a display device having a display element;

a display microcontroller;

at least one user input selectively actuatable by a user; and

wherein said imaging device communicates an image signal to said display device via a communication link, said display microcontroller affecting said image signal in response to said at least one user input, said camera microcontroller monitoring said image signal on said communication link and adjusting a function of said imaging device in response to a detection of said affected image signal, wherein said display microcontroller affects said image signal by disabling a video termination at said display device.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device stops communicating said image signal when said video termination is disabled.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein said display microcontroller selectively applies at least two voltage levels across said communication link in response to at least two user inputs, said camera microcontroller adjusting a function of said imaging device in response to a respective one of said at least two voltage levels.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said imaging device comprises a video encoder, said video encoder communicating said image signal to said display device via said communication link.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said communication link comprises a video plus and a video return wire.

6. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said imaging sensor has a field of view exteriorly of the vehicle.

7. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said imaging sensor has a field of view rearwardly of the vehicle.

8. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system is operable to adjust an image displayed on said display device in response to a signal from a distance sensing device operable to determine a distance to an object exteriorly of the vehicle.

9. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said distance sensing device comprises at least one of an ultrasonic sensor, a radar device, a sonar device, a laser sensing device, a lidar device and a laser scanning device.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera microcontroller and said display microcontroller share a common microprocessor.

11. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

an imaging device having an imaging sensor;

a camera microcontroller;

a display device having a display element;

a display microcontroller;

at least one user input selectively actuatable by a user; and

wherein said imaging device communicates an image signal to said display device via a communication link, said display microcontroller communicating a control signal to said imaging device via said communication link in response to said at least one user input, said camera microcontroller receiving said control signal and adjusting a function of said imaging device in response to said control signal, said image signal and said control signal utilizing a common link between said imaging device and said display device, wherein said display microcontroller communicates said control signal by disabling a video termination at said display device.

12. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said camera microcontroller and said display microcontroller share a common microprocessor.

13. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said imaging device stops communicating said image signal when said video termination is disabled.

14. The vision system of claim 13, wherein said display microcontroller selectively applies at least two voltage levels across said communication link in response to at least two user inputs, said camera microcontroller adjusting a function of said imaging device in response to a respective one of said at least two voltage levels.

15. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said imaging device comprises a video encoder, said video encoder communicating said image signal to said display device via said communication link.

16. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said communication link comprises a video plus and a video return wire.

17. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said imaging sensor has a field of view exteriorly of the vehicle.

18. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said imaging sensor has a field of view rearwardly of the vehicle.

19. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said vision system is operable to adjust an image displayed on said display device in response to a signal from a distance sensing device operable to determine a distance to an object exteriorly of the vehicle.

20. The vision system of claim 19, wherein said distance sensing device comprises at least one of an ultrasonic sensor, a radar device, a sonar device, a laser sensing device, a lidar device and a laser scanning device.

21. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

an imaging device having an imaging sensor;

a camera microcontroller;

a display device having a display element, said display element being at an upper windshield area of the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle;

a display microcontroller;

at least one user input selectively actuatable by a user; and

wherein said imaging device communicates an image signal to said display device via a communication link, said display microcontroller affecting said image signal in response to said at least one user input, said camera microcontroller monitoring said image signal on said communication link and adjusting a function of said imaging device in response to a detection of said affected image signal, wherein said display microcontroller affects said image signal by disabling a video termination at said display device, said imaging device stopping communicating said image signal when said video termination is disabled.

22. The vision system of claim 21, wherein said display microcontroller selectively applies at least two voltage levels across said communication link in response to at least two user inputs, said camera microcontroller adjusting a function of said imaging device in response to a respective one of said at least two voltage levels.

23. The vision system of claim 21, wherein said imaging device comprises a video encoder, said video encoder communicating said image signal to said display device via said communication link.

24. The vision system of claim 21, wherein said display device is associated with an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle.

25. The vision system of claim 21, wherein said display device is associated with an accessory module of the vehicle.