Driver assistance system and method with object detection facility
First Claim
1. A method for attracting attention of the driver in a motor vehicle to a potential hazardous spot, the method comprising the acts of:
- scanning surroundings in front of the vehicle using at least one laser scanner in the vehicle and determining a shape of an object and a distance of the object from the vehicle;
recording the surroundings in front of the vehicle using at least one thermal imaging camera provided in the vehicle and making available a real image or a virtual image of the surroundings for display;
comparing the shape of the object with at least a first reference object utilizing a first pattern recognition process;
if, based on said comparing, a significant correspondence occurs between the shape of the object and the at least first reference object, determining an area on the real or virtual image displayed to the driver in which the object is to be found; and
highlighting, if the significant correspondence occurs between the shape of the object and the at least first reference object, at least one of the determined area of the real or virtual image and the respective object to be found in that area.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for attracting the attention of a motor vehicle driver to a potential hazardous spot in an image, which is illustrated in a real form on a display of the motor vehicle or in a virtual form in a region of the motor vehicle. At least one laser scanner provided in the vehicle scans the surroundings in front of the vehicle and determines the shape of an object and the distance of the object from the vehicle. At least one infrared camera, in particular a thermal imaging camera, is provided on the vehicle. It records the surroundings in front of the vehicle and makes available the real or virtual image of the surroundings for display to the driver. The object is compared with at least a first reference object within the scope of a first pattern recognition process. If there is significant correspondence between the object and the reference object, that area on the real or virtual image displayed to the driver in which the object is to be found is determined. The respective area of the image and/or the respective object is highlighted in the image.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for attracting attention of the driver in a motor vehicle to a potential hazardous spot, the method comprising the acts of:
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scanning surroundings in front of the vehicle using at least one laser scanner in the vehicle and determining a shape of an object and a distance of the object from the vehicle; recording the surroundings in front of the vehicle using at least one thermal imaging camera provided in the vehicle and making available a real image or a virtual image of the surroundings for display; comparing the shape of the object with at least a first reference object utilizing a first pattern recognition process; if, based on said comparing, a significant correspondence occurs between the shape of the object and the at least first reference object, determining an area on the real or virtual image displayed to the driver in which the object is to be found; and highlighting, if the significant correspondence occurs between the shape of the object and the at least first reference object, at least one of the determined area of the real or virtual image and the respective object to be found in that area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
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at least one laser scanner arranged in the vehicle, the scanner scanning surroundings in front of the vehicle and determining a shape of an object and a distance of the object from the vehicle; a thermal imaging camera arranged in the vehicle, the thermal imaging camera recording surroundings in front of the vehicle and generating a real or virtual image of the surroundings; and a display for displaying the real or virtual image of the surroundings, wherein if there is a significant correspondence between the shape of the object and the first reference object, an area on the display in which the object is found is determined and the determined area and/or the object is highlighted in the image on the display, wherein the driver assistance system processor is further configured to compare the shape of the object with at least a first reference object to determine whether there is a significant correspondence between the shape of the object and the first reference object. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification