3D navigation system for motor vehicles

• US 8,108,142 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Dupont, Cedric, Bergmann, Carsten, Stoschek, Arne, Rummel, Carlo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Moyer, Dale
• Application Number:
  US11/334,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20060164412A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-226, 701/50, 701/117, 701/300, 701/301, 348/149, 348113-120, 348/148, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 345/419, 345/427
• US Class Current: 701/211
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3638 including 3D objects and buildings three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects G06T17/00; geographic models G06T17/05
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/89 for mapping or imaging

Abstract

A 3D navigation system for motor vehicles includes a set-up combining a first motor vehicle and an environment scanner to generate a three-dimensional image of an environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle as well as at least a second motor vehicle and a communications connection between the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle for transmitting the three-dimensional image of the environment around the first motor vehicle or at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle to the second motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A 3-dimensional (3D) navigation system for motor vehicles, comprising:

a first motor vehicle comprising an environment scanner including (a) a sensor configured to collect data regarding the environment around the first motor vehicle, the environment including moving objects and non-moving objects and (b) an analyzer configured to analyze the collected data to distinguish the moving objects from the non-moving objects and generate navigation system display data based on the identified non-moving objects, wherein the navigation system display data represent a displayable image that comprises a perspective view of only the identified non-moving objects in at least a part of the environment around the first motor vehicle and wherein the navigation system display data represent a simplified image of a photographic image;

at least a second motor vehicle;

a communications connection between the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle for transmitting the navigation system display data to the second motor vehicle;

a stationary base station;

and a second communications connection between the first motor vehicle and the stationary base station for transmitting the navigation system display data to the stationary base station;

wherein the second motor vehicle comprises;

a communications connection between the second motor vehicle and the stationary base station for transmitting the navigation system display data,

a positioning module for determining a current position, and

a navigation module configured to display a current position and to receive the navigation system display data from either said first vehicle or said base station and to display said navigation system display data of the current position in form of said displayable image using said navigation system display data.

2. A 3D navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the system combines at least twenty motor vehicles each having an environment scanner for generating navigation system display data that represent a displayable image that comprises a perspective view of the environment around the respective motor vehicle or a perspective view of at least a part of the environment around the respective motor vehicle.

3. A 3D navigation system according to claim 1, wherein the second motor vehicle comprises:

a database stored on a computer readable medium of navigation system display data that represent a displayable image that comprises a perspective view of the environment around the second motor vehicle.

4. A 3D navigation system according to claim 3, wherein the navigation module is configured to update the database after receiving the navigation system display data.

5. A 3D navigation system according to claim 4, wherein the second motor vehicle further comprises:

a display device for displaying a two-dimensional representation of said perspective view.

6. A 3-dimensional (3D) navigation system for motor vehicles, comprising:

a combination of at least twenty motor vehicles each having an environment scanner including (a) a sensor configured to collect data regarding the environment around the first motor vehicle, the environment including moving objects and non-moving objects and (b) an analyzer configured to analyze the collected data to distinguish the moving objects from the non-moving objects and generate navigation system display data based on the identified non-moving objects, wherein the navigation system display data represent a displayable image that comprises a perspective view of only the identified non-moving objects in at least a part of the environment around the respective motor vehicle and wherein the navigation system display data represent a simplified image of a photographic image;

and a communications connection between every motor vehicle and a stationary base station for transmitting the navigation system display data to the stationary base station, wherein the navigation system display data are configured for navigation use in a navigation module of a vehicle.

7. A 3D navigation system according to claim 6, wherein the base station comprises:

a database stored on a computer readable medium of navigation system display data representing displayable images each comprising a perspective view; and

a navigation module for updating the database after receiving navigation system display data representing a displayable image that comprises a perspective view of the environment around a motor vehicle or of a perspective view of at least a part of the environment around the motor vehicle.

8. A 3D navigation system according to claim 6, wherein the base station comprises:

a database of navigation system display data representing displayable images each comprising a perspective view; and

a navigation module for updating the database after receiving data representing a displayable image that comprises a perspective view of an environment around a motor vehicle or a perspective view of at least a part of an environment around the motor vehicle, provided that the received navigation system display data differs from a corresponding navigation system display data representing a displayable image that comprises a perspective view of the same environment around the motor vehicle or a perspective view of at least the same part of the environment around the motor vehicle recorded by another motor vehicle before a certain waiting period and stored in the database.