Method of detecting an object near a vehicle

• US 8,332,097 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Chiba, Tanemichi, Uesaka, Hiroto, Wiegand, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, John Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NG, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US12/002,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,824 Days
• Field of Search: 701/53, 701/70, 701/29.1, 701/29.6, 701/30.5, 701/30.8, 701/31.4, 701/36, 348/148
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method of detecting an object in or near a path of a vehicle utilizes object detection and warning system, including one or more cameras mounted to the vehicle. The method includes taking a first image with a camera when the vehicle is operated in a first predetermined manner, taking a second image with the camera when the vehicle is operated in a second predetermined manner, comparing the second image with the first image, and operating the system based on the compared first and second images. The method may further include storing a plurality of first images in a memory and comparing the second image with one of the first images stored in the memory. The method may further include alerting a vehicle driver when the object is detected, disabling the vehicle and then enabling the vehicle when no object is in a potential path of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of detecting an object in a path of a vehicle, the vehicle having an object detection and warning system including a camera mounted to take images external of the vehicle, the method comprising:

taking a first image with a camera when a driver operates the vehicle in accordance with a first predetermined manner;

taking a second image with the camera only in response to the driver operating the vehicle in accordance with a second predetermined manner different than the first predetermined manner;

comparing the second image with the first image; and

operating the object detection and warning system after comparing the second image with the first image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein taking the first image further comprises storing the first image in a memory.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the memory includes a database containing a plurality of first images.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein comparing the first and second images includes comparing the second image to at least one of the plurality of first images stored in the memory.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein comparing the second image to the first image further comprises comparing shading of the images.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein comparing the second image to the first image includes overlaying the first image and the second image.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein comparing the second image to the first image includes determining a first relative position between objects captured in the first image and a second relative position between objects captured in the second image and comparing the first and second relative positions of the objects.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling the vehicle after operating the object detection and warning system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein operating the vehicle in the first predetermined manner includes:

shifting a transmission of the vehicle into a park position, turning an ignition of the vehicle into an off position, or maintaining a vehicle speed of zero.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein operating the vehicle in the second predetermined manner includes:

shifting the transmission of the vehicle from the park position, turning the ignition of the vehicle into an on position, or immediately after moving the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein operating the object detection and warning system further comprises:

sounding an audible warning upon detecting a difference between the first and second image; and

displaying a visible warning in a different color on a monitor.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing of the second image occurs when a transmission of the vehicle is shifted out of a park position.

13. A method of detecting an object in a path of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a camera to the vehicle for capturing digital images external to the vehicle;

capturing a first image with the camera upon stopping motion of the vehicle;

turning an ignition of the vehicle to an off position immediately after stopping the vehicle;

storing the first image in a memory holding a plurality of different first images;

capturing a second image with the camera upon the next turning of the ignition of the vehicle to an on position after the ignition of the vehicle was previously turned to the off position;

comparing the second image with the first image;

determining a difference between the second image and the first image based upon the comparison of the second image with the first image, wherein the difference is an object;

determining that the object in the second image is in a path of the vehicle; and

generating a visible warning of the object on an in-vehicle monitor in response to determining that the object in the second image is in a path of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the visible warning of the object further comprises displaying the object in color contrast to other displayed colors on an in-vehicle monitor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein generating the visible warning of the object further comprises displaying the object relative to a periphery of the vehicle.

16. A method of detecting an object in a path of a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a camera to the vehicle for capturing images external to the vehicle;

capturing a first image with the camera upon stopping the vehicle;

turning an ignition of the vehicle to an off position immediately after stopping the vehicle;

storing the first image in a memory;

capturing a second image with the camera upon the next turning an ignition an vehicle to an on position after the ignition of the vehicle was previously turned to the off position;

comparing the second image with the first image;

detecting an object in the second image that is in a path of the vehicle based upon the comparison of the second image with the first image; and

generating an audible and a visible warning on an in-vehicle monitor in response to detecting the object in the second image that is in a path of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of first images are stored in the memory.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein comparing the second image with the first image further comprises comparing shading of the images.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein generating the audible and the visible warning further comprises indicating on a monitor a position of the detected object relative to a periphery of the vehicle.