Alert system for vehicle

• US 9,126,525 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Nix, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Jay
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUANG, FRANK F
• Application Number:
  US13/202,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20120062743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• 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 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/02 related to ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa
• 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: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

An alert system for a vehicle includes a video display, an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly, a driver side visual alert device disposed at a driver side exterior rearview mirror assembly and a passenger side visual alert device disposed at a passenger side exterior rearview mirror assembly. A control is operable to activate at least one of the alert devices in response to a detection of an object rearward of the vehicle. The alert devices are viewable by the driver of the vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check the images captured by a rearward facing camera and displayed in the vehicle cabin by the video display so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An alert system for a vehicle having a rear vision system, said alert system comprising:

a video display screen for displaying video images that are captured by a rearward-facing camera, wherein said video display screen is viewable by the driver of a vehicle equipped with said alert system;

an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said interior visual alert device is operable independently of said video display screen;

a driver-side visual alert device disposed at a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

a passenger-side visual alert device disposed at a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said video display screen is disposed in the equipped vehicle separate from said interior visual alert device disposed at the interior rearview mirror;

a control responsive to a rearward-directed object detection system of the equipped vehicle, wherein said rearward-directed object detection system is operable to detect an object rearward of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and responsive to detection of an object rearward of the equipped vehicle by said rearward-directed object detection system, said control is operable to activate (i) said interior visual alert device, (ii) said driver-side visual alert device and (iii) said passenger-side visual alert device, and wherein said interior visual alert device, said driver-side visual alert device and said passenger-side visual alert device are viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check video images that are captured by said at least one rearward-facing camera and displayed in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle by said video display screen during the reversing maneuver so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle as being detected by said rearward-directed object detection system.

2. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said rearward-directed object detection system comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by said at least one rearward-facing camera.

3. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said rearward-directed object detection system comprises at least one of (a) an image processor for processing image data captured by said at least one rearward-facing camera at the rear of the equipped vehicle, (b) a radar sensing system having at least one rearward-directed radar sensor at the rear of the equipped vehicle, (c) an ultrasonic sensing system having at least one rearward-directed ultrasonic sensor at the rear of the equipped vehicle, and (d) an infrared sensing system having at least one rearward-directed infrared time-of-flight sensor at the rear of the equipped vehicle.

4. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said interior visual alert device, said driver-side visual alert device and said passenger-side visual alert device are viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is viewing the respective mirror assembly and are viewable through a reflective element of the respective mirror assemblies.

5. The alert system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the reflective elements of said interior rearview mirror assembly, said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a transflective reflective element, and wherein said respective visual alert device is viewable through said transflective reflective element when said respective visual alert device is activated and wherein said respective visual alert device is substantially not viewable through said transflective reflective element when said respective visual alert device is not activated.

6. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said system comprises a central driver active safety control module.

7. The alert system of claim 6, wherein said central driver active safety control module comprises an image processor, a vision core and a fusion core co-established on a common substrate.

8. The alert system of claim 7, wherein said image processor processes image data received from one or more imaging sensors for at least one of (i) automatic headlamp control, (ii) lane departure warning and (iii) traffic sign recognition.

9. The alert system of claim 7, wherein said vision core is responsive to said image processor and is operable to manipulate images for displaying captured images on said video display screen for viewing by the driver of the vehicle.

10. The alert system of claim 7, wherein said fusion core receives an input from at least one of (i) a global positioning system of the vehicle, (ii) a navigational system of the vehicle, (iii) a telematics system of the vehicle, (iv) an infotainment system of the vehicle, (v) an imaging sensor, (vi) a non-imaging sensor, (vii) a radar sensor, (viii) an infrared sensor, (ix) an IROD sensor, (x) a time-of-flight sensor and (xi) an ultrasonic sensor.

11. The alert system of claim 10, wherein information received by said fusion core comprises information pertaining to at least one of (i) a speed of the vehicle, (ii) a steering wheel angle of the vehicle, (iii) a yaw rate of the vehicle, (iv) a type of vehicle and (v) an acceleration of the vehicle.

12. The alert system of claim 11, wherein said fusion core is operable to fuse said input with said information to enhance at least one of (a) processing of said alert system, (b) decision making of said alert system and (c) control of said alert system.

13. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said rearward-directed object detection system comprises a fusion of an image-based object detection system and a non-image-based object detection system.

14. The alert system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen is disposed at a dashboard of the equipped vehicle.

15. The alert system of claim 1, wherein (i) said interior visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly, (ii) said driver-side visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and (iii) said passenger-side visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.

16. An alert system for a vehicle having a rear vision system, said alert system comprising:

a video display screen for displaying video images that are captured by a rearward-facing camera, wherein said video display screen is viewable by the driver of a vehicle equipped with said alert system;

an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said interior visual alert device is operable independently of said video display screen;

a driver-side visual alert device disposed at a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

a passenger-side visual alert device disposed at a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

a control responsive to a rearward-directed object detection system of the equipped vehicle, wherein said rearward-directed object detection system is operable to detect an object rearward of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said interior visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the interior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said driver-side visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said passenger-side visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly;

wherein said video display screen is disposed in the equipped vehicle separate from said interior visual alert device disposed at the interior rearview mirror;

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and responsive to detection of an object rearward of the equipped vehicle by said rearward-directed object detection system, said control is operable to activate (i) said interior visual alert device, (ii) said driver-side visual alert device and (iii) said passenger-side visual alert device, and wherein said interior visual alert device, said driver-side visual alert device and said passenger-side visual alert device are viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check video images that are captured by said at least one rearward-facing camera and displayed in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle by said video display screen during the reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle as being detected by said rearward-directed object detection system;

wherein said rearward-directed object detection system comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by said at least one rearward-facing camera; and

wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of said image data by said image processor, activates said interior visual alert device, said driver-side visual alert device and said passenger-side visual alert device responsive to a detection of an object rearward of the equipped vehicle.

17. The alert system of claim 16, wherein said interior visual alert device, said driver-side visual alert device and said passenger-side visual alert device are viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is viewing the respective mirror assembly and are viewable through a mirror reflector of the reflective element of the respective mirror assemblies.

18. The alert system of claim 17, wherein at least one of said interior rearview mirror assembly, said driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and said passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly comprises a transflective reflective element, and wherein said respective visual alert device is viewable through said transflective reflective element when said respective visual alert device is activated and wherein said respective visual alert device is substantially not viewable through said transflective reflective element when said respective visual alert device is not activated.

19. An alert system for a vehicle having a rear vision system, said alert system comprising:

a video display screen for displaying video images that are captured by a rearward-facing camera, wherein said video display screen is viewable by the driver of a vehicle equipped with said alert system;

an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said interior visual alert device is operable independently of said video display screen;

a driver-side visual alert device disposed at a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

a passenger-side visual alert device disposed at a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

a control responsive to a rearward-directed object detection system of the equipped vehicle, wherein said rearward-directed object detection system is operable to detect an object rearward of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and responsive to detection of an object rearward of the equipped vehicle by said rearward-directed object detection system, said control is operable to activate (i) said interior visual alert device, (ii) said driver-side visual alert device and (iii) said passenger-side visual alert device, and wherein said interior visual alert device, said driver-side visual alert device and said passenger-side visual alert device are viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check video images that are captured by said at least one rearward-facing camera and displayed in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle by said video display screen during the reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle as being detected by said rearward-directed object detection system;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior video mirror assembly; and

wherein said video display screen is disposed at said interior video mirror assembly and wherein said video display screen is separate from said interior visual alert device disposed at the interior video mirror assembly.

20. The alert system of claim 19, wherein said interior visual alert device is disposed behind a reflective element of said interior video mirror assembly.

21. An alert system for a vehicle having a rear vision system, said alert system comprising:

a video display screen for displaying video images that are captured by a rearward-facing camera, wherein said video display screen is viewable by the driver of a vehicle equipped with said alert system;

an interior visual alert device disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said interior visual alert device is operable independently of said video display screen;

a driver-side visual alert device disposed at a driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

a passenger-side visual alert device disposed at a passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle;

a control responsive to a rearward-directed object detection system of the equipped vehicle, wherein said rearward-directed object detection system is operable to detect an object rearward of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and responsive to detection of an object rearward of the equipped vehicle by said rearward-directed object detection system, said control is operable to activate (i) said interior visual alert device, (ii) said driver-side visual alert device and (iii) said passenger-side visual alert device, and wherein said interior visual alert device, said driver-side visual alert device and said passenger-side visual alert device are viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when activated and are operable to guide or prompt the driver to check video images that are captured by said at least one rearward-facing camera and displayed in the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle by said video display screen during the reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle so that the driver can verify the nature and type of a potential hazard rearward of the vehicle as being detected by said rearward-directed object detection system;

wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an interior video mirror assembly;

wherein said video display screen is disposed at said interior video mirror assembly;

wherein the reflective element of said interior video mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic transflective reflective element;

wherein said electrochromic transflective reflective element comprises a transflective reflector;

wherein said interior visual alert device is viewable through said transflective reflector of said transflective reflective element when said interior visual alert device is activated and wherein said interior visual alert device is substantially not viewable through said transflective reflector of said transflective reflective element when said interior visual alert device is not activated; and

wherein said interior visual alert device is separate from said video display screen at said interior video mirror assembly.

22. The alert system of claim 21, wherein (i) said interior visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind said transflective reflective element of said interior video mirror assembly, (ii) said driver-side visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the driver-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and (iii) said passenger-side visual alert device comprises an iconistic display disposed behind a reflective element of the passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly and viewed through the reflective element of the passenger-side exterior rearview mirror assembly.