Method of controlling an optical output device for displaying a vehicle surround view and vehicle surround view system

• US 9,244,884 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Quast, Johannes, Scholl, Kay-Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramesh, Krishnan
• Application Number:
  US13/651,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20140107888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/60 characterised by monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior scenes from a transformed perspective
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/607 from a bird's eye viewpoint
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to controlling an optical output device for displaying a vehicle surround view containing a vehicle model, the method comprising determining display control information for at least one vehicle component, and controlling the optical output device to display the vehicle surround view such that the vehicle model is adapted to depict the at least one vehicle component according to the display control information.

Claims

1. A method performed in a processor of controlling an optical output device for displaying a vehicle surround view containing a vehicle model, the vehicle model comprising at least one vehicle component, the method comprising:

receiving status information on the at least one vehicle component indicating a current operational state of the at least one vehicle component;

determining display control information for the at least one vehicle component, wherein the display control information is determined based on at least the received status information;

establishing a virtual camera position of the vehicle surround view;

calculating a graphical representation of the at least one vehicle component based on the virtual camera position and the display control information, wherein, depending on the current operational state of the at least one vehicle component indicated by the display control information, at least one part of the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle component is selectively visible in the vehicle surround view; and

controlling the optical output device to display the vehicle surround view such that the vehicle model depicts the at least one vehicle component according to the display control information.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the status information comprises at least one of the following:

wheel rotational speed, steering wheel angle, vehicle velocity, operational state of lights, windowpane position, sunroof position.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining the display control information is reiterated over time when a change in status information is detected.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the display control information is determined based on at least user configuration data obtained from a user input.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the user configuration data is stored in a database.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the vehicle surround view comprises dynamic animation of the at least one vehicle component.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vehicle component is selected from a group comprising:

wheel, steering wheel, windowpane, front lights, rear lights, sunroof, vehicle body lacquering, turn indicator, or vehicle occupants.

8. A vehicle surround view system comprising:

a processor for controlling an optical output device for displaying a vehicle surround view containing a vehicle model, the vehicle model comprising at least one vehicle component, wherein the processor is configured

to receive status information on the at least one vehicle component indicating a current operational state of the at least one vehicle component;

to determine display control information for the at least one vehicle component based on at least the received status information;

to establish a virtual camera position of the vehicle surround view;

to calculate a graphical representation of the at least one vehicle component based on the virtual camera position and the display control information, wherein, depending on the current operational state of the at least one vehicle component indicated by the display control information, at least one part of the graphical representation of the at least one vehicle component is selectively visible in the vehicle surround view; and

to control the optical output device to display the vehicle surround view such that the vehicle model depicts the at least one vehicle component according to the display control information.