Wide angle imaging system for providing an image of the surroundings of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle

• US 9,469,249 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kleinschmidt, Heike, Arndt, Christoph, Christen, Urs
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hua
• Application Number:
  US12/695,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20100194889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,455 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/153, 348/157, 382/104, 382/107, 382/154
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/402 Image calibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10012 Stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras

Abstract

An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An imaging system for a motor vehicle comprising:

an electro-optical sensor;

a first lens directing a first image onto a central region of the sensor;

a display screen for displaying the first image to a driver of the vehicle;

a second lens inter-axially spaced from the first lens to direct a second image onto a second region of the sensor located adjacent a first lateral edge of the sensor;

a third lens inter-axially spaced from the first lens and the second lens to direct a third image onto a third region of the sensor located adjacent a second lateral edge of the sensor, the second lateral edge positioned opposite from the first lateral edge, the second and third images having substantially equal amounts of purposeful width distortion adapted for stereoscopic image analysis;

a fourth lens inter-axially spaced from the first, the second, and the third lenses to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor located adjacent a third edge of the sensor, the fourth image exhibiting purposeful height distortion adapted for detection of lateral vehicle movement; and

a processing unit performing stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions, and performing calculations on data from the fourth region to detect lateral movement of the vehicle.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit detects lateral movement of the vehicle by analyzing lane markings appearing in the fourth image.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lenses comprises at least two mirrors optically aligned with one another.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a data buffer associated with the processing unit.