Vehicle vision system with enhanced display functions

• US 9,743,002 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wierich, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): An, Shawn
• Application Number:
  US14/082,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/27 providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/80 characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/272 Means for inserting a foreground image in a background image, i.e. inlay, outlay
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one image sensor, a control and a display. The image sensor is disposed at a subject vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The control, at least in part responsive to image processing of image data captured by the image sensor, is operable to generate an avatar representative of at least one object or scene segment in the field of view of the image sensor. The display is operable to display the avatar. The vision system may display an avatar that is a substantial representation of an object that is only partially viewed by the image sensor to enhance the display for viewing and understanding by the driver of the subject vehicle, and a portion of the avatar representing the non-viewed portion of the object may be displayed as a phantom image.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

at least one image sensor disposed at a subject vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said at least one image sensor;

a control, wherein said control, at least in part responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to generate an avatar representative of at least one object or scene segment in the field of view of said at least one image sensor;

a display for displaying images indicative of captured image data and for displaying the avatar for viewing by a driver of the subject vehicle;

wherein said vision system is operable to display an avatar that is a substantial representation of an object that is only partially viewed by said image sensor to enhance the display for viewing and understanding by the driver of the subject vehicle; and

wherein said control generates the avatar so that a portion of the displayed avatar representing a portion of the object is displayed as a phantom image to represent that viewing of that portion of the object by said image sensor is partially obstructed.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said at least one image sensor comprises a forward facing camera disposed at the subject vehicle.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control provides an enhanced display of images in a high resolution manner while utilizing lower resolution cameras and reduced image processing.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control generates the avatar with an imitated texture.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to determine objects at least partially present in the field of view of said image sensor and wherein said control is operable to deemphasize objects in the displayed image that are determined to be less important to the driver of the vehicle during a driving maneuver.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said control deemphasizes an object by partially removing the object from the displayed image.

7. The vision system of claim 5, wherein said control deemphasizes an object by displaying the object in phantom in the displayed image.

8. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

at least one image sensor disposed at a subject vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said at least one image sensor;

a control, wherein said control, at least in part responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to generate an avatar representative of at least one object or scene segment in the field of view of said at least one image sensor;

a display for displaying images indicative of captured image data and for displaying the avatar for viewing by a driver of the subject vehicle;

wherein said vision system is operable to display an avatar that is a substantial representation of an object that is only partially viewed by said image sensor to enhance the display for viewing and understanding by the driver of the subject vehicle; and

wherein said control generates the avatar so that a portion of the displayed avatar representing a portion of the object is displayed as a phantom image to represent that the portion of the object is outside of the field of view of said image sensor.

9. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said at least one image sensor comprises a forward facing camera disposed at the subject vehicle.

10. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said control provides an enhanced display of images in a high resolution manner while utilizing lower resolution cameras and reduced image processing.

11. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said control generates the avatar with an imitated texture.

12. The vision system of claim 8, wherein said control is operable to determine objects at least partially present in the field of view of said image sensor and wherein said control is operable to deemphasize objects in the displayed image that are determined to be less important to the driver of the vehicle during a driving maneuver.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said control deemphasizes an object by partially removing the object from the displayed image.

14. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said control deemphasizes an object by displaying the object in phantom in the displayed image.