Vehicle imaging system

• US 20040032321A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bingle, Robert L., McMahon, Martha A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,005,974 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A vehicle imaging system includes an imaging sensor having a field of view exterior of a vehicle, an image processor and a display. The imaging sensor generates a signal indicative of an image representative of a scene occurring within the field of view. The image processor receives the signal from the imaging sensor and processes the signal to detect at least one relevant object within the image. The display is operable to display at least one iconistic representation of the at least one detected relevant object in response to an output signal generated by the image processor. The display is positionable within the vehicle and is viewable by a driver or passenger or occupant of the vehicle. The imaging sensor may be mounted to a mounting bracket mounted at a license plate area of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle imaging system for a vehicle comprising:

an imaging sensor having a field of view, said imaging sensor generating a signal indicative of an image representative of a scene occurring within the field of view;

an image processor processing said signal to detect at least one relevant object within said image, said image processor generating an output signal representative of said at least one detected relevant object, wherein said output signal comprises at least one iconistic representation of said at least one detected relevant object; and

a display operable to display said at least one iconistic representation of said at least one detected relevant object.

2. The vehicle imaging system of claim 1, wherein said display comprises a dot matrix display.

3. The vehicle imaging system of claim 1, wherein said image processor provides edge detection of said at least one relevant object via an edge detection algorithm.

4. The vehicle imaging system of claim 3, wherein said display provides line representations of the detected edges of said at least one detected relevant object in the exterior scene.

5. The vehicle imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging sensor is directed generally exteriorly of the vehicle and has an exterior field of view.

6. The vehicle imaging system of claim 5, wherein said imaging sensor is mountable at a rear portion of the vehicle such that said imaging sensor has an exterior field of view rearward of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle imaging system of claim 6, wherein said rearward field of view includes a trailer hitch of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle imaging system of claim 7, wherein said display provides at least one iconistic representation of the trailer hitch of the vehicle and at least one iconistic representation of a hitch of a trailer positioned generally rearward of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle imaging system of claim 8, wherein said at least one iconistic representation of the trailer hitch of the vehicle and said at least one iconistic representation of the hitch of the trailer are displayed as separate icons in said display.

10. The vehicle imaging system of claim 9, wherein said display provides an indication to the driver of the vehicle when the icons representing the trailer hitch of the vehicle and the hitch of the trailer are generally aligned.

11. The vehicle imaging system of claim 10, wherein said indication comprises flashing of the icons in said display.

12. The vehicle imaging system of claim 1 including an imaging sensor bracket for mounting said imaging sensor to the vehicle.

13. The vehicle imaging system of claim 12, wherein said imaging sensor and said imaging sensor bracket are mountable at a license plate mounting portion of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle imaging system of claim 13, wherein said imaging sensor bracket comprises a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to a mounting hole for a license plate on a vehicle and a sensor mounting portion extending from said vehicle mounting portion.

15. The vehicle imaging system of claim 14, wherein said sensor mounting portion is angled with respect to said vehicle mounting portion such that said sensor mounting portion extends generally rearwardly and generally horizontally when said vehicle mounting portion is fastened to the license plate mounting hole on the vehicle.

16. The vehicle imaging system of claim 15, wherein said imaging sensor bracket includes a cover which substantially contains said imaging sensor at said sensor mounting portion of said imaging sensor bracket.

17. The vehicle imaging system of claim 16, wherein said cover provides an opening through which said imaging sensor receives light representative of said exterior scene.

18. The vehicle imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging system is operable to determine a distance between the vehicle and said at least one detected relevant object.

19. The vehicle imaging system of claim 18, wherein said imaging system is operable to determine said distance in response to a speed which said at least one detected relevant object moves across the field of view and a speed of the vehicle.

20. A method of aligning a portion of a vehicle with a target object exteriorly of the vehicle comprising:

providing an imaging sensor, said imaging sensor having a field of view exteriorly of the vehicle and encompassing an exterior portion of the vehicle, said imaging sensor generating a signal indicative of an image representative of a scene occurring within the field of view exteriorly of the vehicle;

providing an image processor for processing said signal to detect the exterior portion of the vehicle and to detect a target object exteriorly of the vehicle within said image, said image processor generating an output signal representative of the exterior portion of the vehicle and the target object, wherein said output signal comprises at least one iconistic representation of at least the exterior portion of the vehicle and at least one iconistic representation of the target object;

displaying said at least one iconistic representation of at least the exterior portion of the vehicle and said at least one iconistic representation of the target object at a display; and

maneuvering the vehicle to align said at least one iconistic representation of the exterior portion of the vehicle in the display with said at least one iconistic representation of the target object in the display.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the exterior portion of the vehicle comprises a rear portion and a trailer hitch of the vehicle and the target object comprises a hitch of a trailer, said imaging system being operable to indicate when the trailer hitch of the vehicle is generally aligned with the hitch of the trailer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least one iconistic representation of the trailer hitch of the vehicle and said at least one iconistic representation of the hitch of the trailer are displayed as lines in said display.

23. The method of claim 21 including indicating when the trailer hitch of the vehicle and the hitch of the trailer are generally aligned.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein indicating when the trailer hitch of the vehicle and the hitch of the trailer are generally aligned comprises flashing of at least one of said iconistic representations in said display.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said image processor comprises an edge detection algorithm and is operable to detect edges of the exterior portion of the vehicle and the target object.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said display is operable to display the detected edges of the exterior portion of the vehicle and the target object.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein said display comprises a dot matrix display.

28. The method of claim 20 including determining a distance between the vehicle and the target object.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein determining a distance comprises determining a distance between the vehicle and the target object in response to a speed which the target object moves across the field of view and a speed of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 20 including mounting said imaging sensor at a license plate of the vehicle.

31. The method of claim 30 including mounting said imaging sensor at an imaging sensor bracket and mounting said imaging sensor bracket at the license plate of the vehicle.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said imaging sensor bracket comprises a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to a mounting hole for the license plate on a vehicle and a sensor mounting portion extending from said vehicle mounting portion.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said sensor mounting portion is angled with respect to said vehicle mounting portion such that said sensor mounting portion extends generally rearwardly and generally horizontally when said vehicle mounting portion is fastened to the license plate mounting hole on the vehicle.

34. The method of claim 33 including providing a cover which substantially contains said imaging sensor at said sensor mounting portion of said imaging sensor bracket.