System and method for monitoring surrounding of vehicle

• US 20070126564A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sonar Safety Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sonar Safety Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Uhm, Tiffany, Lee, Youngjo
• Application Number:
  US11/332,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20070126564A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

A system for monitoring surroundings of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors and cameras for detecting approach distances of the object and capturing the object in the rear area and the side areas of the vehicle. A control code generating unit calculates distance values from the sensed distances to produce a predetermined control code corresponding to a minimum distance and a control unit generates a monitoring image by operating any one of the cameras based on the control code to produce an OSD image adapted for warning an object'"'"'s approach. The OSD image is mixed with the monitoring image to display the mixed result.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring surroundings of a vehicle, for monitoring an object'"'"'s approaching condition in a rear area and side areas of the vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for sensing approach distances of the object in the rear area and the side areas of the vehicle;

means for calculating distance values from the sensed distances, selecting a minimum distance value from the calculated distance values and then changing the selected minimum distance value into a predetermined control code value;

a plurality of cameras for capturing a rear image and side images of the rear area and the side areas of the vehicle in response to an image capture control signal;

a control unit for generating a monitoring image by operating any one of the cameras with the image capture control signal generated based on the control code value and also for generating a visual alarm control signal for warning an object'"'"'s approach from a right or a left side;

means for generating a OSD image in response to the visual alarm control signal to provide a visual alarm; and

a display for displaying on a display the monitoring image mixed with the OSD image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes:

a left rear sensor for sensing an object'"'"'s approach in a left rear area of the vehicle;

a right rear sensor for sensing the object'"'"'s approach in a right rear area of the vehicle;

a left sensor for sensing the object'"'"'s approach in a left side area of the vehicle; and

a right sensor for sensing the object'"'"'s approach in a right side area of the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the respective sensors includes any one among an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a pulse radar, and a Doppler radar.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras includes:

a rear camera, in response to the image capture control signal, for capturing a rear area of the vehicle to provide the captured image to the control unit;

a left camera, in response to the image capture control signal, for capturing a left area of the vehicle to provide the captured image to the control unit; and

a right camera, in response to the image capture control signal, for capturing a right area of the vehicle to providing the captured image to the control unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the respective cameras includes any one among an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a pulse radar, and a Doppler radar.

6. The system of claims 2, further comprising:

means for forcibly operating, when a reverse gear signal or a direction indication signal is inputted, a camera installed at a position corresponding to the inputted reverse gear signal or direction indication signal; and

means for forcibly determining as the minimum distance value a distance value sensed by a sensor installed at a position corresponding to the inputted reverse gear signal or direction indication signal.

7. The system of claims 1, further comprising means for generating an interrupted noise or a continuous noise for an auditory alarm based on the determined minimum distance value.

8. The system of claims 1, wherein the OSD image is one having a green G area, a yellow Y area and a red R area, each being selectively turned on/off depending on the approach distances of the object.

9. A method for monitoring surroundings of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

sensing approach distances of the object in the rear area and the side areas of the vehicle and then calculating distance values from the sensed distances;

selecting a minimum distance value between the vehicle and the object from the calculated distance values and then changing the selected minimum distance value into a control code value corresponding thereto;

generating a monitoring image by selectively operating one of the plurality of cameras installed at specific positions of the rear area and the side areas of the vehicle based on the control code value;

generating an OSD image based on the control code value to provide a visual alarm; and

displaying on a display the monitoring image mixed with the OSD image.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

checking whether or not a reverse gear signal or a direction indication signal is inputted from surroundings;

forcibly determining, when the reverse gear signal or a direction indication signal is inputted, as the minimum distance value a distance value sensed by a sensor installed at a corresponding position; and

generating the monitoring image by forcibly operating a camera installed at a corresponding position when the reverse gear signal or the direction indication signal is inputted.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of generating an auditory alarm based on the determined minimum distance value.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the OSD image is one having a green G area, a yellow Y area and a red R area, each being selectively turned on/off depending on the approach distances of the object.