Centralized Image Processing For An Automobile With A Navigation System

• US 20070233361A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Ronald, Aulakh, Gurpreet, Shaffer, Aric, Raceu, Dan, DiMeo, David, Getman, Anya
• Application Number:
  US11/277,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle system 10 includes various cameras 36 that generate camera output signals. A navigation system 12 is included within the vehicle. The navigation system includes an image processor and receives the output signals from the cameras 36. The image processor 18 creates output signals suitable for display on display 16 of the navigation system 12.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a camera generating a respective camera output signal; and

a navigation system comprising a display and image processing, said image processing the camera output signal into video signals that are displayed on the display.

2. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera is coupled to the transmitter using power line communication.

3. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera is coupled to the transmitter using RF communication.

4. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera is coupled to the transmitter using wireless RF communication.

5. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display is coupled to the image processor using power line communication.

6. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display is coupled to the image processor using RF communication.

7. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 wherein the display is coupled to the image processor using wireless RF communication.

8. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a heads up display coupled to the image processor.

9. A vehicle system as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera comprises a plurality of cameras and further comprising a plurality of system inputs and a camera selector selecting a camera or cameras from the plurality of cameras for the image processor to process.

10. A vehicle system as recited in claim 9 wherein the plurality of cameras comprises three cameras.

11. A vehicle system as recited in claim 10 wherein the three cameras comprise a right side camera, a left side camera and a rear camera.

12. A method comprising:

generating a plurality of camera output signals;

processing the camera output signals in a navigation system to form video signals; and

coupling the video signals to a display.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of cameras is coupled to the transmitter using power line communication.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of cameras is coupled to the transmitter using RF communication.

15. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein each of the plurality of cameras is coupled to the transmitter using wireless RF communication.

16. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the display comprises a heads-up display.

17. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising generating a plurality of vehicle system outputs and selecting one or more of the plurality of cameras in response to the vehicle system outputs.

18. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the plurality of cameras comprises three cameras.

19. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein the three cameras comprise a right side camera, a left side camera and a rear camera.