METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CALIBRATING VEHICLE VISION SYSTEMS

• US 20100179781A1
• Filed: 01/13/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: RAPHAEL, ERIC L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/80 Analysis of captured images to determine intrinsic or extrinsic camera parameters, i.e. camera calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras

Abstract

A method for calibrating a vision system of a vehicle includes the steps of projecting a pattern in proximity to the vehicle and calibrating the vision system using an image of the pattern generated by the vision system.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a vision system of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

projecting a pattern in proximity to the vehicle; and

calibrating the vision system using an image of the pattern generated by the vision system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating the image comprises the step of:

initiating a calibration mode;

wherein the steps of projecting the pattern and calibrating the vision system are conditioned upon the initiation of the calibration mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of projecting the pattern comprises the step of:

projecting the pattern on a road in proximity to the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of projecting the pattern comprises the step of:

projecting a grid pattern.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of projecting the pattern comprises the step of:

projecting the pattern in an infrared spectrum.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of calibrating the vision system comprises the step of:

comparing the image to a known reference image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vision system comprises a first camera and a second camera, and the step of calibrating the vision system comprises the steps of:

processing a first image of the pattern, the first image generated by the first camera;

processing a second image of the pattern, the second image generated by the second camera; and

comparing the first and second images.

8. A program product for calibrating a vision system of a vehicle, the program product comprising:

a program configured to at least facilitate;

projecting a pattern in proximity to the vehicle; and

calibrating the vision system using an image of the pattern generated by the vision system; and

a computer readable medium bearing the program.

9. The program product of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate:

initiating a calibration mode; and

projecting the pattern and calibrating the vision system conditioned upon the initiation of the calibration mode.

10. The program product of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate projecting the pattern onto a road in proximity to the vehicle.

11. The program product of claim 8, wherein the pattern comprises a grid pattern.

12. The program product of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate projecting the pattern in an infrared spectrum.

13. The program product of claim 8, wherein the program is further configured to at least facilitate calibrating the vision system by comparing the image to a known reference image.

14. The program product of claim 8, wherein:

the vision system comprises a first camera and a second camera; and

the program is further configured to at least facilitate calibrating the vision system by;

processing a first image of the pattern, the first image generated by the first camera;

processing a second image of the pattern, the second image generated by the second camera; and

comparing the first and second images.

15. A system for calibrating a vision system of a vehicle, the system comprising:

a projection unit configured to at least facilitate projecting a pattern in proximity to the vehicle; and

a processor configured to at least facilitate calibrating the vision system using an image of the pattern generated by the vision system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the projection unit is further configured to at least facilitate projecting the pattern onto a road in proximity to the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the pattern comprises a grid pattern.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the projection unit is further configured to at least facilitate projecting the pattern in an infrared spectrum.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate calibrating the vision system by comparing the image to a known reference image.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the vision system comprises a first camera and a second camera; and

the processor is further configured to at least facilitate calibrating the vision system by;

processing a first image of the pattern, the first image generated by the first camera;

processing a second image of the pattern, the second image generated by the second camera; and

comparing the first and second images.