WIDE ANGLE IMAGING SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN IMAGE OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF A VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20100194889A1
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kleinschmidt, Heike, Arndt, Christoph, Christen, Urs
• Granted Patent: US 9,469,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/31 providing stereoscopic vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/107 using stereoscopic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/402 Image calibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10012 Stereo images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/64 Three-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras

Abstract

An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An imaging system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a digital camera comprising a sensor, a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, and a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor;

a display screen displaying to a driver of the vehicle the first image; and

a processing unit processing data originating from the second region.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit performs calculations for the detection of movement of the vehicle.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the processing unit detects movement of the vehicle by analyzing lane markings appearing in the second image.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the second region is located at an edge of the sensor.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the digital camera further comprises a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor, the processing unit processing data originating from the second and third regions of the sensor and performing stereoscopic image evaluation.

6. The imaging system of claim 5, wherein the second and third regions are located adjacent left and right lateral edges of the sensor respectively.

7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the first region is located centrally on the sensor.

8. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lenses comprises at least two mirrors optically aligned with one another.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising a data buffer associated with the data processing unit.

10. An imaging system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a digital camera comprising an sensor, a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor located adjacent a first lateral edge of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor located adjacent a second lateral edge of the sensor, the second lateral edge positioned opposite from the first lateral edge;

a display screen displaying to a driver of the vehicle the first image; and

a processing unit performing stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, further comprising a fourth lens directing a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor located adjacent a third edge of the sensor.

12. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.

13. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein the processing unit detects movement of the vehicle by analyzing lane markings appearing in the fourth image.

14. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the lenses comprises at least two mirrors optically aligned with one another.

15. The imaging system of claim 10, further comprising a data buffer associated with the data processing unit.

16. An imaging system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a digital camera comprising an sensor, a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor located adjacent a first lateral edge of the sensor, a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor located adjacent a second lateral edge of the sensor, the second lateral edge positioned opposite from the first lateral edge, and a fourth lens directing a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor located adjacent a third edge of the sensor;

a display screen displaying to a driver of the vehicle the first image; and

a processing unit performing stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions, and performing calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.

17. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein the processing unit detects movement of the vehicle by analyzing lane markings appearing in the fourth image.

18. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the lenses comprises at least two mirrors optically aligned with one another.

19. The imaging system of claim 16, further comprising a data buffer associated with the data processing unit.