FORWARD FACING IMAGING SYSTEM

• US 20120120239A1
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hutzel, Barry W., Lynam, Niall R., DeWind, Darryl P., Lindahl, John O.
• Granted Patent: US 9,827,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/258 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/59 Lighting devices mounted in the vehicle interior and adapted for portability
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1292 with holding means for personal articles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8013 for child monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/02 Picture taking arrangements specially adapted for photogrammetry or photographic surveying, e.g. controlling overlapping of pictures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A forward facing imaging system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle and a camera disposed at the interior rearview mirror assembly. The camera has a forward field of view through a windshield of the vehicle. The camera captures image data and captured image data is recorded by a recording system. During operation of the vehicle, the recording system records image data, as it is captured over a given period of operation of the vehicle, in a closed-loop fashion onto electronic memory. Image data, as captured by the camera, is processed by an image processor in order to determine the presence of at least one object forward of the equipped vehicle.

Claims

1. A forward facing imaging system for a vehicle, said forward facing imaging system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said forward facing imaging system;

a camera disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, said camera having a forward field of view through a windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said camera captures image data and wherein captured image data is recorded by a recording system;

wherein, during operation of the equipped vehicle, said recording system records image data, as it is captured over a given period of operation of the equipped vehicle, in a closed-loop fashion onto electronic memory; and

wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by an image processor in order to determine the presence of at least one object forward of the equipped vehicle.

2. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle comprises at least about one minute of operation of the equipped vehicle.

3. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is less than about fifteen minutes of operation of the equipped vehicle.

4. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is in a range from about five minutes of operation of the equipped vehicle to about fifteen minutes of operation of the equipped vehicle.

5. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle comprises the last period of operation of the equipped vehicle before the equipped vehicle is involved in an accident event.

6. The forward facing imaging system of claim 5, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle includes a period of time following said accident event.

7. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said recording system comprises a recording system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said electronic memory comprises non-volatile memory that is non-erasing in the event of electrical power loss in the equipped vehicle.

8. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a triggering event, captured image data is transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system.

9. The forward facing imaging system of claim 8, wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) activation of the brakes of the equipped vehicle, (ii) activation of an air bag of the equipped vehicle, (iii) activation of a horn of the equipped vehicle, and (iv) deceleration of the equipped vehicle.

10. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein vehicle information corresponding to the given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is recorded in a closed-loop fashion onto said electronic memory in conjunction with said closed-loop recording of captured image data.

11. The forward facing imaging system of claim 10, wherein said vehicle information includes at least one of (i) the gear in which the equipped vehicle is operating, (ii) activation of the brakes of the equipped vehicle, (iii) the speed at which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (iv) the rate of acceleration/deceleration of the equipped vehicle, (v) the time of the recording, (vi) the date of the recording, (vii) the current geographic location of the equipped vehicle, (viii) an atmospheric condition at the equipped vehicle, (ix) a lighting condition at the equipped vehicle, (x) a vehicle control status signal, (xi) a status of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle, (xii) a status of the tire traction of the equipped vehicle, (xiii) a tire pressure status of the equipped vehicle, (xiv) a yaw of the equipped vehicle and (xv) a roll of the equipped vehicle.

12. The forward facing imaging system of claim 11, wherein, responsive to a triggering event, recorded captured image data and recorded vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system.

13. The forward facing imaging system of claim 12, wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) activation of the brakes of the equipped vehicle, (ii) activation of an air bag of the equipped vehicle, (iii) activation of a horn of the equipped vehicle, and (iv) deceleration of the equipped vehicle.

14. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, further comprising at least one other camera, wherein, during operation of the equipped vehicle, said recording system records image data, as it is captured by said at least one other camera over a given period of operation of the equipped vehicle, in a closed-loop fashion onto electronic memory.

15. The forward facing imaging system of claim 14, wherein said at least one other camera comprises at least one of (i) an interior camera having a field of view of a portion of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a camera disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, (iii) an exterior camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, (iv) a camera disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle, (v) a camera disposed at a roof of the equipped vehicle, a camera disposed at a headliner or header console of the equipped vehicle, (vi) a camera disposed at a front exterior body portion of the equipped vehicle, (vii) a camera disposed at a side exterior body portion of the equipped vehicle, (viii) a camera disposed at a rear exterior body portion of the equipped vehicle, and (ix) a camera disposed at an interior portion of the equipped vehicle.

16. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein a windshield electronics module, attached at the windshield proximate to where said interior rearview mirror assembly is mounted, houses said camera.

17. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said camera is part of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

18. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said camera comprises a solid-state CMOS camera.

19. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein captured image data and vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system.

20. The forward facing imaging system of claim 19, wherein said forward facing imaging system is operable to one of (a) periodically transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle and (b) substantially continuously transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle.

21. The forward facing imaging system of claim 19, wherein, responsive to a signal indicative of a collision involving the equipped vehicle, the remote receiver is operable to determine the number of occupants in the equipped vehicle and to notify emergency personnel of the number of occupants in the equipped vehicle.

22. The forward facing imaging system of claim 21, wherein the remote receiver determines the number of occupants in the equipped vehicle responsive to an interior camera of the equipped vehicle that has a field of view of a portion of the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle.

23. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said at least one object forward of the equipped vehicle comprises at least one of a headlamp and a taillight of another vehicle forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by said image processor for a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle.

24. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a storage space, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a dockable accessory, said dockable accessory being dockable in and removable from said storage space whereby said dockable accessory can be docked in said storage space and accessible to an occupant of the equipped vehicle who can remove said dockable accessory from said storage space and use said dockable accessory independently of said rearview mirror assembly, and wherein said dockable accessory comprises a light assembly comprising white light emitting light emitting diodes.

25. The forward facing imaging system of claim 1, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a display element for displaying information.

26. A forward facing imaging system for a vehicle, said forward facing imaging system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said forward facing imaging system;

a camera disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, said camera having a forward field of view through a windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said camera captures image data and wherein captured image data is recorded by a recording system;

wherein, during operation of the equipped vehicle, said recording system records image data, as it is captured over a given period of operation of the equipped vehicle, in a closed-loop fashion onto electronic memory;

wherein vehicle information corresponding to the given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is recorded in a closed-loop fashion onto said electronic memory in conjunction with said closed-loop recording of captured image data;

wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle comprises the last period of operation of the equipped vehicle before the equipped vehicle is involved in an accident event; and

wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by an image processor in order to determine the presence of at least one object forward of the equipped vehicle.

27. The forward facing imaging system of claim 26, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is less than about fifteen minutes of operation of the equipped vehicle.

28. The forward facing imaging system of claim 26, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle includes a period of time following said accident event.

29. The forward facing imaging system of claim 26, wherein, responsive to a triggering event, said recorded captured image data and said recorded vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system, and wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) determination of the equipped vehicle being involved in an accident event, (ii) activation of the brakes of the equipped vehicle, (iii) activation of an air bag of the equipped vehicle, (iv) activation of a horn of the equipped vehicle, and (v) deceleration of the equipped vehicle.

30. The forward facing imaging system of claim 26, wherein captured image data and vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system, and wherein said forward facing imaging system is operable to one of (a) periodically transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle and (b) substantially continuously transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle.

31. The forward facing imaging system of claim 26, wherein said at least one object forward of the equipped vehicle comprises at least one of a headlamp and a taillight of another vehicle forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by said image processor for a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle.

32. A forward facing imaging system for a vehicle, said forward facing imaging system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said forward facing imaging system;

a camera disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, said camera having a forward field of view through a windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said camera comprises a solid-state CMOS camera;

wherein said camera captures image data and wherein captured image data is recorded by a recording system;

wherein, during operation of the equipped vehicle, said recording system records image data, as it is captured over a given period of operation of the equipped vehicle, in a closed-loop fashion onto electronic memory;

wherein vehicle information corresponding to the given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is recorded in a closed-loop fashion onto said electronic memory in conjunction with said closed-loop recording of captured image data; and

wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by an image processor in order to determine the presence of at least one object forward of the equipped vehicle.

33. The forward facing imaging system of claim 32, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is less than about fifteen minutes of operation of the equipped vehicle.

34. The forward facing imaging system of claim 32, wherein, responsive to a triggering event, said recorded captured image data and said recorded vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system, and wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) determination of the equipped vehicle being involved in an accident event, (ii) activation of the brakes of the equipped vehicle, (iii) activation of an air bag of the equipped vehicle, (iv) activation of a horn of the equipped vehicle, and (v) deceleration of the equipped vehicle.

35. The forward facing imaging system of claim 32, wherein captured image data and vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system, and wherein said forward facing imaging system is operable to one of (a) periodically transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle and (b) substantially continuously transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle.

36. The forward facing imaging system of claim 32, wherein said at least one object forward of the equipped vehicle comprises at least one of a headlamp and a taillight of another vehicle forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by said image processor for a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle.

37. A forward facing imaging system for a vehicle, said forward facing imaging system comprising:

an interior rearview mirror assembly mounted at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with said forward facing imaging system, wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises an electrochromic mirror element;

a camera disposed at said interior rearview mirror assembly, said camera having a forward field of view through a windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said camera captures image data and wherein captured image data is recorded by a recording system;

wherein, during operation of the equipped vehicle, said recording system records image data, as it is captured over a given period of operation of the equipped vehicle, in a closed-loop fashion onto electronic memory;

wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is less than about fifteen minutes of operation of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by an image processor in order to determine the presence of at least one of a headlamp and a taillight of another vehicle forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data, as captured by said camera, is processed by said image processor for a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle.

38. The forward facing imaging system of claim 37, wherein said given period of operation of the equipped vehicle comprises at least about one minute of operation of the equipped vehicle.

39. The forward facing imaging system of claim 37, wherein vehicle information corresponding to the given period of operation of the equipped vehicle is recorded in a closed-loop fashion onto said electronic memory in conjunction with said closed-loop recording of captured image data.

40. The forward facing imaging system of claim 39, wherein, responsive to a triggering event, recorded captured image data and recorded vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system, and wherein said triggering event comprises at least one of (i) determination of the equipped vehicle being involved in an accident event, (ii) activation of the brakes of the equipped vehicle, (iii) activation of an air bag of the equipped vehicle, (iv) activation of a horn of the equipped vehicle, and (v) deceleration of the equipped vehicle.

41. The forward facing imaging system of claim 39, wherein captured image data and vehicle information are transmitted to a remote receiver via a telematics system, and wherein said forward facing imaging system is operable to one of (a) periodically transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle and (b) substantially continuously transmit said captured image data and said vehicle information to said remote receiver during operation of the equipped vehicle.