IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20140036064A1
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lu, Yuesheng, Gibson, Joel S., Higgins-Luthman, Michael J., Byrne, Steven V., Shriner, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,796,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/118
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/005 Reinforcements made of different materials, e.g. hybrid or composite cords
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• 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 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a video display device. The imaging system generates an overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed images to assist a driver of the vehicle when executing a backup maneuver. The overlay has first, second and third overlay zones, with the overlay zones indicative of respective distance ranges from the rear of the vehicle to respective distances. As indicated to the driver viewing the video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, the first distance is closer to the rear of the vehicle than the second distance and the second distance is closer to the rear of the vehicle than the third distance. The first overlay zone may be a first color and the second overlay zone may be a second color and the third overlay zone may be a third color.

Claims

1. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging sensor, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view when mounted at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;

a display device comprising a video display screen for displaying images representative of image data captured by said imaging sensor;

wherein said imaging system generates an overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when executing a backup maneuver, said overlay comprising first, second and third overlay zones;

wherein said first overlay zone is indicative of a first distance range from the rear of the equipped vehicle to a first distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein said second overlay zone is indicative of a second distance range from the first distance to a second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein said third overlay zone is indicative of a third distance range beyond the second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein, as indicated to the driver viewing said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, the first distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the second distance and the second distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the third distance;

wherein said first overlay zone comprises a first color and said second overlay zone comprises a second color and said third overlay zone comprises a third color; and

wherein said first color is a different color than said second color and said second color is a different color than said third color.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the color of said first, second and third overlay zones is selectively adjustable by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said first color is a red color, said second color is a yellow color and said third color is a green color.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said first color is one of a reddish purple color and a vermilion color, said second color is a yellow color and said third color is one of a blue color and a bluish green color.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging system adjusts said first overlay zone in response to an object being detected rearward of the equipped vehicle and within a distance threshold from the rear of the equipped vehicle in order to alert the driver of the equipped vehicle of the presence of the detected object.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging system adjusts said second overlay zone in response to an object being detected rearward of the equipped vehicle and within a second distance threshold from the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging system adjusts said first overlay zone in response to an object being detected rearward of the equipped vehicle and within a first distance threshold from the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said second distance threshold is a larger distance than said first distance threshold.

7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein, as seen by the driver viewing said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, said overlay comprises a pair of spaced-apart lines extending outwardly generally from the rear of the equipped vehicle and wherein said first overlay zone comprises a first segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines and wherein said second overlay zone comprises a second segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines and wherein said third overlay zone comprises a third segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines.

8. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein said overlay comprises a first pair of opposing marks where said first overlap zone generally joins with said second overlap zone and wherein said overlay comprises a second pair of opposing marks where said second overlap zone generally joins with said third overlap zone.

9. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein said overlay comprises a first mark where said first overlap zone generally joins with said second overlap zone and wherein said overlay comprises a second mark where said second overlap zone generally joins with said third overlap zone.

10. The imaging system of claim 9, wherein said first mark comprises one of said first color and said second color, and wherein said second mark comprises one of said second color and said third color.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein said first mark extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines, and wherein said second mark extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines.

12. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (a) said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist the driver of the equipped vehicle to align the equipped vehicle and (b) said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist the driver of the equipped vehicle to align the equipped vehicle and wherein said alignment overlay comprises a centrally located overlay extending rearward from a centerline of the equipped vehicle.

13. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein said first, second and third overlay zones comprise side overlay segments extending upward and inward along respective sides of the displayed image so as to be indicative of segments extending rearward from the sides of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said alignment overlay is viewed by the driver as having a different virtual height dimension than said side overlay segments to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said overlay.

14. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging sensor is offset from the centerline of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist the driver of the equipped vehicle to align the equipped vehicle, and wherein said alignment overlay is displayed as a sideward perspective view of a virtual alignment overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of the alignment overlay.

15. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging sensor, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view when mounted at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;

a display device comprising a video display screen for displaying images representative of image data captured by said imaging sensor;

wherein said imaging system generates an overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when executing a backup maneuver, said overlay comprising first, second and third overlay zones;

wherein, as seen by the driver viewing said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, said overlay comprises a pair of spaced-apart lines extending outwardly generally from the rear of the equipped vehicle and wherein said first overlay zone comprises a first segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines and wherein said second overlay zone comprises a second segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines and wherein said third overlay zone comprises a third segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines;

wherein said first overlay zone is indicative of a first distance range from the rear of the equipped vehicle to a first distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein said second overlay zone is indicative of a second distance range from the first distance to a second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein said third overlay zone is indicative of a third distance range beyond the second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein, as indicated to the driver viewing said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, the first distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the second distance and the second distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the third distance;

wherein said overlay comprises a first mark where said first overlap zone generally joins with said second overlap zone and wherein said overlay comprises a second mark where said second overlap zone generally joins with said third overlap zone;

wherein said first overlay zone comprises a first color and said second overlay zone comprises a second color and said third overlay zone comprises a third color; and

wherein said first color is a red color, said second color is a yellow color and said third color is a green color.

16. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein said first mark comprises one of the red color and the yellow color, and wherein said second mark comprises one of the yellow color and the green color.

17. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein said first mark extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines, and wherein said second mark extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines.

18. The imaging system of claim 15, wherein at least one of (a) said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist the driver of the equipped vehicle to align the equipped vehicle and (b) said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist the driver of the equipped vehicle to align the equipped vehicle and wherein said alignment overlay comprises a centrally located overlay extending rearward from a centerline of the equipped vehicle.

19. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein said alignment overlay is viewed by the driver as having a different virtual height dimension than said first, second and third segments of said pair of spaced-apart lines to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said overlay.

20. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging sensor, wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said imaging sensor has a rearward field of view when mounted at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;

a display device comprising a video display screen for displaying images representative of image data captured by said imaging sensor;

wherein said imaging system generates an overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when executing a backup maneuver, said overlay comprising first, second and third overlay zones;

wherein, as seen by the driver viewing said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, said overlay comprises a pair of spaced-apart lines extending outwardly generally from the rear of the equipped vehicle and wherein said first overlay zone comprises a first segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines and wherein said second overlay zone comprises a second segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines and wherein said third overlay zone comprises a third segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines;

wherein said first overlay zone is indicative of a first distance range from the rear of the equipped vehicle to a first distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein said second overlay zone is indicative of a second distance range from the first distance to a second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein said third overlay zone is indicative of a third distance range beyond the second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen;

wherein, as indicated to the driver viewing said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, the first distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the second distance and the second distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the third distance;

wherein said overlay comprises a first mark where said first overlap zone generally joins with said second overlap zone and wherein said overlay comprises a second mark where said second overlap zone generally joins with said third overlap; and

wherein said first mark extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines, and wherein said second mark extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines.

21. The imaging system of claim 20, wherein at least one of (a) said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist the driver of the equipped vehicle to align the equipped vehicle and (b) said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on said displayed images to assist the driver of the equipped vehicle to align the equipped vehicle and wherein said alignment overlay comprises a centrally located overlay extending rearward from a centerline of the equipped vehicle.

22. The imaging system of claim 21, wherein said alignment overlay is viewed by the driver as having a different virtual height dimension than said first, second and third segments of said pair of spaced-apart lines to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said overlay.

23. The imaging system of claim 20, wherein said overlay comprises a first pair of opposing marks where said first overlap zone generally joins with said second overlap zone and wherein said overlay comprises a second pair of opposing marks where said second overlap zone generally joins with said third overlap zone, and wherein said first pair of opposing marks extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines, and wherein said second pair of opposing marks extends at least partially between said pair of spaced-apart lines.