MULTI-DIRECTIONAL VEHICLE MANEUVERING ASSISTANCE

• US 20160140403A1
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nagata, Katsumi, Lota, Charan
• Granted Patent: US 9,672,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/06 mounted on vehicle exterior 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 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/22 Matching criteria, e.g. proximity measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

Arrangements relate to providing multi-directional assistance while maneuvering a vehicle. The vehicle can have an exterior with a first lateral side and a second lateral side. The vehicle can include a side camera provided on one of the first lateral side or the second lateral side. The side camera can be movable between a plurality of facing positions. It can be determined whether a current facing position of the side camera matches a current vehicle movement direction. If it is determined that the current facing position of the side camera does not match the current vehicle movement direction, the facing position of the side camera can be automatically adjusted so that the facing position of the side camera matches the current vehicle movement direction.

Claims

1. A multi-directional maneuvering assistance method for a vehicle, the vehicle having an exterior with a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the vehicle including a side camera provided on one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side, the side camera being movable between a plurality of facing positions, the method comprising:

determining whether a current facing position of the side camera matches a current vehicle movement direction; and

responsive to determining that the current facing position of the side camera does not match the current vehicle movement direction, automatically adjusting the facing position of the side camera so that the facing position of the side camera matches the current vehicle movement direction.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

activating the side camera to capture visual data from at least a portion of a respective lateral side environment of the vehicle; and

presenting the captured visual data on a forward display of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, further including:

detecting at least a portion of the respective lateral side environment for one or more objects located in the respective lateral side environment;

responsive to detecting an object in the respective lateral side environment, providing an alert of the detected object.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the alert is a graphical alert indicator, and wherein the graphical alert indicator is presented over a portion of the visual data on the forward display.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the alert is an audial indicator of the detected object, whereby one or more sounds is emitted to alert a driver of the presence of the detected object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically adjusting the facing position of the side camera includes automatically rotating the camera about an axis so that the facing position of the side camera matches the current vehicle movement direction.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein when the current vehicle movement direction is determined based on a current transmission gear selection of the vehicle, and wherein when the current transmission gear selection is park, automatically adjusting the facing position of the side camera so that the facing position of the side camera is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether a current facing position of the side camera matches a current vehicle movement direction is performed responsive to detecting a current speed of the vehicle being below a predetermined speed threshold or responsive to receiving a driver command.

9. A vehicle with a multi-directional maneuvering assistance system comprising:

a vehicle having an exterior with a first lateral side and a second lateral side,

a side camera provided on one of the first lateral side and the second lateral side, the side camera having a plurality of facing positions; and

a processor located onboard the vehicle, the processor being programmed to initiate executable operations comprising;

determining whether a current facing position of the side camera matches a current vehicle movement direction; and

responsive to determining that the current facing position of the side camera does not match the current vehicle movement direction, automatically adjusting the facing position of the side camera so that the facing position of the side camera matches the current vehicle movement direction.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, further including:

activating the side camera to capture visual data from at least a portion of a respective lateral side environment of the vehicle; and

presenting the captured visual data on a forward display of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, further including:

a sensor system operable to selectively detect a forward lateral side environment and a rear lateral side environment of the vehicle for one or more objects located in the rear environment;

detecting at least a portion of the respective lateral side environment for one or more objects located in the respective lateral side environment;

responsive to detecting an object in the respective lateral side environment, providing an alert of the detected object.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the alert is a graphical alert indicator, and wherein the graphical alert indicator is presented over a portion of the visual data on the forward display.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the alert is an audial indicator of the detected object, whereby one or more sounds is emitted to alert a driver of the presence of the detected object.

14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein automatically adjusting the facing position of the side camera includes activating an actuator operatively connected to rotate the camera about an axis.

15. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein when the vehicle movement direction is determined based on a current transmission gear selection of the vehicle, and wherein when the current transmission gear selection is park, automatically adjusting the facing position of the side camera so that the facing position of the side camera is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, further including a wing mirror, wherein the camera is mounted on the wing mirror.

17. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the side camera is a first side camera, and further including a second side camera provided on the opposite one of the

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the facing position of the first side camera and the facing position of the second side camera are automatically adjusted independently of each other.

19. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein determining whether a current facing position of the side camera matches a current vehicle movement direction is performed responsive to detecting a current speed of the vehicle being below a predetermined speed threshold.

20. A computer program product for providing multi-directional maneuvering assistance for a vehicle, the vehicle having an exterior with a first lateral side and a second lateral side, the vehicle including a side camera provided on one of the first side and the second side, the side camera being movable between a plurality of facing positions, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

determining whether a current facing position of the side camera matches a current vehicle movement direction; and

responsive to determining that the current facing position of the side camera does not match the current vehicle movement direction, automatically adjusting the facing position of the side camera so that the facing position of the side camera matches the current vehicle movement direction.