Method and Device for Reproducing a Lateral and/or Rear Surrounding Area of a Vehicle

• US 20160167583A1
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Application Solutions (Electronics And Vision) Limited (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Application Solutions (Electronics And Vision) Limited (Continental AG)
• Inventors: SCHREPFER, Joerg
• Granted Patent: US 10,000,155 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/306 using a re-scaling of images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/808 for facilitating docking to a trailer

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting and reproducing a lateral and/or rear surrounding area (4) of a vehicle (2), for monitoring the surrounding area (4) by the vehicle driver, wherein the surrounding area (4) is detected by means of at least one image capturing device and image data of the surrounding area (4) is produced, and wherein the image data which is generated by the image capturing device can be reproduced by means of at least one image reproducing device which is arranged in the field of vision of the vehicle driver.

Claims

1. A method of reproducing an image of a lateral and/or rear surrounding area (4) of a vehicle (2) with a trailer, to enable a vehicle driver of the vehicle to monitor the surrounding area, comprising:

with at least one image capturing device, capturing an initial image of the surrounding area and producing corresponding image data of the surrounding area,

obtaining alignment data regarding an alignment of the trailer relative to the vehicle,

reproducing at least some of the image data to display at least a represented image section of the surrounding area on at least one image reproducing device arranged in a field of vision of the vehicle driver, and

during the reproducing of the image data, adapting at least one characteristic feature of at least the represented image section (1) of the surrounding area (4) dependent on the alignment data regarding the alignment of the trailer (3) relative to the vehicle (2).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic feature comprises a represented image ratio of the represented image section which is adapted dependent on the alignment data.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic feature comprises an image resolution of the represented image section which is adapted dependent on the alignment data.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic feature of the represented image section (1) is adapted such that the trailer (3) or at least a rear end (5) of the trailer (3) is displayed only in a defined edge area (6) of the represented image section (1) on the at B least one image reproducing device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the alignment data regarding the alignment of the trailer (3) comprises determining the alignment and producing the alignment data with one or more mechanical and/or electromechanical angle measuring devices which are arranged in a trailer coupling of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the alignment data regarding the alignment of the trailer comprises determining the alignment and producing the alignment data.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the obtaining of the alignment data regarding the alignment of the trailer comprises determining the alignment and producing the alignment data by performing image processing of the image data produced by the at least one image capturing device.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adapting of the at least one characteristic feature of at least the represented image section comprises selecting a portion of the initial image to be displayed as the represented image section.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adapting comprises altering the at least one characteristic feature of at least the represented image section dependent on the alignment data.

6. A device for capturing and reproducing an image of a lateral and/or rear surrounding area (4) of a vehicle (2) with a trailer, to enable a vehicle driver of the vehicle to monitor the surrounding area (4), comprising:

at least one image capturing device which is configured and arranged to detect the surrounding area (4) and to produce image data of the surrounding area (4),

at least one image reproducing device which is arranged in a field of vision of the vehicle driver and is configured and arranged to receive and to reproduce at least some of the image data to display at least a represented image section of the surrounding area on the at least one image reproducing device,

an input configured and arranged to receive alignment data regarding an alignment of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and

one or more image processing devices which are configured and arranged to adapt at least one characteristic feature of at least the represented image section (1) of the surrounding area (4) dependent on the alignment data regarding the alignment of the trailer (3).

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the one or more image processing devices are configured so that the at least one characteristic feature comprises a represented image ratio of the represented image section which is adapted by the one or more image processing devices dependent on the alignment data.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the one or more image processing devices are configured so that the at least one characteristic feature comprises an image resolution of the represented image section which is adapted by the one or more image processing devices dependent on the alignmentalignment data.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the one or more image processing devices are configured to adapt the at least one characteristic feature of the represented image section so that the trailer (3) or at least a rear end (5) of the trailer (3) is displayed only in a defined edge area (6) of the represented image section (1) on the at least one image reproducing device.

10. The device according to claim 6, further comprising one or more mechanical and/or electromechanical angle measuring devices which are arranged in a trailer coupling of the vehicle (2), and which are configured and arranged to produce the alignment data and to transmit the alignment data to the input.

11. The device according to claim 6, further comprising electronic image processing devices which are configured and arranged to produce the alignment data by image processing of the image data, and which are configured and arranged to transmit the alignment data to the input.

12. A vehicle (2), comprising a device according to claim 6 arranged in and/or on a vehicle body.

13. The device according to claim 6, further comprising an angle determination device configured and arranged to produce the alignment data regarding the alignment of the trailer and to transmit the alignment data to the input.