Automatically Activated Vehicle Obstacle Viewing System

• US 20160193998A1
• Filed: 01/02/2015
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
• Inventors: Yellambalase, Yadunandana
• Application Number:
  US14/588,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193998A1
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• 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 2300/10 characterised by the type of camera system used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/20 characterised by the type of display used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/605 the adjustment being automatic
• 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 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/00 Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A method is provided for automatically activating a camera system whenever the control system determines that there is an obstacle in the vehicle'"'"'s pathway, thereby helping the driver to avoid the obstacle altogether.

Claims

1. A method of automatically activating a camera system mounted to a vehicle, the method comprising the step of:

determining a current vehicle pathway, wherein a vehicle system controller automatically performs said step of determining said current vehicle pathway;

monitoring for a potential vehicle obstacle, wherein said vehicle system controller automatically performs said monitoring step, and wherein when said potential vehicle obstacle is identified said method further comprises the steps of;

determining if said potential vehicle obstacle is located within said current vehicle pathway, wherein said vehicle system controller automatically performs said step of determining if said potential vehicle obstacle is located within said current vehicle pathway;

displaying a data feed from the camera system if said potential vehicle obstacle is determined by said vehicle system controller to be located within said current vehicle pathway; and

terminating said step of displaying said data feed from the camera system after said vehicle system controller determines that said potential vehicle obstacle is no longer located within said current vehicle pathway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying said data feed from the camera system further comprises the step of selecting said data feed from a plurality of camera data feeds, wherein each of said plurality of camera data feeds corresponds to a particular camera with a specific exterior vehicle view, and wherein said selecting step is performed automatically by said vehicle system controller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said data feed selected in said selecting step has a view of said potential vehicle obstacle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring for said potential vehicle obstacle further comprises the step of monitoring a plurality of exterior view sensors.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said plurality of exterior view sensors are comprised of at least a forward looking sensor and a rearward looking sensor.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said plurality of exterior view sensors are comprised of at least a forward looking sensor, a rearward looking sensor, a left side looking sensor and a right side looking sensor.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said plurality of exterior view sensors are comprised of at least a central forward looking sensor, a left forward looking sensor and a right forward looking sensor.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said plurality of exterior view sensors are comprised of at least a central rearward looking sensor, a left rearward looking sensor and a right rearward looking sensor.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein said plurality of exterior view sensors are selected from the group consisting of electromagnetic sensors, ultrasonic sensors, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors, cameras, short range radar sensors, medium range radar sensors, and long range radar sensors.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying said data feed further comprises the step of displaying said data feed on either a primary display or a secondary display, wherein said method further comprises the step of selecting between said primary display and said secondary display.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of selecting between said primary display and said secondary display is preset and performed by a vehicle manufacturer.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of selecting between said primary display and said secondary display is performed real-time by a vehicle user.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of selecting between said primary display and said secondary display is preset and performed by a vehicle user.