TARGET MONITORING SYSTEM WITH LENS CLEANING DEVICE

• US 20160210757A1
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lavoie, Erick Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,607,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/00 Steering specially adapted for trailers combined traction and steering hitches B60D
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 13/06 for backing a normally drawn trailer
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30168 Image quality inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30208 Marker matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/74 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

An imaging system of a vehicle is provided herein. A camera is configured to capture images of a rear vehicle scene containing a trailer attached to the vehicle. A device is configured to remove contaminants on a lens of the camera. A controller is configured to analyze the captured images and activate the device based on the image quality of the captured images and a motion of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

Claims

1. An imaging system of a vehicle, comprising:

a camera configured to capture images of a rear vehicle scene containing a trailer attached to the vehicle;

a device configured to remove contaminants on a lens of the camera; and

a controller configured to analyze the captured images and activate the device based on the image quality of the captured images and a motion of the trailer relative to the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a rate of image degradation due to the presence of contaminants on the lens of the camera.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller determines the rate of image degradation by analyzing the edge contrast along lines of the captured images.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to predict when the lens of the camera will need to be cleaned based on the rate of image degradation.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the controller is further configured to predict when the trailer will reach a maximum hitch angle relative to the vehicle based on the captured images.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein if the controller predicts that the lens of the camera will need to be cleaned at approximately the same time as the trailer reaches the maximum hitch angle, the controller immediately activates the device to remove contaminants on the lens prior to the trailer reaching the maximum hitch angle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of a lens sprayer, a lens wiper, a lens blower, and a lens agitator.

8. An imaging system of a vehicle, comprising:

a camera configured to capture images of a rear vehicle scene; and

a controller configured to monitor the image quality of the captured images and issue a lens cleaning command when the image quality falls below a predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a device configured to remove contaminants on a lens of the camera, the device comprising at least one of a lens sprayer, a lens wiper, a lens blower, and a lens agitator.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a rate of image degradation based the presence of contaminants on a lens of the camera.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller determines the rate of image degradation by analyzing the edge contrast along lines of the captured images.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to analyze the rate of image degradation to predict when the lens of the camera will need to be cleaned.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the scene contains a trailer attached to the vehicle and the controller is further configured to predict when the trailer will reach a maximum hitch angle relative to the vehicle based on the captured images.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein if the controller predicts that the lens of the camera will need to be cleaned at approximately the same time as the trailer reaches the maximum hitch angle, the controller immediately issues the lens cleaning command prior to the trailer reaching the maximum hitch angle.

15. An imaging method for a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

capturing images of a rear vehicle scene using a camera;

monitoring the image quality of the captured images; and

issuing a lens cleaning command when the image quality falls below a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of monitoring comprises determining a rate of image degradation based on the presence of contaminants on a lens of the camera.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of analyzing the rate of image degradation to predict when the lens of the camera will need to be cleaned.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of predicting when a trailer, attached to the vehicle, will reach a maximum hitch angle relative to the vehicle based on the captured images.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of immediately issuing the lens cleaning command if the trailer is predicted to reach the maximum hitch angle at approximately the same time as the lens of the camera is predicted to require cleaning.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of at least one of spraying the lens, wiping the lens, blowing air across the lens, and agitating the lens to remove contaminants thereon.