REAR VISION SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20170274827A1
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Lewis, Allan K., Naserian, Mohammad, Chaney, JR., Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 10,336,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/08 involving special optical features, e.g. avoiding blind spots , e.g. convex mirrors; Side-by-side associations of rear-view and other mirrors B60R1/025, B60R1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• 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 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/163 involving continuous checking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A rear vision system for a host vehicle and a method of using the same, where the rear vision system includes an electronic display mirror that is designed to replace a traditional rearview mirror. The electronic display mirror has an integrated electronic video display that is coupled to a rearward facing camera at the back of the vehicle and displays a video feed from the camera to the driver in real time. The electronic display mirror can display enhanced video output that shows the area behind the host vehicle, along with performance metrics that are superimposed on the video and provide relevant information to the driver. For example, the enhanced video output may include an estimated time difference between the host vehicle and the closest trailing vehicle superimposed on the video; this may be particularly useful when the host vehicle is involved in a performance driving event, like a race.

Claims

1. A method for use with a rear vision system for a host vehicle, the rear vision system having a rear facing camera, a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) unit, and an electronic display mirror, and the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining video input from the rear facing camera;

obtaining traffic input from the V2V unit, the traffic input pertains to a remote vehicle;

using the traffic input to determine a performance metric for the remote vehicle; and

displaying an enhanced video output on the electronic display mirror, wherein the enhanced video output includes the performance metric superimposed on the video input.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that a race has begun or will begin;

gathering information from a remote vehicle; and

determining whether the remote vehicle is a participating vehicle in the race or a non-participating vehicle in the race based on the gathered information, wherein the preceding steps are part of a method to initiate the rear vision system in anticipation of the race and are performed before the displaying step so that the displaying step only comprises displaying the enhanced video output for participating vehicles.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving an initiation signal at the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) unit or at a rear vision system control unit, the initiation signal indicates that the race is about to begin.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the gathering step further comprises receiving a basic safety message (BSM) at the vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) unit and gathering information from the BSM, the gathered information pertains to the location of the remote vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining step further comprises determining whether the remote vehicle is a participating vehicle or a non-participating vehicle based on its location relative to the host vehicle or to a designated race starting area.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

generating a list of all participating vehicles in the race after the determining step, the list includes a security certificate for each participating vehicle that acts as a vehicle identifier in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication system.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

gathering information about a racetrack where the race will be held, the gathered information includes geographic data on the racetrack.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining if the remote vehicle is also a trailing vehicle before the displaying step, the trailing vehicle has a front-most point that is located behind a front-most point of the host vehicle, relative to the direction of host vehicle travel; and

the displaying step only displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric when the remote vehicle is a trailing vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining step further comprises determining if the remote vehicle is a trailing vehicle and is within the certain proximity of the host vehicle;

and

the displaying step only displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric when the remote vehicle is a trailing vehicle and is within the certain proximity of the host vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining step further comprises determining if the remote vehicle is a trailing vehicle, is within the certain proximity of the host vehicle, and is participating in a same race as the host vehicle;

and

the displaying step only displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric when the remote vehicle is a trailing vehicle, is within the certain proximity of the host vehicle, and is participating in the same race as the host vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining step further comprises determining if the remote vehicle is a trailing vehicle, is within the certain proximity of the host vehicle, is participating in the same race as the host vehicle, and is a closest trailing vehicle to the host vehicle;

and

the displaying step only displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric when the remote vehicle is a trailing vehicle, is within the certain proximity of the host vehicle, is participating in the same race as the host vehicle, and is the closest trailing vehicle to the host vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining if the remote vehicle is also a closest trailing vehicle before the displaying step, the closest trailing vehicle is a trailing vehicle that is closest to the host vehicle in terms of either a standard linear distance or a racetrack distance; and

the displaying step only displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric when the remote vehicle is the closest trailing vehicle.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the using step further comprises using the traffic input to determine the performance metric in the form of an estimated time difference between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle, and the displaying step further comprises displaying the enhanced video output on the electronic display mirror, wherein the enhanced video output includes the estimated time difference superimposed on the video input.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

determining if the remote vehicle is in the field-of-view of the rear facing camera; and

when the remote vehicle is in the field-of-view the displaying step displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric near an image of the remote vehicle, and when the remote vehicle is not in the field-of-view the displaying step displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric near an indicator that indicates the unseen location of the remote vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein when the remote vehicle is in the field-of-view of the rear facing camera, the displaying step displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric near the image of the remote vehicle and with an indicator in the form of an outline around the remote vehicle or a change in color or brightness of the remote vehicle that intuitively signifies that the remote vehicle in the video is the closest trailing vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein when the remote vehicle is not in the field-of-view of the rear facing camera, the displaying step displays the enhanced video output with the superimposed performance metric near an arrow that indicates on which side of the electronic display mirror the unseen remote vehicle is located.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

monitoring a plurality of remote vehicles via a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) system and maintaining a list of the remote vehicles that are also participating in a same race as the host vehicle.

18. A rear vision system for use with a host vehicle, comprising:

a rear vision system control unit;

a rear facing camera that is coupled to the control unit and provides the control unit with video input of an area behind the host vehicle;

a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) unit that is coupled to the control unit and provides the control unit with traffic input relating to one or more remote vehicles; and

an electronic display mirror that is coupled to the control unit and receives enhanced video output from the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to manipulate the video input by adding a performance metric for a remote vehicle, and the performance metric for the remote vehicle is at least partially based on the traffic input from the V2V unit.