IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20180056874A1
• Filed: 10/23/2017
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lu, Yuesheng, Gibson, Joel S., Higgins-Luthman, Michael J., Byrne, Steven V., Shriner, Richard D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,766,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/005 Reinforcements made of different materials, e.g. hybrid or composite cords
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/005 using a video camera
• 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 1/002 specially adapted for covering the peripheral part of the vehicle, e.g. for viewing tyres, bumpers or the like integrated in the windows B60R1/001; combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8086 for vehicle path indication
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0275 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation

Abstract

An imaging system for a vehicle includes a rear backup camera and a video display screen for displaying video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera. The imaging system generates a backup overlay and an alignment overlay that are electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist a driver of the vehicle when executing a backup maneuver. The backup overlay includes a pair of side overlays superimposed on the displayed video images and the alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images between the side overlays. The video display screen displays the video images and the backup overlay is generated responsive to the vehicle being shifted into reverse gear. The alignment overlay is generated responsive to a user input.

Claims

1. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

a rear backup camera, wherein said rear backup camera comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said rear backup camera has a rearward field of view when mounted at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;

a display device comprising a video display screen for displaying video images derived from image data captured by said rear backup camera;

wherein said imaging system generates a backup overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when executing a backup maneuver;

wherein said backup overlay comprises a pair of side overlays, and wherein said side overlays of said backup overlay are superimposed on the displayed video images so as to extend rearward from respective sides of the rear of the equipped vehicle displayed in the displayed video images;

wherein said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when backing the equipped vehicle towards a trailer hitch, and wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images between said side overlays;

wherein said video display screen displays the video images derived from image data captured by said rear backup camera responsive to the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear;

wherein said backup overlay is generated responsive to the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear; and

wherein said alignment overlay is generated responsive to a user input.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said side overlays of said backup overlay and said alignment overlay are adjusted responsive to the steering angle of the equipped vehicle.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed along a centerline between said side overlays superimposed on the displayed video images when the steering angle of the equipped vehicle is straight.

4. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images so as to extend upward toward the focal point of expansion of the displayed video images when the steering angle of the equipped vehicle is straight.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said alignment overlay comprises a three dimensional alignment overlay.

6. The imaging system of claim 5, wherein said three dimensional alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images so as to appear to be a virtual three dimensional element at the rear of the equipped vehicle.

7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said side overlays of said backup overlay comprise three dimensional side overlays.

8. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images so as to appear as having a different virtual height dimension than said backup overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said alignment overlay.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said rear backup camera is offset from the centerline of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images as a sideward perspective view of a virtual three dimensional alignment overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said alignment overlay.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said alignment overlay is generated responsive to detection, via image processing of image data captured by said rear backup camera, of a trailer rearward of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

11. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein each of said side overlays comprises first, second and third overlay zones, and wherein said first overlay zone of said side overlays is indicative of a first distance range from the rear of the equipped vehicle to a first distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen, and wherein said second overlay zone of said side overlays is indicative of a second distance range from the first distance to a second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen, and wherein said third overlay zone of said side overlays is indicative of a third distance range beyond the second distance from the rear of the equipped vehicle as displayed at said video display screen, and wherein, as indicated to the driver viewing the displayed video images at said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, the first distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the second distance and the second distance is closer to the rear of the equipped vehicle than the third distance.

12. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein said first overlay zone of said backup overlay comprises a first color and said second overlay zone comprises a second color and said third overlay zone comprises a third color, and wherein said first color is a different color than said second color and said second color is a different color than said third color.

13. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein said imaging system adjusts said first overlay zone in response to an object being detected rearward of the equipped vehicle and within a first distance threshold from the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging system adjusts said second overlay zone in response to an object being detected rearward of the equipped vehicle and within a second distance threshold from the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said second distance threshold is a larger distance than said first distance threshold.

14. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein, as seen by the driver viewing the displayed video images at said video display screen when executing a backup maneuver, said side overlays of said backup overlay comprise spaced-apart lines extending rearward from the rear of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said first overlay zone comprises a first segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines, said second overlay zone comprises a second segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines, and said third overlay zone comprises a third segment of said pair of spaced-apart lines.

15. The imaging system of claim 14, wherein said backup overlay comprises a first mark where said first overlay zone generally joins with said second overlay zone, and wherein said backup overlay comprises a second mark where said second overlay zone generally joins with said third overlay zone.

16. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

a rear backup camera, wherein said rear backup camera comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said rear backup camera has a rearward field of view when mounted at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;

a display device comprising a video display screen for displaying video images derived from image data captured by said rear backup camera;

wherein said imaging system generates a backup overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when executing a backup maneuver;

wherein said backup overlay comprises a pair of side overlays, and wherein said side overlays of said backup overlay are superimposed on the displayed video images so as to extend rearward from respective sides of the rear of the equipped vehicle displayed in the displayed video images;

wherein said side overlays of said backup overlay comprise three dimensional side overlays;

wherein said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when backing the equipped vehicle towards a trailer hitch, and wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images between said side overlays;

wherein said alignment overlay comprises a three dimensional alignment overlay;

wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed along a centerline of the displayed video images when the steering angle of the equipped vehicle is straight;

wherein said video display screen displays the video images derived from image data captured by said rear backup camera responsive to the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear;

wherein said backup overlay is generated responsive to the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear; and

wherein said alignment overlay is generated responsive to a user input.

17. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images so as to appear as having a different virtual height dimension than said backup overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said alignment overlay.

18. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein said rear backup camera is offset from the centerline of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said three dimensional alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images as a sideward perspective view of said three dimensional alignment overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said three dimensional alignment overlay.

19. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

a rear backup camera, wherein said rear backup camera comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said rear backup camera has a rearward field of view when mounted at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;

a display device comprising a video display screen for displaying video images derived from image data captured by said rear backup camera;

wherein said imaging system generates a backup overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when executing a backup maneuver;

wherein said backup overlay comprises a pair of side overlays, and wherein said side overlays of said backup overlay are superimposed on the displayed video images so as to extend rearward from respective sides of the rear of the equipped vehicle displayed in the displayed video images;

wherein said imaging system generates an alignment overlay that is electronically superimposed on the displayed video images to assist a driver of the equipped vehicle when backing the equipped vehicle towards a trailer hitch, and wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images between said side overlays;

wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed along a centerline between said side overlays of the displayed video images when the steering angle of the equipped vehicle is straight;

wherein said side overlays of said backup overlay and said alignment overlay are adjusted responsive to the steering angle of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said alignment overlay is superimposed on the displayed video images so as to appear as having a different virtual height dimension than said backup overlay to enhance the driver'"'"'s cognitive awareness of said alignment overlay;

wherein said video display screen displays the video images derived from image data captured by said rear backup camera responsive to the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear;

wherein said backup overlay is generated responsive to the equipped vehicle being shifted into reverse gear; and

wherein said alignment overlay is generated responsive to detection, via image processing of image data captured by said rear backup camera, of a trailer rearward of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

20. The imaging system of claim 19, wherein said alignment overlay is generated responsive to a user input.