System to aid a driver to determine whether to change lanes

• US 6,424,273 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Trajkovic, Miroslav, Gutta, Srinivas, Colmenarez, Antonio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/822,451
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 340/937, 340/435, 340/903, 340/988, 340/436, 340/942, 340/936, 701/301, 348/115, 348/118-119, 348/135, 348/148-149
• US Class Current: 340/937
• 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 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• 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 2300/303 using joined images, e.g. multiple camera images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic

Abstract

A vehicular vision system to aid a driver of a vehicle to determine whether it is safe to change lanes includes a camera having a field of view such that the field of view corresponds to at least a portion of an area proximate the vehicle. The system also includes an object identifier electrically coupled to the camera, a distance determiner which determines a distance of the object which is in the field of the camera, and a display electrically coupled to the camera which displays an image generated by the camera and provides an indication of the type of object which is in the field of view of the camera and the distance of the object from the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular vision system to aid a driver of a vehicle in determining whether to change lanes, comprising:

at least one camera having a field of view, the at least one camera being positioned on the vehicle such that the field of view corresponds to at least a portion of an area proximate the vehicle;

a distance determiner electronically coupled to the at least one camera which determines a distance of an object in the field of view of the at least one camera from the vehicle; and

a display electrically coupled to the at least one camera which displays an image generated by said at least one camera and displays in alpha-numeric form the distance of the object from the vehicle which is in the field of view of the at least one camera.

2. The vehicular vision system according to claim 1 further comprising:

an object identifier electrically coupled to the at least one camera, the object identifier identifying the object which is in the field of view of the at least one camera and determining a type of the object, said type being d-splayed as text on said display.

3. The vehicular vision system according to claim 2 wherein the type of vehicle is one of a car, truck, light-truck, van, motorcycle, sport utility vehicle, and bus.

4. The vehicular vision system according to claim 1 further comprising an image processor coupled to the at least camera for receiving a signal generated by the at least one camera which corresponds to the field of view of the camera, the image processor generating a signal which is provided to the display for displaying the field of view of the at least one camera on the display.

5. The vehicular vision system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one camera comprises first and second side image cameras and a rear image camera.

6. The vehicular vision system according to claim 1, wherein said distances determiner is configured to disable a turning signal of the vehicle in response to the distance being less than a threshold.

7. A vehicular vision system to aid a driver of a vehicle in determining whether to change lanes, comprising:

at least one camera having a field of view, the at least one camera being positioned on the vehicle such that the field of view corresponds to at least a portion of an area proximate the vehicle;

a distance determiner electronically coupled to the at least one camera which determines a distance of an object in the field of view of the at least one camera from the vehicle; and

an object identifier electrically coupled to the at least one camera, the object identifier identifying the object which is in the field of view of the at least one camera and determining a type of the object for displaying said type as text.

8. The vehicular vision system according to claim 7, further comprising a display electrically coupled to the at least one camera which displays an image generated by said at least one camera, the distance in alpha-numeric form of the object from the vehicle, and the type of the object which is in the field of view of the at least one camera.

9. The vehicular vision system according to claim 7 wherein the type of vehicle is one of a car, truck, light-truck, van, motorcycle, sport utility vehicle, and bus.

10. The vehicular vision system according to claim 7

further comprising:

a display; and

an image processor coupled to the at least camera for receiving a signal generated by the at least one camera which corresponds to the field of view of the camera, the image processor generating a signal which is provided to the display for displaying the field of view of the at least one camera on the display.

11. The vehicular vision system according to claim 7 wherein the at least one camera comprises first and second side image cameras and a rear image camera.

12. The vehicular vision system according to claim 7, wherein said distance determiner is configured to disable a turning signal of the vehicle in response to the distance being less than a threshold.

13. A vehicular vision system to aid a driver of a vehicle in determining whether to change lanes, comprising:

at least one camera having a field of view, the at least one camera being positioned on the vehicle such that the field of view corresponds to at least a portion of an area proximate the vehicle;

an object identifier electrically coupled to the at least one camera, the object identifier identifying an object which is in the field of view of the at least one camera and determining a type of the object; and

a display electrically coupled to the at least one camera which displays an image generated by said at least one camera and displays said type as text on said display.

14. The vehicular vision system according to claim 13, further comprising a distance determiner electronically coupled to the at least one camera which determines a distance of the object in the field of view of the at least one camera from the vehicle, said distance of the object from the vehicle which is in the field of view of the at least one camera being displayed on said display in alpha-numeric form.

15. The vehicular vision system according to claim 14, wherein said distance determiner is configured to disable a turning signal of the vehicle in response to the distance being less than a threshold.

16. A vehicular vision system to aid a driver of a vehicle in determining whether to change lanes, comprising:

at least one camera having a field of view, the at least one camera being positioned on the vehicle such that the field of view corresponds to at least a portion of an area proximate the vehicle;

a distance determiner electronically coupled to the at least one camera which determines a distance of an object in the field of view of the at least one camera from the vehicle; and

an object classifier electrically coupled to the at least one camera, the object classifier analyzing and classifying a type of the object which is in the field of view of the at least one camera.

17. The vehicular vision system according to claim 16, further comprising a display electrically coupled to the at least one camera which displays an image generated by said at least one camera, the distance in alpha-numeric form of the object from the vehicle, and the type-of the object which is in the field of view of the at least one camera.

18. The vehicular vision system according to claim 17, wherein the type of the object is displayed as text on the display.

19. The vehicular vision system according to claim 16, wherein the type of the object is one of a car, truck, light-truck, van, motorcycle, sport utility vehicle, and bus.

20. The vehicular vision system according to claim 16, wherein said distance determiner is configured to disable a turning signal of the vehicle in response to the distance being less than a threshold.