Device for detecting objects on a windscreen of a motor vehicle

• US 6,841,767 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Leopold Kostal GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Blasing, Frank, Mindl, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Thanh X.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C.
• Application Number:
  US09/947,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20020047898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.25, 250573-575, 250/445, 250/208.1, 356335-337, 356 72- 73, 340/601, 340/603, 340/604
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A device for detecting objects on a windshield of a motor vehicle having a hood includes an imaging unit having a lens and a sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle. The lens images a windshield section associated with a primary field of vision onto the sensor. The sensor generates a sensor signal in response to the windshield section imaged thereon. The imaging unit is positioned in a viewing direction pointing diagonally downwards with respect to the windshield such that the background of the windshield section imaged onto the sensor is the hood of the motor vehicle thereby causing the background of the windshield section imaged onto the sensor to be approximately constant in order to cancel environmental conditions that can impair object detection on the windshield section. An evaluation unit evaluates the sensor signal to detect objects on the windshield section.

Claims

1. A device for detecting objects on a windshield of a motor vehicle having a hood, the device comprising:

a first imaging unit having a first lens and a first sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the first lens images a first windshield section associated with a primary field of vision onto the first sensor, wherein the first sensor generates a first sensor signal in response to the first windshield section imaged thereon, wherein the first lens and the first sensor of the first imaging unit are positioned in a viewing direction pointing diagonally downwards with respect to the windshield such that the background of the first windshield section imaged onto the first sensor is the hood of the motor vehicle thereby causing the background of the first windshield section imaged onto the first sensor to be approximately constant in order to cancel environmental conditions that can impair object detection on the first windshield section; and

an evaluation unit for evaluating the first sensor signal to detect objects on the first windshield section.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first imaging unit is integrated into a support of a rear view mirror positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second imaging unit having a second lens and a second sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the second lens images a second windshield section associated with a second primary field of vision onto the second sensor, wherein the first and second windshield sections are mutually exclusive from one another, wherein the second sensor generates a second sensor signal in response to the second windshield section imaged thereon, wherein the second lens and the second sensor of the second imaging unit are positioned in a viewing direction pointing diagonally downwards with respect to the windshield such that the background of the second windshield section imaged onto the second sensor is the hood of the motor vehicle;

wherein the evaluation unit evaluates the second sensor signal to detect objects on the second windshield section.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

a third imaging unit having a third lens and a third sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the third lens images a third windshield section associated with a secondary field of vision onto the third sensor, wherein the first, second, and third windshield sections are mutually exclusive from one another, wherein the third sensor generates a third sensor signal in response to the secondary field of vision imaged thereon;

wherein the evaluation unit uses the third sensor signal as a reference for evaluating the first and second sensor signals in order to detect objects on the first and second windshield sections.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein:

the first and second windshield sections are wiped independently as a function of the objects detected on the first and second windshield sections.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second imaging unit having a second lens positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the second lens images a second windshield section associated with a second primary field of vision onto the first sensor, wherein the first and second windshield sections are mutually exclusive from one another, wherein the first sensor generates a second sensor signal in response to the second windshield section imaged thereon, wherein the second lens of the second imaging unit is positioned in a viewing direction pointing diagonally downwards with respect to the windshield such that the background of the second windshield section imaged onto the first sensor is the hood of the motor vehicle;

wherein the evaluation unit evaluates the second sensor signal to detect objects on the second windshield section.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising:

the first and second lenses alternately image the first and second windshield sections onto the first sensor.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein:

the first imaging unit includes an imaging axis defined by the bi-sector of the imaging angle of the first lens, wherein the first sensor is tilted towards the imaging axis of the first imaging unit so that first windshield section imaged by the first lens is arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the imaging axis.

9. A device for detecting objects on a windshield of a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a first imaging unit having a first lens and a first sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the first lens images a first windshield section associated with a primary field of vision onto the first sensor, wherein the first imaging unit is tilted in a transversely downward directed viewing direction relative to the windshield, wherein the first sensor generates a first sensor signal in response to the first windshield section imaged thereon; and

a reference imaging unit positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the reference imaging unit images a reference windshield section associated with a secondary field of vision and generates a reference sensor signal indicative of the imaged reference windshield section, wherein the first and reference windshield sections are different from one another;

an evaluation unit for evaluating the first sensor signal to detect objects on the first windshield section, wherein the evaluation unit uses the reference sensor signal as a reference for evaluating the first sensor signal in order to detect objects on the first windshield section.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein:

the first imaging unit is integrated into a support of a rear view mirror positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle.

11. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

a second imaging unit having a second lens and a second sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the second lens images a second windshield section associated with a second primary field of vision onto the second sensor, wherein the first, second, and reference image sections are different from one another, wherein the second imaging unit is tilted in a transversely downward directed viewing direction relative to the windshield, wherein the second sensor generates a second sensor signal in response to the second windshield section imaged thereon; and

wherein the evaluation unit evaluates the second sensor signal to detect objects on the second windshield section.

12. The device of claim 11

wherein the evaluation unit uses the reference sensor signal as a reference for evaluating the first and second sensor signals in order to detect objects on the first and second windshield sections.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein:

the first and second windshield sections are wiped independently as a function of the objects detected on the first and second windshield sections.

14. The device of claim 9 further comprising:

a second imaging unit having a second lens positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the second lens images a second windshield section associated with a second primary field of vision onto the first sensor, wherein the first and second windshield sections are different from one another, wherein the second lens is tilted in a transversely downward directed viewing direction relative to the windshield, wherein the first sensor generates a second sensor signal in response to the second windshield section imaged thereon; and

wherein the evaluation unit uses the reference sensor signal as a reference for evaluating the second sensor signal in order to detect objects on the second windshield section.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein:

the first and second lenses alternately image the first and second windshield sections onto the first sensor.

16. The device of claim 9 wherein:

the first imaging unit includes an imaging axis defined by the bi-sector of the imaging angle of the first lens, wherein the first sensor is tilted towards the imaging axis of the first imaging unit so that first windshield section imaged by the first lens is arranged at an oblique angle with respect to the imaging axis.

17. A device for detecting objects on a windshield of a motor vehicle, the device comprising:

a first imaging unit having a first lens and a first sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the first lens images a first windshield section associated with a primary field of vision of a vehicle driver onto the first sensor, wherein the first lens and the first sensor of the first imaging unit are tilted in a transversely downward directed viewing direction relative to the windshield, wherein the first sensor generates a first sensor signal in response to the first windshield section imaged thereon;

a second imaging unit having a second lens and a second sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the second lens images a second windshield section associated with a primary field of vision of a vehicle passenger onto the second sensor, wherein the first and second windshield sections are mutually exclusive from one another, wherein the second lens and the second sensor of the second imaging unit are tilted in a transversely downward directed viewing direction relative to the windshield, wherein the second sensor generates a second sensor signal in response to the second windshield section imaged thereon; and

an evaluation unit for evaluating the first and second sensor signals to detect objects on the first and second windshield sections.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising:

a third imaging unit having a third lens and a third sensor positioned within the interior of the motor vehicle and away from the windshield, wherein the third lens images a third windshield section associated with a secondary field of vision onto the third sensor, wherein the first, second, and third windshield sections are mutually exclusive from one another, wherein the third sensor generates a third sensor signal in response to the secondary field of vision imaged thereon;

wherein the evaluation unit uses the third sensor signal as a reference for evaluating the first and second sensor signals in order to detect objects on the first and second windshield sections.