Night vision device

• US 7,482,909 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2005
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Haug, Karsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/150,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022811A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 348/119, 348/148, 348/162
• US Class Current: 340/436
• 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

In a night vision device for motor vehicles having at least one night vision camera, a control unit and a display unit for displaying a night vision image, the control unit is designed to ascertain and display assister markings for longitudinal and/or lateral guidance while driving the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A night vision device for a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one night vision camera;

at least one display unit for displaying a night vision image of an area in the proximity of the motor vehicle as captured by the at least one night vision camera; and

at least one control unit for ascertaining and displaying at least one assister marking for at least one of longitudinal and lateral guidance in driving the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one assister marking is an addition to the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and is superimposed on the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and displayed on the display unit, and wherein the at least one assister marking includes at least one icon representing the actual lateral position of the motor vehicle relative to lane boundaries of a traffic lane on the night vision image.

2. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit statically represents vertical distance assister lines having definitively specified distances from the motor vehicle forward in a direction of travel.

3. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit ascertains and represents a setpoint distance with respect to a preceding vehicle as a function of the vehicle'"'"'s own velocity.

4. The night vision device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit is connected to surround sensors for ascertaining parameters of at least one of (a) a weather situation and (b) a road condition and ascertains the setpoint distance as a function of the ascertained parameters.

5. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to a navigation device and ascertains the at least one assister marking as a function of parameters provided by the navigation device.

6. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to an anti-collision device and projects at least one collision object provided by the anti-collision device in three-dimensional relative coordinates into a two-dimensional night vision image.

7. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to a lane tracking system.

8. The night vision device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected to a navigation device and inserts a further course of a road provided by the navigation device.

9. A night vision device for a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one night vision camera;

at least one display unit for displaying a night vision image of an area in the proximity of the motor vehicle as captured by the at least one night vision camera; and

at least one control unit for ascertaining and displaying at least one assister marking for at least one of longitudinal and lateral guidance in driving the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one assister marking is an addition to the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and is superimposed on the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and displayed on the display unit, and wherein the at least one assister marking indicates the actual lateral position of the motor vehicle relative to lane boundaries of a traffic lane on the night vision image, wherein the at least one assister marking includes a first icon representing the actual lateral position of the motor vehicle and a second icon representing at least one of (a) a lane center and (b) lane limits of the traffic lane on the night vision image.

10. The night vision device according to claim 9, wherein the at least one assister marking is ascertained from an angle and a last offset between a sensor axis of the night vision camera and a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle.

11. A night vision device for a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one night vision camera;

at least one display unit for displaying a night vision image of an area in the proximity of the motor vehicle as captured by the at least one night vision camera; and

at least one control unit for ascertaining and displaying at least one assister marking for at least one of longitudinal and lateral guidance in driving the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one assister marking is an addition to the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and is superimposed on the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and displayed on the display unit, and wherein the at least one assister marking indicates the actual lateral position of the motor vehicle relative to lane boundaries of a traffic lane on the night vision image, wherein the at least one assister marking is an icon representing at least one of (c) a vehicle center and (d) a vehicle width relative to the traffic lane on the night vision image, and wherein the at least one assister marking is superimposed on the night vision image.

12. A night vision device for a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one night vision camera;

at least one display unit for displaying a night vision image of an area in the proximity of the motor vehicle as captured by the at least one night vision camera; and

at least one control unit for ascertaining and displaying at least one assister marking for at least one of longitudinal and lateral guidance in driving the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one assister marking is an addition to the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and is superimposed on the night vision image captured by the at least one night vision camera and displayed on the display unit, and wherein the at least one assister marking indicates the actual lateral position of the motor vehicle relative to lane boundaries of a traffic lane on the night vision image, wherein the control unit calculates a current position of the vehicle in a traffic lane from the night vision image and compares to a setpoint position for ascertaining and displaying a correction vector.