Driver assistance system for vehicle

• US 7,873,187 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Azarian; Seyed
• Application Number:
  US12/856,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 155 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/104, 382/106, 382/107, 382/113, 382/122, 382/123, 382/154, 382/156, 382/162, 382/170, 382/178, 382/172, 382/181, 382/190, 382/194, 382/199, 382232-254, 382285-295, 382/305, 382/319, 382/203, 340/435, 340/815.4, 701/1, 701/8, 701/38, 701/93, 348/168
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/331 Electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/001 integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 : in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 : to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 : Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 : with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 : with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 : Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 : using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 : using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• 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 2300/804 : for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 : Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 : Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• 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 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 : of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 : of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 : Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, an image processor operable to process image data captured by the imaging device, and a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the vehicle. The equipped vehicle includes an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle. The adaptive speed control system may reduce the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a detection of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the imaging device.

Claims

1. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a detection of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle via processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to a reduced speed for traveling around the detected curve in the road; and

wherein said adaptive speed control system increases the speed of the equipped vehicle to above the reduced speed when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

2. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the speed reduction is determined at least in part responsive to at least one of (a) processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

3. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein the speed reduction is determined at least in part responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign, and wherein said processing of captured image data by said image processor comprises at least one of (i) recognition of a warning sign and (ii) recognition of a warning sign and character recognition of characters on the recognized warning sign.

4. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the speed reduction is determined at least in part responsive to (a) processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

5. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive speed control system is operable to control the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

6. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

7. The driver assistance system of claim 6, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to be below or generally at the speed level indicated on the warning sign.

8. The driver assistance system of claim 7, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to above the speed level indicated on the warning sign when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

9. The driver assistance system of claim 8, wherein said adaptive speed control system comprises a cruise control system and wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to a cruise control speed setting.

10. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive speed control system comprises a cruise control system and wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle without deactivation of said cruise control system.

11. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive speed control system comprises a cruise control system and wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle without driver deactivation of said cruise control system.

12. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount.

13. The driver assistance system of claim 12, wherein said alert comprises one of (i) a change in intensity of displayed information, (ii) a flashing of displayed information, (iii) a change in color of displayed information, (iv) highlighting of displayed information, (v) an audible alert, (vi) a tactile alert and (vii) a haptic alert.

14. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to determine a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling based at least in part on (a) processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

15. The driver assistance system of claim 14, wherein said driver assistance system determines a difference between the current speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which equipped vehicle is traveling.

16. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said adaptive speed control system is operable to control the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a detection of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle via processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to a reduced speed for traveling around the detected curve in the road; and

wherein said adaptive speed control system increases the speed of the equipped vehicle to above the reduced speed when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

17. The driver assistance system of claim 16, wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

18. The driver assistance system of claim 16, wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to at least one of (a) processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

19. The driver assistance system of claim 18, wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign, and wherein said processing of captured image data by said image processor comprises at least one of (i) recognition of a warning sign and (ii) recognition of a warning sign and character recognition of characters on the recognized warning sign.

20. The driver assistance system of claim 18, wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to (a) processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

21. The driver assistance system of claim 16, wherein said adaptive speed control system comprises a cruise control system and wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to a reduced speed for traveling around the detected curve in the road without deactivation of said cruise control system.

22. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said adaptive speed control system is operable to control the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a detection of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle via processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to a reduced speed for traveling around the detected curve in the road;

wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to at least one of (a) processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system; and

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to be below or generally at the speed level indicated on the warning sign, and wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to above the speed level indicated on the warning sign when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road, and wherein said adaptive speed control system comprises a cruise control system and wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to a cruise control speed setting.

23. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said, imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a detection of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle via processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to a reduced speed for traveling around the detected curve in the road;

wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to (a) processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system; and

wherein said adaptive speed control system increases the speed of the equipped vehicle to above the reduced speed when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

24. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said processing of captured image data by said image processor to determine the reduced speed comprises at least one of (i) recognition of a warning sign and (ii) recognition of a warning sign and character recognition of characters on the recognized warning sign.

25. The driver assistance system of claim 24, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to be below or generally at the speed level indicated on the recognized warning sign.

26. The driver assistance system of claim 25, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to above the speed level indicated on the recognized warning sign when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

27. The driver assistance system of claim 26, wherein said adaptive speed control system comprises a cruise control system and wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to a cruise control speed setting.

28. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a detection of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle via processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to a reduced speed for traveling around the detected curve in the road, and wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system;

wherein said adaptive speed control system comprises a cruise control system and wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle without driver deactivation of said cruise control system; and

wherein said adaptive speed control system increases the speed of the equipped vehicle to above the reduced speed when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

29. The driver assistance system of claim 28, wherein the reduced speed is determined at least in part responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of a warning sign.

30. The driver assistance system of claim 28, wherein said driver assistance system generates a speed alert.

31. The driver assistance system of claim 30, wherein said speed alert comprises one of (i) a change in intensity of displayed information, (ii) a flashing of displayed information, (iii) a change in color of displayed information, (iv) highlighting of displayed information, (v) an audible alert, (vi) a tactile alert and (vii) a haptic alert.

32. The driver assistance system of claim 31, wherein said driver assistance system generates said speed alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount.