Driver assistance system for vehicle

• US 7,912,646 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Uhlmann, Eugenie V., McCarthy, Kevin C., Lynam, Niall R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US12/536,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 701/213, 701/300, 701/211, 701/207, 359/838, 359/839, 340/955.2, 340/461, 340/525, 340/995.19, 348/143, 362/135, 362/494, 342/357.75
• US Class Current: 701/300
• 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 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/21 Interference related issues ; Issues related to cross-correlation, spoofing or other methods of denial of service
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/37 Hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B

Abstract

A driver assistance system includes a global-positioning system generating an output indicative of the current geographical location of the vehicle equipped with the driver assistance system, a forward facing camera, and a video display screen. The forward facing camera captures video images forward of the vehicle as the equipped vehicle travels along a route of travel, and the video display screen displays the captured video images as the equipped vehicle travels along the route. The video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle. The driver assistance system, responsive to image processing of the video images and responsive to the output of the global-positioning system, generates a graphic overlay on the displayed video images that assists the driver'"'"'s driving task as the vehicle travels along the route.

Claims

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

a global-positioning system generating an output indicative of a current geographical location of the vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system;

a forward facing camera having a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, wherein said forward facing camera captures video images forward of the vehicle as the equipped vehicle travels along a route of travel;

a video display screen for displaying said video images captured by said forward facing camera as the equipped vehicle travels along the route, wherein said video display screen comprises a reconfigurable video display screen, wherein said video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle;

wherein said driver assistance system, responsive to image processing of said video images and responsive to said output of said global-positioning system, generates a graphic overlay on the displayed video images that assists the driver'"'"'s driving task as the vehicle travels along the route; and

wherein said graphic overlay highlights portions of the displayed video images to assist the driver'"'"'s driving task as the vehicle travels along the route.

32. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said video display screen is disposed in an interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein said video display screen displays said video images for viewing by the driver of the vehicle through a mirror reflector of said interior rearview mirror assembly.

33. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the driver'"'"'s driving task comprises at least one of (a) travel along a portion of a road, (b) a turn, (c) entry onto a highway via a highway on-ramp, (d) exit from a highway via a highway exit ramp, (e) travel along a portion of a highway and (f) travel along a selected route toward a destination location, (g) determination of an object forward of the vehicle, and (h) determination of a building.

34. The driver assistance system of claim 33, wherein said graphic overlay comprises at least one of (a) highway status information, (b) a hazard warning, (c) vehicle status information, (d) speedometer information, (e) fuel gauge infomation, (f) tire inflation status information, (g) weather information, (h) traffic information, (i) a train approach warning and (j) tollbooth information.

35. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system determines the route of travel based at least in part on said global-positioning system.

36. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said graphic overlay highlights at least one object in the video images in accordance with said current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

37. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system highlights at least one object of the displayed video images via flashing at said at least one displayed object.

2. A driver assistance system for use in a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

a global-positioning system generating an output indicative of a current geographical location of the vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system;

a forward facing camera having a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, wherein said forward facing camera captures video images forward of the vehicle as the equipped vehicle travels along a route of travel;

a video display screen for displaying said video images captured by said forward facing camera as the equipped vehicle travels along the route, wherein said video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle; and

wherein said driver assistance system, responsive to image processing of said video images and responsive to said output of said global-positioning system, generates a graphic overlay on the displayed video images that assists the driver'"'"'s driving task as the vehicle travels along the route.

3. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein the driver'"'"'s driving task comprises at least one of (a) travel along a portion of a road, (b) a turn, (c) entry onto a highway via a highway on-ramp, (d) exit from a highway via a highway exit ramp, (e) travel along a portion of a highway and (f) travel along a selected route toward a destination location, (g) determination of an object forward of the vehicle, and (h) determination of a building.

4. The driver assistance system of claim 3, wherein said graphic overlay comprises at least one of (a) highway status information, (b) a hazard warning, (c) vehicle status information, (d) speedometer information, (e) fuel gauge information, (f) tire inflation status information, (g) weather information, (h) traffic information, (i) a train approach warning and (j) tollbooth information.

5. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said graphic overlay highlights portions of the displayed video images to assist the driver'"'"'s driving task as the vehicle travels along the route.

6. The driver assistance system of claim 5, wherein the driving task is a turn along the route of travel of the vehicle.

7. The driver assistance system of claim 5, wherein the driving task is travel along a portion of a highway.

8. The driver assistance system of claim 7, wherein said portion of the highway encompasses a highway ramp.

9. The driver assistance system of claim 5, wherein said graphic overlay highlights at least one object in the video images captured by said video camera.

10. The driver assistance system of claim 9, wherein the at least one object comprises a building.

11. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said driver assistance system determines the route of travel based at least in part on said global-positioning system.

12. The driver assistance system of claim 11, wherein said graphic overlay highlights at least one object in the video images captured by said video camera as the vehicle travels along the route in accordance with said current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

13. The driver assistance system of claim 12, wherein the at least one object comprise at least one of (a) at least one turn, (b) at least one highway ramp and (c) at least one building.

14. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said graphic overlay highlights at least one object in the video images in accordance with said current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

15. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said driver assistance system highlights at least one object of the displayed video images via flashing at said at least one displayed object.

16. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said video display screen is at or adjacent to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.

17. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said video display screen comprises a reconfigurable video display screen.

18. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said video display screen has a width dimension that is greater than a height dimension of said video display screen.

19. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said graphic overlay comprises data.

20. The driver assistance system of claim 19, wherein said data comprises instructional data.

21. The driver assistance system of claim 19, wherein said data comprises navigation data.

22. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein at least one of (a) said driver assistance system comprises a short-range wireless communication link to a portable electronic device in the equipped vehicle, (b) said driver assistance system comprises a vehicle data bus connection and (c) said video display screen also displays other vehicle functions.

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

a global-positioning system generating an output indicative of a current geographical location of the vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system;

a forward facing camera having a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, wherein said forward facing camera captures video images forward of the vehicle as the equipped vehicle travels along a route of travel;

a video display screen for displaying said video images captured by said forward facing camera as the equipped vehicle travels along the route, wherein said video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle;

wherein said driver assistance system, responsive to image processing of said video images and responsive to said output of said global-positioning system, generates a graphic overlay on the displayed video images that assists the driver'"'"'s driving task as the vehicle travels along the route; and

wherein said graphic overlay highlights portions of the displayed video images to assist the driver'"'"'s driving task as the vehicle travels along the route, and wherein the driver'"'"'s driving task comprises at least one of (a) travel along a portion of a road, (b) a turn, (c) entry onto a highway via a highway on-ramp, (d) exit from a highway via a highway exit ramp, (e) travel along a portion of a highway, (f) travel along a selected route toward a destination location, (g) determination of an object forward of the vehicle, and (h) determination of a building.

24. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said graphic overlay highlights at least one object in the video images captured by said video camera.

25. The driver assistance system of claim 24, wherein the at least one object comprises a building.

26. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said driver assistance system determines the route of travel based at least in part on said global-positioning system.

27. The driver assistance system of claim 26, wherein said graphic overlay highlights at least one object in the video images captured by said video camera as the vehicle travels along the route in accordance with said current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

28. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said graphic overlay highlights at least one object in the video images in accordance with said current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

29. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said driver assistance system highlights at least one object of the displayed video images via flashing at said at least one displayed object.

30. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said graphic overlay comprises at least one of (a) highway status information, (b) a hazard warning, (c) vehicle status information, (d) speedometer information, (e) fuel gauge information, (f) tire inflation status information, (g) weather information, (h) traffic information, (i) a train approach warning and (j) tollbooth information.

31. The driver assistance system of claim 23, wherein said video display screen is at or adjacent to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.