Night vision device

• US 8,354,944 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Riegel, Thilo, Moritz, Rainer, Beutnagel-Buchner, Uwe, Egelhaaf, Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/992,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,342 Days
• Field of Search: 340/995.19, 34099514-99515, 34099517-99518, 34099521-99528, 340/903, 340/907, 340/990, 340/435
• US Class Current: 340/995.19
• 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 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• 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 2300/305 merging camera image with lines or icons
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0295 by overlaying a vehicle path based on present steering angle over an image without processing that image
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3647 Guidance involving output of stored or live camera images or video streams
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/365 Guidance using head up displays or projectors, e.g. virtual vehicles or arrows projected on the windscreen or on the road itself
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A night vision device for a vehicle is provided, in which a travel path that is set or is to be set is inserted in an image recorded by a camera, the travel path being determined from an evaluation of a location-finding or travel direction sensor.

Claims

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

a camera for recording an image of an actual real-space driving situation in front of the vehicle; and

a display for depicting the recorded image,

wherein;

at least one of a position-finding device and a travel direction sensor of the vehicle is evaluated to determine at least one of a travel path already set and a travel path to be set by the driver of the vehicle; and

the depicting includes overlaying an image of the at least one of the travel path already set and the travel path to be set onto the recorded image of the actual real-space driving situation in front of the vehicle.

2. The night-vision device of claim 1, wherein the travel direction sensor is a steering angle sensor.

3. The night-vision device of claim 1, wherein the position-finding device is connected to a road map basis for determining a course of the road in front of the vehicle.

4. The night vision device of claim 3, wherein a course of the road is displayed in a map display.

5. The night-vision device of claim 4, wherein a current position of the vehicle is plotted on the course of the road.

6. The night vision device of claim 1, wherein the night vision device contains an evaluation unit for determining a course of at least one of roadway boundaries and markings from an image recorded by a camera.

7. The night vision device of claim 1, wherein at least one of an additional warning and a notice symbol may be displayed in the display.

8. The night vision device of claim 1, wherein there is an operating unit for selecting the information depicted in the display regarding the travel path.

9. A method for depicting a driving situation in front of a vehicle for a night vision device for the vehicle, the method comprising:

recording an image of an actual real-space driving situation in front of the vehicle;

evaluating at least one of a location-finding sensor and a travel direction sensor of the vehicle to determine at least one of a travel path already set and a travel path to be set by the driver for the vehicle; and

for depicting the driving situation, overlaying in a display an image of the at least one of the travel path already set and the travel path to be set onto the recorded image of the actual real-space driving situation in front of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the travel direction sensor is a steering angle sensor.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the location-finding sensor is connected to a road map basis for determining a course of the road in front of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a course of the road is displayed in a map display.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a current position of the vehicle is plotted on the course of the road.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the night vision device contains an evaluation unit for determining a course of at least one of roadway boundaries and markings from an image recorded by a camera.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of an additional warning and a notice symbol may be displayed in the display.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein there is an operating unit for selecting the information depicted in the display regarding the travel path.