Camera-assisted blind spot detection

• US 9,586,525 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Sejalon, Frederic Marcel, Rottner, Gunter, Bochenek, Jeffrey, Niehsen, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US13/304,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,926 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A blind spot detection system. The system includes a camera mounted at the rear of a vehicle, a controller coupled to the camera, and an indicator coupled to the controller. The camera is configured to capture images in a field-of-view to the rear of the vehicle. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the camera indicative of the images, and controller determining when a second vehicle in the images enters a blind spot of the vehicle. The controller activates the indicator when the second vehicle enters the blind spot of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of detecting a vehicle in a blind spot of a host vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of images from a camera to a controller of a field-of-view (FOV) behind the host vehicle;

detecting, by the controller, a second vehicle in the plurality of images;

tracking, by the controller, the second vehicle;

detecting by a sensor configured to detect an object adjacent the host vehicle, that the second vehicle is in the blind spot, the controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the presence of the object adjacent the host vehicle;

determining that the second vehicle has entered one of the host vehicle'"'"'s blind spots based on the plurality of images from the camera and the signal from the sensor; and

issuing, by the controller, an indication of the second vehicle'"'"'s position to an operator of the host vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned on a rear side of the host vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned on a side-view mirror of the host vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a second camera.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a radar.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the plurality of images on a display when the host vehicle is backing up.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the controller, whether the second vehicle is approaching the host vehicle or moving away from the host vehicle, and determining a speed at which the second vehicle is moving toward/away from the host vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the second vehicle is in the blind spot when the second vehicle leaves the field of view of the camera.