Construction machinery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10186017-B2
Application number	US-201715673627-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2017
Priority date	Aug 25, 2016
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

Abstract

A construction machine includes image processing means coupled in communication with a monitor. The image processing means is configured to receive images from a plurality of cameras; synthesize the images into a synthetic bird's eye view image; divide the synthetic bird's eye view image into four sections that are defined by a first section line and a second section line, the four sections including a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section; generate a conversion image from the synthetic bird's eye view image by increasing a size of the first section and decreasing a size of each of the second section and the third section; and selectively display the conversion image on the monitor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A construction machine, comprising:
a plurality of monitor cameras that capture images of an area surrounding a body of the construction machine; and
image processing means coupled in communication with a monitor and the plurality of monitor cameras, the image processing means being configured to:
receive images from each camera of the plurality of monitor cameras;
synthesize the images into a synthetic bird's eye view image;
divide the synthetic bird's eye view image into four sections that are defined by a first section line and a second section line, each section of the four sections being bounded by both the first section line and the second section line,
the first section line intersecting with the second section line at an intersection point, a section line angle being defined between the first section line and the second section line, the four sections including a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section;
generate a conversion image from the synthetic bird's eye view image by translating the intersection point within the synthetic bird's eye view image while maintaining the section line angle constant to increase a size of the first section and decrease a size of each of the second section and the third section, an overall size of the conversion image being the same as an overall size of the synthetic bird's eye view image; and
selectively display the conversion image on the monitor,

wherein the image processing means is further configured to superimpose an entirety of a predefined plan figure of the body of the construction machine in the first section of the synthetic bird's eye view image and the first section of the conversion image,
wherein the second section line extends in a back-to-front direction along a left side of the predefined plan figure, and the first section line extends in a right-to-left direction along a front side of the predefined plan figure, the back-to-front direction being transverse to the right-to-left direction, and
wherein the predefined plan figure includes a figure of a cab of the construction machine located at a left front part of the predefined plan figure.

2. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing means is further configured to decrease a size of the fourth section when generating the conversion image.

3. The construction machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first section is separated from the second section by the second section line,
the first section is separated from the fourth section by the first section line,
the third section is separated from the second section by the first section line, and
the third section is separated from the fourth section by the second section line.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Sarl

Inventors

• Imano Toru

Classifications

• H04N23/698

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• G06T2207/30261

  Obstacle · CPC title

• E02F9/261

  Surveying the work-site to be treated · CPC title