Vehicular multi-camera vision system including rear backup camera

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10703274-B2
Application number	US-202016785816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2020
Priority date	Sep 14, 2004
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle includes a rear backup camera, a forward viewing camera that views through the vehicle windshield, and a central data processor disposed in the vehicle. Captured image data provided to the central data processor is processed to detect objects that are within the field of view of the forward viewing camera and/or the field of view of the rear backup camera. Captured radar data is also provided to the central data processor and, via processing of captured image data and captured radar data, a potential hazard is determined to exist. A display device includes a video screen that displays video images captured by the rear backup camera for viewing by a driver of the vehicle during the rearward maneuver of the vehicle, and an overlay overlays the displayed video images captured by the rear backup camera during the rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A multi-camera vision system for a vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising:
a rear backup camera at a rear portion of a vehicle equipped with said multi-camera vision system;
wherein said rear backup camera comprises a CMOS imaging array;
said rear backup camera having a field of view at least rearward of the equipped vehicle;
wherein the field of view of said rear backup camera encompasses at least a portion of a vehicle bumper of the equipped vehicle;
said rear backup camera captures video image data at least rearward of the equipped vehicle during a rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle;
a forward viewing camera disposed at a windshield of the equipped vehicle and viewing through the windshield forward of the equipped vehicle;
said forward viewing camera captures video image data at least forward of the equipped vehicle;
a central data processor disposed in the equipped vehicle;
wherein image data captured by said forward viewing camera is provided to said central data processor and image data captured by said rear backup camera is provided to said central data processor;
wherein captured image data provided to said central data processor is processed at said central data processor in order to detect objects that are within at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the field of view of said forward viewing camera and (ii) the field of view of said rear backup camera;
wherein detection of objects via processing at said central data processor of provided captured image data comprises use of an edge detection algorithm;
wherein the equipped vehicle is further equipped with at least one radar sensor;
wherein said at least one radar sensor captures radar data in a region external of the equipped vehicle;
wherein captured radar data is provided to said central data processor;
wherein, via processing at said central data processor of at least one of provided captured image data and provided captured radar data, a potential hazard is determined to exist;
a display device comprising a video screen that displays video images for viewing by a driver of the equipped vehicle during the rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle, wherein image data captured by said rear backup camera is processed at said central data processor to generate video images for display on said video screen; and
wherein an overlay overlays displayed video images captured by said rear backup camera during the rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle.

2. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein data is provided to said central data processor via a vehicle network of the equipped vehicle.

3. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein, via processing at said central data processor of provided captured image data captured by said rear backup camera, the potential hazard is determined at least in part by determining presence of rear-approaching traffic.

4. The multi-camera vision system of claim 3 , wherein the rear-approaching traffic approaches the equipped vehicle in a side traffic lane adjacent to a traffic lane being traveled by the equipped vehicle.

5. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein, via processing at said central data processor of at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) provided captured image data and (ii) provided captured radar data, presence of an obstacle exterior the equipped vehicle is determined.

6. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein, via processing at said central data processor of at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) provided captured image data and (ii) provided captured radar data, presence of a person exterior the equipped vehicle is determined.

7. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein said central data processor processes fused image data and radar data.

8. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein the overlay that overlays displayed video images captured by said rear backup camera guides the driver when hitching a trailer to a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle.

9. The multi-camera vision system of claim 8 , wherein the overlay aids in guiding connection of the trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of the trailer.

10. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein said video screen of said display device comprises a backlit thin film transistor LCD video screen backlit by at least one white light emitting light emitting diode.

11. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein said video screen comprises an organic light emitting diode (OLED) video screen.

12. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein said display device is operable to display video images with a display intensity, as viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle, greater than 200 candelas/sq. meter.

13. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein said display device is operable to display video images with a display intensity, as viewed by the driver of the equipped vehicle, greater than 400 candelas/sq. meter.

14. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , wherein said display device is disposed at an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle and wherein at least one of (a) said display device displays video images for viewing through a mirror reflective element of said interior rearview mirror assembly by the driver of the equipped vehicle and (b) said display device automatically extends from said interior rearview mirror assembly responsive to the vehicle transmission being shifted into reverse gear, and wherein said interior rearview mirror assembly comprises a molded plastic mounting arm having at least one ball member at at least one end thereof and having electrical conducting elements extending therethrough, and wherein a mirror mounting portion is molded over said ball member, and wherein said mounting arm comprises a mounting arm polymeric material having a first linear mold shrinkage factor and a first flexural modulus, and wherein said mirror mounting portion comprises a mirror mounting polymeric material having a second linear mold shrinkage factor and a second flexural modulus, and wherein said second linear mold shrinkage factor is greater than said first linear mold shrinkage factor, and wherein said second flexural modulus is lower than said first flexural modulus.

15. The multi-camera vision system of claim 1 , comprising a driver-side camera at a driver side portion of the equipped vehicle and a passenger-side camera at a passenger side portion of the equipped vehicle, wherein said driver-side camera has at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said passenger-side camera has at least a sideward field of view external of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said driver-side camera captures video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle at least during the rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said passenger-side camera captures video image data at least sideward of the equipped vehicle at least during the rearward maneuver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein image data captured by said driver-side camera is provided to said central data processor and image data captured by said passenger-side camera is provided to said central data processor.

16. The multi-camera vision system of claim 15 , wherein image data captured by said driver-side camera and said passenger-side camera is processed at said central data processor in order to detect ob

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Karner Lee
• Schofield Kenneth
• Lynam Niall R

Classifications

• B29C45/0017 Primary

  moulding interconnected elements which are movable with respect to one another, e.g. chains or hinges · CPC title

• G06V20/58

  Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads · CPC title

• B29C45/1671

  with an insert · CPC title

• G08G1/166

  for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes · CPC title

• B60R2300/8066

  for monitoring rearward traffic · CPC title