Driver assist system for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016229342-A1
Application number	US-201615131592-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 2, 2000
Publication date	Aug 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A driver assist system for a vehicle includes at least one non-visual sensor and a forward-viewing camera disposed that is part of a multi-camera vision system of the vehicle that includes at least two side cameras and a rear backup camera. A video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when the driver is normally operating the vehicle. During a driving or parking maneuver of the vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by at least some of the cameras are displayed by the video display screen, and at least one indication is provided to the driver of the vehicle during the driving maneuver. A unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by the multi-camera vision system and approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the vehicle.

First claim

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

1 . A driver assist system for a vehicle, said driver assist system comprising:
a forward-viewing color video camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assist system; said forward-viewing color video camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said forward-viewing color video camera is disposed at a front portion of the equipped vehicle and has a field of view at least forward of the equipped vehicle; said forward-viewing color video camera comprising a lens and a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements arranged in rows of photosensing elements and columns of photosensing elements; wherein said forward-viewing color video camera is part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising at least three other color video cameras; wherein each of said three other color video cameras has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein a first one of said three other color video cameras is mounted at a driver-side of the equipped vehicle and a second one of said three other color video cameras is mounted at a passenger-side of the equipped vehicle and a third one of said three other color video cameras comprises a rear backup camera mounted at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle; wherein the first one of said three other color video cameras mounted at the driver-side has a field of view at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle and the second one of said three other color video cameras mounted at the passenger-side has a field of view at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle; wherein the field of view of the first one of said three other color video cameras that is mounted at the driver-side overlaps the field of view of said rear backup camera, and wherein the field of view of the second one of said three other color video cameras that is mounted at the passenger-side overlaps the field of view of said rear backup camera; at least one non-visual sensor; a video display screen viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; wherein said video display screen comprises a multi-pixel display screen; wherein, during a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by at least some cameras of said multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle are displayed by said video display screen to assist the driver in operating the equipped vehicle; wherein at least one indication is provided to the driver of the equipped vehicle during the parking maneuver; wherein at least one of (a) said at least one indication comprises an indication provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by said non-visual sensor of at least one object external of the equipped vehicle and (b) said at least one indication comprises an indication provided, at least in part, responsive to image processing by an image processor of image data captured by at least one camera of said multi-camera vision system; wherein a unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by said multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said synthesized image approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the equipped vehicle; wherein said synthesized image is displayed by said video display screen that is viewable by the driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle; wherein distortion of images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by at least some cameras of said multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, and displayed by said video display screen, is electronically corrected; wherein the field of view of said rear backup camera encompasses a ground area to the rear of the equipped vehicle having a width at least substantially an entire rear fender width of the equipped vehicle; and wherein the field of view of said forward-viewing color video camera encompasses a ground area to the front of the equipped vehicle having a width at least substantially an entire front fender width of the equipped vehicle.

2 . The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said rear backup camera mounted at the rear portion of the equipped vehicle is positioned generally at the longitudinal centerline of the equipped vehicle and has a horizontal field of view that is generally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the equipped vehicle.

3 . The driver assist system of claim 2 , wherein said at least one indication comprises a visual indication displayed by said video display screen.

4 . The driver assist system of claim 3 , wherein said visual indication indicates distance to an object exterior of the equipped vehicle.

5 . The driver assist system of claim 3 , wherein said visual indication indicates proximity to an object exterior of the equipped vehicle.

6 . The driver assist system of claim 3 , wherein said visual indication highlights an object exterior of the equipped vehicle.

7 . The driver assist system of claim 3 , wherein said at least one indication comprises an indication provided, at least in part, responsive to image processing by an image processor of image data captured by at least one camera of said multi-camera vision system and wherein said at least one camera of said multi-camera vision system comprises said rear backup camera.

8 . The driver assist system of claim 7 , wherein said video display screen is operable to display images with a display intensity greater than 200 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle.

9 . The driver assist system of claim 3 , wherein said at least one indication comprises an indication provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by said non-visual sensor of at least one object external of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said non-visual sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

10 . The driver assist system of claim 3 , wherein said at least one indication comprises an indication provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by said non-visual sensor of at least one object external of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said non-visual sensor comprises a radar sensor.

11 . The driver assist system of claim 3 , wherein said at least one indication comprises an indication provided, at least in part, responsive to detection by said non-visual sensor of at least one object external of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said non-visual sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

12 . The driver assist system of claim 1 , comprising at least one of (a) a control operable to control at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle in accordance with a characteristic of an occupant of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said at least one accessory comprises a seat adjustment system operable to adjust a seat of the equipped vehicle in accordance with a biometric characteristic of an occupant of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said seat adjustment system is operable to adjust a seat of the equipped vehicle in response to biometric data, said biometric data pertaining to the occupant of the seat of the equipped vehicle, and (b) a control operable to communicate with an external service provider via a wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider, wherein said control receives an input from the driver of the equipped vehicle and responsive thereto establishes said wireless communication link between the equipped vehicle and the external service provider, a

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Taylor David W
• Mccarthy Kevin C
• Lynam Niall R
• Schofield Kenneth

Classifications

• H04N23/90

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

• G06T5/006

  Physics · mapped topic

• B60R2300/301

  combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision · CPC title

• H04N5/23293

  Electricity · mapped topic

• B60R2300/8066

  for monitoring rearward traffic · CPC title