Mirror Substitute Device and Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288710-A1
Application number	US-201414392233-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 27, 2014
Priority date	Jun 26, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention discloses a mirror substitute device for a vehicle, with at least one camera designed to cover at least a part of the surroundings of a vehicle and to provide a corresponding image signal, with an image processing device coupled to the camera and designed to process the image signal of the at least one camera and to output a processed image signal, and with at least one display device designed to display the processed image signal. Furthermore, the present invention discloses a corresponding vehicle.

First claim

1 . A mirror substitute device ( 1 ) for a vehicle ( 2 ), comprising:
at least one camera ( 3 - 0 - 3 - 3 ) configured and arranged to monitor at least a part of surroundings of a vehicle ( 2 ) and to provide a corresponding initial image signal ( 4 ); an image processing device ( 5 ) coupled to the at least one camera ( 3 - 0 - 3 - 3 ) and configured to process the initial image signal and to output a processed image signal ( 6 ); and at least one display device ( 7 - 0 - 7 - 3 ) configured and arranged to display the processed image signal ( 6 ).

2 . The mirror substitute device according claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera ( 3 - 0 - 3 - 3 ) is configured and arranged to monitor at least the lateral and/or rear regions of the surroundings ( 8 - 1 , 8 - 2 , 9 ) of the vehicle ( 2 ).

3 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera includes a plurality of cameras configured to produce respective camera image signals that complement each other and are combined to form the initial image signal ( 4 ).

4 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing device ( 5 ) has a communication interface ( 11 ) configured to obtain from a vehicle system ( 12 ) of the vehicle ( 2 ) at least data ( 13 ) about a direction of motion of the vehicle ( 2 ) and a speed of the vehicle.

5 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing device ( 5 ) has a selection device ( 14 ) configured to select an image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) from the initial image signal ( 4 ) and to output the image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) as the processed image signal ( 6 ).

6 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 5 , wherein the selection device ( 14 ) is configured to select, when the vehicle ( 2 ) is moving forward, the image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) that approximately corresponds to a theoretical image theoretically shown by an inside rear view mirror and/or lateral rear view mirror in the vehicle ( 2 ).

7 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the at least one camera ( 3 - 0 - 3 - 3 ) is configured and arranged to monitor a blind spot ( 16 ) of the vehicle ( 2 ); and wherein the selection device ( 14 ) is configured to select the image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) which corresponds to the blind spot ( 16 ) of the vehicle ( 2 ).

8 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 5 , wherein the selection device ( 14 ) is configured to select and/or mark, when the vehicle ( 2 ) is moving backward at a speed below a first speed threshold value, the image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) that shows the ground and/or the curbstone in the surroundings of the vehicle ( 2 ).

9 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 5 , wherein the selection device ( 14 ) is configured to select, when the vehicle ( 2 ) is loaded and/or is cornering and/or is moving uphill or downhill, the image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) that shows a road behind the vehicle ( 2 ).

10 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 5 , wherein the selection device ( 14 ) is configured to select more than one said image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) and to combine the selected image details ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ) in the processed image signal ( 6 ); and/or the selection device is configured to enlarge the image detail ( 15 - 1 - 15 - 2 ).

11 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing device ( 5 ) has an image editing device ( 17 ) configured to:
change, particularly to normalize, brightness of at least one detail of the initial image signal ( 4 ); and/or change, particularly to increase, a contrast of at least one detail of the initial image signal ( 4 ); and/or change a coloration of at least one detail of the initial image signal ( 4 ); and/or stabilize contents of the initial image signal ( 4 ).

12 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image processing device ( 5 ) has an object detection device ( 18 ) configured to detect objects ( 19 - 1 - 19 - 2 ) in the initial image signal ( 4 ) and/or in the processed image signal ( 6 ) and to mark at least one detected object ( 19 - 1 - 19 - 2 ) in the initial image signal ( 4 ); and wherein the object detection device ( 18 ) is configured to mark an object ( 19 - 1 - 19 - 2 ) by boxing the object and/or coloring the object with a predetermined color and/or zooming in on the object ( 19 - 1 - 19 - 2 ).

13 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing device ( 5 ) has a calculating device ( 20 ) configured to generate a warning signal ( 21 ) based on the initial image signal ( 4 ) when the vehicle ( 2 ) is on a point of deviating from a traffic lane and/or when an object is in a blind spot ( 16 ) of the vehicle ( 2 ) and/or when an object is approaching the vehicle ( 2 ) from behind.

14 . The mirror substitute device according to claim 1 , wherein the image processing device ( 5 ) has a storage device ( 22 ) configured to store the initial image signal ( 4 ).

15 . A vehicle ( 2 ) comprising a mirror substitute device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 mounted on a vehicle body.

Assignees

• Conti Temic Microelectronic Gmbh

Inventors

• Brandl Juergen
• Fey Wolfgang

Classifications

• B60R2300/105

  using multiple cameras · CPC title

• B60R2300/307

  virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene · CPC title

• B60R2300/70

  characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images · CPC title

• B60R2300/8046

  for replacing a rear-view mirror system · CPC title

• B60R2021/0097

  Amusement vehicles · CPC title