Vehicle vision system with enhanced functionality

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9264673-B2
Application number	US-201213681963-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2012
Priority date	Nov 20, 2011
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle vision system includes at least one camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and includes a control having an image processor for processing image data captured by the at least one camera. The control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, is operable to carry out one or more actions based on the detection of selected elements in the image data captured by the at least one camera. The control may control the operation of an additional component in the vehicle aside from the camera. The vision system may include a forward facing camera, a rearward facing camera and/or a sideward facing camera.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
at least one camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, wherein said at least one camera has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
a control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said at least one camera;
wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to detect indicia at a garage and, responsive to such detection and responsive to the equipped vehicle being at a predetermined position relative to said indicia, control a garage door opening system; and
wherein said control, responsive to the equipped vehicle being at the predetermined position relative to said indicia, controls the garage door opening system to close the garage door.

2. The vision system of claim 1 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to determine if the equipped vehicle is at a vehicle garage with a closed garage door and, responsive to such a determination, actuates a garage door opening system to open the garage door of the vehicle garage.

3. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
at least one camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, wherein said at least one camera has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
a control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said at least one camera; and
wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to detect indicia at a parking structure, and wherein said control, responsive to such detection, tracks the time that the equipped vehicle is at the parking structure.

4. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
at least one camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, wherein said at least one camera has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
a control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said at least one camera;
wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to trigger automatic payment of a parking fee; and
wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to detect indicia at a garage, and responsive to such detection and responsive to the equipped vehicle being at a predetermined position relative to said indicia, control a garage door opening system.

5. The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said control triggers automatic payment of the parking fee when said control determines that the equipped vehicle exits a parking structure.

6. The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a forward-facing camera having a forward field of view ahead of the equipped vehicle.

7. The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a rearward-facing camera having a rearward field of view rearward the equipped vehicle.

8. The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a sideward-facing camera having a sideward field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle.

9. The vision system of claim 4 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to control an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle responsive to a type of vehicle detected exterior of the equipped vehicle.

10. The vision system of claim 9 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a forward-facing camera having a forward field of view ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to control an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle responsive to a type of vehicle detected ahead of the equipped vehicle.

11. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
at least one camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, wherein said at least one camera has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
a control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said at least one camera; and
wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to detect indicia at a parking space, and wherein said control, responsive to detection of said indicia and after the driver exits the equipped vehicle, controls the equipped vehicle to drive the equipped vehicle into the parking space.

12. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to control an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle responsive to a vehicle detected exterior of the equipped vehicle being within a threshold distance of the equipped vehicle.

13. The vision system of claim 12 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a forward-facing camera having a forward field of view ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to control an HVAC system of the equipped vehicle responsive to a vehicle detected ahead of the equipped vehicle being within a threshold distance ahead of the equipped vehicle.

14. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to adjust a visor of the equipped vehicle to block sunlight responsive to detection of the sun at a location where the sunlight is bothersome to the driver of the equipped vehicle.

15. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to adjust an audio system of the equipped vehicle responsive to detection of a sign.

16. The vision system of claim 15 , wherein said control is operable to adjust the audio system of the equipped vehicle responsive to detection of a school zone sign.

17. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to adjust a pedestrian detection system of the equipped vehicle to a higher sensitivity responsive to detection of a sign.

18. The vision system of claim 17 , wherein said control is operable to adjust the pedestrian detection system of the equipped vehicle to the higher sensitivity responsive to detection of a school zone sign.

19. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor and responsive to detection of a pedestrian that is a potential collision risk, is operable to generate an audible signal that is audible exterior of the equipped vehicle.

20. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein said control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, is operable to determine a license plate number of a vehicle exterior of the equipped vehicle and, responsive to the license plate number matching a stored license plate numb

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Chundrlik Jr William J
• Nix Axel
• Van Dan Elzen Christopher L

Classifications

• B60R2001/1215

  with information displays · CPC title

• G08G1/166

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

• B60R1/12

  Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks · CPC title

• H04N7/181 Primary

  for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources · CPC title

• B60H1/00771 Primary

  the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel · CPC title