Driver assist system for vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9315151-B2
Application number	US-201514678145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2015
Priority date	Mar 2, 2000
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A driver assist system for a vehicle includes at least one non-visual sensor and a color video rear backup camera having a field of view rearward of the vehicle, with the field of view of the camera encompassing a ground area to the rear of the vehicle. An image processor processes image data captured by the camera. A video display screen is viewable by a driver of the vehicle. During a reversing or parking maneuver of the vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by the camera are displayed by the video display screen to assist the driver in operating the vehicle. At least one indication is provided to a driver of the vehicle, at least in part, responsive to detection by the non-visual sensor of at least one object external 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 color video camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said driver assist system;
said color video camera having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said color video camera comprises a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of the equipped vehicle and having a field of view rearward of the equipped vehicle;
wherein the field of view of said color video 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;
said 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 an image processor processes image data captured by said color video 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, during at least one of (i) a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a parking maneuver of the equipped vehicle, images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said color video camera are displayed by said video display screen to assist the driver in operating the equipped vehicle;
wherein said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said color video camera with a display intensity greater than 200 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle;
wherein at least one indication is provided to a driver of the equipped vehicle who is at least one of (i) executing a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) parking the equipped vehicle;
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 distortion of images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said color video camera, and displayed by said video display screen, is electronically corrected.

2. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one indication comprises an indication provided, at least in part, responsive to said image processor processing image data captured by said color video camera.

3. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one indication comprises a visible cue displayed by said video display screen, and wherein said visible cue at least one of (i) indicates distance to an object exterior of the equipped vehicle, (ii) indicates proximity to an object exterior of the equipped vehicle, (iii) highlights an object exterior of the equipped vehicle and indicates distance to an object exterior of the equipped vehicle, (iv) highlights an object exterior of the equipped vehicle and (v) highlights an object that the equipped vehicle is in jeopardy of colliding with.

4. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said at least one indication comprises an audible alert, and wherein said video display screen comprises one of (a) a liquid crystal display screen and (b) an organic light emitting diode display screen.

5. The driver assist system of claim 4 , wherein said audible alert alerts the driver that the equipped vehicle is approaching an object exterior to the equipped vehicle.

6. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said color video camera with a display intensity greater than 300 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video display screen comprises one of (a) a liquid crystal display screen and (b) an organic light emitting diode display screen.

7. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said video display screen is operable to display images derived, at least in part, from image data captured by said color video camera with a display intensity greater than 400 candelas/sq. meter for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said video display screen comprises one of (a) a liquid crystal display screen and (b) an organic light emitting diode display screen.

8. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said non-visual sensor comprises an infrared sensor.

9. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said non-visual sensor comprises an ultrasonic sensor.

10. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said non-visual sensor comprises a radar sensor.

11. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said color video camera is part of a multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, said multi-camera vision system comprising at least two other color video cameras, wherein each of said two other color video cameras has a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, wherein one of said two other color video cameras is mounted at a driver-side of the equipped vehicle and the other of said two other color video cameras is mounted at a passenger-side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the one of said two side-mounted cameras mounted at the driver-side has a field of view at the driver-side of the equipped vehicle and the other of said two side-mounted cameras mounted at the passenger-side has a field of view at the passenger-side of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the field of view of said one of said two 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 said other of said two other color video cameras that is mounted at the passenger-side overlaps the field of view of said rear backup camera.

12. The driver assist system of claim 11 , wherein a unitary image is synthesized from image data captured by cameras of said multi-camera vision system of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said synthesized image approximates a view as would be seen by a virtual camera at a single location exterior of the equipped vehicle, and 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.

13. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said driver assist system comprises a user input and wherein said user input comprises touch input.

14. The driver assist system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of (i) said user input comprises an input for a telematics system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) said user input comprises an input for a navigational system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) said user input comprises an input for a biometric system of the equipped vehicle.

15. The driver assist system of claim 1 , wherein said video display screen is disposed at one of (i) a windshield electronics module of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an instrument panel of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a console of the equipped vehicle.

16. 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 s

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

• B60R2001/1215

  with information displays · CPC title

• B60R1/12

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

• B60C23/0408

  transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver · CPC title

• B60R2001/1253

  with cameras, video cameras or video screens · CPC title