Camera-assisted blind spot detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9586525-B2
Application number	US-201113304714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2011
Priority date	Nov 28, 2011
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A blind spot detection system. The system includes a camera mounted at the rear of a vehicle, a controller coupled to the camera, and an indicator coupled to the controller. The camera is configured to capture images in a field-of-view to the rear of the vehicle. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the camera indicative of the images, and controller determining when a second vehicle in the images enters a blind spot of the vehicle. The controller activates the indicator when the second vehicle enters the blind spot of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of detecting a vehicle in a blind spot of a host vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a plurality of images from a camera to a controller of a field-of-view (FOV) behind the host vehicle;
detecting, by the controller, a second vehicle in the plurality of images;
tracking, by the controller, the second vehicle;
detecting by a sensor configured to detect an object adjacent the host vehicle, that the second vehicle is in the blind spot, the controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the presence of the object adjacent the host vehicle;
determining that the second vehicle has entered one of the host vehicle's blind spots based on the plurality of images from the camera and the signal from the sensor; and
issuing, by the controller, an indication of the second vehicle's position to an operator of the host vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned on a rear side of the host vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned on a side-view mirror of the host vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a second camera.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a radar.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the plurality of images on a display when the host vehicle is backing up.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the controller, whether the second vehicle is approaching the host vehicle or moving away from the host vehicle, and determining a speed at which the second vehicle is moving toward/away from the host vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines that the second vehicle is in the blind spot when the second vehicle leaves the field of view of the camera.

Assignees

• Sejalon Frederic Marcel
• Rottner Gunter
• Bochenek Jeffrey
• Niehsen Wolfgang
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Sejalon Frederic Marcel
• Rottner Gunter
• Bochenek Jeffrey
• Niehsen Wolfgang

Classifications

• B60Q9/008 Primary

  for anti-collision purposes · CPC title

• B60W30/18163

  Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres · CPC title

• G08G1/167

  Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection · CPC title

• B60R2300/802

  for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views · CPC title

• B60R1/00

  Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles · CPC title