US6636258B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
360° vision system for a vehicle
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 2001-10-19
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Granted: 2003-10-21
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Expires: 2021-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle monitoring system including a camera mounted on top of the vehicle reflector in operative relation to the camera. The camera and the conical reflector provide a 360° field of view image around the vehicle. A controller is also included is adapted to detect objects within the field of view image, and determine a reference angle between the vehicle and a detected object. The controller also generates a distance value between the vehicle and the detected object as a function of a lane (w) and a reference angle (q). In one embodiment, the system includes an overhead-view display system including a reference vehicle indicator representative vehicle within the environment and an indicator element adapted to display the detected object with respect to the vehicle indicator as a function of the distance value.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Steven Strumolo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:58
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/20; B60R1/22; B60R1/23; B60R1/27; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/183; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/10; B60R2300/102; B60R2300/20; B60R2300/205; B60R2300/30; B60R2300/301; B60R2300/304; B60R2300/60; B60R2300/607; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising: a camera mounted on top of said vehicle; a conical reflector in operative relation to said camera, said camera and said reflector providing a 360° field of view image around said vehicle; and a controller adapted to detect objects within said image, determine a reference angle between said vehicle and a detected object from said image, and generate a distance value between said vehicle and said detected object as a function of a lane width value (w) and said reference angle (q).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising: a camera mounted on top of said vehicle; a conical reflector in operative relation to said camera, said camera and said reflector providing a 360° field of view image around said vehicle; and a controller adapted to detect objects within said image, determine a reference angle between said vehicle and a detected object from said image, and generate a distance value between said vehicle and said detected object as a function of a lane width value (w) and said reference angle (q).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 1 further comprising: an overhead-view display system including a reference vehicle indicator representative of said vehicle within said environment and an indicator element adapted to display said detected object with respect to said vehicle indicator as a function of said distance value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said lane width value (w) is a fixed value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said lane width value (w) is determined as a function of lane width markers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said reference angle (q) is determined with respect to a line perpendicular to a direction of travel of said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 5 wherein said distance value is equal to an absolute distance (d 2 ) between said vehicle and said detected object.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 5 wherein said distance value is equal to a linear distance (d 1 ) between said vehicle and said detected object in the direction of travel of said vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 7 wherein said linear distance (d 1 ) is equal to w tan (q).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said 360° field of view image subdivided into a plurality of angular segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a vehicle environment monitoring system including a conical reflector in operative relation to a camera mounted on said vehicle for providing a 360° field of view image around said vehicle, a method of displaying surrounding objects comprising: detecting objects within at least a segment of said image; determining a reference angle (q) between said vehicle and a detected object from said image; determining a lane width value (w); generating a distance value between said vehicle and said detected object as a function of said lane width value (w) and said reference angle (q); and displaying a representation of said detected object with respect to a reference vehicle indicator representative of said vehicle as a function of said distance value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a vehicle environment monitoring system including a conical reflector in operative relation to a camera mounted on said vehicle for providing a 360° field of view image around said vehicle, a method of displaying surrounding objects comprising: detecting objects within at least a segment of said image; determining a reference angle (q) between said vehicle and a detected object from said image; determining a lane width value (w); generating a distance value between said vehicle and said detected object as a function of said lane width value (w) and said reference angle (q); and displaying a representation of said detected object with respect to a reference vehicle indicator representative of said vehicle as a function of said distance value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein determining a lane width value (w) includes measuring a distance between lane markers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein determining a lane width value (w) includes using a predetermined lane width value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein generating a distance value includes generating an absolute distance (d 2 ) between said vehicle and said detected object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein generating a distance value includes generating a linear distance (d 1 ) between said vehicle and said detected object in the direction of travel of said vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein said linear distance (d 1 ) is equal to w tan (q).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
90 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising: a camera mounted on top of said vehicle; a conical reflector in operative relation to said camera, said camera and said reflector providing a 360° field of view image around said vehicle; and means for detecting objects within said image and determining a reference angle between said vehicle and a detected object from said image; a controller adapted to generate a distance value between said vehicle and said detected object as a function of a lane width value (w) and said reference angle (q).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
90 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system comprising: a camera mounted on top of said vehicle; a conical reflector in operative relation to said camera, said camera and said reflector providing a 360° field of view image around said vehicle; and means for detecting objects within said image and determining a reference angle between said vehicle and a detected object from said image; a controller adapted to generate a distance value between said vehicle and said detected object as a function of a lane width value (w) and said reference angle (q).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 16 further comprising means for displaying a reference vehicle indicator representative of said vehicle within said environment and an icon of said detected object with respect to said vehicle indicator as a function of said distance value.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 16 wherein said lane width value (w) is a fixed value.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 16 wherein said distance value is equal to a linear distance (d 1 ) between said vehicle and said detected object in the direction of travel of said vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle environment monitoring system according to claim 19 wherein said linear distance (d 1 ) is equal to w tan (q).
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-20 | 2007-04-21 | 2007-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-20 | 2011-04-21 | 2011-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-20 | 2015-04-21 | 2015-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |