Vision system for a vehicle

Abstract

A wide-angle image capture system for providing a wide-angle field of view of an area immediately exteriorly of a vehicle. The system includes a convex aspheric, asymmetric reflective surface which reflects an image toward an image capture device, via a substantially flat mirrored surface, both of which are compactly packaged within a panel of the vehicle. The shape of the convex reflector provides a reflected image that has a minimal amount of distortion in critical areas of the image immediately adjacent to the vehicle, so that additional processing of the image prior to it being displayed to a vehicle operator is minimized.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property right or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A vehicular vision system, comprising: 
 a reflector positionable on a portion of a vehicle for reflecting an image occurring exteriorly of the vehicle;    an image capture device which is adapted to receive an image reflected from said reflector; and    a display system which displays an image from an output of said image capture device.    
     
     
         2 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said image capture device and said display system are occasionally activated in response to one of an input from one of a driver and the vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . The vision system of  claim 2 , wherein said input is provided by one of an audible message from the driver and an engagement of a reverse gear of the vehicle.  
     
     
         4 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein the image displayed by said display system includes a vehicle body reference therein.  
     
     
         5 . The vision system of  claim 4 , wherein said reflector is positioned on a rearward portion of the vehicle, said image capture device capturing an image of an area rearwardly of the vehicle, said vehicle body reference being a rear bumper of the vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . The vision system of  claim 5 , wherein said reflector is positioned on a side portion of the vehicle, said image capture device capturing an image of an area sidewardly of the vehicle, said vehicle body reference being at least one side of the vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said reflector and said image capture device are positioned at one of a rear spoiler of the vehicle, a rim molding of a window of the vehicle, a badge of the vehicle and a license plate holder of the vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said reflector has a metallized reflective surface.  
     
     
         9 . The vision system of  claim 8 , wherein said metallized reflective surface is one of chromium, aluminum, silver, stainless steel and titanium.  
     
     
         10 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said reflector is one of a first surface reflector and a second surface reflector.  
     
     
         11 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said reflector includes a heating element.  
     
     
         12 . The vision system of  claim 11 , wherein said heating element is one of an indium tin oxide conductor, a doped tin oxide and a conductive mesh.  
     
     
         13 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said reflector is coated with at least one of an anti-soiling material and anti-wetting material.  
     
     
         14 . The vision system of  claim 1  further including an illumination source for providing illumination toward an exterior area being captured by said image capture device.  
     
     
         15 . The vision system of  claim 14 , wherein said illumination source is one of a light emitting diode and an electro-illuminescent material.  
     
     
         16 . The vision system of  claim 14 , wherein said illumination source provides one of visible radiation, near-infrared radiation and non-visible infrared radiation.  
     
     
         17 . The vision system of  claim 16 , wherein said illumination source provides radiation in a range between approximately 0.7 microns to 2.5 microns of an electromagnetic radiation spectrum.  
     
     
         18 . The vision system of  claim 14 , wherein said illumination source is only occasionally activated.  
     
     
         19 . The vision system of  claim 18 , wherein said illumination source is activated by one of the vehicle engaging a reverse gear, a photo-sensor control when a photo-sensor detects ambient light below a threshold value and a voice activation system.  
     
     
         20 . The vision system of  claim 1  further including a ranging device, said ranging device determining a distance between the vehicle and an object within the image received by said image capture device, said ranging device communicating the distance to a driver of the vehicle.  
     
     
         21 . The vision system of  claim 20 , wherein said display includes a range indication.  
     
     
         22 . The vision system of  claim 20 , wherein said ranging device communicates a signal to the driver which varies with the proximity of the object to the vehicle.  
     
     
         23 . The vision system of  claim 1 , further including a mirrored surface positioned in an optic path from said reflector to said image capture device and adapted to redirect the reflected image toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         24 . The vision system of  claim 1 , further including a diffractive element positioned in an optic path from said reflector to said image capture device, whereby said diffractive element adjusts for at least color distortions in the reflected image.  
     
     
         25 . The vision system of  claim 1  further including a corrective optic positioned in an optic path between said reflector and said image capture device, whereby said corrective optic at least reduces distortions and aberrations within the reflected image.  
     
     
         26 . The vision system of  claim 25 , wherein said corrective optic is an aspheric refractive lens between said reflector and said image capture device.  
     
     
         27 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said display system displays the image at a focal length that is forward of a vehicle passenger compartment.  
     
     
         28 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said image capture device is movable by a remote control such that said image capture device is capable of at least one of zooming or panning within an area exteriorly of the vehicle.  
     
     
         29 . The vision system of  claim 1  further including an electronic image control which provides an ability to pan or zoom within a field of view captured by said image capture device.  
     
     
         30 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said image capture system is connected to an image recording system to occasionally record events occurring exteriorly of the vehicle.  
     
     
         31 . The vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said image capture system measures a contrast ratio of the image occurring exteriorly of the vehicle to determine when visibility conditions change.  
     
     
         32 . The vision system of  claim 31 , wherein said image capture system communicates information to a driver of the vehicle which varies according to the contrast ratio.  
     
     
         33 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 an asymmetric image capturing system that asymmetrically captures an image of an area exteriorly of a vehicle; and    a display positioned within a vehicle and displaying an image from an output of said asymmetric image capturing system.    
     
     
         34 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 33 , wherein said asymmetric image capturing system includes a reflector positioned on a portion of the vehicle and an image capture device positioned within the portion of the vehicle so as to receive a reflected image of an area exteriorly of the vehicle from said reflector.  
     
     
         35 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 34 , wherein said reflector has a reflective surface which is curved outwardly about a generally central axis thereof.  
     
     
         36 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 35 , wherein said reflector is one of a paraboloid shape, a hemispherical shape and a hyperboloid shape.  
     
     
         37 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 36 , wherein said reflector is a portion of a spherical ball bearing.  
     
     
         38 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 35 , wherein said reflector is asymmetrical about said axis.  
     
     
         39 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 35 , wherein said reflector is aspheric.  
     
     
         40 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 39 , wherein said reflector is asymmetrical about said axis.  
     
     
         41 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 35 , wherein said reflector is configured to provide a broad horizontal field of view exteriorly of the vehicle.  
     
     
         42 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 41 , wherein said field of view extends horizontally at least 140 degrees.  
     
     
         43 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 41 , wherein said field of view extends vertically within a range of approximately 60 to 90 degrees.  
     
     
         44 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 43 , wherein said field of view extends horizontally at least 140 degrees.  
     
     
         45 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 41 , wherein said reflector is positioned at a rear portion of the vehicle, said field of view capturing an image which includes a portion of a rear bumper of the vehicle and extends upward to above said substantially horizontal line extending from said rearward edge of said reflector.  
     
     
         46 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 35 , wherein said reflector defines at least one surface having varying radii of curvature.  
     
     
         47 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 46 , wherein said varying radii of curvature vary in length between approximately one inch and 200 inches.  
     
     
         48 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 34 , wherein said reflector defines an axis generally centrally thereof, said at least one surface being determined by the equation:  
       
         
           
             
               
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       wherein z is an axis of rotation of said reflector, x and y are x and y coordinates of a point on said reflector, r x  is a radius of curvature along an x-axis, ry is a radius of curvature along a y-axis, and k x  and k y  are constants.  
     
     
         49 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 34 , wherein said reflector is shaped to provide a reflection with a minimal amount of distortion at a bottom and a center portion of the reflected image with slightly greater distortion along an upper edge of the reflected image.  
     
     
         50 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 33 , wherein said reflector has a diameter that is less than approximately 18 mm.  
     
     
         51 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 a reflector having a generally central axis thereof and being positionable on a portion of a vehicle;    an image capture device positioned to receive an image reflected from said reflector, said reflector and said image capture device defining an optic path therebetween and being oriented such that said optic path is directed off of said axis of said reflector; and    a display system which displays a synthesized image from an output of said image capture device.    
     
     
         52 . The vision system of  claim 51  further including a reflective surface positioned along said optic path, said reflective surface redirecting an image reflected from said reflector toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         53 . The vision system of  claim 51  further including a corrective optic positioned along said optic path, said corrective optic correcting distortion and aberrations within the image reflected from said reflector.  
     
     
         54 . The vision system of  claim 51 , wherein said reflector is mounted at a rear portion of the vehicle, said reflector reflecting an image occurring rearward of the vehicle.  
     
     
         55 . The vision system of  claim 51 , wherein said reflector is mounted on an exterior surface of the vehicle and said image capture device is mounted interiorly of said exterior surface, said exterior surface including a transparent portion through which the reflected image is projected toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         56 . The vision system of  claim 51 , wherein said image capture device is substantially encased by at least one of baffles and blinds to substantially reduce stray light that is received by said image capture device.  
     
     
         57 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 a reflector positionable on a portion of a vehicle for reflecting an image of an exterior view from the vehicle, thereby creating a reflected image;    an image capture device positioned to receive the reflected image, said image capture device being adapted to reduce distortion of the image reflected by said reflector; and    a display system which displays an image synthesized from an output of said image capture device such that said display system in combination with said image capture device reduces image distortion.    
     
     
         58 . The vision system of  claim 57 , wherein said image capture device is a pixelated-imaging array.  
     
     
         59 . The vision system of  claim 58 , wherein said image capture device is a CMOS imaging array.  
     
     
         60 . The vision system of  claim 58 , wherein said image capture device receives the reflected image on an array made of a non-uniform distribution of a plurality of pixels, said display system including a substantially uniform distribution of a plurality of pixels.  
     
     
         61 . The vision system of  claim 60 , wherein said reflector is formed by varying radii of curvature to reflect an image having minimal distortion in a bottom portion and a center portion of said image.  
     
     
         62 . The vision system of  claim 61 , wherein said array has a coarser distribution at a lower and center region of said array, where there is less distortion of the reflected image, and a finer distribution along an upper edge of the reflected image.  
     
     
         63 . The vision system of  claim 57  further including a refractive and diffractive lens element positioned along an optic path between said image capture device and said convex reflector.  
     
     
         64 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 an image capture system which captures an image of scenic information exteriorly of a vehicle, wherein the image includes a vehicle body reference therein; and    a display which displays an image received from said image capture system.    
     
     
         65 . The vision system of  claim 64 , wherein said image capture system comprises a reflector and an image capture device, said reflector reflecting a reflected image of the scenic information to said image capture device.  
     
     
         66 . The vision system of  claim 64 , wherein said vehicle body reference is a rear bumper of the vehicle.  
     
     
         67 . The vision system of  claim 64 , wherein said vehicle body reference is at least a portion of at least one side of the vehicle.  
     
     
         68 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 an image capture system for capturing discontinuous images of scenic information exteriorly of a vehicle; and    a display which displays an image of the scenic information communicated from said image capture system.    
     
     
         69 . The vision system of  claim 68 , wherein said image capture system comprises a first reflector, a second reflector and an image capture device, said first reflector being positioned so as to reflect a first image of scenic information adjacent one side of the vehicle toward said image capture device and said second reflector being positioned so as to reflect a second image of scenic information adjacent another side of the vehicle toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         70 . The vision system of  claim 69 , wherein said image capture system further includes a first image capture device and a second image capture device, said first reflector reflecting the first image toward said first image capture device and said second reflector reflecting the second image toward said second image capture device.  
     
     
         71 . The vision system of  claim 69 , wherein said image capture system further includes a reflective splitter positioned such that a first reflective surface is positioned along a first optic path between said first reflector and said image capture device and a second reflective surface is positioned along a second optic path between said second reflector and said image capture device, said first reflective surface redirecting the first image reflected from said first reflector toward said image capture device and said second reflective surface redirecting the second image reflected from said second reflector toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         72 . The vision system of  claim 68 , wherein the discontinuous image comprises two images taken in substantially opposite directions from one another.  
     
     
         73 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 an image capture system positioned so as to capture an image of scenic information exteriorly of a vehicle;    an image distortion correction process whereby an image captured by said image capture system is processed to correct distortion therein; and    a display which displays a substantially non-distorted image of the scenic information, the non-distorted image being communicated from said image distortion process.    
     
     
         74 . The vision system of  claim 73 , wherein said image capture system comprises a reflector and an image capture device, said reflector reflecting a reflected image of the scenic information to said image capture device.  
     
     
         75 . The vision system of  claim 74 , wherein said image distortion correction process is provided by said image capture device.  
     
     
         76 . The vision system of  claim 73 , wherein said image distortion correction process is provided by a refractive optic.  
     
     
         77 . The vision system of  claim 73 , wherein said image distortion correction process is provided by electronic processing of the image received by said image capture system.  
     
     
         78 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 a reflector positionable on a portion of a vehicle for reflecting an image of an exterior view from the vehicle, thereby creating a reflected image;    an image capture device which is adapted to receive the reflected image;    a mirrored surface positioned along an optic path from said reflector to said mirrored surface and further from said mirrored surface to said image capture device, said mirrored surface redirecting the reflected image toward said image capture device; and    a display system which displays an image from an output of said image capture device.    
     
     
         79 . The vision system of  claim 78  further including a corrective optic positioned along said optic path, said corrective optic reducing distortion and aberrations within the reflected image.  
     
     
         80 . The vision system of  claim 78  further including a diffractive lens positioned along said optic path, said diffractive lens correcting color focusing on the reflected image.  
     
     
         81 . The vision system of  claim 78 , wherein said reflector is positioned on an exterior portion of a vehicle, and said reflective surface and said image capture device are positioned interiorly of the exterior portion of the vehicle.  
     
     
         82 . The vision system of  claim 81 , wherein said mirrored surface is positioned substantially below said reflector and said image capture device such that said reflector reflects an image substantially downward toward said mirrored surface and said mirrored surface reflects the image upward toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         83 . The vision system of  claim 81 , wherein said mirrored surface is positioned substantially toward a side of the vehicle relative to said reflector and said image capture device such that said reflector reflects an image substantially sidewardly toward said mirrored surface and said mirrored surface reflects the image sidewardly toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         84 . The vision system of  claim 78 , further including a second reflector oriented substantially opposite said reflector and a second mirrored surface positioned along a second optic path between said second reflector and said image capture device, said reflector and said second reflector reflecting discontinuous images toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         85 . The vision system of  claim 84 , wherein said reflector and said second reflector are positioned on a rearward portion of the vehicle and each one oriented to reflect an image of an area which is downward and substantially toward a side of the vehicle, said reflector reflecting an image of an area at one side and said second reflector reflecting an image of an area at another side of the vehicle.  
     
     
         86 . The vision system of  claim 85 , wherein said reflector and said second reflector are positioned on a forward portion of the vehicle and each one oriented to reflect an image of an area which is downward and at a side of the vehicle.  
     
     
         87 . A vehicular vision system for providing a wide field of view of a scene directly exteriorly of a vehicle having a body, to an operator within the vehicle, said system comprising: 
 a convex reflector positioned on a portion of the vehicle body and having an aspheric reflective surface that is asymmetrical with respect to a generally central axis thereof, said convex reflector creating a reflected image of the scene directly rearward of the vehicle; and    a display system which receives and displays a corrected, substantially non-distorted image synthesized from an output of an image capture device, wherein said image capture device is oriented off of said axis of said convex reflector.    
     
     
         88 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 87 , wherein said convex reflector has varying radii of curvature in both a lateral and a longitudinal direction along said aspheric reflective surface.  
     
     
         89 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 87  further including a mirrored surface positioned along an optical path between said convex reflector and said image capture device and being oriented such that the reflected image is redirected by said mirrored surface toward said image capture device.  
     
     
         90 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 87 , wherein said convex reflector is formed to minimize distortion in the reflected image, said image capture device being adapted to reduce distortion of the image reflected from said convex reflector.  
     
     
         91 . The vehicular vision system of  claim 90 , wherein said image capture device being a CMOS imaging array including a non-uniform array of pixels, said non-uniform array having a coarse distribution of said pixels in portions corresponding to the reflected image where there is minimal distortion and a fine distribution of said pixels in portions corresponding to the reflected image where there is greater distortion, the reflected image being received by said non-uniform pixels and communicated to a uniform array on said display, said display thereby receiving and displaying a uniform, substantially non-distorted image to the operator of the vehicle.  
     
     
         92 . A vehicular vision system comprising: 
 an image capture system for capturing an image of scenic information exteriorly of a vehicle;    a ranging device for determining a distance between the vehicle and an object within the captured image; and    a display for displaying an image synthesized from an output of said image capture system and range data for an object in the displayed image.    
     
     
         93 . The vision system of  claim 92 , wherein said display includes a range indication which displays the distance determined by said ranging device.  
     
     
         94 . The vision system of  claim 92 , wherein the image displayed on said display varies according to an output of said ranging device.  
     
     
         95 . The vision system of  claim 92  further including an auxiliary signal which is activated by an output of said ranging device and varies relative to the proximity of the object to the vehicle.  
     
     
         96 . The vision system of  claim 95 , wherein said auxiliary signal is an audio tone.  
     
     
         97 . The vision system of  claim 95 , wherein said auxiliary signal is a visual display positioned on an instrument panel within the vehicle.