Driver assistance system for a vehicle

Abstract

A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a first imager disposed at a left side of the vehicle, a second imager disposed at a rear of the vehicle and a third imager disposed at a right side of the vehicle. The first, second and third imagers have respective fields of view and the first imager is spatially separated from the second imager and the third imager is spatially separated from the second imager. A display system has a single display screen that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle. The display screen is operable to display an image derived from image data captured by the first, second and third imagers. The display screen displays an image synthesized from image data captured by each of the first, second and third imagers. The displayed image approximates a view from a single virtual camera location.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A driver assistance system suitable for use in a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:
 a first imager disposed at a left side of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system, said first imager having a first field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;   said first imager comprising a first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements;   a second imager disposed at a rear of the equipped vehicle and having a second field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;   said second imager comprising a second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements;   a third imager disposed at a right side of the equipped vehicle and having a third field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle;   said third imager comprising a third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements;   wherein said first imager at said first side of the equipped vehicle is spatially separated from said second imager at said rear of the equipped vehicle and wherein said third imager at said second side of the equipped vehicle is spatially separated from said second imager at said rear of the equipped vehicle;   wherein said first field of view overlaps said second field of view and wherein said third field of view overlaps said second field of view;   wherein a photosensor element of said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible;   wherein a photosensor element of said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible;   wherein a photosensor element of said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible;   a display system comprising a single display screen that is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle;   wherein said display screen is operable to display an image derived from image data captured by said first, second and third imagers, and wherein said display screen displays an image synthesized from image data captured by each of said first, second and third imagers; and   wherein the displayed image approximates a view from a single virtual camera location.   
     
     
         2 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed image is substantially without duplicate images of objects. 
     
     
         3 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed image approximates a substantially seamless view from the single virtual camera location. 
     
     
         4 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed image comprises a panoramic view rearward of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein said first, second and third imagers are aimed along non-parallel axes. 
     
     
         6 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein (i) said photosensor element of said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible by at least one first register, (ii) said photosensor element of said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible by at least one second register, and (iii) said photosensor element of said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is individually accessible by at least one third register. 
     
     
         7 . The driver assistance system of  claim 6 , wherein (i) said at least one first register comprises at least one of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register, (ii) said at least one second register comprises at least one of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register, and (iii) said at least one third register comprises at least one of a horizontal shift register and a vertical shift register. 
     
     
         8 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said first, second and third imagers are at substantially the same height at the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and third imagers are at substantially the same height at the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein an electronically generated overlay is superimposed on the image displayed by said single display screen to enhance the driver's understanding of what is in the area adjacent to the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The driver assistance system of  claim 10 , wherein said overlay enhances judgment by a driver of the equipped vehicle of the location of other vehicles and objects external the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The driver assistance system of  claim 11 , wherein said overlay provides a visual cue to the driver of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The driver assistance system of  claim 12 , wherein said visual cue assists the driver to judge a distance to an object rearward of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein compression of at least one of said first image data, said second image data and said third image data in the synthesized image reduces distortion in the displayed image. 
     
     
         15 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of (a) said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate, (b) said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate and (c) said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein a first lens images light external the equipped vehicle onto said first two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements and a second lens images light external the equipped vehicle onto said second two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements and a third lens images light external the equipped vehicle onto said third two-dimensional CMOS array of photosensor elements. 
     
     
         17 . The driver assistance system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of said first lens, said second lens and said third lens comprises a plastic lens. 
     
     
         18 . The driver assistance system of  claim 17 , wherein each of each of said first lens, said second lens and said third lens comprises a plastic lens. 
     
     
         19 . The driver assistance system of  claim 18 , wherein each of said first lens, said second lens and said third lens comprises a molded plastic lens. 
     
     
         20 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein said display screen is disposed at or proximate an interior mirror assembly location of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein said display screen comprises a display screen selected from the group comprising (i) a plasma display screen and (ii) a field emission display screen. 
     
     
         22 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein said display screen comprises a back lit liquid crystal display screen. 
     
     
         23 . The driver assistance system of  claim 1 , wherein said single virtual camera location is external of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The driver assistance system of  claim 23 , wherein said single virtual camera location is forward of the equipped vehicle.