Wide angle imaging system for providing an image of the surroundings of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle

Abstract

An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An imaging system comprising:
 an electro-optical sensor;   a first lens directing an image onto the sensor;   a display screen displaying the image;   second and third inter-axially spaced lenses directing respective second and third images onto the sensor on opposite sides of the image, the second and third lenses producing purposeful width distortion of the respective images adapted for stereoscopic analysis; and   a processing unit performing stereoscopic analysis on the second and third images.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth lens inter-axially spaced from the first, the second, and the third lenses to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor located adjacent a third edge of the sensor, the fourth image exhibiting purposeful height distortion. 
     
     
         3 . The imaging system of  claim 2 , wherein the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region to detect lateral movement of a host vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The imaging system of  claim 3 , wherein the processing unit detects lateral movement of the vehicle by analyzing lane markings appearing in the fourth image. 
     
     
         5 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the lenses comprises at least two mirrors optically aligned with one another. 
     
     
         6 . The imaging system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data buffer associated with the processing unit. 
     
     
         7 . An imaging system for a motor vehicle comprising:
 an electro-optical sensor;   a first lens directing a first image onto a central region of the sensor;   a display screen for displaying the first image to a driver of the vehicle;   a second lens inter-axially spaced from the first lens to direct a second image onto a second region of the sensor located adjacent a first lateral edge of the sensor;   a third lens inter-axially spaced from the first lens and the second lens to direct a third image onto a third region of the sensor located adjacent a second lateral edge of the sensor, the second lateral edge positioned opposite from the first lateral edge, the second and third images having substantially equal amounts of purposeful width distortion adapted for stereoscopic image analysis; and   a processing unit performing stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions.   
     
     
         8 . The imaging system of  claim 7 , further comprising a fourth lens inter-axially spaced from the lens, the second lens, and the third lens to direct a fourth image onto the sensor, the fourth image exhibiting height distortion. 
     
     
         9 . The imaging system of  claim 8 , wherein the processing unit performs analysis on the fourth image to detect lateral movement of a host vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the processing unit detects lateral movement of the vehicle by analyzing lane markings appearing in the fourth image. 
     
     
         11 . The imaging system of  claim 7 , further comprising a data buffer associated with the processing unit. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus comprising: 
       a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of an electro-optical sensor; and
 second and third lenses spaced inter-axially from one another and located on opposite sides of the first lens and directing respective second and third images having substantially equal amounts of purposeful width distortion adapted for stereoscopic evaluation onto respective second and third regions of the sensor. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a processing unit performing stereoscopic analysis on the second and third images. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a data buffer associated with the processing unit. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a display screen for displaying the first image to a driver of a host vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the lenses comprises at least two mirrors optically aligned with one another. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a fourth lens inter-axially spaced from the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens to direct a fourth image onto the sensor, the fourth image exhibiting purposeful height distortion. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a processing unit performing analysis on the fourth image to detect lateral movement of a host vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the processing unit detects lateral movement of the vehicle by analyzing lane markings appearing in the fourth image.