A method of calculating at least one dimension of a towed vehicle includes sensing an image of the towed vehicle with an image sensing device. A feature on the towed vehicle in the sensed image of the towed vehicle is identified with a controller using a dimension determination algorithm. The dimension of the towed vehicle is determined from the identified feature of the towed vehicle, with the controller using the dimension determination algorithm. The dimension of the towed vehicle may be input into a vehicle tow controller, to enable the vehicle tow controller to control the tow vehicle.

Provided is a driving assistance device allowing a driver to recognize a path of a vehicle by outputting a location of a vehicle and a location of a target space to the driver, the location of the target space being searched for with respect to the location of the vehicle. The driving assistance device includes: a space searching unit configured to search for a target space around a vehicle with respect to the vehicle; a space information acquisition unit configured to acquire a location of the vehicle and a location of the target space; and an output unit configured to output the location of the vehicle and the location of the target space to a driver, wherein, when an automatic steering function is operated, the output unit updates and outputs a current location of the vehicle on a certain cycle, preferably, in real time until the location of the vehicle matches the location of the target space.

An interior rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes a mirror head having a mirror reflective element with a transflective mirror reflector. A video display device is disposed rearward of the mirror reflective element, and a polymer reflector layer is disposed in front of the video display device. The video display device is operable to display video images captured by a rearward viewing camera of the vehicle. When the video display device is operated to display video images, light emitted by the video display device passes through the polymer reflector layer and the mirror reflective element for viewing of displayed video images by a driver of the vehicle viewing the mirror reflective element. Linearly polarized light emitted by the video display device is circularly polarized as it passes through the polymer reflector layer, such that the displayed video images comprise circularly polarized light.

A vehicular vision system includes first, second, third and fourth cameras having respective forward, rearward, sideward and sideward fields of view. A video processor is operable to process second image data captured by the second or rearward viewing camera. A video display screen displays video images derived, at least in part, from captured second image data. The video processor includes an image processor operable for machine vision analysis of first image data captured by the first or forward viewing camera. During a reversing maneuver of the vehicle, the video display screen displays video images derived, at least in part, from captured second image data. During forward travel of the vehicle and responsive to the image processor processing captured first image data to detect a road sign ahead of the vehicle, an image or iconistic representation of the detected road sign is displayed by the video display screen.

A method is provided using a system mounted in a vehicle. The system includes a rear-viewing camera and a processor attached to the rear-viewing camera. When the driver shifts the vehicle into reverse gear, and while the vehicle is still stationary, image frames from the immediate vicinity behind the vehicle are captured. The immediate vicinity behind the vehicle is in a field of view of the rear-viewing camera. The image frames are processed and thereby the object is detected which if present in the immediate vicinity behind the vehicle would obstruct the motion of the vehicle. The processing is preferably performed in parallel for a plurality of classes of obstructing objects using a single image frame of the image frames.

An apparatus for a vehicle includes: a first collection unit configured to collect a plurality of consecutive forward image frames captured by a camera during forward driving of the vehicle; and a driving route generation unit configured to derive a forward driving trajectory during the forward driving of the vehicle, based on matching of common feature points present in the plurality of consecutive forward image frames, and generate the derived forward driving trajectory as a backward driving prediction route.

An illustrative example camera device includes a sensor that is configured to detect radiation. A first portion of the sensor has a first field of vision and is used for a first imaging function. A distortion correction prism directs radiation outside the first field of vision toward the sensor. A lens element between the distortion correcting prism and the sensor includes a surface at an oblique angle relative to a sensor axis. The lens element directs radiation from the distortion correcting prism toward a second portion of the sensor that has a second field of vision and is used for a second imaging function. The sensor provides a first output for the first imaging function based on radiation detected at the first portion of the sensor. The sensor provides a second output for the second imaging function based on radiation detection at the second portion.

The present disclosure relates to a display system (1) for generating a composite view of a region behind a vehicle (V) towing a trailer (T). A first camera (C1) is provided for outputting first image data corresponding to a first image (IMG1), the first camera (C1) being configured to be mounted in a rear-facing orientation to the vehicle (V). A second camera (C2) is provided for outputting second image data corresponding to a second image (IMG2), the second camera (C2) being configured to be mounted in a rear-facing orientation to the trailer (T). An image processor (5) receives the first image data and said second image data. The image processor (5) is configured to combine said first image data and said second image data to generate composite image data corresponding to a composite image (IMG3). The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding method of generating a composite image (IMG3), and to a rig made up of a vehicle (V) and a trailer (T).

Embodiments include a vehicle comprising a plurality of cameras for capturing images within a field of view surrounding the vehicle; a processor for generating a real-time view of an area within the field of view using currently-captured images, and a time-delayed view of a region outside the field of view using previously-captured images stored in a memory; and a display for displaying a hybrid view comprising the real-time view and time-delayed view. Embodiments also include a vehicle camera system comprising a plurality of cameras configured to capture images within a field of view surrounding the vehicle, and a processor configured to generate a real-time view of an area within the field of view using currently-captured images, a time-delayed view of a region outside the field of view using previously-captured images stored in a memory, and a hybrid view of the vehicle by integrating the time-delayed view into the real-time view.

In a parking assistance method of a parking control device which executes parking control with respect to a free parking space surroundings a host vehicle, a first frame line of free parking space in a direction orthogonal to a vehicle width direction and a second frame line which forms a pair with the first frame line are detected, and a parking target is set on a straight line connecting between a point on the first frame line and a point on the second frame line, for example, the parking target is set on the straight line connecting between an end on the first frame line and an end on the second frame line, and parking control is executed so that a position of wheels of the host vehicle is matched with the parking target.