Abstract
An optical detection system for a vehicle having a detection region for recording a section of the surroundings. The optical detection system has an image receiver chip having a maximum number of pixels. During the recording of an image of the surroundings a number of pixels is active in a pixel region to be evaluated of the image receiver chip. The maximum number of pixels of the image receiver chip is greater than the number of pixels of the pixel region to be evaluated. The optical detection system detects a region lying behind the vehicle and is designed such that, if the tailgate is moved, the detection region remains substantially unchanged as a result of a change to the pixel region to be evaluated on the image receiver chip. A method for retaining a detection region of an optical detection system is also disclosed.
Claims
1. An optical detection system for a vehicle, the optical detection system comprising: a detection region for recording a section of the surroundings; an image receiver chip having a maximum number of pixels, wherein during a recording of an image of the surroundings a number of pixels is active in a pixel region to be evaluated of the image receiver chip, wherein the maximum number of pixels of the image receiver chip is greater than the number of pixels of the pixel region to be evaluated, wherein the optical detection system detects a region lying behind the vehicle and when a tailgate of the vehicle is moved, the detection region remains substantially unchanged as a result of a change to the pixel region to be evaluated on the image receiver chip.
2. The optical detection system according to claim 1, wherein the optical detection system comprises a camera arranged on the tailgate of the vehicle.
3. The optical detection system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one angle measuring sensor which measures an opening angle of the tailgate.
4. The optical detection system according to claim 1, wherein the number of pixels of the pixel region to be evaluated and/or the size of the pixel region to be evaluated is/are constant.
5. The optical detection system according to claim 1, wherein as an opening angle of the tailgate changes, the pixel region to be evaluated remains unchanged in a horizontal direction.
6. The optical detection system according to claim 1, wherein as an opening angle of the tailgate changes, the pixel region to be evaluated changes in a vertical direction.
7. The optical detection system according to claim 1, further comprising a display device which displays the pixel region to be evaluated.
8. The optical detection system according to claim 7, wherein the display device displays the pixel region to be evaluated, as a full screen.
9. A method for retaining a detection region of an optical detection system, the method comprising: detecting a section of the surroundings; determining an opening angle of a tailgate of a vehicle; changing a pixel region to be evaluated on an image receiver chip as a function of the opening angle of the tailgate, as a result of which the detection region of the optical detection system remains largely the same.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the opening angle of the tailgate is determined by at least one angle measuring sensor.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the at least one angle measuring sensor includes a magnetic field sensor and/or a potentiometer.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the pixel region to be evaluated on the image receiver chip is displaced upwards as the opening angle becomes larger.
Description
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1a shows a vehicle having an optical detection system in accordance with the prior art.
[0026] FIG. 1b shows a vehicle having an optical detection system in accordance with the prior art.
[0027] FIG. 2a shows a schematic depiction of a vehicle with an exemplary optical detection system.
[0028] FIG. 2b shows a schematic depiction of a vehicle with an exemplary optical detection system.
[0029] FIG. 3a shows an exemplary image receiver chip having an active pixel region as well as a display device.
[0030] FIG. 3b shows the image receiver chip from FIG. 3a having a changed, active pixel region as well as a display device.
[0031] FIG. 4 show a schematic flow chart of the exemplary method of retaining a detection region of an optical detection system.
[0032] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a vehicle 1 having an optical detection system 2 in accordance with the prior art. The optical detection system 2 is arranged on a tailgate 8 of a vehicle 1 and has a detection region 3 which includes a region behind the vehicle 1.
[0034] Whilst the tailgate 8 of the vehicle 1 is located in a closed condition in FIG. 1a, the tailgate 8 in FIG. 1b has been opened or tilted by an angle α. In this case, it can be seen that the detection region 3 of the optical detection system 2 has changed as a result of the opening of the tailgate 8. The section of the surroundings recorded in FIG. 1b by the optical detection system 2 lies above the section of the surroundings which has been recorded in FIG. 1a. This is in particular due to the fact that the optical detection system 2 is fixedly arranged on the tailgate 8 and, consequently, the detection region 3 also moves upwards with the tailgate 8. As a result, the surroundings located immediately behind the vehicle 1 are not detected. The region which is detected by the detection system 2 according to the prior art therefore depends on the position of the tailgate. This is in particular disadvantageous if bulky goods 9 are being transported with the vehicle 1 and the tailgate cannot be closed completely due to the bulky goods. Consequently, the detection system 2 has a detection region 3 which is displaced upwards in an unwanted manner. As a result, it can happen that the region located immediately behind the vehicle 1 is no longer detected, as a result of which obstacles are not identified, and this can lead to unwanted collisions. The driving safety is considerably diminished as a result. According to the disclosure, it is important to largely compensate for this indicated unwanted displacement of the detection region.
[0035] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a schematic depiction of a vehicle 1 having an optical detection system 2 according to the disclosure having a detection region 3 for recording a section of the surroundings is depicted. The detection system 2 includes an image receiver chip 4 having a maximum number of pixels, composed of active pixels 7 and inactive pixels 5. The active pixels 7 form a pixel region 6 to be evaluated. The pixel region 6 to be evaluated only constitutes a subregion of the image receiver chip 4.
[0036] The detection system 2 is arranged on a tailgate 8 of the vehicle 1. Whilst the tailgate 8 is closed in FIG. 2a, bulky goods 9 are located in the vehicle 1 depicted in FIG. 2b so that the tailgate 8 cannot be closed. The tailgate 8 is opened by an opening angle α. The opening angle α can be determined by an angle measuring sensor, such as a magnetic field sensor or a potentiometer. To this end, the detection system 2 has at least one angle measuring sensor.
[0037] As depicted in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the detection region 3 of the detection system 2 is the same, although the tailgate 8 is in a closed condition in FIG. 2a and in an open position in FIG. 2b, that is to say it is tilted by an opening angle α. This is achieved according to the disclosure in that the pixel region 6 to be evaluated on the image receiver chip 4 can be changed as a function of the opening angle α. If the tailgate 8 is, for example, tilted upwards, that is to say brought into an open position, then the pixel region 6 to be evaluated on the image receiver chip 4 is displaced upwards. If the tailgate 8 is closed, then the pixel region 6 to be evaluated on the image receiver chip 4 is displaced downwards.
[0038] FIG. 3a shows an image receiver chip 4 according to the disclosure having a maximum number of pixels, composed of active pixels 7 and inactive pixels 5, and a pixel region 6 to be evaluated. The pixel region 6 only constitutes a subregion of the image receiver chip 4 and has the active pixels 7, that is to say those pixels which are actively evaluated. The image receiver chip 4 depicted in FIG. 3a is part of the detection system 2 depicted in FIG. 2a, as a result of which the detection region 3 depicted in FIG. 2a is detected.
[0039] FIG. 3b shows the image receiver chip 4 according to the disclosure from FIG. 3a, where the active pixel region 6 has been changed. The image receiver chip 4 depicted in FIG. 3a is part of the detection system 2 depicted in FIG. 2b, as a result of which the detection region 3 depicted in FIG. 2b is detected.
[0040] Compared to the active pixel region 6 shown in FIG. 3a, the active pixel region 6 shown in FIG. 3b is displaced upwards. The size of the pixel region 6 to be evaluated and/or the number of the active pixels 7, in this case, correspond(s) to those in FIG. 3a. No alteration has taken place in the horizontal direction. In particular, the change to the active pixel region 6 ensures that, in the event of a tilting of the tailgate 8, the detection region 3 remains largely unchanged. Despite a movement of the tailgate 8, the same surrounding region is detected.
[0041] A display device 10 is further depicted in FIGS. 3a and 3b. In some implementations, the display device 10 only displays the pixel region 6 to be evaluated, for example, as a full screen.
[0042] FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow chart of the method according to the invention. In step S1, a section of the surroundings is detected. In step S2, the opening angle α of the tailgate 8 of the vehicle is determined. The opening angle α can be determined by at least one angle measuring sensor, for example a magnetic field sensor and/or a potentiometer. In step S3, if necessary, the pixel region 6 to be evaluated on the image receiver chip 4 is changed as a function of the opening angle α of the tailgate 8, as a result of which the detection region 3 does not substantially change, that is to say it remains largely the same. That is to say that the method ensures that, despite an alteration to the opening angle α of the tailgate 8, for example due to a tilting of the tailgate 8, the detection region 3 of the detection system 2 does not alter. Consequently, this results in the attainment of a compensation effect so that the detection region 3 of the detection system 2 is not displaced as well—as is usual—during the movement of the tailgate. The detection region 3 continues to show the region lying behind the vehicle 1 as it did prior to the tilting of the tailgate 8.
[0043] The pixel region 6 to be evaluated on the image receiver chip 4 is displaced upwards as the opening angle α becomes larger. The number of the active pixels 7 or the size of the pixel region 6 to be evaluated ideally remain(s) the same or unchanged. Ideally, the pixel region 6 to be evaluated does not experience any alteration in the horizontal direction. It remains the same. In some implementations, the recorded section of the surroundings is provided to a driver on a display device 10. The pixel region 6 to be evaluated or the data of the pixel region 6 to be evaluated may be displayed as a full screen.
[0044] A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
