METHOD FOR THE REPRESENTATION OF A REAR OUTER REGION OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A method for displaying a rear outside area of a vehicle, with at least one camera device on the vehicle, includes bringing the camera device into various camera positions and sensing different camera-position-dependent imaging areas of the outside area by the camera device as a function of the particular camera positions. A fixed imaging area of the outside area is sensed by the camera device independently of the camera position in order to display the fixed imaging area for an operator of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for displaying an area outside of a vehicle, the area including a fixed imaging area, the method comprising: moving a camera device into a first camera position; sensing, by the camera device, a first camera-position-dependent imaging area of the area outside of the vehicle by the camera device as a function of the first camera position; sensing, by the camera device, the fixed imaging area when the camera device is in the first camera position; displaying, by a display device disposed in the vehicle, the fixed imaging area when the camera device is in the first camera position; moving the camera device into a second camera position; sensing, by the camera device, a second camera-position-dependent imaging area of the area outside of the vehicle by the camera device as a function of the second camera position; sensing, by the camera device, the fixed imaging area when the camera device is in the second camera position; and displaying, by the display device, the fixed imaging area when the camera device is in the second camera position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the fixed imaging area includes motion-compensating the display of the fixed imaging area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the camera device, image information about the first camera-position-dependent imaging area, determining, from the image information, at least one item of display information about at least a portion of the first camera-position-dependent imaging area, and displaying, by the display device, the at least one item of display information, wherein the fixed imaging area is displayed independently of the first camera position and the second camera position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device includes a digital mirror.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: displaying, by the display device, the first camera-position-dependent imaging area with the fixed imaging area, and displaying, by the display device, the second camera-position-dependent imaging area with the fixed imaging area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera device is operable to sense an entirety of the area outside of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying, by the display device, the fixed imaging area when the camera device is in the first camera position includes displaying, by the display device, the fixed imaging area from a side-mirror perspective.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the fixed imaging area or a position of the camera device can be adjusted independently of the other of the fixed imaging area or the position of the camera device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: analyzing at least one item of image information of the camera device; modifying a perspective of the at least one item of image information based on the analyzing at least one item of image information; and generating at least one of a side view or top view based on modifying the perspective of the at least one item of image information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: analyzing, by an analysis device, an item of image information of the camera device; and generating, by the camera device, information about the fixed imaging area and the first camera-position-dependent imaging area from the item of image information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed imaging area includes an outside mirror area of the vehicle, and wherein the first camera-position-dependent imaging area is adjustable within 60% of the area outside of the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein moving the camera device into the first camera position includes moving the camera device through a control device configured to be operated by an operator of the vehicle.

13. A system for displaying an area outside of a vehicle, the area including a first fixed imaging area, the system comprising: a first camera device configured to move into a first camera position and a second camera position, the first camera device further configured to (i) sense a first camera-position-dependent imaging area of the area outside of the vehicle as a function of the first camera position, (ii) sense the first fixed imaging area when the first camera device is in the first camera position, (iii) sense a second camera-position-dependent imaging area of the area outside of the vehicle as a function of the second camera position, (ii) sense the first fixed imaging area when the first camera device is in the second camera position; and a first display disposed on the vehicle and configured to (i) display the first fixed imaging area when the first camera device is in the first camera position and (ii) display the first fixed imaging area when the first camera device is in the second camera position.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first camera device is disposed in a front area of the vehicle and configured to sense a blind spot of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising a second camera device disposed on a front, right fender of the vehicle, wherein the first camera device is disposed on a front, left-hand fender of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first camera device is configured to sense a plurality of first camera-position-dependent imaging areas within a first overall imaging area of the area outside of the vehicle, and wherein the second camera device is configured to sense a plurality of second camera-position-dependent imaging areas within a second overall imaging area of the area outside of the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first camera device is configured to be pivotable by at least one driver.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the first camera device is configured to move between a retracted state and an extended state by at least one driver, and wherein the first camera device is retracted completely into a receptacle of the vehicle in the retracted state.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first display includes an OLED display disposed in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first camera device is disposed on an external portion of the vehicle and includes a CMOS or CCD sensor.

21. The system of claim 13, further comprising: a second display disposed on a right side of a passenger compartment of the vehicle; a third display disposed on a center console of the passenger compartment; and a second camera device configured to sense a second a second fixed imaging area including a right side of the vehicle, wherein the first display is disposed on a left side of the passenger compartment, wherein the first fixed imaging area includes a left side of the vehicle, and wherein the third display is configured to display a perspective modification of an item of image information.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0056] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected configurations and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle with a system according to the invention,

[0058] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of a vehicle with a system according to the invention,

[0059] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a vehicle with a system according to the invention,

[0060] FIG. 4 is another schematic side view of a vehicle with a system according to the invention,

[0061] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of parts of a system according to the invention for visualization of a method according to the invention, and

[0062] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of parts of a system according to the invention for visualization of a method according to the invention.

[0063] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0064] Example configurations will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example configurations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. Specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of configurations of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example configurations may be embodied in many different forms, and that the specific details and the example configurations should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0065] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular articles a, an, and the may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms comprises, comprising, including, and having, are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0066] When an element or layer is referred to as being on, engaged to, connected to, attached to, or coupled to another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected, attached, or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on, directly engaged to, directly connected to, directly attached to, or directly coupled to another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0067] The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections. These elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example configurations.

[0068] Shown schematically in FIG. 1 is a system 10 according to the invention that is arranged on a vehicle 1. The system 10 according to the invention in this case includes at least one camera device 20. A first camera device 20a, shown in FIG. 2, can also be arranged on the vehicle 1 on the left-hand side, in addition to a second camera device 20b shown in FIG. 1, which is arranged on the right-hand side of vehicle 1. Preferably, a first camera device 20a is arranged on a left-hand fender 2a and a second camera device 20b is arranged on a right-hand fender 2b in this case. Of course, an arrangement of the camera device 20 on other areas in the front region of the vehicle 1 is also possible in addition to the arrangement of the camera device 20 on the fender 2. For the purpose of arrangement, the vehicle 1 has, in particular, a receptacle 5. Provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 is, in particular, a display device 40.

[0069] In addition, the vehicle 1 includes a control device 60, which is likewise arranged in the passenger compartment, in particular completely or partially therein. Thus, the control device 60 can include control elements for an operator of the vehicle 1 in order to orient the camera device 20 by means of a drive 50 shown schematically in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0070] The orientation of the camera device 20 is accomplished, in particular, such that an imaging area 220 can be sensed by the camera device 20. Different imaging areas 220 can be sensed by the camera device 20 as a function of the camera position 240 in this context, wherein all the possible imaging areas 220 must be located within an overall imaging area 200. The overall imaging area 200 is consequently the area that can be sensed at a maximum in the different camera positions 240 by the camera device 20, as is shown in detail in FIG. 2. Thus, a first overall imaging area 200a is provided for a first camera device 20a, and a second overall imaging area 200b is provided for a second camera device 20b. The first overall imaging area 200a here includes, for example, a left-hand, rear outside area 3, in particular a left-hand blind spot 4, of the vehicle 1. The second overall imaging area 200b here includes, for example, a right-hand, rear outside area 3, in particular a right-hand blind spot 4, of the vehicle 1. The fixed imaging area 230 is located further inside the overall imaging area 200, wherein a first camera device 20a senses a first fixed imaging area 230a, and a second camera device 20b senses a second fixed imaging area 230b. For the purpose of displaying the first fixed imaging area 230a, a first display means 41 of the display device 40, for example, can be arranged on the left side in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1. For the purpose of displaying the second fixed imaging area 230b, a second display means 42 of the display device 40, for example, can be arranged on the right side in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1. An additional displaying of the outside area 3 can be performed, for example by an additional, third display means 43, for example in the region of a center console in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1. The fixed imaging area 230 in this case is a sub-area of a maximum fixed imaging area 210, and the maximum fixed imaging area 210 is a sub-area of a sensed imaging area 220, and the imaging area 220 in this case is a sub-area of an overall imaging area 200. This is shown schematically in FIG. 3, wherein the maximum fixed imaging area 210 here is always a sub-area of all imaging areas 220 for different camera positions 240. Alternatively, however, provision can also be made that the maximum fixed imaging area 210 causes no limitation of the imaging areas 220, wherein the overall imaging area 200 is then varied as a function of the fixed imaging area 230 that is set.

[0071] The sensed imaging area 220 can be changed as a function of the camera positions 240. Thus, it is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 that a first imaging area 221 is sensed in a first camera position 241, and a second imaging area 222 is sensed in a second camera position 242. The fixed imaging area 230 is always a sub-area of the imaging area 220, independently of the camera position 240, as can be seen clearly in FIG. 4.

[0072] Additionally, a method 100 according to the invention is visualized schematically in FIGS. 5 and 6. Here, the camera device 20 senses and/or determines an item of image information 110 in every camera position 240 in normal operation. In particular, a first item of image information 111 is sensed and/or determined in a first camera position 241 and a second item of image information 112 is sensed and/or determined in a second camera position 242. The image information 110 is subsequently analyzed by an analysis device 30, e.g., through image processing, wherein subsequently an item of display information 120, in particular a first item of display information 121 for a first camera position 241 and a second item of display information 122 for a second camera position 242, is transmitted to the display device 40.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0073] 1 vehicle

[0074] 2 fender

[0075] 2a left fender

[0076] 2b right fender

[0077] 3 outside area

[0078] 4 blind spot

[0079] 5 receptacle

[0080] 10 system

[0081] 20 camera device

[0082] 20a first camera device

[0083] 20b second camera device

[0084] 30 analysis device

[0085] 40 display device

[0086] 41 first display means

[0087] 42 second display means

[0088] 43 third display means

[0089] 50 drive

[0090] 60 control device

[0091] 100 method

[0092] 110 image information

[0093] 111 first item of image information

[0094] 112 second item of image information

[0095] 120 display information

[0096] 121 first item of display information

[0097] 122 second item of display information

[0098] 200 overall imaging area

[0099] 200a first overall imaging area

[0100] 200b second overall imaging area

[0101] 210 maximum fixed imaging area

[0102] 220 imaging area

[0103] 221 first imaging area

[0104] 222 second imaging area

[0105] 230 fixed imaging area

[0106] 230a first fixed imaging area

[0107] 230b second fixed imaging area

[0108] 240 camera position

[0109] 241 first camera position

[0110] 242 second camera position

[0111] The above explanation of the embodiment describes the present invention solely within the framework of examples. It is a matter of course that individual features of the embodiments may be freely combined with one another, if it is technically useful to do so, without departing from the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.