Error-Robust Capture of Vehicle Surroundings

Abstract

A method for the reliable and error-robust analysis of visually captured vehicle surroundings is provided. A deviation of a camera orientation caused by a force impacting an exterior mirror carrying the camera can be compensated fully automatically. As a result, the method can be used during active travels in the field and creates more safety, in particular for autonomous driving.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A system arrangement for reliable and error-tolerant evaluation of a visually captured vehicle surround, the system arrangement comprising: a rearview mirror apparatus having at least one position sensor configured to measure a positional deviation from a preset position; an imaging sensor configured to capture the vehicle surround; a data interface configured to transfer the positional deviation and the captured vehicle surround to a control unit; and the control unit, which is configured to process the captured vehicle surround dependent on the positional deviation.

12. The system arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to process the captured vehicle surround within the scope of autonomous driving.

13. The system arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to recognize an image shift dependent on the positional deviation and to compensate an image accordingly.

14. The system arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is further configured to recognize an image shift dependent on the positional deviation and to correct coordinates of features captured in the vehicle surround.

15. The system arrangement according to claim 11, further comprising a reproduction unit which outputs the captured vehicle surround in processed fashion.

16. The system arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the position sensor is configured to recognize the positional deviation dependent on an alignment angle of the rearview mirror apparatus.

17. The system arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the preset position corresponds to at least one of a factory setting or a calibrated position.

18. The system arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the data interface is at least one of a wired interface or an air interface.

19. A method for reliable and error-tolerant evaluation of a visually captured vehicle surround, the method comprising: measuring a positional deviation of a rearview mirror apparatus comprising at least one position sensor from a preset position; capturing the vehicle surround by an imaging sensor integrated in the rearview mirror apparatus; transmitting the positional deviation and the captured vehicle surround to a control unit; and processing the captured vehicle surround by the control unit dependent on the positional deviation.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed on a processor, carries out a method of: measuring a positional deviation of a rearview mirror apparatus comprising at least one position sensor from a preset position; capturing the vehicle surround by an imaging sensor integrated in the rearview mirror apparatus; transmitting the positional deviation and the captured vehicle surround to a control unit; and processing the captured vehicle surround by the control unit dependent on the positional deviation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic flowchart of a method for reliable and error-tolerant evaluation of a visually captured vehicle surround according to one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0040] In a schematic flowchart, FIG. 1 shows a method for reliable and error-tolerant evaluation of a visually captured vehicle surround, including a measurement 100 of a positional deviation of a rearview mirror apparatus comprising at least one position sensor from a preset position; a capture 101 of the vehicle surround by way of an imaging sensor integrated in the rearview mirror apparatus; a transmission 102 of the positional deviation and the captured vehicle surround to a control unit; and a processing 103 of the captured vehicle surround by the control unit dependent on the positional deviation.

[0041] Since the method steps are designed analogous to the functional properties of the corresponding structural features of the system arrangement, the diagram as per the present figure can also be interpreted as a block diagram of the system arrangement, with each method step being assigned a corresponding component of the system arrangement.

[0042] In this context, a person skilled in the art recognizes that the steps may have further substeps and, in particular, that the method steps can each be carried out iteratively and/or in a different sequence.