System and method for monitoring the external environment of a motor vehicle
The system includes a capturing device for capturing information regarding presence from the exterior, representative of an object included within a supervisory area, which operates in combination with a device for detecting trajectories and a device for detecting inclinations of the vehicle, associated and in cooperation with an electronic system. The method includes using the proposed system to, by the generation of a chart that relates the trajectory and/or inclination with a corresponding supervisory area to be covered by the capturing device, vary the supervisory area depending on the trajectory and/or inclination of the vehicle, through the selection and execution of the appropriate actions, by the electronic system, which will depend on the type of capturing device used.
1. System for the supervision of an exterior environment of a motor vehicle, installable in an exterior rear view mirror, being said system adapted for detecting the presence of objects susceptible to collide with said vehicle, within a determined supervisory area, covering at least one dead angle, and the system comprising:
a capturing device suitable to acquire images or information samples regarding presence captured from the exterior, representative of an object included in said supervisory area,
an electronic system which comprises at least a system for processing and analyzing first input signals obtained through said capturing device, and which generates exit signals as a function of the result of said analysis, said exit signals being warning signals,
means for detecting trajectories for the detection of possible variations in the trajectory of the vehicle, associated and in cooperation with said electronic system to vary said supervisory area to be covered by the capturing device as a function of second signals, processed and analyzed, obtained by said means for detecting trajectories.
2. System according to claim 1 , wherein further comprising means for detecting inclinations of said vehicle, associated and in cooperation with said electronic system to vary the supervisory area to be covered by the capturing device as a function of said second signals and of third signals, processed and analyzed, obtained by said means for detecting inclinations.
3. System according to claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting trajectories comprise at least one accelerometer.
4. System according to claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting trajectories comprise at least means for the acquisition of data from a pulsating system for turn sensing, located in at least one wheel of the vehicle.
5. System according to claim 1 , wherein said means for detecting trajectories comprise at least one device for turn detection, located in the steering wheel of the vehicle.
6. System according to claim 2 , wherein said means for detecting trajectories and said means for detecting inclinations comprise at least one two axis accelerometer.
7. System according to claim 2 , wherein said means for detecting trajectories and said means for detecting inclinations comprise at least one gyroscope.
8. System according to claim 1 , wherein said capturing device comprises at least one of i) a camera, ii) an infra-red rays system, iii) a radar system and iv) an ultrasound system.
9. System according to claim 8 , wherein said capturing device is a camera.
10. System according to claim 9 , wherein said camera is mobile.
11. System according to claim 9 , wherein said camera is part of said means for detecting trajectories.
12. System according to claim 8 , wherein said capturing device is a radar system.
13. System according to claim 12 , wherein said radar system comprises at least two antennas with different inclination.
14. System according to claim 12 , wherein said radar system comprises an antenna that covers at least two combined antennas with different inclinations, or fractal antennas.
15. System according to claim 8 , wherein said capturing device is an infra-red rays system.
16. System according to claim 15 , wherein said infra-red rays system comprise at least one emitter and at least one receiver.
17. System according to claim 8 , wherein said capturing device is an ultrasound system.
18. System according to claim 17 , wherein said ultrasound system comprises at least one emitter and at least one receiver.
19. Method for the supervision of an exterior environment of a motor vehicle, for detecting the presence of objects susceptible to collide with said vehicle, within a determined supervisory area, covering at least one dead angle, of the type which, through a system which comprises a capturing device suitable to acquire images or information samples regarding presence captured from the exterior, representative of an object included within said supervisory area, and an electronic system, comprises the detection of the entry of an object in said supervisory area, the obtaining of first signals representative of said detection, treating, processing and analysis of said first signals and the generation of exit signals as a result of said analysis, said exit signals being warning signals, performing, by means of said electronic system and by at least means for detecting trajectories, the detection of possible variations in the trajectory of the vehicle and the treatment, processing and analysis of second signals representative of said possible variations in the trajectory, to vary the supervisory area to be covered by the capturing device.
20. Method according to claim 19 , further comprising performing, by means of said electronic system and by at least means for detecting inclinations of the vehicle, the detection of possible variations in the inclination of the vehicle and treating, processing and analysis of third signals representative of said possible variations in the inclination of the vehicle, to vary the supervisory area to be covered by the capturing device, as a function of said second and third signals, treated and processed.
21. Method according to claim 20 , wherein for each of the possible trajectories and/or each of the possible inclination positions adopted by the vehicle, after said treatment, processing and analysis of said signals representative of the possible variations in the trajectory and/or inclination of the vehicle, comprising the storage, by means of the electronic system, of representative values, forming the whole of said representative values a chart that relates the trajectory and/or inclination with a corresponding supervisory area to be covered by the capturing device, being said chart accessible for the electronic system and used by it to vary the supervisory area to be covered by the capturing device.
22. Method according to claim 21 , further comprising using as the capturing device at least one of i) a camera, ii) an infra-red rays system, iii) a radar system and iv) an ultrasound system.
23. Method according to claim 22 , further comprising using a camera as the capturing device, and varying the supervisory area of the capturing device, by means of the electronic system, varying vertical and horizontal coordinates of a series of points, which as a whole will delimit said area.
24. Method according to claim 22 , further comprising using a mobile camera as the capturing device, and varying the supervisory area of the capturing device, by means of the electronic system, by varying vertical and horizontal coordinates of a series of points, which as a whole will delimit said area and/or by moving said mobile camera.
25. Method according to claim 23 , further comprising using, by means of the electronic system, at least part of the information acquired by said camera for detecting changes in the trajectory of the vehicle.
26. Method according to claim 22 , further comprising using a radar system as capturing device, with at least two antennas with different inclination or a radar system with one antenna which comprises at least two antennas with different inclination, or fractal antennas, and varying the supervisory area of the capturing device, by means of the electronic system, choosing the antenna through which to emit and/or varying its emission power.
27. Method according to claim 22 , further comprising using an infra-red rays system with at least one emitter and at least one receiver as capturing device, and varying the supervisory area of the capturing device, by means of the electronic system, choosing the emitter through which to emit and/or varying its emission power.
28. Method according to claim 22 , further comprising using an ultrasound system with at least one emitter and at least one receiver as capturing device, and varying the supervisory area of the capturing device, by means of the electronic system, choosing the emitter through which to emit and/or varying its emission power.
29. Method according to claim 24 , further comprising using, by means of the electronic system, at least part of the information acquired by said camera for detecting changes in the trajectory of the vehicle.