System and method for warning a driver of a vehicle of an object in a proximity of the vehicle

1. A warning system for warning a driver of a vehicle of an object in a proximity of the vehicle, comprising:

a device for detecting the object,

a device for obtaining an image of the object in response to the detection of the object, wherein the device for obtaining the image of the object comprises a multi-purpose camera or an IR camera or a night vision camera,

a device for processing the image of the object based on the detection of the object so that a representation indicative of the object is achieved,

wherein the warning system further comprises a storage of a plurality of pre-determined figures which represent different types of objects, wherein the device for processing the image is adapted to select a pre-determined figure indicative of the type of object in the image, from the set of pre-determined figures in the storage, the selection of the pre-determined figure made upon the detection of the object by the device for detecting the object and upon making a determination that the obtained image of the object cannot be processed by the device for processing the image, and wherein the device for processing the image further comprises an interpretation arrangement for interpreting the detected object to remove any surroundings around the detected object or unnecessary information wherein the surroundings around the detected object or unnecessary information is removed such that the processed image is focused on the detected object and a generating arrangement for generating an interpreted image comprising the pre-determined figure indicative of the type of object in the image into the representation indicative of the object to be displayed, and

a display for displaying the representation indicative of the object in the vehicle.

2. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the device for detecting the object comprises a radar device or a LIDAR device.

3. The warning system according to claim 1 , further comprising a device for detecting thermal activity of the object.

4. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the representation indicative of the object is a processed version of the obtained image illustrating the detected object.

5. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the representation indicative of the object is a processed version illustrating a block or a silhouette corresponding to the contours of the object.

6. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the display for displaying the representation indicative of the object comprises a heads-up display or any other vehicle integrated display.

7. The warning system according to claim 6 , wherein the heads-up display is configured to display the representation indicative of the object on the windscreen in a position indicative of the objects position in relation to the vehicle.

8. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the warning system further comprises a memory adapted for temporarily storing the obtained image until it has been determined that no collision between the vehicle and the detected object has occurred.

9. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the warning system further comprises a memory adapted for permanently storing the obtained image, position of the object in relation to the vehicle and the time of obtaining the image if it is determined that a collision between the vehicle and the object has occurred.

10. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the warning system is further adapted to discard the obtained image if it is determined that no collision between the vehicle and the detected object has occurred.

11. A vehicle comprising the warning system according to claim 1 .

12. A method for warning a driver of a vehicle of an object in proximity of the vehicle, comprising the following steps:

detecting the object,

obtaining an image of the object in response to the detection of the object by a multi-purpose camera or an IR camera or a night vision camera,

processing the detection of the object so that a representation indicative of the object is achieved, and the processing of the object further comprising selecting a pre-determined figure indicative of the type of object detected, from a set of pre-determined figures in a storage, the selection of the pre-determined figure made upon making a determination that the object is detected and that the obtained image of the object cannot be processed,

interpreting the detected object to remove any surroundings around the detected object or unnecessary information wherein the surroundings around the detected object or unnecessary information is removed such that a processed image is focused on the detected object,

generating an interpreted image comprising the pre-determined figure indicative of the type of object in the image into the representation indicative of the object to be displayed, and

displaying the representation indicative of the object for the driver of the vehicle.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising program instructions, wherein the computer program being loadable into a data processing unit and configured to cause execution of the method according to claim 12 when the computer program is run by the data processing unit.

14. The warning system according to claim 1 , wherein the selection of the pre-determined figure is made upon occurrence of the following:

detection of the object by the device for detecting the object; and

upon making a determination that no image of the object was captured using the device for obtaining the image of the object.

15. A warning system for warning a driver of a vehicle of an object in a proximity of the vehicle, comprising:

a detection device configured to detect the object;

an image capture device configured to obtain an image of the object in response to the detection of the object, wherein the image capture device comprises a multi-purpose camera or an IR camera or a night vision camera;

an image processing device configured to process the image of the object based on a detection of the object by the detection device, so that a representation indicative of the object is achieved;

a storage of a plurality of pre-determined figures which represent different types of objects, wherein the image processing device is adapted to select a pre-determined figure indicative of the type of object in the image, from the set of pre-determined figures in the storage, the selection of the pre-determined figure made upon the detection of the object by the detection device and upon making a determination that the image obtained with the image capture device cannot be processed by the image processing device;

a generating arrangement for generating an interpreted image comprising the pre-determined figure indicative of the type of object in the image into the representation indicative of the object to be displayed, and

a display for displaying the representation indicative of the object in the vehicle.

16. The warning system according to claim 15 , wherein the selection of the pre-determined figure is made upon occurrence of the following:

detection of the object by the detection device; and

upon making a determination that no image of the object was captured using image capture device.