System and method of calibrating an optical sensor mounted on board of a vehicle
An apparatus and method of calibrating a vehicle optical sensor includes positioning a vehicle in a test station and proximate a projection surface, the vehicle having an optical sensor, the projection surface in view of the optical sensor, determining a position of the optical sensor with respect to the projection surface using a control unit that is external to the vehicle, and selecting an image to be displayed. The method further includes displaying the image from the projection surface, adapting the image displayed from the projection surface to dimensions of the projection surface, using the control unit, based on a size of the projection surface and the position of the optical sensor, spatially adjusting the projection surface with respect to the position of the optical sensor, and calibrating the optical sensor by adjusting a position of an optical axis of the optical sensor based on the image.
1. A method of calibrating a vehicle optical sensor, comprising:
positioning a vehicle in a test station and proximate a projection surface, the vehicle having an optical sensor, the projection surface in view of the optical sensor, the projection surface positioned in front of the vehicle;
determining a position of the optical sensor with respect to the projection surface using a control unit that is external to the vehicle;
selecting an image or video to be displayed;
displaying the image or video from the projection surface;
adapting the image or video displayed from the projection surface to dimensions of the projection surface, using the control unit, based on a size of the projection surface and the position of the optical sensor;
adjusting a spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the position of the optical sensor based on the adapted image or video after the displaying step; and
calibrating the optical sensor by adjusting a position of an optical axis of the optical sensor based on the image or video.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor further comprises automatically adjusting the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein spatially adjusting the projection surface with respect to the test station further comprises manually adjusting the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein adapting the image or video displayed from the projection surface further comprises deforming the image or video to the dimensions of the projection surface.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image or video is a video.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the image or video from the projection surface further comprises projecting the image or video from a projector to the projection surface.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the image or video from the projection surface further comprises projecting the image or video from no more than one projection surface.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying the image or video from the projection surface includes displaying the image or video from a television set.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting the vehicle via an operator by choosing from different types of vehicles based on at least one of a manufacturer brand and model.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically or semi-automatically selecting the vehicle for calibration, and requesting an operator to confirm the selected vehicle via a portable device comprising the control unit.
11. A calibration system for calibrating an optical sensor in a vehicle, comprising:
a projection surface;
a test station for a vehicle such that, when the vehicle is positioned in the test station the projection surface is positioned in front of the vehicle, such that an optical sensor positioned in the vehicle has a view of the projection surface;
a control unit electrically connectable to the optical sensor and external to the vehicle, the control unit configured to:
determine a position of the optical sensor with respect to the projection surface;
select an image or video to be displayed;
display the image or video on the projection surface;
adapt the image or video displayed on the projection surface based on the size of the projection surface and the position of the optical sensor;
adjust a spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the position of the optical sensor based on the adapted image or video after displaying the adapted image or video; and
calibrate the optical sensor by adjusting a position of an optical axis of the optical sensor based on the image or video.
12. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to adjust the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor by automatically adjusting the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor.
13. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to adjust the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor by manually adjusting the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor.
14. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to adapt the image or video displayed on the projection surface by deforming the image or video to the dimensions of the projection surface.
15. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the image or video is a video.
16. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to display the image or video on the projection surface by projecting the image or video from a projector.
17. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to display the image or video on the projection surface by projecting the image or video on no more than one projection surface.
18. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the projection surface is a television set.
19. The calibration system of claim 11 , wherein the control unit is further configured to have an operator select the vehicle by choosing from different types of vehicles based on at least one of a manufacturer brand and model.
20. The calibration system of claim 11 , further comprising a portable device comprising the control unit and configured to automatically or semi-automatically select the vehicle for calibration, and request an operator to confirm the selected vehicle via the portable device.
21. A control unit for calibrating an optical sensor in a vehicle, the control unit positionable external to the vehicle, the control unit configured to:
determine a position of the optical sensor that is with respect to a projection surface that is external to the vehicle and positioned in front of the vehicle;
select an image or video to be displayed;
display the image or video from the projection surface;
adapt the image or video displayed from the projection surface based on the size of the projection surface and the position of the optical sensor;
adjust a spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the position of the optical sensor based on the adapted image or video after displaying the adapted image or video; and
calibrate the optical sensor by adjusting a position of an optical axis of the optical sensor based on the image or video.
22. The control unit of claim 21 , wherein the control unit is further configured to:
determine the position of the optical sensor with respect to the projection surface;
adjust the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor by automatically adjusting the spatial position of the projection surface with respect to the optical sensor; and
adapt the image or video displayed from the projection surface by deforming the image or video to the dimensions of the projection surface.