Optimized forward-facing camera calibration system with portable mounting apparatus and adaptable electronic calibration target display

A system for calibrating a forward-facing camera on a vehicle, comprising:

• a calibration tool, including:
• a presentation screen;
• a mounting system configured to support said presentation screen on the vehicle, said mounting system moveable on the vehicle;
• an image sensor arranged to view the forward-facing camera when said mounting system is on the vehicle;
• a processor configured to receive image information from said image sensor and use said image information to determine a position of said mounting system on the vehicle relative to the forward-facing camera;
• said processor additionally configured to adapt at least one of a size or a position of a calibration target based on said determined position of said mounting system relative to the forward-facing camera and to generate an adapted calibration target image for display on said presentation screen;
• an operator screen in signal communication with said processor;
• and
• said processor is further configured to process position data of said mounting system relative to the forward-facing camera, and provide information to said operator screen about a target position to which the mounting system should be physically moved to provide proper physical alignment between the forward-facing camera and said presentation screen.

A calibration tool for generating an adjusted calibration target image for display to a forward-facing camera of a vehicle, the calibration tool comprising:

• a presentation screen;
• a mounting system configured to support said presentation screen on the vehicle in an orientation facing the forward-facing camera, said mounting system moveable on the vehicle;
• said mounting system including three adjustable legs for changing the orthogonal position of said presentation screen relative to the forward-facing camera, at least one leg of said three adjustable legs being disposed orthogonally to at least one other leg of said three adjustable legs;
• an image sensor arranged to view the forward-facing camera when said mounting system is on the vehicle;
• a processor configured to receive image data from said image sensor and use said image information to determine a position of said mounting system on the vehicle relative to the forward-facing camera;
• said processor additionally configured to adapt at least one of a size or a position of a calibration target based on said determined position of said mounting system relative to the forward-facing camera and to generate an adapted calibration target image for display on said presentation screen.

A calibration tool for generating an adjusted calibration target image for display to a forward-facing camera of a vehicle, the calibration tool comprising:

• a presentation screen;
• a mounting system configured to support said presentation screen on the vehicle in an orientation facing the forward-facing camera, said mounting system moveable on the vehicle;
• an image sensor arranged to view the forward-facing camera when said mounting system is on the vehicle;
• a processor configured to receive image data from said image sensor and use said image information to determine a position of said mounting system on the vehicle relative to the forward-facing camera;
• said processor additionally configured to adapt at least one of a size or a position of a calibration target based on said determined position of said mounting system relative to the forward-facing camera and to generate an adapted calibration target image for display on said presentation screen;
• an operator screen in signal communication with said processor;
• and
• said processor is further configured to process position data of said mounting system relative to the forward-facing camera, and provide information to said operator screen about a target position to which the mounting system should be physically moved to provide proper physical alignment between the forward-facing camera and said presentation screen.

A method of generating an adapted calibration target image, comprising the steps of:

• providing a calibration tool, comprising:
• a presentation screen;
• a mounting system configured to support said presentation screen on the vehicle in an orientation facing the forward-facing camera, said mounting system moveable on the vehicle;
• an image sensor arranged to view the forward-facing camera when said mounting system is on the vehicle;
• a processor configured to receive image data from said image sensor and use said image information to determine a position of said mounting system on the vehicle relative to the forward-facing camera;
• said processor additionally configured to adapt at least one of a size or a position of a calibration target based on said determined position of said mounting system relative to the forward-facing camera and to generate an adapted calibration target image for display on said presentation screen;
• acquiring image data from the image sensor;
• displaying, on an operator screen of the calibration tool, a position indicator for the forward-facing camera and a target marker for alignment with the position indicator;
• moving the mounting system on the vehicle to align the target marker on the operator screen with the position indicator to move the mounting system to a low accuracy position relative to the forward-facing camera;
• automatically calculating, with the calibration system processor, adjustments required to virtually position the mounting system in a high accuracy position relative to the forward-facing camera;
• automatically adjusting, with the calibration system processor, at least one of the size, position or rotation of a calibration target using the calculated adjustments to generate an adjusted calibration target image for the adjusted calibration target;
• displaying the adjusted calibration target image on the presentation screen;
• calibrating the forward-facing camera using the adjusted calibration target image.