Method for generating an image of the surroundings of a vehicle and imaging device

Imaging device for producing an image of a vehicle surroundings of a vehicle comprising:

• a camera that records a first partial image in a first position or alignment, and that records at least a second partial image in at least a second position or alignment of the camera, each partial image corresponding to the entire coverage area of the camera,
• wherein the same camera records the first partial image and the second partial image,
• wherein the vehicle, equipped with the camera, moves during a time between the recording of the first partial image and the recording of the second partial image,
• wherein, as a result of the vehicle movement, the second position or alignment of the camera is different from the first position or alignment of the camera, and
• an image synthesis device with which the first partial image and the second partial image can be assembled to form the image of the vehicle surroundings such that the image shows a larger area than each partial image,
• wherein the image of the vehicle surroundings shows a parking space, which was recorded by the camera in at least one of the partial images, and
• wherein the driver is shown one or more of the partial images recorded by the camera in a normal mode, and the entire assembled image from the image synthesis device in an extended mode when the parking space is detected as free, wherein there is inserted into the image an artificial image element which represents a measurement of the parking space, an obstacle or a calculated parking track.