Patent ID: 7136754

Claim:
A process for monitoring the free space in the direction of travel of a vehicle, comprising acquiring image data of the vehicle environment in the direction of travel using a camera system, additionally, on the basis of operating parameters and dimensions of the vehicle, pre-calculating a three dimensional free space required for unimpeded travel of the vehicle in a signal processing unit, and displaying to the operator of the vehicle at least the part of the acquired image data corresponding to the pre-calculated required free space, wherein the display of the image data occurs essentially as it would appear from the perspective of the operator of the vehicle directly viewing the vehicle environment in the direction of travel, wherein at least the image data associated with the three dimensional free space is subjected to a further processing, wherein as a result of this further processing the vehicle operator is informed with regard to whether or not sufficient free space is available for unimpeded travel, wherein the informing of the vehicle operator with regard to the existence of a sufficient free space occurs by the pictorial display of at least a part of the further processed image data, wherein the displayed image data has superimposed a symbolic representation of the edge boundaries of the required free space as determined by the pre-calculations in the signal processing unit, and wherein the edge boundaries are visualized by the display of a grid, a sequence of columns or a checkerboard pattern.