Imaging system for vehicle
First Claim
1. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
- a camera comprising an imaging sensor;
wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels;
wherein a red-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said first set of photosensing pixels primarily senses red visible light;
wherein a blue-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said second set of photosensing pixels primarily senses blue visible light;
wherein a green-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said third set of photosensing pixels primarily senses green visible light;
wherein each photosensing pixel of a fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array senses at least near infrared radiation;
wherein said camera is configured for attachment at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system, and wherein, with said camera attached at the equipped vehicle, said camera has a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
an image processor operable for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor;
wherein said image data comprises output of said first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array and output of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array;
wherein said imaging system is associated with (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a night vision system of the equipped vehicle;
a near infrared illumination source disposed at a front portion of the equipped vehicle and operable to emit non-visible near infrared illumination to illuminate non-visibly forward of the equipped vehicle to enhance nighttime viewing by said camera, and wherein said near infrared illumination source, when operated, illuminates at least a portion of the field of view of said camera with non-visible near infrared illumination;
wherein outputs of said photosensing pixels of said first, second and third sets of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels are processed for at least one of (i) the lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and (ii) the object detection system of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein output of said photosensing pixels of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels is processed for the night vision system of the equipped vehicle.
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Abstract
A vehicular imaging system includes a camera with an imaging sensor. A red-pass spectral filter is disposed at each pixel of a first set of photosensing pixels, a blue-pass spectral filter is disposed at each pixel of a second set of photosensing pixels, a green-pass spectral filter is disposed at each pixel of a third set of photosensing pixels, and each pixel of a fourth set of photosensing pixels senses at least near infrared radiation. A near infrared illumination source is operable to emit non-visible near infrared illumination to enhance nighttime viewing by the camera. Outputs of the pixels of the first, second and third sets of photosensing pixels are processed for at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system and (ii) an object detection system. Output of the photosensing pixels of the fourth set of photosensing pixels is processed for a night vision system.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
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a camera comprising an imaging sensor; wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels; wherein a red-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said first set of photosensing pixels primarily senses red visible light; wherein a blue-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said second set of photosensing pixels primarily senses blue visible light; wherein a green-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said third set of photosensing pixels primarily senses green visible light; wherein each photosensing pixel of a fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array senses at least near infrared radiation; wherein said camera is configured for attachment at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system, and wherein, with said camera attached at the equipped vehicle, said camera has a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an image processor operable for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor; wherein said image data comprises output of said first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array and output of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array; wherein said imaging system is associated with (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a night vision system of the equipped vehicle; a near infrared illumination source disposed at a front portion of the equipped vehicle and operable to emit non-visible near infrared illumination to illuminate non-visibly forward of the equipped vehicle to enhance nighttime viewing by said camera, and wherein said near infrared illumination source, when operated, illuminates at least a portion of the field of view of said camera with non-visible near infrared illumination; wherein outputs of said photosensing pixels of said first, second and third sets of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels are processed for at least one of (i) the lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle and (ii) the object detection system of the equipped vehicle; and wherein output of said photosensing pixels of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels is processed for the night vision system of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
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a camera comprising an imaging sensor; wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels; wherein a red-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said first set of photosensing pixels primarily senses red visible light; wherein a blue-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said second set of photosensing pixels primarily senses blue visible light; wherein a green-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said third set of photosensing pixels primarily senses green visible light; wherein each photosensing pixel of a fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array senses at least near infrared radiation; wherein said camera is configured for attachment at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system, and wherein, with said camera attached at the equipped vehicle, said camera has a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an image processor operable for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor; wherein said image data comprises output of said first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array and output of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array; wherein said imaging system is associated with at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) an intelligent headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said imaging system is associated with a night vision system of the equipped vehicle; a near infrared illumination source disposed at a portion of the equipped vehicle and operable to emit non-visible near infrared illumination to illuminate non-visibly forward of the equipped vehicle to enhance nighttime viewing by said camera, and wherein said near infrared illumination source, when operated, illuminates at least a portion of the field of view of said camera with non-visible near infrared illumination; wherein outputs of said photosensing pixels of said first, second and third sets of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels are processed for the at least one of (i) the lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) the object detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) the intelligent headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle; wherein output of said photosensing pixels of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels is processed for the night vision system of the equipped vehicle; and wherein said near infrared illumination source, when operated, emits non-visible near infrared illumination that is encoded by modulation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
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a camera comprising an imaging sensor; wherein said imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels; wherein a red-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said first set of photosensing pixels primarily senses red visible light; wherein a blue-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said second set of photosensing pixels primarily senses blue visible light; wherein a green-pass spectral filter is disposed at each photosensing pixel of a third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, whereby said third set of photosensing pixels primarily senses green visible light; wherein each photosensing pixel of a fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array senses at least near infrared radiation; wherein said camera is configured for attachment at an in-cabin surface of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system, and wherein, with said camera attached at the equipped vehicle, said camera has a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle; an image processor operable for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor; wherein said image data comprises output of said first set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said second set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array, output of said third set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array and output of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array; wherein said imaging system is associated with at least one of (i) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) an object detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) an intelligent headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said imaging system is associated with a night vision system of the equipped vehicle; a near infrared illumination source disposed at a portion of the equipped vehicle and operable to emit non-visible near infrared illumination to illuminate non-visibly forward of the equipped vehicle to enhance nighttime viewing by said camera, and wherein said near infrared illumination source, when operated, illuminates at least a portion of the field of view of said camera with non-visible near infrared illumination; wherein outputs of said photosensing pixels of said first, second and third sets of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels are processed for the at least one of (i) the lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) the object detection system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) the intelligent headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle; wherein output of said photosensing pixels of said fourth set of photosensing pixels of said two-dimensional array of photosensing pixels is processed for the night vision system of the equipped vehicle; wherein said near infrared illumination source, when operated, emits non-visible near infrared illumination that is modulated; and wherein the non-visible near infrared illumination emitted by said near infrared illumination source is encoded with a modulation sequence unique to the equipped vehicle to avoid other vehicles traveling ahead of the equipped vehicle interfering with said imaging system. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification