System for controlling exterior vehicle lights

• US 20030123706A1
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas J. Newhouse, John K. Roberts, Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam, Poe G. Bruce, Spencer D. Reese, William L. Tonar
• Original Assignee: Douglas J. Newhouse, John K. Roberts, Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam, Poe G. Bruce, Spencer D. Reese, William L. Tonar
• Inventors: Roberts, John K., Tonar, William L., Stam, Joseph S., Bechtel, Jon H., Poe, G. Bruce, Reese, Spencer D., Newhouse, Douglas J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,576 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/116 Vehicle at a stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/134 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/142 Turn signal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/144 Rearward ratio actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/32 Road surface or travel path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/331 characterised by the driving side, e.g. on the left or right hand side
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/332 on city roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 : Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/333 : on suburban or country roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/334 : on motorways
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/337 : Tunnels or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 : preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 : oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 : Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 : Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 : Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 : exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A system and method of automatically controlling exterior vehicle lights includes an image sensor and a controller to generate control signals. The control signals are derived based on information obtained from the image sensor as well as other detected parameters pertaining to the detected light source(s), the vehicle having the inventive control system, and the ambient environment. The control circuit may simply turn certain exterior lights on or off, or change the brightness, aim, focus, etc. to produce various beam patterns that maximize the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers.

Claims

1. A vehicle imager assembly, comprising:

an image sensor having an array of pixels and at least one other component; and

an optical baffle disposed between said image sensor and a scene to be imaged for preventing light from the scene from reaching said at least one other component.

2. The imager assembly of claim 1 wherein said image sensor is a CMOS sensor.

3. The imager assembly of claim 1 wherein said image sensor is disposed in a rearview mirror assembly.

4. The imager assembly of claim 1 further comprising a vehicle mounting structure configured for mounting in a fixed position.

5. The imager assembly of claim 4 further comprising a support structure, said image sensor is carried by said support structure to allow positional adjustment of said image sensor relative to a scene and independent of a rearview mirror.

6. The imager assembly of claim 5 further comprising a housing secured to said mounting structure, said support structure and said image sensor being disposed in said housing.

7. The imager assembly of claim 6 wherein both said housing and said support structure are attached to said mounting structure such that positional adjustment of said image sensor may be performed without changing the position of said housing relative to said mounting structure.

8. A vehicle imager assembly, comprising:

a vehicle mounting structure configured for mounting in a fixed position;

an image sensor; and

a support structure, said image sensor carried by said support structure, said support structure being attached to said mounting structure to allow positional adjustment of said image sensor relative to a scene and independent of a rearview mirror.

9. The imager assembly of claim 8 and further comprising a housing secured to said mounting structure, said support structure and said image sensor being disposed in said housing.

10. The imager assembly of claim 9 wherein both said housing and said support structure are attached to said mounting structure such that positional adjustment of said image sensor may be performed without changing the position of said housing relative to said mounting structure.

11. The imager assembly of claim 9 further comprising a light sensor.

12. The imager assembly of claim 11 further comprising a light pipe extending from said light sensor to an aperture formed in said housing that is directed upward towards the portion of the sky from which light is to be sensed.

13. The imager assembly of claim 8 wherein said mounting structure is a rearview mirror assembly mounting structure.

14. The imager assembly of claim 13 wherein said rearview mirror assembly mounting structure is configured for securing a rearview mirror assembly to a vehicle windshield.

15. A sky sensor assembly for sensing light in the sky above a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a housing configured for mounting to the vehicle;

a light sensor disposed within said housing;

a light pipe extending from said light sensor to an aperture formed in said housing that is directed upward towards the portion of the sky from which light is to be sensed.

16. The sky sensor assembly of claim 15 wherein said housing is a component of a rearview mirror assembly.

17. The sky sensor assembly of claim 16 wherein said housing is an accessory housing mounted to a mounting structure of a rearview mirror assembly.

18. The sky sensor assembly of claim 15 further comprising a circuit board that is disposed vertically within said housing, wherein said light sensor is mounted to said circuit board.

19. The sky sensor assembly of claim 18 wherein an image sensor is mounted to said circuit board for sensing images forward of the vehicle.

20. The sky sensor assembly of claim 15 further comprising an image sensor carried by a support structure and a mounting structure, wherein both said housing and said support structure are attached to said mounting structure such that positional adjustment of said support structure may be performed without changing the position of said housing relative to said mounting structure.