Light source detection and categorization system for automatic vehicle exterior light control and method of manufacturing

• US 20050007579A1
• Filed: 08/09/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darin D. Tuttle, Gregory S. Bush, Harold C. Ockerse, Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam, Spencer D. Reese
• Original Assignee: Darin D. Tuttle, Gregory S. Bush, Harold C. Ockerse, Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam, Spencer D. Reese
• Inventors: Tuttle, Darin D., Bush, Gregory S., Stam, Joseph S., Bechtel, Jon H., Ockerse, Harold C., Reese, Spencer D.
• Application Number:
  US10/914,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20050007579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/218
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/04 Optical or mechanical part supplementary adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0403 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements; Scanning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/32 adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value regulation of light intensity G05D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/143 Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, optical systems include a lens system assembly, a spectral filter material and a pixel array configured such that small, distant light sources can be reliably detected. In at least one embodiment, the optical systems provide accurate measurement of the brightness of the detected light sources and identification of the peak wavelength and dominant wavelength of the detected light sources. In at least one embodiment, the optical systems provide improved ability to distinguish headlights of oncoming vehicles and taillights of leading vehicles from one another, as well as from other light sources.

Claims

1. A light source detection and classification system, for use in an automatic vehicle exterior light control system, comprising:

at least one pixel array; and

at least one pigment spectral filter material disposed between light sources to be detected and said pixel array.

2. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one pigment spectral filter material is red.

3. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 2, wherein said pigment spectral filter material has a fifty-percent transmission point between 580 and 620 nanometers.

4. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 3, wherein said pigment spectral filter material has a fifty-percent transmission point at 605 nanometers.

5. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one pigment spectral filter material is infrared.

6. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 2, wherein said pigment spectral filter material has a fifty-percent transmission point between 630 and 780 nanometers.

7. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 3, wherein said pigment spectral filter material has a fifty-percent transmission point between 640 and 700 nanometers.

8. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 3, wherein said pigment spectral filter material has a fifty-percent transmission point at 680 nanometers.

9. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 3, wherein said pigment spectral filter material has a fifty-percent transmission point at 660 nanometers.

10. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 1, wherein pixels of one contiguous half of said pixel array are filtered with said spectral filter material.

11. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 1, wherein individual pixels of said pixel array are filtered with said spectral filter material such that alternating stripes of filtered and unfiltered pixels are defined.

12. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 1, wherein individual pixels of said pixel array are filtered with said spectral filter material such that a checkerboard pattern of filtered and unfiltered pixels is defined.

13. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 1, wherein a red spectral filter material, a green spectral filter material and a blue spectral filter material are disposed between said light sources to be detected and said pixel array.

14. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 13, wherein twice as many pixels of said pixel array are red filtered as compared to the number of pixels either green or blue filtered.

15. A light source detection and classification system as in claim 13, wherein individual pixels of said pixel array are filtered such that a Bayer pattern is defined.

16. A reflected light ray detection and classification system for use in an automatic vehicle exterior light control system, comprising:

at least one pixel array; and

a red spectral filter material disposed between reflected light rays to be detected and said pixel array.

17. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, further comprising an infrared filter material disposed between reflected light rays to be detected and the light ray detection and classification system.

18. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, further comprising headlights having high color temperature.

19. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein said color temperature is greater than 3500 Kelvin.

20. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein said color temperature is 3700 Kelvin.

21. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 19, wherein said color temperature is greater than 4500 Kelvin.

22. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein said at least one headlight is high intensity discharge.

23. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein said at least one headlight is at least one light emitting diode.

24. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein said at least one headlight is halogen-infrared.

25. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein said at least one headlight is halogen.

26. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein said at least one headlight is blue enhanced halogen.

27. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein pixels of one contiguous half of said pixel array are filtered with said spectral filter material.

28. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein individual pixels of said pixel array are filtered with said spectral filter material such that alternating stripes of filtered and unfiltered pixels are defined.

29. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, wherein individual pixels of said pixel array are filtered with said spectral filter material such that a checkerboard pattern of filtered and unfiltered pixels is defined.

30. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 16, further comprising a green spectral filter material and a blue spectral filter material disposed between said light sources to be detected and said pixel array.

31. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 30, wherein twice as many pixels of said pixel array are red filtered as compared to the number of pixels either green or blue filtered.

32. A reflected light ray detection and classification system as in claim 30, wherein individual pixels of said pixel array are filtered such that a Bayer pattern is defined.

33. An optical system, for use in an automatic vehicle exterior light control system, comprising:

a dual lens system assembly for projecting a field of view onto a pixel array such that a first image of said field of view is formed on a first portion of said pixel array and a second image of said field of view is formed on a second portion of said pixel array; and

at least one pigment spectral filter material disposed between said field of view and said pixel array.

34. An optical system as in claim 33, wherein said spectral filter material is disposed such that said first image is filtered and said second image is unfiltered.

35. An optical system as in claim 33, further comprising an infrared spectral filter material disposed between said field of view and said pixel array.

36. An optical system as in claim 33, wherein each lens system of said dual lens system assembly is symmetrically truncated.