Active night vision image intensity balancing system

• US 20050074221A1
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nietering, Kenneth E., Scholl, David J., Weber, Willes H., Remillard, Jeffrey T., Marinelli, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,319,805 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/147
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A vision system (10) for a vehicle (14) includes a light source (46) that generates an illumination beam (20). A receiver (62) generates a first image signal and a second image signal. The first image signal is generated in response to a reflected portion of the illumination beam (20). A controller is coupled to the light source (46) and the receiver (62). The controller generates an image in response to the first image signal and the second image signal.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle comprising:

a light source generating an illumination beam;

a receiver generating a first image signal and a second image signal, at least one of said first image signal and said second image signal being generated in response to at least a reflected portion of said illumination beam; and

a controller coupled to said light source and said receiver, said controller generating an image in response to said first image signal and said second image signal.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said light source is a non-incandescent light source.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller generates a fused image signal in response to said first image signal and said second image signal.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein said controller in generating said fused image signal averages said first image signal and said second image signal.

5. A system as in claim 3 wherein said controller generates said fused image signal in response to at least one predetermined image intensity threshold.

6. A system as in claim 3 wherein said controller generates said fused image signal in response to a maximum image intensity threshold and a minimum image intensity threshold.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said receiver in generating a first image signal and a second image signal generates an illuminated image signal having pixel intensity values I_b and a non-illuminated image signal having pixel intensity values I_d.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein said controller sets pixel intensity values of at least a portion of said image to be approximately equal to pixel intensity values of at least a portion of said illuminated image signal.

9. A system as in claim 7 wherein said controller generates said image in response to a maximum image intensity threshold I_b,max and a minimum image intensity threshold I_b,min.

10. A system as in claim 9 wherein said controller determines pixel intensity values of at least a portion of said image to be approximately equal to

11. A system as in claim 7 wherein said controller sets pixel intensity of at least a portion of said image to be approximately equal average intensity values I_avg that is approximately equal to

12. A system as in claim 7 wherein said controller sets pixel intensity values of at least a portion of said image to be approximately equal to pixel intensity values of at least a portion of said non-illuminated image signal.

13. A system as in claim 7 wherein said controller determines pixel intensity values of at least a portion of said image to be approximately equal to

14. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a timing device generating a time signal, said controller operating said light source and said receiver in response to said time signal.

15. A system as in claim 1 comprising an object detection sensor generating an object detection signal, said controller operating said light source and said receiver in response to said object detection signal.

16. A system as in claim 1 further comprising a heading device generating a heading signal, said controller operating said light source and said receiver in response to said heading signal.

17. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller in generating said image utilizes an extrapolated contour line algorithm.

18. A method of forming an image within an imaging system comprising:

generating an illumination beam;

generating a first image signal and a second image signal, at least one of said first image signal and said second image signal being generated in response to at least a reflected portion of said illumination beam; and

generating an image in response to said first image signal and said second image signal.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein generating an image comprises generating a fused image signal in response to said first image signal and said second image signal.

20. A vision system for a vehicle comprising:

a light source generating an illumination beam;

a receiver generating an illuminated image signal and a non-illuminated image signal, said illuminated image signal being generated in response to at least a reflected portion of said illumination beam and said non-illuminated image signal being generated when said light source is in a low illumination state; and

a controller coupled to said light source and said receiver, said controller generating a fused image signal in response to said illuminated image signal and said non-illuminated image signal.