Image processing system

• US 20060243894A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Astemo Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Takenaga, Hiroyuki Kasuya, Isao Furusawa, Ken Ohsumi, Masaaki Fukuhara, Shoji Muramatsu, Tatsuhiko Monji, Yuji Otsuka
• Inventors: Otsuka, Yuji, Muramatsu, Shoji, Takenaga, Hiroshi, Monji, Tatsuhiko, Furusawa, Isao, Fukuhara, Masaaki, Ohsumi, Ken, Kasuya, Hiroyuki
• Granted Patent: US 7,247,838 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/227.250
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0896 including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

An image processing system includes a lamp which emits light to a glass, an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the lamp and reflected by the glass, and an optical filter, located between the glass and the imaging device, which transmits rays with a specific wavelength of the reflected light. A lens is provided in front of the imaging device, and a focus of the lens is adjusted to a point beyond the glass, and an image processor is provided which processes an image captured by the imaging device and detects moisture on the glass.

Claims

1. An image processing system comprising:

a lamp which emits light to a glass;

an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the lamp and reflected by the glass;

an optical filter, located between the glass and the imaging device, which transmits rays with a specific wavelength of the reflected light;

a lens provided in front of the imaging device, a focus of the lens being adjusted to a point beyond the glass; and

an image processor which processes an image captured by the imaging device and detects moisture on the glass.

2. The image processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lamp is located on a dashboard near a driver'"'"'s seat in a vehicle.

3. The image processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the glass is a windshield of a vehicle, and foreign matter on the glass and a taillight of a vehicle in front are detected.

4. The image processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical filter has areas with different optical characteristics.

5. The image processing system as claimed in claim 4, wherein in the optical filter, one area is used as an infrared cut area, and at least one of areas other than the infrared cut area is used as an infrared bandpass area with a peak transmittance in the infrared band.

6. The image processing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein an upper area of the optical filter constitutes the infrared bandpass area when the optical filter is located between the glass and the imaging device.

7. The image processing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein an upper area of the optical filter constitutes the infrared bandpass area, and a lower area constitutes the infrared cut area when the optical filter is located between the glass and the imaging device.

8. The image processing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a lens is provided in front of the imaging device and the lens has a coating with the optical characteristics which are the same as optical characters of the optical filter.

9. The image processing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a cover is provided in front of the imaging device, and the cover has a coating with the optical characteristics which are the same as optical characters of the optical filter.

10. The image processing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the image processor processes an image captured in the infrared bandpass area to detect raindrops.

11. The image processing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the image processor processes an image captured in the infrared cut area to detect a vehicle in front.

12. The image processing system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the image processor processes an image captured in the infrared cut area to detect a traffic lane.

13. The image processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a field of view of the image device is oriented downward from a horizontal direction.

14. The image processing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mirror is provided, and after light emitted from another lamp is reflected by the glass, the reflected light is reflected by the mirror and again reflected by the glass before reaching the imaging device.

15. An image processing system comprising:

a light source in the form of an array of plural light emitters;

a light source controller which turns on the plural light emitters;

an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the light source and reflected by fog on a glass; and

an image processor which processes an image captured by the imaging device,

wherein the image processor processes the image and measures at least one of an extent of fog on the glass, a direction of fog spread, and speed of fog spread on the glass.