Method and device for image processing and a night vision system for motor vehicles

• US 20090141128A1
• Filed: 11/24/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franz Matthias, Ulrich Seger
• Original Assignee: Franz Matthias, Ulrich Seger
• Inventors: Seger, Ulrich, Matthias, Franz
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/20 Circuitry for controlling amplitude response
• 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 method and a device for image processing and for a night vision system for motor vehicles, in which a standard camera that is sensitive in the near infrared delivers images which are displayed on a display arrangement having a lower resolution than the camera. In addition, the image processing method improves the raw images of the sensor using image-sharpening methods and/or contrast-enhancing methods, so that display on a display arrangement is made possible for viewing by a viewer.

Claims

1. A night vision system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a camera that is sensitive to near infrared radiation;

an evaluation arrangement to improve an image, obtained by the camera, to provide an improved image; and

a display arrangement having a lower gray-scale value resolution compared to that of the camera to display the improved image.

2. The night vision system of claim 1, wherein the camera is a CMOS camera.3. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims, wherein the raw images delivered by the sensor are first sharpened, and then the contrast of the sharpened image is enhanced.

3. The night vision system of claim 1, wherein a target area to be imaged using the camera is illuminated by one of a vehicle headlight and a floodlight.