IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110216198A1
• Filed: 05/13/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/331 Electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/001 integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 : in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 : to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 : Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 : with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 : with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 : Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 : using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 : using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• 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 2300/804 : for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 : Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 : Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 : Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 : of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 : of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 : Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An imaging system for a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view exterior of a vehicle with the field of view being in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data and an image processor is operable to process the image data. A control, responsive to the image processor, is operable to provide at least (a) an adaptive forward lighting function for at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning function and (c) a traffic control signage function. The control may provide the traffic control signage function at least in part by recognition of a geometrical organization present in the forward field of view of the camera. The adaptive forward lighting function may provide adjustment of a beam direction of the at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle.

Claims

1. An imaging system for a vehicle comprising:

a camera having a field of view exterior of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system, wherein said field of view is in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process said image data;

a control, wherein said control, responsive to said image processor, is operable to provide at least (a) an adaptive forward lighting function for at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning function and (c) a traffic control signage function; and

wherein said control provides said traffic control signage function at least in part by recognition of a geometrical organization present in the forward field of view of said camera.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control provides said traffic control signage function at least in part by recognition of a geometrical organization of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein said signage comprises at least one of (i) a speed limit sign, (ii) an exit sign, (iii) a warning sign, (iv) a stop sign and (v) a yield sign.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said traffic control signage function includes recognition of at least one of (a) a spectral characteristic of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera, (b) a spatial characteristic of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera, (c) the size of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera, (d) the location of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera relative to the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (e) the geometric shape of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera and (f) characters on the signage present in the forward field of view of said camera.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said traffic control signage function comprises at least one of (a) detection of signage along a road being traveled by the equipped vehicle and within the forward field of view of said camera and (b) identification of signage along a road being traveled by the equipped vehicle and within the forward field of view of said camera.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said traffic control signage function comprises at least one of (a) detection of warning signs along a road being traveled by the equipped vehicle and within the forward field of view of said camera and (b) identification of warning signs along a road being traveled by the equipped vehicle and within the forward field of view of said camera.

7. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein said traffic control signage function comprises detection and identification of the warning sign and comprises recognition of a character on the detected warning sign.

8. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein said control is operable to generate an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle.

9. The imaging system of claim 8, wherein said alert is indicative of at least one of (a) the vehicle speed, (b) a posted speed limit and (c) a difference between the vehicle speed and the posted speed limit.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said image processor is operable to process said image data in accordance with an algorithm, wherein said algorithm comprises a sign recognition routine and a character recognition routine.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein said image processor processes said image data to detect signs in the forward field of view of said camera, said image processor (a) applying said sign recognition routine to said image data to determine a sign type of the detected sign and generating a sign recognition output, and (b) responsive to said sign recognition output being indicative of the detected sign being a sign type of interest, then applying said character recognition routine to said image data to determine information on the detected sign.

12. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control provides said traffic control signage function at least in part responsive to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

13. The imaging system of claim 12, wherein said control is at least in part responsive to a global positioning system of the equipped vehicle and wherein said global positioning system determines the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

14. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to adapt to local signage regulations responsive to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

15. The imaging system of claim 14, wherein at least one of (a) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle is determined by a vehicle-based global positioning system, and wherein said control is responsive to said vehicle-based global positioning system, and (b) the control is responsive to a user input that is actuatable by a user to select a geographical location or zone to establish the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

16. The imaging system of claim 14, wherein the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle is determined by a vehicle-based global positioning system, and wherein said control is responsive to said vehicle-based global positioning system to (a) process image data in accordance with an imperial setting when the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle is determined to be in the United States so that numbers on speed limit signage present in said field of view are interpreted by said control as being in miles per hour, and (b) process image data in accordance with a metric setting when the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle is determined to be outside of the United States so that numbers on speed limit signage present in said field of view are interpreted by said control as being in kilometers per hour.

17. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control is responsive to a selection of one of an imperial setting and a metric setting, and wherein said control, responsive to said selection, is operable to (a) process image data in accordance with an imperial setting when the imperial setting is selected to process numbers on speed limit signage present in said field of view as being in miles per hour, and (b) process image data in accordance with a metric setting when the metric setting is selected to process numbers on speed limit signage present in said field of view as being in kilometers per hour.

18. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive forward lighting function comprises adjustment of a beam direction of said at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle.

19. The imaging system of claim 18, wherein said control is operable to detect a headlamp of an oncoming vehicle in the forward field of view of said camera and wherein said adaptive forward lighting function adjusts said beam direction away from the oncoming vehicle.

20. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said adaptive forward lighting function comprises a louver disposed at said forward facing light, wherein said louver is adjustable to adjust said beam direction of said forward facing light.

21. The imaging system of claim 20, wherein said louver is adjustable to adjust an amount of light emanating from said forward facing light that passes through said louver to adjust at least one of a visible intensity of said forward facing light and a range of said forward facing light.

22. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said camera captures frames of image data and wherein said control provides at least (a) said adaptive forward lighting function for at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle, (b) said lane departure warning function and (c) said traffic control signage function responsive to image processing of respective frames of image data.

23. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said camera captures frames of image data and wherein said image processor, at least in part, processes (a) a frame of image data for said adaptive forward lighting function, (b) another frame of image data for said lane departure warning function and (c) another frame of image data for said traffic control signage function.

24. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to detect lane markers along the road on which the equipped vehicle is traveling, and wherein said control provides said lane departure warning function responsive to detection of lane markers.

25. An imaging system for a vehicle comprising:

a camera having a field of view exterior of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system, wherein said field of view is in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process said image data, wherein said image processor is operable to process said image data in accordance with an algorithm, wherein said algorithm comprises a sign recognition routine and a character recognition routine;

a control, wherein said control, responsive to said image processor, is operable to provide at least (a) an adaptive forward lighting function for at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning function and (c) a traffic control signage function; and

wherein said control provides said traffic control signage function at least in part by recognition of a geometrical organization of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera.

26. The imaging system of claim 25, wherein said image processor processes said image data to detect signs in the forward field of view of said camera, said image processor (a) applying said sign recognition routine to said image data to determine a sign type of the detected sign and generating a sign recognition output, and (b) responsive to said sign recognition output being indicative of the detected sign being a sign type of interest, then applying said character recognition routine to said image data to determine information on the detected sign.

27. The imaging system of claim 25, wherein said signage comprises at least one of (i) a speed limit sign, (ii) an exit sign, (iii) a warning sign, (iv) a stop sign and (v) a yield sign.

28. An imaging system for a vehicle comprising:

a camera having a field of view exterior of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system, wherein said field of view is in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process said image data;

a control, wherein said control, responsive to said image processor, is operable to provide at least (a) an adaptive forward lighting function for at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle, (b) a lane departure warning function and (c) a traffic control signage function; and

wherein said adaptive forward lighting function comprises adjustment of a beam direction of said at least one forward facing light of the equipped vehicle.

29. The imaging system of claim 28, wherein said control is operable to detect a headlamp of an oncoming vehicle in the forward field of view of said camera and wherein said adaptive forward lighting function adjusts said beam direction away from the oncoming vehicle.

30. The imaging system of claim 28, wherein said adaptive forward lighting function comprises a louver disposed at said forward facing light, wherein said louver is adjustable to adjust said beam direction of said forward facing light.

31. The imaging system of claim 30, wherein said louver is adjustable to adjust an amount of light emanating from said forward facing light that passes through said louver to adjust at least one of a visible intensity of said forward facing light and a range of said forward facing light.

32. The imaging system of claim 28, wherein said control provides said traffic control signage function at least in part by recognition of a geometrical organization of signage present in the forward field of view of said camera, and wherein said signage comprises at least one of (i) a speed limit sign, (ii) an exit sign, (iii) a warning sign, (iv) a stop sign and (v) a yield sign.