IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20110279256A1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Higgins-Luthman, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,116,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/465
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• 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 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/402 Image calibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/802 for monitoring and displaying vehicle exterior blind spot views
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/806 for aiding parking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• 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 20/584 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: H04N 23/80 Camera processing pipelines; Components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• 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 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor has a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at a vehicle equipped with the imaging system and has a field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture image data, and the control processes the captured image data. The control, responsive to the processing of the captured image data, may distinguish an object present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor from a shadow present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor. The control, responsive at least in part to the processing of the captured image data, determines an object of interest present in the field of view of the imaging array sensor.

Claims

1. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging array sensor comprising a plurality of photo-sensing pixels, wherein said imaging array sensor is positioned at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system and has a field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging array sensor is operable to capture image data;

a control for processing said captured image data;

wherein, responsive to said processing of said captured image data, said control distinguishes an object present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor from a shadow present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor; and

wherein, responsive at least in part to said processing of said captured image data, said control determines an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to determine an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor by determining at least a portion of a shadow of the object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor.

3. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to distinguish an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor from a shadow present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor to reduce the likelihood of a false determination of an object of interest.

4. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable in a daytime mode and a nighttime mode, and wherein said control is operable to determine a shadow present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor at least when operating in said daytime mode.

5. The imaging system of claim 4, wherein said control is operable to switch between said daytime mode and said nighttime mode in response to an ambient light level at the equipped vehicle.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control utilizes edge detection in processing said captured image data,

7. The imaging system of claim 6, wherein, in determining said object of interest, an algorithmically executed filtering mechanism is utilized that at least substantially ignores detected edges that are not indicative of an object of interest in order to at least one of (a) reduce a processing requirement and (b) reduce false signals.

8. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein said control is operable to determine at least a portion of a shadow of the equipped vehicle that is present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor and is operable to determine that the determined shadow of the equipped vehicle is not an object of interest.

9. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the field of view of said imaging array sensor encompasses at least one of (a) a rearward field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, (b) a sideward field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle and (c) a forward field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle.

10. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control reduces said captured image data to a reduced data set of said image data, said control processing said reduced data set to extract information from said reduced data set.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein said reduced data set is representative of a target zone encompassed by the field of view of said imaging array sensor.

12. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said control is operable to alert the driver of the equipped vehicle that an object of interest is determined in the field of view of said imaging array sensor.

13. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the field of view of said imaging array sensor is at least partially sideward of the equipped vehicle.

14. The imaging system of claim 13, wherein said control is operable to alert the driver of the equipped vehicle that an object of interest is detected at the side of the equipped vehicle in response to at least one of (a) the driver of the equipped vehicle actuating a turn signal toward the side of the equipped vehicle at which the object of interest is detected, and (b) the driver of the equipped vehicle steering the equipped vehicle toward the side of the equipped vehicle at which the object of interest is detected.

15. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein said imaging array sensor comprises a CMOS imaging array sensor.

16. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging array sensor comprising a plurality of photo-sensing pixels, wherein said imaging array sensor is positioned at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system and has a field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging array sensor is operable to capture image data;

a control for processing said captured image data;

wherein, responsive at least in part to said processing of said captured image data, said control determines an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor;

wherein said control utilizes edge detection in processing said captured image data; and

wherein, in determining said object of interest, an algorithmically executed filtering mechanism is utilized that at least substantially ignores detected edges that are not indicative of an object of interest in order to at least one of (a) reduce a processing requirement and (b) reduce false signals.

17. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein said control is operable to determine at least a portion of a shadow of the equipped vehicle that is present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor and is operable to determine that the determined shadow of the equipped vehicle is not an object of interest.

18. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein said control is operable to alert the driver of the equipped vehicle that an object of interest is determined in the field of view of said imaging array sensor.

19. The imaging system of claim 16, wherein the field of view of said imaging array sensor is at least partially sideward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said control is operable to alert the driver of the equipped vehicle that an object of interest is detected at the side of the equipped vehicle in response to at least one of (a) the driver of the equipped vehicle actuating a turn signal toward the side of the equipped vehicle at which the object of interest is detected, and (b) the driver of the equipped vehicle steering the equipped vehicle toward the side of the equipped vehicle at which the object of interest is detected.

20. An imaging system for a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

an imaging array sensor comprising a plurality of photo-sensing pixels, wherein said imaging array sensor is positioned at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system and has a field of view exteriorly of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging array sensor is operable to capture image data;

wherein said imaging array sensor is part of an exterior rearview mirror of the equipped vehicle;

a control for processing said captured image data;

wherein, responsive at least in part to said processing of said captured image data, said control determines an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor;

wherein said control utilizes edge detection in processing said captured image data;

wherein the field of view of said imaging array sensor encompasses at least one of (a) a rearward field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle, (b) a sideward field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle and (c) a forward field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said control reduces said captured image data to a reduced data set of said image data, said control processing said reduced data set to extract information from said reduced data set, and wherein said reduced data set is representative of a target zone encompassed by the field of view of said imaging array sensor.

21. The imaging system of claim 20, wherein said control is operable to determine at least a portion of a shadow of the equipped vehicle that is present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor and is operable to determine that the determined shadow of the equipped vehicle is not an object of interest.

22. The imaging system of claim 20, wherein said control is operable to distinguish an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor from a shadow present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor to reduce the likelihood of a false determination of an object of interest.

23. The imaging system of claim 20, wherein said control is operable in a daytime mode and a nighttime mode;

and wherein said control is operable to determine a shadow present in the field of view of said imaging array sensor at least when operating in said daytime mode, and wherein said control is operable to switch between said daytime mode and said nighttime mode in response to an ambient light level at the equipped vehicle.