SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLE EQUIPMENT

• US 20120123638A1
• Filed: 01/19/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam
• Original Assignee: Jon H. Bechtel, Joseph S. Stam
• Inventors: Bechtel, Jon H., Stam, Joseph S.
• Application Number:
  US13/353,813
• Publication Number:
  US 20120123638A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/324 Road inclination, e.g. uphill or downhill
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/12 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/443 by reading pixels from selected 2D regions of the array, e.g. for windowing or digital zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/1562 for selective scanning, e.g. windowing, zooming

Abstract

A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes a controller to generate control signals. The control signals are derived based on information obtained from the image sensor as well as other detected parameters pertaining to the detected light source(s), the vehicle having the inventive control system, and the ambient environment. The control circuit may simply turn certain vehicle equipment, for example exterior lights, on or off, or change the brightness, aim, focus, etc. to produce various beam patterns that maximize the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers.

Claims

1. An automatic vehicle exterior light control system comprising:

an image sensor having an array of pixels; and

a controller in communication with said image sensor, said controller configured to determine a status of at least one windshield wiper;

wherein said controller is configured to provide an output with respect to control of at least one exterior vehicle light as a function of at least part of an image captured by said image sensor and said status of at least one windshield wiper.

2. The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of claim 1, wherein said output of said controller comprises an output to turn on low beam headlamps if said status of at least one windshield wiper is that said wiper has been turned on.

3. The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of claim 1, wherein said output of said controller comprises an output to deactivate an automatic control status such that a high beam headlamp are not automatically turned on while said wiper is activated.

4. The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of claim 1, wherein said status of at least one windshield wiper is determined by said controller being configured to receive a signal over a vehicle bus.

5. The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of claim 1, wherein said status of at least one windshield wiper is determined by said controller being configured to receive a signal from a rain sensor.

6. A vehicle control system comprising:

an image sensor having an array of pixels;

a filter in optical communication with said image sensor, wherein said filter comprises a pattern of red filters and clear filters; and

a controller in communication with said image sensor, said controller configured to detect objects as a function of an image sensed through said filter, wherein said controller is further configured to generate at least one vehicle control signal as a function of at least a portion of said image;

wherein said vehicle control signal comprises at least two of;

an automatic vehicle exterior light control system signal;

an adaptive cruise control system signal; and

a collision avoidance system signal.

7. The vehicle control system of claim 6, wherein each filter is associated with substantially a single pixel of said array of pixels.

8. The vehicle control system of claim 6, wherein said pattern of filters comprises said alternating red filters and clear filters.

9. The vehicle control system of claim 8, wherein said alternating red filters and clear filters comprises alternating said red and clear filters at every pixel of said array of pixels.

10. The vehicle control system of claim 6 further comprising a radar system.

11. The vehicle control system of claim 6, wherein said controller is further configured to create an object list for each frame received from said image sensor.

12. The vehicle control system of claim 11, wherein said controller is further configured to detection motion of said object as a function of a plurality of object lists.

13. The vehicle control system of claim 12, wherein said detection of motion of said object is computed to quantify a rate and direction of motion of said object.