VISION BASED NIGHT-TIME REAR COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM, CONTROLLER, AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A night-time rear collision warning system comprising:
- a camera configured to output an image signal corresponding to a field of view behind a vehicle; and
a controller configured toa) process the image signal into a sequence of images,b) identify a bright spot in an image as corresponding to a light source present in the field of view,c) determine if the bright spot is indicative of a vehicle spot,d) determine if the vehicle spot is classified as a fused spot,e) determine, based on the classification of the vehicle spot and changes of a vehicle spot size in the sequence of images, if a collision is likely, andf) if a collision is likely, output an indication that a collision is likely.
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Abstract
A night-time rear collision warning system that includes a camera and a controller. The system identifies a bright spot corresponding to a light source present in the field of view of the camera, determines if the bright spot corresponds to headlights of an approaching vehicle, and determines if a collision is likely. The headlights of a distant approaching vehicle may appear as a single bright spot and so the bright spot is classified as a fused spot. By analyzing bright spots from headlights, the system is able to operate at night when no other information regarding the size or shape of the approaching vehicle is available.
49 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A night-time rear collision warning system comprising:
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a camera configured to output an image signal corresponding to a field of view behind a vehicle; and a controller configured to a) process the image signal into a sequence of images, b) identify a bright spot in an image as corresponding to a light source present in the field of view, c) determine if the bright spot is indicative of a vehicle spot, d) determine if the vehicle spot is classified as a fused spot, e) determine, based on the classification of the vehicle spot and changes of a vehicle spot size in the sequence of images, if a collision is likely, and f) if a collision is likely, output an indication that a collision is likely. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A controller for a night-time rear collision warning system, said controller comprising:
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a processor configured to a) process an image signal from a camera into a sequence of images, b) identify a bright spot in an image as corresponding to a light source present in the field of view behind a vehicle, c) determine if the bright spot is indicative of a vehicle spot, d) determine if the vehicle spot is classified as a fused spot, e) determine, based on the classification of the vehicle spot and changes of a vehicle spot size in the sequence of images, if a collision is likely, and f) if a collision is likely, output an indication that a collision is likely.
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11. A method of operating a night-time rear collision warning system, said method comprising:
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a) providing a camera configured to output an image signal corresponding to a sequence of images of a field of view behind a vehicle; b) identifying a bright spot in an image corresponding to a light source present in the field of view; c) determining if the bright spot is indicative of a vehicle spot; d) determining if the vehicle spot is classified as a fused spot; e) determining, based on the classification of the vehicle spot and changes of a vehicle spot size in the sequence of images, if a collision is likely; and f) if a collision is likely, outputting an indication that a collision is likely. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification