METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE BY DETECTING WEATHER-RELATED VISIBILITY LIMITATIONS
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle and of the windshield are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1-9. -9. (canceled)
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10. A method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle and of the windshield are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield,
wherein the camera comprises a bifocal optical element so that the camera is focused on the windshield in a first image region and focused on the surroundings of the vehicle in a second image region; -
at least one image is generated by the camera for; the detection of wetting of at least one of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and condensate, the image data of the first image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system and, in the event of a detection, a first evaluation signal that indicates wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate is generated, and the detection of a visibility limitation, due to fog and/or wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate, the image data of the second image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system and, in the event of a detection, a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation is generated; a control device is provided that activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if the first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle, and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield,
wherein a rain sensor is provided, by which a first evaluation signal is generated if at least one of the inner and outer surface of the windshield is wetted with moisture and/or condensate, for the detection of a visibility limitation, due to fog and/or wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate, the camera is focused on the surroundings of the vehicle and at least one image is generated, wherein the image data of the at least one image of the surroundings of the vehicle are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation; -
a control device is provided that activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if the first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A device for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle and of the windshield are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield, wherein
the camera comprises a bifocal optical element so that the camera is focused on the windshield in a first image region and focused on the surroundings of the vehicle in a second image region; -
a control device is provided that activates the camera in such a manner that at least one image of the windshield and of the surroundings of the vehicle is generated, wherein the image data of the first image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a first evaluation signal that indicates wetting of at least one of the inner and outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate and wherein the image data of the second image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation; the control device activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if the first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present.
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20. A device for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield, wherein
a rain sensor is provided, by which a first evaluation signal is generated if at least one of the inner and outer surface of the windshield is wetted with moisture and/or condensate; -
a control device is provided that activates the camera in such a manner that at least one image is generated in order to detect a visibility limitation, due to fog and/or wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate, wherein the image data of the at least one image of the surroundings of the vehicle are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation; the control device activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification