DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20140071285A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 03/13/2014
• 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 8,818,042 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

A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes a forward facing camera and a processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive to processing of captured image data, the driver assistance system is operable to determine a lane along which the vehicle is traveling and to detect oncoming vehicles approaching the vehicle in another lane that is to the right or left of the determined lane along which the vehicle is traveling. The driver assistance system is operable to control, at least in part, a light beam emanating from a headlamp of the vehicle and adjusts the light beam emanating from the headlamp to limit directing beam light towards the eyes of a driver of the detected oncoming vehicle. Responsive to processing of captured image data, the driver assistance system is operable to provide lane departure warning to a driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

a forward facing camera disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system, said forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said forward facing camera is operable to capture image data;

a processor operable to process captured image data;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to determine a lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to detect oncoming vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle in another lane that is to the right or left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein said driver assistance system is operable to determine whether a detected oncoming vehicle is in a lane to the right of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling or in a lane to the left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to control, at least in part, a light beam emanating from a headlamp of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the headlamp in order to limit directing beam light towards the eyes of a driver of the detected oncoming vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to provide lane departure warning to a driver of the equipped vehicle.

2. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the headlamp in a direction at least partially away from the detected oncoming vehicle.

3. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein the light beam emanating from the headlamp of the equipped vehicle comprises one of (i) a left side light beam emanating from a left side headlamp of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a right side light beam emanating from a right side headlamp of the equipped vehicle.

4. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to determine that the detected oncoming vehicle is approaching the equipped vehicle in a lane that is to the left of the determined lane, and wherein the light beam emanating from the headlamp of the equipped vehicle comprises a left side light beam emanating from a left side headlamp of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said driver assistance system adjusts the left side light beam to limit directing beam light of the left side headlamp towards the eyes of a driver of the detected oncoming vehicle.

5. The driver assistance system of claim 4, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the left side light beam emanating from the left side headlamp while not similarly adjusting a right side light beam emanating from a right side headlamp.

6. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the headlamp independent of adjusting a beam setting of the headlamp of the equipped vehicle.

7. The driver assistance system of claim 6, wherein said beam setting comprises a high beam setting.

8. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust a beam direction of the light beam emanating from the headlamp of the equipped vehicle.

9. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam via at least partial occlusion of beam light.

10. The driver assistance system of claim 9, wherein said at least partial occlusion comprises mechanical occlusion.

11. The driver assistance system of claim 10, wherein said mechanical occlusion comprises occlusion via at least one of a louver, a baffle and a slat.

12. The driver assistance system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the headlamp of the equipped vehicle to compensate for vehicle loading, (ii) said driver assistance system is operable to determine the pitch of the vehicle and, responsive to the determination of the pitch of the vehicle, said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the headlamp of the equipped vehicle, and (iii) said driver assistance system is operable to control the headlamp of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle.

13. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

a forward facing camera disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system, said forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said forward facing camera is operable to capture image data;

a processor operable to process captured image data;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to determine a lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to detect oncoming vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle in another lane that is to the right or left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein said driver assistance system is operable to determine whether a detected oncoming vehicle is in a lane to the right of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling or in a lane to the left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein, responsive to determining that a detected oncoming vehicle is in a lane to the left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, said driver assistance system is operable to control, at least in part, a light beam emanating from a left side headlamp of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the left side headlamp in order to limit directing beam light towards the eyes of a driver of the detected oncoming vehicle;

wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam via at least partial occlusion of beam light; and

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to provide lane departure warning to a driver of the equipped vehicle.

14. The driver assistance system of claim 13, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the left side headlamp in a direction at least partially away from the detected oncoming vehicle.

15. The driver assistance system of claim 13, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the left side headlamp while not similarly adjusting a light beam emanating from a right side headlamp of the equipped vehicle.

16. The driver assistance system of claim 13, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the left side headlamp independent of adjusting a high beam setting of the headlamp of the equipped vehicle.

17. The driver assistance system of claim 13, wherein said at least partial occlusion comprises mechanical occlusion.

18. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

a forward facing camera disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system, said forward facing camera having a forward field of view through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said forward facing camera is operable to capture image data;

a processor operable to process captured image data;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to determine a lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to detect oncoming vehicles approaching the equipped vehicle in another lane that is to the right or left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein said driver assistance system is operable to determine whether a detected oncoming vehicle is in a lane to the right of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling or in a lane to the left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling;

wherein, responsive to determining that a detected oncoming vehicle is in a lane to the left of the determined lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, said driver assistance system is operable to control, at least in part, a light beam emanating from a left side headlamp of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the left side headlamp in order to limit directing beam light towards the eyes of a driver of the detected oncoming vehicle;

wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the left side headlamp independent of adjusting a high beam setting of the headlamp of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to processing of captured image data, said driver assistance system is operable to provide lane departure warning to a driver of the equipped vehicle.

19. The driver assistance system of claim 18, wherein at least one of (a) said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam via at least partial occlusion of beam light, (b) said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam via at least partial occlusion of beam light and wherein said at least partial occlusion comprises mechanical occlusion and (c) said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam via at least partial occlusion of beam light via at least one of a louver, a baffle and a slat.

20. The driver assistance system of claim 18, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to adjust the light beam emanating from the left side headlamp while not similarly adjusting a light beam emanating from a right side headlamp of the equipped vehicle.