VISION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20140142809A1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• 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 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/126 Hysteresis behavior based on steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/60 characterised by a variable light distribution
• 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 20/584 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 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The camera has a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements that includes photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows and columns. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the camera to detect objects of interest located within the field of view of the camera. The image processor processes captured image data to detect lane markers on the road being driven by the vehicle and located within the field of view of the camera. The vision system, responsive to processing of captured image data, automatically recognizes whether the vehicle is being driven on a road of a left hand drive road system or on a road of a right hand drive road system.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

wherein said camera comprises a lens and a CMOS imaging array comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements;

wherein said two-dimensional array of photosensing elements comprises at least 307,200 photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows and columns;

a control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect objects of interest located within the field of view of said camera;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect lane markers on the road being driven by the equipped vehicle and located within the field of view of said camera; and

wherein said vision system, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, automatically recognizes whether the equipped vehicle is being driven on a road of a left hand drive road system or on a road of a right hand drive road system.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system dynamically segments captured image data and aligns segments of captured image data according to road topology of the road ahead of the equipped vehicle and in the field of view of said camera.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein an image plane of said imaging array is at a distance from said lens that establishes a circle of confusion.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said objects of interest comprise at least one of headlights of other vehicles and taillights of other vehicles.

5. The vision system of claim 4, wherein said control adjusts beam light emitted by a vehicle headlamp of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to detection of said objects of interest.

6. The vision system of claim 1, wherein a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle is automatically configured according to the recognized left or right hand drive road system.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein said driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle comprises an automatic headlamp control system.

8. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said automatic headlamp control system comprises an automatic high beam control system.

9. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said automatic headlamp control system comprises an adaptive front lighting system.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control receives vehicle data via a communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

11. The vision system of claim 10, wherein said vehicle data comprises at least one of (i) data indicative of speed of the equipped vehicle and (ii) data indicative of trajectory of the equipped vehicle.

12. The vision system of claim 1, wherein a light beam emitted by a vehicle headlamp of the equipped vehicle is adjustable responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by said image processor and to said control receiving vehicle data via a communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

13. The vision system of claim 1, wherein at least one of (i) said matrix array of rows and columns comprises at least 640 rows, (ii) said matrix array of rows and columns comprises at least 480 columns and (iii) said matrix array of rows and columns comprises at least 640 rows and at least 480 columns.

14. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, controls, at least in part, a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle.

15. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, controls, at least in part, a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle.

16. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, controls, at least in part, an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle.

17. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said control, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, controls, at least in part, a pedestrian detection system of the equipped vehicle.

18. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera is accommodated in a housing assembly that detachably attaches to an attachment plate which is attached at an upper central region of the inner surface of a windshield of the equipped vehicle and wherein, with the housing assembly attached to the attachment plate, said camera views through a portion of the windshield swept by the vehicle'"'"'s windshield wiper system.

19. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

wherein said camera comprises a lens and a CMOS imaging array comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements;

wherein said two-dimensional array of photosensing elements comprises at least 307,200 photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows and columns;

wherein said matrix array of rows and columns comprises at least 640 rows;

a control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect objects of interest located within the field of view of said camera;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect lane markers on the road being driven by the equipped vehicle and located within the field of view of said camera;

wherein said vision system, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, automatically recognizes whether the equipped vehicle is being driven on a road of a left hand drive road system or on a road of a right hand drive road system;

wherein said camera is accommodated in a housing assembly that detachably attaches to an attachment plate which is attached at an upper central region of the inner surface of a windshield of the equipped vehicle and wherein, with the housing assembly attached to the attachment plate, said camera views through a portion of the windshield swept by the vehicle'"'"'s windshield wiper system; and

wherein said control receives vehicle data via a CAN communication bus of the equipped vehicle.

20. The vision system of claim 19, wherein a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle is automatically configured according to the recognized left or right hand drive road system.

21. The vision system of claim 20, wherein said driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle comprises an automatic headlamp control system.

22. The vision system of claim 20, wherein said matrix array of rows and columns comprises at least 480 columns.

23. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

wherein said camera comprises a lens and a CMOS imaging array comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements;

wherein said two-dimensional array of photosensing elements comprises at least 307,200 photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows and columns;

wherein said matrix array of rows and columns comprises at least 640 rows and at least 480 columns;

a control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect objects of interest located within the field of view of said camera and wherein said objects of interest comprise at least one of headlights of other vehicles and taillights of other vehicles;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect lane markers on the road being driven by the equipped vehicle and located within the field of view of said camera;

wherein said vision system, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, automatically recognizes whether the equipped vehicle is being driven on a road of a left hand drive road system or on a road of a right hand drive road system;

wherein said camera is accommodated in a housing assembly that detachably attaches to an attachment plate which is attached at an upper central region of the inner surface of a windshield of the equipped vehicle and wherein, with the housing assembly attached to the attachment plate, said camera views through a portion of the windshield swept by the vehicle'"'"'s windshield wiper system;

wherein said control receives vehicle data via a CAN communication bus of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said control adjusts beam light emitted by a vehicle headlamp of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to detection of objects located within the field of view of said camera.

24. The vision system of claim 23, wherein a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle is automatically configured according to the recognized left or right hand drive road system.

25. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera having a field of view in a forward direction of travel of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

wherein said camera comprises a lens and a CMOS imaging array comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements;

wherein said two-dimensional array of photosensing elements comprises at least 307,200 photosensing elements arranged in a matrix array of rows and columns;

wherein said matrix array of rows and columns comprises at least 640 rows and at least 480 columns;

a control comprising an image processor;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect objects of interest located within the field of view of said camera and wherein said objects of interest comprise at least one of headlights of other vehicles and taillights of other vehicles;

wherein said image processor processes image data captured by said camera to detect lane markers on the road being driven by the equipped vehicle and located within the field of view of said camera;

wherein said vision system, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, automatically recognizes whether the equipped vehicle is being driven on a road of a left hand drive road system or on a road of a right hand drive road system;

wherein said camera is accommodated in a housing assembly that detachably attaches to an attachment plate which is attached at an upper central region of the inner surface of a windshield of the equipped vehicle and wherein, with the housing assembly attached to the attachment plate, said camera views through a portion of the windshield swept by the vehicle'"'"'s windshield wiper system;

wherein said control receives vehicle data via a communication bus of the equipped vehicle;

wherein said vehicle data comprises at least one of (i) data indicative of speed of the equipped vehicle and (ii) data indicative of trajectory of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said control, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, controls, at least in part, at least one of (i) a traffic sign recognition system of the equipped vehicle (ii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle, (iii) an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle and (iv) a pedestrian detection system of the equipped vehicle.

26. The vision system of claim 25, wherein a driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle is automatically configured according to the recognized left or right hand drive road system.

27. The vision system of claim 26, wherein said driver assistance system of the equipped vehicle comprises an automatic headlamp control system.