IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A BRIGHT CITY CONDITION
First Claim
1. An imaging system comprising:
- an image sensor configured to image a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and
a processor configured to receive and analyze the image data, the processor further configured to;
generate a signal in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation;
analyze the image data to detect at least one characteristic in the image data and select a village mode as a mode of operation when the at least one characteristic meets village detect conditions;
monitor an ambient light level over a period of time;
modify the village detect conditions when the ambient light level reaches a threshold that indicates that the driver'"'"'s eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level; and
continue to analyze the image data to detect the at least one characteristic in the image data and select a non-village mode as a mode of operation when the at least one characteristic no longer meets the village detect conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging system and method is provided that generates image data. A processor is configured to process the image data and to generate a signal in response to analysis of the image data and a selected mode of operation. The processor selects either a village mode or a non-village mode as a mode of operation depending on whether at least one characteristic in the image data meets village detect conditions. The processor monitors an ambient light level over a period of time and modifies the village detect conditions when the ambient light level reaches a threshold that indicates that the driver'"'"'s eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging system comprising:
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an image sensor configured to image a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a processor configured to receive and analyze the image data, the processor further configured to; generate a signal in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation; analyze the image data to detect at least one characteristic in the image data and select a village mode as a mode of operation when the at least one characteristic meets village detect conditions; monitor an ambient light level over a period of time; modify the village detect conditions when the ambient light level reaches a threshold that indicates that the driver'"'"'s eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level; and continue to analyze the image data to detect the at least one characteristic in the image data and select a non-village mode as a mode of operation when the at least one characteristic no longer meets the village detect conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An imaging method, comprising the steps of:
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providing an image sensor for imaging a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images; receiving and analyzing the image data in a processor to detect at least one characteristic of the image data; generating a signal in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation; selecting a mode of operation from at least the following modes of operation;
a village mode and at least one non-village mode;selecting the village mode if the at least one characteristic reaches a first threshold; selecting one of the at least one non-village mode if the at least one characteristic has not or no longer reaches the first threshold; monitoring an ambient light level over a period of time; and modifying the first threshold when the ambient light level reaches a second threshold that indicates that the driver'"'"'s eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions executed by a processor, the software instructions comprising the steps of:
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imaging a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images; receiving and analyzing the image data to detect at least one characteristic of the image data; generating a signal in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation; selecting a mode of operation from at least the following modes of operation;
a village mode and at least one non-village mode;selecting the village mode if the at least one characteristic reaches a first threshold; selecting one of the at least one non-village mode if the at least one characteristic has not or no longer reaches the first threshold; monitoring an ambient light level over a period of time; and modifying the first threshold when the ambient light level reaches a second threshold that indicates that the driver'"'"'s eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification