IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A WINDING ROAD

• US 20140153782A1
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Liken, Peter A., Case, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US14/095,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20140153782A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• 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: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

An imaging system and method are provided where the imaging system is configured to image a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A processor is communicatively connected to the image sensor and is configured to receive and analyze the image data. The processor is further configured to detect whether a road on which the controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road and generate a signal in response to detection of a winding road.

Claims

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 communicatively connected to the image sensor, the processor configured to receive and analyze the image data and to detect whether a road on which the controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road and generate a signal in response to detection of a winding road.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive vehicle operating parameters including at least one of:

vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, and yaw, and wherein the controller detects a winding road based upon the vehicle operating parameters.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the processor detects a winding road by detecting turns in the road and monitoring how often turns occur.

4. The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the processor detects a winding road by determining whether a predetermined number of turns have been detected within a specified period of time.

5. The imaging system of claim 4, wherein the processor detects a turn by measuring a curve radius of the road.

6. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation to operate exterior lights of the controlled vehicle in a low beam state until such time that the controlled vehicle is no longer determined to be driving on a winding road.

7. The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates one of the following:

the detection of a winding road;

that exterior lights of the controlled vehicle should be operated in a low beam state;

a winding road mode of operation; and

that an automatic control of the exterior lights should be disabled;

wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle.

8. An imaging method, comprising the steps of:

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 communicatively connected to the image sensor;

detecting with the processor whether the road on which the controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road; and

generating a signal from the processor in response to detection of a winding road.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detecting further comprises receiving vehicle operating parameters including at least one of:

vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, and yaw, wherein the processor detects a winding road based upon the vehicle operating parameters.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting turns in the road and monitoring how often turns occur.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of detecting further comprises determining whether a predetermined number of turns have been detected within a specified period of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processor detects a turn by measuring a curve radius of the road.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation to operate exterior lights of the controlled vehicle in a low beam state until such time that the controlled vehicle is no longer determined to be driving on a winding road.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal indicates one of the following:

the detection of a winding road;

that exterior lights of the controlled vehicle should be operated in a low beam state;

a winding road mode of operation; and

that an automatic control of the exterior lights should be disabled;

wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions executed by a processor, the software instructions comprising the steps of:

imaging a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images;

receiving and analyzing the image data in the processor;

detecting with the processor whether the road on which a controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road; and

generating a signal from the processor in response to detection of a winding road.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the step of detecting further comprises receiving vehicle operating parameters including at least one of:

vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, and yaw, and wherein the controller detects a winding road based upon the vehicle operating parameters.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting turns in the road and monitoring how often turns occur.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of detecting further comprises determining whether a predetermined number of turns have been detected within a specified period of time.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation to operate exterior lights of the controlled vehicle in a low beam state until such time that the controlled vehicle is no longer determined to be driving on a winding road.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the signal indicates one of the following:

the detection of a winding road;

that exterior lights of the controlled vehicle should be operated in a low beam state;

a winding road mode of operation; and

that an automatic control of the exterior lights should be disabled;

wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle.