IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING FOG CONDITIONS

• US 20140198213A1
• Filed: 01/15/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Liken, Peter A., Pierce, Phillip R.
• Application Number:
  US14/156,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20140198213A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• 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 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

An imaging system and method is provided for detecting fog conditions surrounding a controlled vehicle. An imager having an image sensor is configured to image a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A processor is configured to receive the image data and to receive additional information including at least one of an outside temperature, a windshield wiper speed, and a vehicle speed. The processor selects logic and/or parameters for detecting the presence of fog in response to the received additional information. The processor then analyzes the image data using the selected logic and/or parameters to detect the presence of fog and generates a signal responsive to the detection of fog.

Claims

1. An imaging system for detecting fog conditions surrounding a controlled vehicle, the system comprising:

an imager having an image sensor configured to image a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and

a processor configured to;

receive the image data;

receive additional information including at least one of an outside temperature, a windshield wiper speed, and a vehicle speed;

select logic and/or parameters for detecting the presence of fog in response to the received additional information;

analyze the image data using the selected logic and/or parameters to detect the presence of fog; and

generate a signal responsive to the detection of fog.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor adjusts a sensitivity to detected fog based on the received additional information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor adjusts the sensitivity to detected fog by being more sensitive when the outside temperature represents a temperature at which the presence of fog conditions is more likely and less sensitive when the outside temperature represents a temperature at which the presence of fog conditions is less likely.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling an equipment of the controlled vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the equipment comprises exterior lights of the controlled vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal includes an indication of the detection of fog.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the imager and the processor are integrated into a rearview assembly of the controlled vehicle.

8. A method for detecting fog conditions surrounding a controlled vehicle, comprising the steps of:

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

receiving additional information including at least one of an outside temperature, a windshield wiper speed, and a vehicle speed;

selecting logic and/or parameters for detecting the presence of fog in response to the received additional information;

analyzing the image data using the selected logic and/or parameters to detect the presence of fog; and

generating a signal responsive to the detection of fog.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of adjusting a sensitivity to detected fog based on the received additional information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of adjusting includes being more sensitive when the outside temperature represents a temperature at which the presence of fog conditions is more likely and less sensitive when the outside temperature represents a temperature at which the presence of fog conditions is less likely.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of selecting includes getting newly selected logic and/or parameters if the additional information changes and using previously selected logic and/or parameters if the additional information is unchanged.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling an equipment of the controlled vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the equipment comprises exterior lights of the controlled vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the signal includes an indication of the detection of fog.

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 additional information including at least one of an outside temperature, a windshield wiper speed, and a vehicle speed;

selecting logic and/or parameters for detecting the presence of fog in response to the received additional information;

analyzing the image data using the selected logic and/or parameters to detect the presence of fog; and

generating a signal responsive to the detection of fog.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the software instructions further comprise the step of adjusting a sensitivity to detected fog based on the received additional information.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the step of adjusting includes being more sensitive when the outside temperature represents a temperature at which the presence of fog conditions is more likely and less sensitive when the outside temperature represents a temperature at which the presence of fog conditions is less likely.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling an equipment of the controlled vehicle.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the equipment comprises exterior lights of the controlled vehicle.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the signal includes an indication of the detection of fog.