VEHICLE CAMERA IMAGE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN POOR VISIBILITY CONDITIONS BY CONTRAST AMPLIFICATION
First Claim
1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
- an imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having an exterior field of view, said imaging sensor capturing image data;
an image processor operable to process successive frames of captured image data; and
wherein, responsive to a determination of a low visibility driving condition, said image processor increases contrast of the captured images, and wherein said image processor increases contrast of the captured image via tone mapping to enhance discrimination of objects in the field of view of said imaging sensor.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vision system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having an exterior field of view, and an image processor. The imaging sensor captures image data and the image processor is operable to process successive frames of captured image data. Responsive to a determination of a low visibility driving condition, the image processor increases the contrast of the captured images to enhance discrimination of objects in the field of view of the imaging sensor. The image processor may execute a first brightness transfer function on frames of captured image data to enhance the contrast of captured image data, and may execute a second brightness transfer function over successive frames of earlier captured image data and may execute a tone mapping of the earlier captured image data and the currently captured image data to generate a contrast enhanced output image.
24 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
-
an imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having an exterior field of view, said imaging sensor capturing image data; an image processor operable to process successive frames of captured image data; and wherein, responsive to a determination of a low visibility driving condition, said image processor increases contrast of the captured images, and wherein said image processor increases contrast of the captured image via tone mapping to enhance discrimination of objects in the field of view of said imaging sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
-
a plurality of imaging sensors disposed at the vehicle and having respective exterior fields of view, wherein individual imaging sensors of said plurality of imaging sensors capture image data; wherein said imaging sensors comprise CMOS imaging sensors; an image processor operable to process successive frames of captured image data; wherein, responsive to a determination of a low visibility driving condition, said image processor increases contrast of captured image data, and wherein said image processor increases contrast of the captured image data via tone mapping to enhance discrimination of objects in the fields of view of said imaging sensors; a display for displaying images derived from image data captured by said imaging sensors for viewing by a driver of the vehicle when normally operating the vehicle; and wherein said display displays images derived from image data captured by said imaging sensors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
-
an imaging sensor disposed at a rear portion of the vehicle and having an exterior field of view rearward of the vehicle, wherein said imaging sensor captures image data; wherein said imaging sensor comprises a CMOS imaging sensor; an image processor operable to process successive frames of captured image data; wherein, responsive to a determination of a low visibility driving condition, said image processor increases contrast of captured image data, and wherein said image processor increases contrast of the captured image data via tone mapping to enhance discrimination of objects in the field of view of said imaging sensor; a display for displaying images derived from image data captured by said imaging sensor for viewing by a driver of the vehicle when normally operating the vehicle; and wherein said display displays images derived from captured image data during a reversing maneuver of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
Specification