VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH COLLISION MITIGATION

• US 20140379233A1
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chundrlik, William J. Jr., Raudszus, Dominik
• Granted Patent: US 9,260,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/024 Collision mitigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/32 Vehicle surroundings
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/171 Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view forward of the vehicle. An image processing system is operable to process image data captured by the camera to determine the presence of a leading vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle and to determine an illumination level of a taillight of the leading vehicle. Responsive to a determination of a relative speed of the leading vehicle relative to the equipped vehicle and a relative acceleration of the leading vehicle relative to the equipped vehicle, the vision system determines a braking level of the equipped vehicle to mitigate collision with the leading vehicle. Responsive to the determination of the illumination level of the taillight of the determined leading vehicle, the vision system is operable to apply a weighting factor to adjust the determined braking level for the determined traffic condition.

Claims

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

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said vision system;

an image processing system operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said image processing system is operable to determine the presence of a leading vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle;

wherein, responsive to a determination of the presence of a leading vehicle, said image processing system is operable to determine an illumination level of a taillight of the determined leading vehicle;

wherein, responsive to a determination of a relative speed of the leading vehicle relative to the equipped vehicle and a relative acceleration of the leading vehicle relative to the equipped vehicle, said vision system is operable to determine a braking level of the equipped vehicle to mitigate a collision with the determined leading vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to the determination of the leading vehicle and the determination of the illumination level of the taillight of the determined leading vehicle, said vision system is operable to apply a weighting factor to adjust the determined braking level for the determined traffic condition.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a determination that the leading vehicle taillight is not illuminated, said vision system applies a weighting factor that decreases the braking level.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to a determination that the leading vehicle taillight is illuminated, said vision system applies a weighting factor that increases the braking level.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system applies the weighting factor to the determined relative acceleration of the leading vehicle relative to the equipped vehicle.

5. The vision system of claim 4, wherein, responsive to a determination that the leading vehicle taillight is not illuminated, said vision system applies a weighting factor that decreases the emphasis that said vision system has on the determined relative acceleration.

6. The vision system of claim 4, wherein, responsive to a determination that the leading vehicle taillight is illuminated, said vision system applies a weighting factor that increases the emphasis that said vision system has on the determined relative acceleration.