VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH DIRT DETECTION
First Claim
1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
- a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, said camera comprising an image sensor and a lens, wherein, when said camera is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said lens is exposed to the environment exterior the equipped vehicle;
wherein said camera has an exterior field of view exterior the equipped vehicle and is operable to capture image data representative of a scene occurring in the field of view of said camera;
an image processor operable to process multiple frames of image data captured by said camera;
wherein said image processor is operable to process captured image data to detect a blob in a frame of captured image data;
wherein, responsive to processing a first frame of captured image data, and responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a first threshold likelihood that a detected blob is indicative of a contaminant, said image processor adjusts processing when processing subsequent frames of captured image data;
wherein adjustment of processing when processing the subsequent frames of captured image data comprises focusing in the subsequent frames on image data associated with the blob detected in the first frame; and
wherein, responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a second threshold likelihood that the detected blob is indicative of a contaminant when processing subsequent frames of captured image data, said image processor determines that the detected blob is representative of a contaminant at said lens of said camera.
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Abstract
A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera having an image sensor and a lens, with the lens exposed to the environment exterior the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process multiple frames of image data captured by the camera and processes captured image data to detect a blob in a frame of captured image data. Responsive to processing a first frame of captured image data, and responsive to the image processor determining a first threshold likelihood that a detected blob is indicative of a contaminant, the image processor adjusts processing when processing subsequent frames of captured image data. Responsive to the image processor determining a second threshold likelihood that the detected blob is indicative of a contaminant when processing subsequent frames of captured image data, the image processor determines that the detected blob is representative of a contaminant at the lens of the camera.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
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a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, said camera comprising an image sensor and a lens, wherein, when said camera is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said lens is exposed to the environment exterior the equipped vehicle; wherein said camera has an exterior field of view exterior the equipped vehicle and is operable to capture image data representative of a scene occurring in the field of view of said camera; an image processor operable to process multiple frames of image data captured by said camera; wherein said image processor is operable to process captured image data to detect a blob in a frame of captured image data; wherein, responsive to processing a first frame of captured image data, and responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a first threshold likelihood that a detected blob is indicative of a contaminant, said image processor adjusts processing when processing subsequent frames of captured image data; wherein adjustment of processing when processing the subsequent frames of captured image data comprises focusing in the subsequent frames on image data associated with the blob detected in the first frame; and wherein, responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a second threshold likelihood that the detected blob is indicative of a contaminant when processing subsequent frames of captured image data, said image processor determines that the detected blob is representative of a contaminant at said lens of said camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
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a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, said camera comprising an image sensor and a lens, wherein, when said camera is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said lens is exposed to the environment exterior the equipped vehicle; wherein said camera has an exterior field of view exterior the equipped vehicle and is operable to capture image data representative of a scene occurring in the field of view of said camera; an image processor operable to process multiple frames of image data captured by said camera; wherein said image processor is operable to process captured image data to detect a blob in a frame of captured image data; wherein, responsive to processing a first frame of captured image data, and responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a first threshold likelihood that a detected blob is indicative of a contaminant, said image processor adjusts processing when processing subsequent frames of captured image data; wherein adjustment of processing when processing the subsequent frames of captured image data comprises focusing in the subsequent frames on image data associated with the blob detected in the first frame; wherein, responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a second threshold likelihood that the detected blob is indicative of a contaminant when processing subsequent frames of captured image data, said image processor determines that the detected blob is representative of a contaminant at said lens of said camera; wherein said vision system, responsive to said image processor determining that the detected blob is representative of a contaminant at said lens, triggers a function; wherein said function triggered by said vision system comprises cleaning of said lens of said camera; and wherein said camera is disposed at a rear exterior portion of the equipped vehicle and views at least rearward of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:
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a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, said camera comprising an image sensor and a lens, wherein, when said camera is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said lens is exposed to the environment exterior the equipped vehicle; wherein said camera has an exterior field of view exterior the equipped vehicle and is operable to capture image data representative of a scene occurring in the field of view of said camera; an image processor operable to process multiple frames of image data captured by said camera; wherein said image processor is operable to process captured image data to detect a blob in a frame of captured image data; wherein, responsive to processing a first frame of captured image data, and responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a first threshold likelihood that a detected blob is indicative of a contaminant, said image processor adjusts processing when processing subsequent frames of captured image data; wherein adjustment of processing when processing the subsequent frames of captured image data comprises focusing in the subsequent frames on image data associated with the blob detected in the first frame; wherein, responsive to said image processor determining with a confidence level of at least 80% a second threshold likelihood that the detected blob is indicative of a contaminant when processing subsequent frames of captured image data, said image processor determines that the detected blob is representative of a contaminant at said lens of said camera; wherein, responsive to said image processor determining that the detected blob is representative of a contaminant at said lens, said vision system generates an alert; and wherein said camera is disposed at a rear exterior portion of the equipped vehicle and views at least rearward of the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification