VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED NIGHT VISION

• US 20170113613A1
• Filed: 10/26/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Van Dan Elzen, Christopher L., Lu, Yuesheng, Salomonsson, Ove, Chundrlik, JR., William J., Toma, Tom H., Shahid, Umer
• Granted Patent: US 10,875,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/20 Optical features of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera module configured to be disposed at and behind a vehicle windshield, with the camera module including a first camera and a second camera. The first camera includes a first imager and a first lens having a wide angle field of view greater than 100 degrees. The first camera is operable to capture image data for processing by an image processor. The second camera includes a second imager and a second lens having a narrow angle field of view less than 40 degrees. The second camera is operable to capture image data for displaying color images at a display screen. During nighttime driving conditions, video images derived from image data captured by the second camera are displayed by the display screen and image data captured by the first camera is processed by an image processor for object detection.

Claims

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

a camera module configured to be disposed at and behind a vehicle windshield;

wherein said camera module comprises a first camera and a second camera;

wherein said first camera comprises a first lens and first imager and wherein said first lens provides a wide angle field of view greater than 100 degrees;

wherein said first camera is operable to capture image data;

a control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said first camera;

wherein said second camera comprises a second lens and second imager and wherein said second lens provides a narrow angle field of view less than 40 degrees;

wherein said second camera is operable to capture image data;

a display for displaying at a display screen color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera, wherein the display screen is disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at and behind the vehicle windshield, said first camera views through the vehicle windshield and forward of the vehicle and said second camera views through the vehicle windshield and forward of the vehicle; and

wherein, during nighttime driving, color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera are displayed at said display screen and image data captured by said first camera is processed by said image processor, and wherein said image processor, via processing of image data captured by said first camera, detects objects present in the wide angle field of view of said first camera.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein, during daytime driving, said image processor, via processing by said image processor of image data captured by both said first and second cameras, is operable to (i) detect objects present in the wide angle field of view of said first camera and (ii) detect objects present in the narrow angle field of view of said second camera.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein said vision system, responsive to an ambient light sensor, switches from displaying color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said second camera.

4. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera module comprises a video processor that is operable, responsive to an input from said second camera, to generate color video images for display by said display screen.

5. The vision system of claim 4, wherein said video processor, responsive to an input from said image processor, is operable to generate a graphic overlay to highlight an object detected by said image processor via image processing of image data captured by said first camera.

6. The vision system of claim 4, wherein said video processor is operable to control said second camera to enhance night vision.

7. The vision system of claim 6, wherein said video processor is operable to adjust an exposure period of said second camera.

8. The vision system of claim 1, comprising a near infrared illumination source operable to illuminate the area ahead of the vehicle at least partially encompassed by the narrow field of view of said second camera.

9. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said second camera comprises a spectral filter that passes visible light having wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm and attenuates electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between 700 nm and 800 nm.

10. The vision system of claim 9, wherein said spectral filter passes electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between 820 nm and 880 nm and attenuates electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths greater than 900 nm.

11. The vision system of claim 9, wherein said spectral filter passes electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths greater than 800 nm, and the vehicle windshield attenuates electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths greater than 900 nm.

12. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera module comprises a housing disposed at the vehicle windshield and wherein said first and second cameras are commonly housed at said housing of said camera module.

13. The vision system of claim 12, wherein said image processor is commonly housed at said housing of said camera module.

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

a camera module configured to be disposed at and behind a vehicle windshield;

wherein said camera module comprises a first camera and a second camera;

wherein said first camera comprises a first lens and first imager and wherein said first lens provides a wide angle field of view greater than 100 degrees;

wherein said first camera is operable to capture image data;

a control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said first camera;

wherein said second camera comprises a second lens and second imager and wherein said second lens provides a narrow angle field of view less than 40 degrees;

wherein said second camera is operable to capture image data;

wherein said second camera comprises a spectral filter that passes visible light having wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm and attenuates electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between 700 nm and 800 nm;

a display for displaying at a display screen color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera, wherein the display screen is disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at and behind the vehicle windshield, said first camera views through the vehicle windshield and forward of the vehicle and said second camera views through the vehicle windshield and forward of the vehicle;

wherein, during nighttime driving, color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera are displayed at said display screen and image data captured by said first camera is processed by said image processor, and wherein said image processor, via processing of image data captured by said first camera, detects objects present in the wide angle field of view of said first camera; and

wherein, during daytime driving, said image processor, via processing by said image processor of image data captured by both said first and second cameras, is operable to (i) detect objects present in the wide angle field of view of said first camera and (ii) detect objects present in the narrow angle field of view of said second camera.

15. The vision system of claim 14, wherein said vision system, responsive to an ambient light sensor, switches from displaying color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said second camera.

16. The vision system of claim 14, wherein said spectral filter passes electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths between 820 nm and 880 nm and attenuates electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths greater than 900 nm.

17. The vision system of claim 14, wherein said spectral filter passes electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths greater than 800 nm, and the vehicle windshield attenuates electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths greater than 900 nm.

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

a camera module configured to be disposed at and behind a vehicle windshield;

wherein said camera module comprises a first camera and a second camera;

wherein said first camera comprises a first lens and first imager and wherein said first lens provides a wide angle field of view greater than 100 degrees;

wherein said first camera is operable to capture image data;

a control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said first camera;

wherein said second camera comprises a second lens and second imager and wherein said second lens provides a narrow angle field of view less than 40 degrees;

wherein said second camera is operable to capture image data;

wherein said camera module comprises a housing disposed at the vehicle windshield and wherein said first and second cameras are commonly housed at said housing of said camera module;

a near infrared illumination source operable to illuminate the area ahead of the vehicle at least partially encompassed by the narrow field of view of said second camera;

a display for displaying at a display screen color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera, wherein the display screen is disposed in the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the vehicle;

wherein, with said camera module disposed at and behind the vehicle windshield, said first camera views through the vehicle windshield and forward of the vehicle and said second camera views through the vehicle windshield and forward of the vehicle; and

wherein, during nighttime driving, color video images derived from image data captured by said second camera are displayed at said display screen and image data captured by said first camera is processed by said image processor, and wherein said image processor, via processing of image data captured by said first camera, detects objects present in the wide angle field of view of said first camera.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said camera module comprises a video processor that is operable, responsive to an input from said second camera, to generate color video images for display by said display screen.

20. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said image processor is commonly housed at said housing of said camera module.