Vehicle control system and method

• US 6,302,545 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Larson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/227,344
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 359/264-267, 359/601-610, 359/882, 250/204-205, 250/206.1-206.2, 250/208.2, 250/210, 250/221, 250/221.1, 315/82, 315/159, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 359/601
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• 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 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/43 following vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/088 using a cell of electrically changeable optical characteristic, e.g. liquid-crystal or electrochromic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/29 for viewing an area inside the vehicle, e.g. for viewing passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1223 : with sensors or transducers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 : with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 : for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 : using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8006 : for monitoring and displaying scenes of vehicle interior, e.g. for monitoring passengers or cargo
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 : in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8046 : for replacing a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 : for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8073 : for vehicle security, e.g. parked vehicle surveillance, burglar detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 : characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 : including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0885 : the sensor being integrated in a rear-view mirror module
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 : with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 : arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 : Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 : Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30268 : Vehicle interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/97 : Determining parameters from multiple pictures depth or shape recovery from multiple images G06T7/55; stereo camera calibration G06T7/85
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 : Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/443 : by reading pixels from selected 2D regions of the array, e.g. for windowing or digital zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vehicle control system and method includes structure and steps for capturing an image of a front seat of the vehicle and outputting image data corresponding thereto. A processor is provided which receives the image data output form the imaging device, compares the received image data with stored image data, and outputs a vehicle equipment control signal based on the comparison. Preferably, the vehicle equipment control signal controls one or more of airbag activation, mirror reflectance, vehicle lights activation, and vehicle intruder alarms. Preferably, the imaging device comprises a single chip camera disposed adjacent the vehicle rearview mirror.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling vehicle equipment, comprising:

an imaging device for capturing an image of a front seat of an interior of the vehicle and outputting image data corresponding thereto;

a processor which (i) receives the image data output from the imaging device, (ii) compares the received image data with stored image data, and (iii) outputs a vehicle equipment control signal based on the comparison; and

said processor modifying said stored image data in accordance with a light level present in said interior of said vehicle, thereby rendering said apparatus substantially insensitive to general lighting conditions, said apparatus being sensitive to movement within said interior of said vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging device comprises a single chip camera.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said camera is disposed adjacent a vehicle rearview mirror.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises an airbag inhibit signal.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises a mirror reflectance control signal.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises a vehicle lights control signal.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output signal comprises a vehicle intruder control signal.

8. Apparatus for controlling activation of an airbag in a vehicle, comprising:

an imaging device disposed in a front portion of a vehicle compartment for imaging a front seat of said vehicle compartment and outputting image information corresponding to occupancy of the vehicle front seat;

a processor which (i) receives the image information from the imaging device, (ii) compares the received image information with stored image information corresponding to the vehicle front seat, and (iii) outputs an inhibit signal inhibiting activation of the airbag when the comparison determines the occupancy of the vehicle front seat is within a predetermined class; and

said processor modifying said stored image information in accordance with a light level present in said vehicle compartment, thereby rendering said apparatus substantially insensitive to general lighting conditions, said apparatus being sensitive to movement within said vehicle compartment.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the imaging device comprises a single chip camera disposed adjacent a vehicle rearview mirror.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor outputs the inhibit signal when the comparison determines that a child occupies the vehicle front seat.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor outputs the inhibit signal when the comparison determines that a child restraint system occupies the vehicle front seat.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor outputs the inhibit signal when the comparison determines that a vehicle front passenger seat is empty.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processor outputs an airbag enable signal when the comparison determines that an occupant of the front seat is not wearing a seat belt.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said inhibit signal prevents deployment of the airbag.

15. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said inhibit signal controls the rate at which the airbag deploys.