Infrared monitoring system having variable assignment of grey scale values

• US 6,847,727 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Hahn, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Miriam, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORADIA, SHEFALI DINESH
• Application Number:
  US09/641,755
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/104, 250/334, 348/83, 348164-168, 348/35, 348/28, 348/686, 348/603, 348/673, 348/365, 374/124, 374/189, 345/617, 345/77, 345/89, 345/207, 345/690, 345/699, 345/214
• US Class Current: 382/104
• 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 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A monitoring system suitable for a vehicle has a display which displays an image of the road area traveled by the vehicle. The system further comprises a controller which is capable of allocating differing sets of grey values held in its memory to the objects in the image. Changes in the allocation of grey values are made in response to a user input, which in a preferred embodiment comprises a grey value allocation switch.

Claims

1. A monitoring system including a device arranged to display an image generated using an infrared detector, and being capable of changing an assignment of grey values to temperatures of objects in the image, wherein:

said monitoring system further comprises a memory having stored therein a table containing a plurality of alternative assignments of grey values to temperatures of objects sensed by said infrared detector unit, including at least a first assignment in which brighter grey values are assigned to relatively higher temperatures and darker grey values are assigned to relatively lower temperatures, and a second assignment in which brighter grey values are assigned to relatively lower temperatures and darker grey values are assigned to relatively higher temperatures; and

changes to said assignment of grey values are made by selection of an assignment from said table in said memory in response to a user operated input means.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises a multiposition switch, each position of which assigns a different set of grey values to high and/or low temperatures.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said input means comprises a voice operated controller which assigns a different set of grey values to high and/or low temperatures in response to each of a pre-defined set of voice commands.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein additional changes can be made to the assignment of grey values, or manual changes altered, automatically in response to a driving situation assessment means.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein said driving situation assessment means includes an input from a navigation means.

6. A vehicle having a monitoring system including a device arranged to display an image generated using an infrared detector, and being capable of changing an assignment of grey values to temperatures of objects in the image, wherein:

said monitoring system further comprises a memory having stored therein a table containing a plurality of alternative assignments of grey values to temperatures of objects sensed by said infrared detector unit, including at least a first assignment in which brighter grey values are assigned to relatively higher temperatures and darker grey values are assigned to relatively lower temperatures, and a second assignment in which brighter grey values are assigned to relatively lower temperatures and darker grey values are assigned to relatively higher temperatures; and

changes to said assignment of grey values are made by selection of an assignment from said table in said memory in response to a user operated input means.

7. A monitoring system comprising:

an infrared detector unit;

a video display;

a memory having stored therein a table containing a plurality of alternative assignments of grey values to temperatures of objects sensed by said infrared detector unit, including at least a first assignment in which brighter grey values are assigned to relatively higher temperatures and darker grey values are assigned to relatively lower temperatures, and a second assignment in which brighter grey values are assigned to relatively lower temperatures and darker grey values are assigned to relatively higher temperatures; and

a control unit coupled to receive an input signal from said infrared detector, for generating a grey scale image on said video display, according to an assignment of grey values selected from among said assignments contained in said table in said memory; and

user input means for selecting an assignment of grey values from said table, according to a user preference.

8. A monitoring system according to claim 7, wherein said user input means comprises a multiposition switch, each position of said switch causing said control unit to effect a different assignment of grey values.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said input means comprises a voice operated controller which assigns a different set of grey values to high and/or low temperatures in response to each of a pre-defined set of voice commands.