Vehicle photosensing control system

• US 6,953,253 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Larson, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikder, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US10/940,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 359/604, 359601-603, 359605-613, 359264-270, 359/882, 250204-205, 250/206.1, 250/208.1
• US Class Current: 359/604
• 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: B60N 2/0024 for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/24 Cameras
• 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 1/04 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 photosensing system includes a photosensor array that is disposed within the interior cabin of the vehicle and having a field of view forward through the windshield of the vehicle. The photosensing system further providing a control for either controlling operation of a vehicle headlight or monitoring a surface condition of the windshield of the vehicle. If controlling the vehicle headlight, preferably the control transitions the headlight from a first beam mode to a second beam mode in response to detection of a headlight and/or a taillight by the photosensor array within its forward field of view. If monitoring a surface condition of the windshield of the vehicle, the photosensing system operates the vehicle'"'"'s windshield wiper system in response to a signal generated by the control.

Claims

1. A photosensing system suitable for use in a vehicle having a windshield wiper system, said photosensing system comprising:

a photosensor array;

said photosensor array disposed within the interior cabin of the vehicle and having a field of view forward through the windshield of the vehicle;

said photosensor array monitoring a surface condition of said windshield of the vehicle;

wherein the vehicle'"'"'s windshield wiper system is operable in response to a signal generated by a control responsive to an output of said photosensor array; and

wherein said photosensor array comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements.

2. The photosensing system of claim 1, wherein said surface condition is caused by rain.

3. The photosensing system of claim 1, wherein said surface condition is caused by condensation.

4. The photosensing system of claim 1, wherein said surface condition is caused by snow.

5. The photosensing system of claim 1, including supplemental source illumination having wavelengths within the responsive range of said photosensor array.

6. The photosensing system of claim 5, wherein said supplemental source illumination comprises infra-red supplemental source illumination.

7. The photosensing system of claim 1, wherein said photosensor array comprises a CMOS photosensor array.

8. A photosensing system suitable for use in a vehicle, said system comprising:

a photosensor array;

said photosensor array disposed within the interior cabin of the vehicle and having a field of view forward through the windshield of the vehicle;

the vehicle having at least one headlight;

said at least one headlight operable at least in a first beam mode and a second beam mode;

a control controlling operation of said at least one headlight;

said control transitioning said at least one headlight from said first beam mode to said second beam mode in response to detection of at least one of a headlight and a taillight by said photosensor array within its forward field of view; and

said photosensor array monitoring a surface condition of said windshield of the vehicle.

9. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein said surface condition is caused by rain.

10. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein said surface condition is caused by condensation.

11. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein said surface condition is caused by snow.

12. The photosensing system of claim 8, including supplemental source illumination having wavelengths within the responsive range of said photosensor array.

13. The photosensing system of claim 12, wherein said supplemental source illumination comprises infra-red supplemental source illumination.

14. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle includes a windshield wiper system and wherein said windshield wiper system is operable in response to a signal generated by said control.

15. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein said control transitioning said at least one headlight over a first time interval from said first beam mode to said second beam mode in response to detection of at least one of a headlight and a taillight by said photosensor array within its forward field of view;

wherein said control transitioning said at least one headlight over a second time interval from said second beam mode to said first beam mode upon cessation of said detection of said at least one of a headlight and a taillight by said photosensor array within its forward field of view; and

said first time interval for said transitioning from said first beam mode to said second beam mode being shorter than said second time interval for said transitioning from said second beam mode to said first beam mode.

16. The photosensing system of claim 15, wherein said first beam mode comprises a high beam mode.

17. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein said at least one headlight is actuated whenever said photosensor array detects an ambient lighting level below a predetermined level.

18. The photosensing system of claim 17, wherein said predetermined level is below approximately 500 lux.

19. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein said photosensor array comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements.

20. The photosensing system of claim 8, wherein said photosensor array comprises a CMOS photosensor array.