Active night vision with adaptive imaging

• US 6,967,569 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2003
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Weber, Willes H., Potter, Timothy, Shaffer, Aric
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/605,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436, 340/435, 340/461, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/903, 340555-557, 340/561, 348/115, 348/148, 348/118, 348/154, 180/271, 701/300, 701/301, 359/615, 359/630, 359/462, 250/205, 250/222.1, 250/559.12, 250/559.13, 362/459, 362/487, 362/507, 362/538
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• 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 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• 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: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a light source generating an illumination beam, a receiver having a pixel array for capturing an image in response to at least a reflected portion of the illumination beam, the image corresponding to a first horizontal field of view (FOV) angle, and a controller coupled to the light source and the receiver. The controller receives a vehicle speed input and, in response, selects a portion of the image as a non-linear function of the vehicle speed to generate a second horizontal FOV angle for displaying to the vehicle operator. The displayed angular FOV decreases, non-linearly, as the vehicle speed increases.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle comprising:

a light source generating an illumination beam;

a receiver having a pixel array for capturing an image in response to at least a reflected portion of said illumination beam, said image corresponding to a first horizontal field of view (FOV) angle; and

a controller coupled to said light source and said receiver and receiving a vehicle speed input, said controller selecting a portion of said image as a non-linear function of said vehicle speed to generate a second horizontal FOV angle for displaying to the vehicle operator, wherein the second FOV angle is the same as the first FOV angle up to a low speed (LS) threshold value.

2. A vision system according to claim 1 wherein said receiver is a CMOS or CCD camera.

3. A vision system according to claim 1 wherein said light source is a non-incandescent light source.

4. A vision system according to claim 1 wherein the second FOV angle decreases with respect to the first FOV angle as the vehicle speed increases.

5. A vision system according to claim 1 wherein the second FOV angle decreases with respect to the first FOV angle as the vehicle speed increases between said LS threshold value and a high speed (HS) threshold value.

6. A vision system according to claim 5 wherein the second FOV angle is fixed at a smaller angle with respect to the first FOV angle beyond the HS threshold value.

7. A vision system according to claim 6 wherein the LS threshold value is less than or equal to 30 mph and the HS threshold value is greater than or equal to 50 mph.

8. A vision system according to claim 6 wherein the second FOV angle is between 5–

15°

when the vehicle speed is above the HS threshold value.

9. A vision system according to claim 1 wherein the second FOV angle is between 10–

30°

when the vehicle speed is below the LS threshold value.

10. A vision system according to claim 1 comprising a display for displaying said image corresponding to said second FOV angle to the vehicle operator.

11. A vision system according to claim 10 wherein said display is a heads-up-display.

12. An active night vision system for a vehicle comprising:

a light source generating an illumination beam;

vehicle sensors for indicating first and second vehicle operating parameters;

a receiver having a pixel array for capturing an image in response to at least a reflected portion of said illumination beam, said image corresponding to a first horizontal field of view (FOV) angle; and

a controller coupled to said light source, said receiver and said vehicle sensors, said controller selecting a portion of said image as a non-linear function of said first vehicle operating parameter and said second vehicle operating parameter to generate a second horizontal FOV angle for displaying to the vehicle operator, wherein said second horizontal FOV angle is the same as the first horizontal FOV angle up to a first threshold value related to said first or second vehicle operating parameters.

13. An active night vision system according to claim 12 wherein said receiver is a CMOS or CCD camera.

14. An active night vision system according to claim 12 wherein said first vehicle operating parameter is vehicle speed and said second vehicle operating parameter is vehicle change of direction.

15. An active night vision system according to claim 14 wherein the second FOV angle decreases with respect to the first FOV angle as the vehicle speed increases.

16. An active night vision system according to claim 14 wherein the second FOV angle shifts with respect to the first FOV angle in the same direction as the vehicle change of direction.

17. An active night vision system according to claim 15 wherein the second FOV angle shifts with respect to the first FOV angle in the same direction as the vehicle change of direction.

18. An active night vision system according to claim 12 comprising a display for displaying said image corresponding to said second FOV angle to the vehicle operator.

19. An active night vision system according to claim 18 wherein said display is a heads-up-display.