Vehicle vision system with night vision function

• US 8,355,839 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Cooprider, Troy O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US13/454,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0258 for navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1284 with communication systems other than radio-receivers, e.g. keyless entry systems, navigation systems; with anti-collision systems

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with the vision system. The camera has a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle. The camera is operable to capture image data. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. At least in part responsive to processing of captured image data by the image processor, the vision system is operable to provide a night vision function and at least one of (i) a headlamp control function for controlling a headlamp of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning function, (iii) an adaptive cruise control function, (iv) a sign recognition function, (v) a rain sensing function, (vi) an object detection function and (vii) a pedestrian detection function.

Claims

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

a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, said camera having a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein, at least in part responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, said vision system is operable to provide a night vision function and at least one of (i) a headlamp control function for controlling a headlamp of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning function, (iii) an adaptive cruise control function, (iv) a sign recognition function, (v) a rain sensing function, (vi) an object detection function and (vii) a pedestrian detection function; and

an in-vehicle communication control and a human-machine interface located at an interior assembly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said human-machine interface is connected to said in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control, and wherein a global positioning system communicates at least one GPS-derived signal to one of said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior assembly.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera comprises an imaging array.

3. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera comprises a microbolometer array.

4. The vision system of claim 3, wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said microbolometer array to distinguish people based on a thermal profile of a person compared to a thermal profile of a background scene.

5. The vision system of claim 3, wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said microbolometer array to detect headlamps of vehicles in the forward field of view of said microbolometer array.

6. The vision system of claim 1, wherein an infrared light source is disposed at the equipped vehicle and is operable to emit infrared light forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said camera is at least partially sensitive to said emitted infrared light.

7. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed in a cabin of the equipped vehicle and wherein said forward field of view of said camera is through a windshield of the equipped vehicle.

8. The vision system of claim 7, wherein said camera is part of one of (i) a windshield electronics module of the equipped vehicle and (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.

9. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said camera is disposed at a forward exterior portion of the equipped vehicle.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system comprises a connection to a network bus of the equipped vehicle.

11. The vision system of claim 1, comprising a display operable to display video images captured by said camera.

12. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said human-machine interface comprises at least one of (a) user actuatable inputs for controlling or actuating/deactuating functions of said in-vehicle communication control and (b) at least one microphone for receiving audible signals from within the cabin of the equipped vehicle.

13. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said global positioning system is operable to communicate said at least one GPS-derived signal to a directional heading display system for displaying directional heading information to a driver or occupant of the equipped vehicle.

14. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said in-vehicle communication control comprises an in-vehicle telematics control unit.

15. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, said camera having a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array and wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

wherein said camera is disposed in a cabin of the equipped vehicle and wherein said forward field of view of said camera is through a windshield of the equipped vehicle;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein, at least in part responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, said vision system is operable to provide a night vision function and at least one of (i) a headlamp control function for controlling a headlamp of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning function, (iii) an adaptive cruise control function, (iv) a sign recognition function, (v) a rain sensing function, (vi) an object detection function and (vii) a pedestrian detection function; and

an in-vehicle communication control and a human-machine interface located at an interior assembly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said human-machine interface is connected to said in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control, and wherein a global positioning system communicates at least one GPS-derived signal to one of said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior assembly.

16. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said camera comprises a microbolometer array.

17. The vision system of claim 16, wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by said microbolometer array to at least one of (a) distinguish people based on a thermal profile of a person compared to a thermal profile of a background scene, and (b) detect headlamps of vehicles in the forward field of view of said microbolometer array.

18. The vision system of claim 15, wherein an infrared light source is disposed at the equipped vehicle and is operable to emit infrared light forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said camera is at least partially sensitive to said emitted infrared light.

19. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said camera is part of one of (i) a windshield electronics module of the equipped vehicle and (ii) an interior rearview mirror assembly of the equipped vehicle.

20. The vision system of claim 15, comprising a display operable to display video images captured by said camera.

21. The vision system of claim 15, wherein said vision system comprises a connection to a network bus of the equipped vehicle.

22. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, said camera having a forward field of view in the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle, wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array and wherein said camera is operable to capture image data;

wherein said camera is disposed in a cabin of the equipped vehicle and wherein said forward field of view of said camera is through a windshield of the equipped vehicle;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein an infrared light source is disposed at the equipped vehicle and is operable to emit infrared light forward of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said camera is at least partially sensitive to said emitted infrared light;

wherein, at least in part responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, said vision system is operable to provide a night vision function and at least one of (i) a headlamp control function for controlling a headlamp of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a lane departure warning function, (iii) an adaptive cruise control function, (iv) a sign recognition function, (v) a rain sensing function, (vi) an object detection function and (vii) a pedestrian detection function; and

an in-vehicle communication control and a human-machine interface located at an interior assembly of the equipped vehicle, wherein said human-machine interface is connected to said in-vehicle communication control via a connective link to communicate at least one human-machine interface signal between said human-machine interface and said in-vehicle communication control, and wherein a global positioning system communicates at least one GPS-derive signal to one of said interior assembly and said in-vehicle communication control via said connective link, said at least one human-machine interface signal and said at least one GPS-derived signal sharing said connective link such that said connective link comprises a shared common connective link between said in-vehicle communication control and said interior assembly.

23. The vision system of claim 22, wherein said vision system comprises a connection to a network bus of the equipped vehicle.

24. The vision system of claim 22, comprising a display operable to display video images captured by said camera.

25. The vision system of claim 22, wherein said camera is part of one of (i) a windshield electronics module of the equipped vehicle and (ii) an interior rearview minor assembly of the equipped vehicle.