Method for distinguishing between reflectors arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights in the dark
First Claim
1. A method for distinguishing between reflectors (R) arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights (FL1, FL2) and identifying said reflectors (R) and vehicle lights (FL1, FL2) for use in a vehicle with a camera sensor oriented towards the surroundings of the vehicle, comprising:
- recording a sequence of images of the surroundings of the vehicle;
finding and temporally tracking light spots within the sequence of images;
deciding, for each light spot, whether the light source of the light spot is a vehicle light (FL1, FL2) or a reflector (R);
determining a statistical map for the entire camera image from the position of the light spots found, by defining reflector regions within the camera image that are predominantly occupied by reflectors (R) and defining vehicle regions within the camera image that are predominantly occupied by vehicles driving ahead (FL2) or by oncoming vehicles (FL1), the reflector regions being separate from the vehicle regions;
identifying all light sources that are found within the reflector regions as potential reflectors (R); and
identifying all light sources within the vehicle regions as potential vehicle lights (FL1, FL2).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and a device for distinguishing between reflectors arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights and for identifying said reflectors and vehicle lights for use in an automatic light control system in a vehicle with a camera sensor oriented towards the surroundings of the vehicle. The method includes recording a sequence of images of the surroundings of the vehicle. Light spots are found and subjected to temporal tracking within the sequence of images. Afterwards, for each light spot, a decision is made whether the light source of the light spot is a vehicle light or a reflector. A statistical map for the entire camera image is determined from the position of the light spots found with the statistical map comprising regions that are predominantly occupied by reflectors and regions that are predominantly occupied by vehicles driving ahead or by oncoming vehicles. All light sources that are found within the regions occupied by reflectors are identified as potential reflectors and all light sources within the regions occupied by vehicle lights are identified as potential vehicle lights.
13 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method for distinguishing between reflectors (R) arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights (FL1, FL2) and identifying said reflectors (R) and vehicle lights (FL1, FL2) for use in a vehicle with a camera sensor oriented towards the surroundings of the vehicle, comprising:
-
recording a sequence of images of the surroundings of the vehicle; finding and temporally tracking light spots within the sequence of images; deciding, for each light spot, whether the light source of the light spot is a vehicle light (FL1, FL2) or a reflector (R); determining a statistical map for the entire camera image from the position of the light spots found, by defining reflector regions within the camera image that are predominantly occupied by reflectors (R) and defining vehicle regions within the camera image that are predominantly occupied by vehicles driving ahead (FL2) or by oncoming vehicles (FL1), the reflector regions being separate from the vehicle regions; identifying all light sources that are found within the reflector regions as potential reflectors (R); and identifying all light sources within the vehicle regions as potential vehicle lights (FL1, FL2). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
Specification