Imaging system for vehicle
First Claim
1. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
- an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements, said two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of sub-arrays, wherein each sub-array of said plurality of sub-arrays comprises four photosensing pixels comprising a first photosensing pixel, a second photosensing pixel, a third photosensing pixel and a fourth photosensing pixel;
wherein said four photosensing pixels of each said sub-array are arranged in a 2×
2 matrix with said fourth photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said first photosensing pixel and with said third photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said second photosensing pixel;
wherein one of (a) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said fourth photosensing pixel whereby said fourth pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation and (b) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said third photosensing pixel whereby said third pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation;
wherein said imaging sensor is configured to be disposed at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system and wherein, when said imaging sensor is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a field of view forwardly of the equipped vehicle through a windshield of the equipped vehicle;
an image processor for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor, wherein said image processor processes the output of each said sub-array to determine at least one of an infrared component of the imaged scene and a visible light component of the imaged scene;
wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of the output of each said sub-array and with said imaging sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle and viewing forwardly through the windshield, said imaging system is operable to detect at least one of (i) a headlight of a vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a taillight of a vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a lane marking and (iv) a traffic sign.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor having four photosensing pixels of a sub-array, with one of (a) a red-light transmitting spectral filter disposed at a first photosensing pixel whereby the first pixel of each sub-array primarily senses red visible light and with an IR transmitting spectral filter disposed at the fourth photosensing pixel whereby the fourth pixel of each sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation, and (b) a red-light transmitting spectral filter disposed at a first photosensing pixel whereby the first pixel of each sub-array primarily senses red visible light and with an IR transmitting spectral filter disposed at a third photosensing pixel whereby the third pixel of each sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation. An image processor processes the output of each sub-array to determine at least one of an infrared component of the imaged scene and a visible light component of the imaged scene.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
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an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements, said two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of sub-arrays, wherein each sub-array of said plurality of sub-arrays comprises four photosensing pixels comprising a first photosensing pixel, a second photosensing pixel, a third photosensing pixel and a fourth photosensing pixel; wherein said four photosensing pixels of each said sub-array are arranged in a 2×
2 matrix with said fourth photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said first photosensing pixel and with said third photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said second photosensing pixel;wherein one of (a) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said fourth photosensing pixel whereby said fourth pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation and (b) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said third photosensing pixel whereby said third pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation; wherein said imaging sensor is configured to be disposed at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system and wherein, when said imaging sensor is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a field of view forwardly of the equipped vehicle through a windshield of the equipped vehicle; an image processor for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor, wherein said image processor processes the output of each said sub-array to determine at least one of an infrared component of the imaged scene and a visible light component of the imaged scene; wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of the output of each said sub-array and with said imaging sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle and viewing forwardly through the windshield, said imaging system is operable to detect at least one of (i) a headlight of a vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a taillight of a vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a lane marking and (iv) a traffic sign. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
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an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements, said two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of sub-arrays, wherein each sub-array of said plurality of sub-arrays comprises four photosensing pixels comprising a first photosensing pixel, a second photosensing pixel, a third photosensing pixel and a fourth photosensing pixel; wherein said four photosensing pixels of each said sub-array are arranged in a 2×
2 matrix with said fourth photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said first photosensing pixel and with said third photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said second photosensing pixel;wherein one of (a) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said fourth photosensing pixel whereby said fourth pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation and (b) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said third photosensing pixel whereby said third pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation; wherein said imaging sensor is configured to be disposed at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system and wherein, when said imaging sensor is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a field of view forwardly of the equipped vehicle through a windshield of the equipped vehicle; an image processor for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor, wherein said image processor processes the output of each said sub-array to determine at least one of an infrared component of the imaged scene and a visible light component of the imaged scene; wherein said second photosensing pixel of each said sub-array is a clear photosensing pixel; and wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of the output of each said sub-array and with said imaging sensor disposed at the equipped vehicle and viewing forwardly through the windshield, said imaging system is operable to detect at least one of (i) a headlight of a vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a taillight of a vehicle ahead of the equipped vehicle, (iii) a lane marking and (iv) a traffic sign. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:
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an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements, said two-dimensional array comprising a plurality of sub-arrays, wherein each sub-array of said plurality of sub-arrays comprises four photosensing pixels comprising a first photosensing pixel, a second photosensing pixel, a third photosensing pixel and a fourth photosensing pixel; wherein said four photosensing pixels of each said sub-array are arranged in a 2×
2 matrix with said fourth photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said first photosensing pixel and with said third photosensing pixel disposed diagonally to said second photosensing pixel;wherein one of (a) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said fourth photosensing pixel whereby said fourth pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation and (b) a red-light transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said first photosensing pixel whereby said first pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses red visible light and wherein an IR transmitting spectral filter is disposed at said third photosensing pixel whereby said third pixel of each said sub-array primarily senses infrared radiation; wherein said imaging sensor is configured to be disposed at a vehicle equipped with said imaging system and wherein, when said imaging sensor is disposed at the equipped vehicle, said imaging sensor has a field of view forwardly of the equipped vehicle through a windshield of the equipped vehicle; an image processor for processing image data captured by said imaging sensor, wherein said image processor processes the output of each said sub-array to determine at least one of an infrared component of the imaged scene and a visible light component of the imaged scene; wherein said second photosensing pixel of each said sub-array is a clear photosensing pixel; wherein said imaging system is associated with at least one of an automatic headlamp control system, a lane departure warning system, an object detection system and a night vision system; and wherein said two-dimensional array of photosensing elements comprises at least 262,144 photosensing pixels. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification