Method for calibrating a camera-based system

• US 8,957,963 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2010
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ADC GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: ADC GmbH (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Almeida, Carlos, Fechner, Thomas, Schaale, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, JARED T
• Application Number:
  US13/146,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• Field of Search: 348/135, 348/148
• US Class Current: 348/135
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method for calibrating a camera-based system of a vehicle (F), having a pane (S), in particular of a camera-based driver assistance system. A type of the pane (S), in particular the tinting thereof, is detected by way of the camera-based system.

Claims

1. A method for calibrating a camera-based system of a vehicle including a windshield pane, the method comprising:

capturing, by the camera-based system, an image through the windshield pane;

determining information in the captured image;

forming an average value of the information in the captured image;

comparing the average value determined by way of the camera-based system with an average value stored in the system; and

automatically detecting, by the camera-based system, a type of the windshield pane based on the comparison of the average values, and independent of a marker on the windshield pane.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising determining values of detected road sections (FA).

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising determining values of detected external light sources.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising determining the values of the headlight (SL) and/or the average value of the headlight (SL) based upon an image position.

5. A method according to claim 3 further comprising performing a white balance of the camera-based system by comparing an average value of the headlight (SL) with a standard value of a reference headlight stored in the camera-based system.

6. A method according to claim 1 further comprising statistically evaluating a predetermined image section (B1, B2).

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising using a color camera for determining a brightness values and/or color values.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising performing electronic image processing.

9. A method according to claim 1 further comprising automatically adapting parameters of the camera-based system corresponding to the detected type of the pane.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein adaptation of the parameters is performed by selecting parameters stored for the type of the pane in the camera-based system.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein a tinting of the pane is automatically detected by way of the camera-based system.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the camera-based system of the vehicle is a camera-based driver assistance system.

13. A method for calibrating a camera-based driver assistance system of a vehicle having a tinted window pane, the method comprising:

capturing, by the camera-based system, an image through the window pane;

determining information in the captured image, the information including at least one of a color value or a brightness value;

forming an average value of the information in the captured image;

comparing the average value determined by way of the camera-based system with an average value stored in the system; and

the step of automatically detecting, by the camera-based system, a type of the window pane based on the comparison of the average values, and independent of a marker on the window pane.