Vehicle imaging system and method for distinguishing reflective objects from lights of another vehicle
First Claim
1. An imaging system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an imager configured to image a scene external and forward of the vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to acquired images; and
a processor configured to receive and analyze the image data to detect the presence of a light source and to identify whether such light source is a light of another vehicle;
wherein;
when a light source is detected, said processor is configured to generate a signal that is used to control exterior lights of the vehicle to temporarily modulate at least a portion of an illumination pattern projected from the exterior lights to have a particular modulation pattern at least in the direction of the detected light source,after generating the signal, said processor is configured to analyze the image data subsequently received to detect whether the light source has a modulation pattern corresponding to the modulation pattern of the exterior lights,when the light source does have such a modulation pattern, said processor is configured to determine that the light source is a reflective object and not a light of another vehicle, andwhen the light source does not have such a modulation pattern, said processor is configured to determine that the light source may be a light of another vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging system is provided for a vehicle. The system includes an imager for imaging a forward external scene and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a processor for receiving and analyzing the image data to detect a light source. When a light source is detected, the processor generates a control signal to control exterior lights of the vehicle to temporarily modulate an illumination pattern projected from the exterior lights to have a particular modulation pattern. After generating the control signal, the processor analyzes the image data subsequently received to detect whether the light source has the modulation pattern of the exterior lights. If the light source does have the modulation pattern, the processor determines that the light source is a reflective object and not a light of another vehicle. Otherwise, the processor determines that the light source may be a light of another vehicle.
202 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an imager configured to image a scene external and forward of the vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to acquired images; and a processor configured to receive and analyze the image data to detect the presence of a light source and to identify whether such light source is a light of another vehicle; wherein; when a light source is detected, said processor is configured to generate a signal that is used to control exterior lights of the vehicle to temporarily modulate at least a portion of an illumination pattern projected from the exterior lights to have a particular modulation pattern at least in the direction of the detected light source, after generating the signal, said processor is configured to analyze the image data subsequently received to detect whether the light source has a modulation pattern corresponding to the modulation pattern of the exterior lights, when the light source does have such a modulation pattern, said processor is configured to determine that the light source is a reflective object and not a light of another vehicle, and when the light source does not have such a modulation pattern, said processor is configured to determine that the light source may be a light of another vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for distinguishing between a light of another vehicle and a reflective object, comprising:
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providing an imager for use in a vehicle; imaging a scene external and forward of the vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images; receiving and analyzing the image data in a processor to detect the presence of a light source and to identify whether such light source is a light of another vehicle; when a light source is detected, generating a control signal to control exterior lights of the vehicle to temporarily modulate at least a portion of an illumination pattern projected from the exterior lights to have a particular modulation pattern at least in the direction of the detected light source; after generating the control signal, analyzing the image data subsequently received to detect whether the light source has a modulation pattern corresponding to the modulation pattern of the exterior lights; when the light source does have such a modulation pattern, determining that the light source is a reflective object and not a light of another vehicle; and when the light source does not have such a modulation pattern, determining that the light source may be a light of another vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a processor within a vehicle, cause the processor to distinguish between a light of another vehicle and a reflective object, by executing the steps comprising:
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controlling an imager to image a scene external and forward of the vehicle and generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; receiving and analyzing the image data in a processor to detect the presence of a light source and to identify whether such light source is a light of another vehicle; when a light source is detected, generating a control signal to control exterior lights of the vehicle to temporarily modulate at least a portion of an illumination pattern projected from the exterior lights to have a particular modulation pattern at least in the direction of the detected light source; after generating the control signal, analyzing the image data subsequently received to detect whether the light source has a modulation pattern corresponding to the modulation pattern of the exterior lights; when the light source does have such a modulation pattern, determining that the light source is a reflective object and not a light of another vehicle; and when the light source does not have such a modulation pattern, determining that the light source may be a light of another vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification