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Traveling environment detection device

  • US 9,372,112 B2
  • Filed: 05/14/2013
  • Issued: 06/21/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A traveling environment detection device, comprising:

  • an image obtaining unit obtaining captured images of an outside of a vehicle, the images being captured at different times;

    a parameter extracting unit extracting a parameter from the captured images, the parameter being a parameter relating to brightness of a road surface of a road where the vehicle is traveling, the parameter extracting unit extracting, as the parameter relating to brightness of a road surface, time rate of change in luminance of road surface portions in the captured images;

    a traveling environment estimating unit estimating a traveling environment of the vehicle on the basis of the parameter;

    a vehicle light source information obtaining unit obtaining vehicle light source information for detecting a light source of a vehicle, the vehicle light source information depending on the estimated traveling environment;

    a vehicle light source detecting unit detecting the light source of a vehicle from the captured images on the basis of the vehicle light source information depending on the traveling environment; and

    a lighting area change unit changing a lighting area of a headlight such that the lighting area is out of the light source of a vehicle, when the vehicle light source detecting unit has detected the light source of a vehicle, whereinthe vehicle light source detecting unit includes;

    a light source extracting unit extracting a light source from the captured images; and

    a light source determining unit determining whether or not the light source is the light source of a vehicle on the basis of probability information, the probability information including probability of being the light source of a vehicle related to positions in the captured images, andthe vehicle light source information obtaining unit includes a probability changing unit changing the relation between the positions in the captured images and the probability of being the light source of a vehicle in the probability information, depending on the estimated traveling environment.

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