VEHICLE AUTOMATIC EXTERIOR LIGHT CONTROL

• US 20080044062A1
• Filed: 10/25/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Roberts, John, Poe, G., Stam, Joseph, Bechtel, Jon, Reese, Spencer, Tonar, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/085 due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/054 Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/056 Special anti-blinding beams, e.g. a standard beam is chopped or moved in order not to blind
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/112 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/116 Vehicle at a stop
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/122 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/134 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/142 Turn signal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/144 Rearward ratio actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/21 Manual control
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/314 Ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/32 Road surface or travel path
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/322 Road curvature
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/332 on city roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/3321 Detection of streetlights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/333 on suburban or country roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/334 : on motorways
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/337 : Tunnels or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/41 : preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 : oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/30 : Daytime running lights [DRL], e.g. circuits or arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/141 : Control of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/10 : Terrestrial scenes scenes under surveillance with static cameras G06V20/52; scenes perceived from the exterior of a vehicle G06V20/56; scenes perceived from the interior of a vehicle G06V20/59
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 : of vehicle lights or traffic lights

Abstract

A system and method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps including an image sensor and a controller to generate headlamp control signals.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system, comprising:

a first image sensor focused at a distance for detecting lights;

a second image sensor focused near the window;

windshield wipers;

headlights; and

a controller coupled to the first image sensor, the second image sensor focused near the window, the windshield wipers, and the headlights, wherein the controller is operable to control the headlights responsive to the first image sensor, control the windshield wipers to operate in response to the second image sensor when rain is on the window, and the controller being further operable to control the first image sensor to image a scene when the windshield wipers are not in front of the first image sensor.

2. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein said first image sensor is disposed in a rearview mirror assembly.

3. The vehicle control system of claim 2, wherein said second image sensor is disposed in a rearview mirror assembly.

4. The vehicle control system of claim 3, wherein said controller is disposed in a rearview mirror assembly.

5. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein said second image sensor is disposed in a rearview mirror assembly.

6. The vehicle control system of claim 5, wherein said controller is disposed in a rearview mirror assembly.

7. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein said controller is disposed in a rearview mirror assembly.

8. The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein said controller identifies and determines the brightness of light sources in images obtained from said first imaging sensor and for controls a beam pattern of headlamps of the vehicle as a function of the brightness of light sources within the images.

9. A method of making an optical sensor assembly package including an image sensor die comprising the steps of:

covering the die with an epoxy;

positioning an adhesive on the epoxy;

positioning an optical structure on the adhesive; and

curing the adhesive to form the integral package.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of molding the lens structure to include a lens.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of covering includes covering the die with a glob-top epoxy.

12. The method of claim 9, further including the step of molding the lens structure to include a first lens having a filter for removing light of at least a first wave length.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of molding the lens structure further includes molding a second lens passing at least light of the first wave length.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of covering includes covering the die with a glob-top epoxy.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of covering includes covering the die with a glob-top epoxy.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of applying at least one filter to the surface of the image sensor die.

17. The method of claim 9, further including the step of applying at least one filter to the surface of the image sensor die.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of applying at least one filter includes applying two or more filters to respective areas on the surface of the sensor.

19. The method of claim 9, further including the step of mounting an electronically controlled filter.