PROCESS FOR DETECTING A PHENOMENON LIMITING THE VISIBILITY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20090118909A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: HUE, David, REBUT, Julien, LELEVE, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 8,315,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/49
• 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 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/45 Special conditions, e.g. pedestrians, road signs or potential dangers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/538 for determining atmospheric attenuation and visibility
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A process and system for detecting a phenomenon limiting the visibility for a motor vehicle. The process and system comprises the steps of determining at least one point of interest in an image captured of the environment of the vehicle (CALC_H(I)); determining a region of interest in the image (CALC_ROI(I)); determining a graph of different levels of grey on the basis of said region of interest (CALC_CL(ROI)), and determining an area in said graph of different levels of grey around said point of interest (CALC_A(CL, H)).

Claims

1. A process for detecting a phenomenon (F) limiting the visibility in the environment (E) of a motor vehicle (V) comprising the following steps:

emitting a beam (FX) from at least one of the headlamps (PJ) of the vehicle (V) into the environment (E) of the vehicle (V);

determining at least one point of interest (H) in an image (I) captured on the environment (E) of the vehicle (V);

determining a region of interest (ROI) in said image (I);

determining a graph of different levels of grey (CL) from said region of interest (ROI); and

determining an area (A) in said graph of different levels of grey (CL) in relation to the determined point of interest (H).

2. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the process contains a supplementary step for:

determining the presence of a phenomenon (F) limiting the visibility in relation to at least one threshold value (VAs) of said area (A).

3. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the process contains a supplementary step for:

determining a visibility distance (DVM) in relation to said area (A).

4. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the point of interest (H) is situated on the horizon line in the image (I).

5. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein the vehicle (V) has a steering angle (α

), and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said image (I) in relation to said steering angle.

7. A computer program product (PG) containing one or more sequences of instructions that can be carried out by a data processing unit, with the execution of said sequences of instructions allowing the process to be implemented in accordance with claim 1.

8. The process in accordance with claim 2, wherein the process contains a supplementary step for:

determining a visibility distance (DVM) in relation to said area (A).

9. The process in accordance with claim 2, wherein the vehicle (V) has a steering angle (α

), and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said image (I) in relation to said steering angle.

10. The process in accordance with claim 3, wherein the vehicle (V) has a steering angle (α

), and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said image (I) in relation to said steering angle.

11. The process in accordance with claim 4, wherein the vehicle (V) has a steering angle (α

), and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said image (I) in relation to said steering angle.

12. The process in accordance with claim 1, wherein said process comprises the step of:

adjusting said headlamps in response to said determining steps.

13. The process in accordance with claim 12, wherein said process comprises the step of:

automatically adjusting said headlamps in response to said determining steps.

6. A device (DISP) for the detection of a phenomenon (F) limiting the visibility in the environment (E) of a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one headlamp (PJ) for;

the emission of a light beam (FX) into the environment (E) of the vehicle (V);

a control unit (UC) for;

determining at least one point of interest (H) in an image (I) captured of the environment (E) of the vehicle (V);

determining a region of interest (ROI) in said image (I);

determining a graph of different levels of grey (CL) on the basis of said region of interest (ROI); and

determining an area (A) in said graph of different levels of grey (CL) in relation to said point of interest (H).

14. The process in accordance with claim 6, wherein said control unit adjusts at least one headlamp in response to said determining steps.

15. The process in accordance with claim 14, wherein said control unit automatically adjusts at least one headlamp in response to said determining steps.