IMAGING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

• US 20100045797A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Donnelly Corporation (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schofield, Kenneth, Lynam, Niall R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/148 Instrument input by voice
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/27 using semi-transparent optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/331 Electroluminescent elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/334 Projection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/589 Wireless data transfers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/777 on or in sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/81 for controlling displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/85 Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/08 automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/42 oncoming vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/001 integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/04 mounted inside vehicle B60R1/025, B60R1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 : in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 : to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 : Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1215 : with information displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 : with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 : Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 : using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/207 : using multi-purpose displays, e.g. camera image and navigation or video on same display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 : characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 : combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 : combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/804 : for lane monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 : for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 : Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 : Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 : Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/147 : Details of sensors, e.g. sensor lenses fingerprint or palmprint sensors G06V40/13; vascular sensors G06V40/145; eye sensors G06V40/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 : of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 : of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 : Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A driver assistance system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with the driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle. The imaging device is operable to capture image data and an image processor is operable to process image data captured by the imaging device. The equipped vehicle includes an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle, and the speed of the equipped vehicle is controlled by the adaptive speed control system at least in part responsive to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the imaging device.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle is controlled by said adaptive speed control system at least in part responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of traffic signage.

3. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said adaptive speed control system controls the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a cruise control speed setting of said adaptive speed control system of the equipped vehicle.

4. The driver assistance system of claim 3, wherein said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

5. The driver assistance system of claim 3, wherein said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of traffic signage indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

6. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to at least one of (a) the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (b) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign and (c) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

7. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of at least one of (a) a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle and (b) a sign indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

8. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

9. The driver assistance system of claim 8, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to be below or generally at the speed level indicated on said warning sign.

10. The driver assistance system of claim 9, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to above the speed level indicated on said warning sign when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

11. The driver assistance system of claim 10, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to a cruise control speed setting.

12. The driver assistance system of claim 2, comprising a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle, and comprising speed sensing for determining a speed of the equipped vehicle, and comprising an information display disposed at a location in the interior cabin of the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein said driver assistance system determines a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling based at least in part on at least one of (a) image data and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

13. The driver assistance system of claim 12, wherein said driver assistance system determines a difference between the current speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which equipped vehicle is traveling.

14. The driver assistance system of claim 13, wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein the displayed information comprises the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

15. The driver assistance system of claim 14, wherein the displayed information comprises the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling and at least one of (a) the speed of the equipped vehicle and (b) a difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

16. The driver assistance system of claim 14, wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount.

17. The driver assistance system of claim 16, wherein said alert comprises one of (a) a change in intensity of displayed information, (b) a flashing of displayed information, (c) a change in color of displayed information, (d) highlighting of displayed information, (e) an audible alert, (f) a tactile alert and (g) a haptic alert.

18. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said processing of captured image data by said image processor comprises at least one of (i) recognition of a speed limit sign and (ii) recognition of a speed limit sign and character recognition of characters on the recognized speed limit sign.

19. The driver assistance system of claim 18, wherein an information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor.

20. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein an information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor.

21. The driver assistance system of claim 20, wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling reaches a threshold amount.

22. The driver assistance system of claim 21, wherein said threshold amount is selectable by a driver of the equipped vehicle.

23. The driver assistance system of claim 21, wherein said threshold amount is dynamic and responsive to the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

24. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein an information display displays a display of a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert when said driver assistance system determines a change in the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

25. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said driver assistance system detects a warning sign ahead of the equipped vehicle that indicates that the equipped vehicle is approaching at least one of (i) a curve in the road and (ii) a turn in the road.

26. The driver assistance system of claim 25, wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to detection of said warning sign.

27. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said driver assistance system determines a safe speed of travel of the equipped vehicle around a curve in the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle.

28. The driver assistance system of claim 2, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to detect at least one of (a) a railroad crossing sign and wherein said driver assistance system determines when the railroad crossing sign is activated, and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a determination that said railroad crossing sign is activated, (b) a school bus stopping signal and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a detection of an activated school bus stopping signal, and (c) a pedestrian road crossing signal and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a detection of an activated pedestrian road crossing signal.

29. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle is controlled by said adaptive speed control system at least in part responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein said adaptive speed control system controls the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a cruise control speed setting of said adaptive speed control system of the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said driver assistance system determines a speed of travel of the equipped vehicle around a curve in the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to image data processed by said image processor.

30. The driver assistance system of claim 29, wherein at least one of (a) said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, and (b) said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of traffic signage.

31. The driver assistance system of claim 29, wherein at least one of (a) said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to at least one of (i) the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (ii) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign and (iii) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, (b) said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of at least one of (i) a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a sign indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, and (c) said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

32. The driver assistance system of claim 29, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to be below or generally at the speed level indicated on said warning sign.

33. The driver assistance system of claim 32, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to above the speed level indicated on said warning sign when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

34. The driver assistance system of claim 33, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to a cruise control speed setting.

35. The driver assistance system of claim 29, comprising a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle, and comprising speed sensing for determining a speed of the equipped vehicle, and comprising an information display disposed at a location in the interior cabin of the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein said driver assistance system determines a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling based at least in part on at least one of (a) image data and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

36. The driver assistance system of claim 35, wherein said driver assistance system determines a difference between the current speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which equipped vehicle is traveling.

37. The driver assistance system of claim 36, wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein the displayed information comprises the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

38. The driver assistance system of claim 37, wherein at least one of (a) the displayed information comprises the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling and at least one of (i) the speed of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (b) said driver assistance system generates an alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount, and (c) said driver assistance system generates an alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount and wherein said alert comprises one of (i) a change in intensity of displayed information, (ii) a flashing of displayed information, (iii) a change in color of displayed information, (iv) highlighting of displayed information, (v) an audible alert, (vi) a tactile alert and (vii) a haptic alert.

39. The driver assistance system of claim 29, wherein at least one of (a) said processing of captured image data by said image processor comprises at least one of (i) recognition of a speed limit sign and (ii) recognition of a speed limit sign and character recognition of characters on the recognized speed limit sign, and (b) an information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor.

40. The driver assistance system of claim 29, wherein at least one of (a) an information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor, (b) an information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling reaches a threshold amount, and (c) an information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling reaches a threshold amount and wherein said threshold amount is at least one of (i) selectable by a driver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) dynamic and responsive to the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

41. The driver assistance system of claim 29, wherein at least one of (a) an information display displays a display of a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert when said driver assistance system determines a change in the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (b) said driver assistance system detects a warning sign ahead of the equipped vehicle that indicates that the equipped vehicle is approaching at least one of (i) a curve in the road and (ii) a turn in the road, (c) said driver assistance system detects a warning sign ahead of the equipped vehicle that indicates that the equipped vehicle is approaching at least one of (i) a curve in the road and (ii) a turn in the road, and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to detection of said warning sign, and (d) said driver assistance system determines a safe speed of travel of the equipped vehicle around a curve in the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle.

42. The driver assistance system of claim 29, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to detect at least one of (a) a railroad crossing sign and wherein said driver assistance system determines when the railroad crossing sign is activated, and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a determination that said railroad crossing sign is activated, (b) a school bus stopping signal and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a detection of an activated school bus stopping signal, and (c) a pedestrian road crossing signal and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a detection of an activated pedestrian road crossing signal.

43. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle is controlled by said adaptive speed control system at least in part responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein said adaptive speed control system controls the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive at least in part to a cruise control speed setting of said adaptive speed control system of the equipped vehicle;

a global positioning system operable to determine a geographical location of the equipped vehicle;

speed sensing for determining a speed of the equipped vehicle;

an information display disposed at a location in the interior cabin of the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle; and

wherein said driver assistance system determines a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling based at least in part on at least one of (a) image data and (b) the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

44. The driver assistance system of claim 43, wherein at least one of (a) said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, and (b) said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of traffic signage.

45. The driver assistance system of claim 43, wherein at least one of (a) said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to at least one of (i) the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (ii) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign and (iii) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, (b) said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of at least one of (i) a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a sign indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, and (c) said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

46. The driver assistance system of claim 45, wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle responsive to image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said adaptive speed control system reduces the speed of the equipped vehicle to be below or generally at the speed level indicated on said warning sign.

47. The driver assistance system of claim 46, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to above the speed level indicated on said warning sign when the equipped vehicle is traveling along a straighter section of road after the curve in the road.

48. The driver assistance system of claim 47, wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle increases to a cruise control speed setting.

49. The driver assistance system of claim 43, wherein said driver assistance system determines a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling based at least in part on image data and the current geographical location of the equipped vehicle as determined by said global positioning system.

50. The driver assistance system of claim 49, wherein said driver assistance system determines a difference between the current speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which equipped vehicle is traveling.

51. The driver assistance system of claim 50, wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein the displayed information comprises the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

52. The driver assistance system of claim 51, wherein at least one of (a) the displayed information comprises the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling and at least one of (i) the speed of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (b) said driver assistance system generates an alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount, and (c) said driver assistance system generates an alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount and wherein said alert comprises one of (i) a change in intensity of displayed information, (ii) a flashing of displayed information, (iii) a change in color of displayed information, (iv) highlighting of displayed information, (v) an audible alert, (vi) a tactile alert and (vii) a haptic alert.

53. The driver assistance system of claim 43, wherein at least one of (a) said processing of captured image data by said image processor comprises at least one of (i) recognition of a speed limit sign and (ii) recognition of a speed limit sign and character recognition of characters on the recognized speed limit sign, and (b) said information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor.

54. The driver assistance system of claim 43, wherein at least one of (a) said information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor, (b) said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling reaches a threshold amount, and (c) said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling reaches a threshold amount, and wherein said threshold amount is at least one of (i) selectable by a driver of the equipped vehicle and (ii) dynamic and responsive to the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.

55. The driver assistance system of claim 43, wherein at least one of (a) said information display displays a display of a speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert when said driver assistance system determines a change in the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (b) said driver assistance system detects a warning sign ahead of the equipped vehicle that indicates that the equipped vehicle is approaching at least one of (i) a curve in the road and (ii) a turn in the road, (c) said driver assistance system detects a warning sign ahead of the equipped vehicle that indicates that the equipped vehicle is approaching at least one of (i) a curve in the road and (ii) a turn in the road, and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to detection of said warning sign, and (d) said driver assistance system determines a safe speed of travel of the equipped vehicle around a curve in the road being traveled by the equipped vehicle.

56. The driver assistance system of claim 43, wherein said driver assistance system is operable to detect at least one of (a) a railroad crossing sign and wherein said driver assistance system determines when the railroad crossing sign is activated, and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a determination that said railroad crossing sign is activated, (b) a school bus stopping signal and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a detection of an activated school bus stopping signal, and (c) a pedestrian road crossing signal and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle responsive to a detection of an activated pedestrian road crossing signal.

57. A driver assistance system for a vehicle, said driver assistance system comprising:

an imaging device having a field of view forward of a vehicle equipped with said driver assistance system and in a direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;

an image processor operable to process image data captured by said imaging device;

wherein the equipped vehicle comprises an adaptive speed control system for controlling the speed of the equipped vehicle;

wherein the speed of the equipped vehicle is controlled by said adaptive speed control system at least in part responsive to processing by said image processor of image data captured by said imaging device of traffic signage; and

wherein said traffic signage is selected from the set consisting of (i) a speed limit sign, (ii) a warning sign, (iii) a warning sign for a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle, (iv) a railroad crossing sign, (v) a school bus stopping signal and (vi) a pedestrian road crossing signal.

58. The driver assistance system of claim 57, wherein said adaptive speed control system adjusts the speed of the equipped vehicle at least in part responsive to at least one of (a) the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (b) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a warning sign and (c) image data processed by said image processor that is indicative of a curve in the road ahead of the equipped vehicle.

59. The driver assistance system of claim 57, comprising an information display disposed at a location in the interior cabin of the vehicle and viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the driver is normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein the displayed information comprises the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, and wherein said driver assistance system generates an alert when the speed of the equipped vehicle exceeds a threshold amount, and wherein said alert comprises one of (a) a change in intensity of displayed information, (b) a flashing of displayed information, (c) a change in color of displayed information, (d) highlighting of displayed information, (e) an audible alert, (f) a tactile alert and (g) a haptic alert.

60. The driver assistance system of claim 57, wherein an information display displays the speed of the equipped vehicle at or near a display of the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle and wherein the speed limit is determined via recognition of a speed limit sign based at least in part on image data processed by said image processor, and wherein said information display displays information for viewing by the driver of the equipped vehicle when the difference between the speed of the equipped vehicle and the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling reaches a threshold amount, and wherein said threshold amount is at least one of (a) selectable by a driver of the equipped vehicle and (b) dynamic and responsive to the speed limit for the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling.