METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER WHILE DRIVING A VEHICLE BY DETECTING WEATHER-RELATED VISIBILITY LIMITATIONS

• US 20130103257A1
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Randler, Martin, Bauer, Jochen, Almedia, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 9,128,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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 1/20 Fog lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/303 Rear fog lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle and of the windshield are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle and of the windshield are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield,

wherein

the camera comprises a bifocal optical element so that the camera is focused on the windshield in a first image region and focused on the surroundings of the vehicle in a second image region;

at least one image is generated by the camera for;

the detection of wetting of at least one of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and condensate, the image data of the first image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system and, in the event of a detection, a first evaluation signal that indicates wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate is generated, and

the detection of a visibility limitation, due to fog and/or wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate, the image data of the second image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system and, in the event of a detection, a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation is generated;

a control device is provided that activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if the first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and

the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle, and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the image data of the surroundings of the vehicle acquired by the camera are supplied to a further image processing system.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the image of the surroundings of the vehicle is acquired with a focal length that is adjusted to infinity.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the image data of the at least one image of the surroundings of the vehicle are evaluated by the image processing system on the basis of the contrast quality of the image data in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation.

14. A method for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield,

wherein

a rain sensor is provided, by which a first evaluation signal is generated if at least one of the inner and outer surface of the windshield is wetted with moisture and/or condensate, for the detection of a visibility limitation, due to fog and/or wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate, the camera is focused on the surroundings of the vehicle and at least one image is generated, wherein the image data of the at least one image of the surroundings of the vehicle are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation;

a control device is provided that activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if the first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and

the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the rain sensor is an optoelectronic sensor.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the image data of the surroundings of the vehicle acquired by the camera are supplied to a further image processing system.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the image of the surroundings of the vehicle is acquired with a focal length that is adjusted to infinity.

18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the image data of the at least one image of the surroundings of the vehicle are evaluated by the image processing system on the basis of the contrast quality of the image data in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation.

19. A device for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle and of the windshield are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield, wherein

the camera comprises a bifocal optical element so that the camera is focused on the windshield in a first image region and focused on the surroundings of the vehicle in a second image region;

a control device is provided that activates the camera in such a manner that at least one image of the windshield and of the surroundings of the vehicle is generated, wherein the image data of the first image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a first evaluation signal that indicates wetting of at least one of the inner and outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate and wherein the image data of the second image region of the at least one image are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation;

the control device activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if the first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and

the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present.

20. A device for assisting a driver in driving a vehicle by detecting weather-related visibility limitations, wherein image data of the surroundings of the vehicle are generated by a camera that is directed toward the windshield, wherein

a rain sensor is provided, by which a first evaluation signal is generated if at least one of the inner and outer surface of the windshield is wetted with moisture and/or condensate;

a control device is provided that activates the camera in such a manner that at least one image is generated in order to detect a visibility limitation, due to fog and/or wetting of the inner and/or outer surface of the windshield with moisture and/or condensate, wherein the image data of the at least one image of the surroundings of the vehicle are evaluated by an image processing system in order to generate a second evaluation signal that indicates the visibility limitation;

the control device activates a windshield wiper of the vehicle if first and second evaluation signals have been generated, said windshield wiper wiping the windshield in the visual range of the camera, and that deactivates the windshield wiper after a predetermined period if the first and second evaluation signals are still present after the predetermined period, and that activates a windshield heater of the vehicle after deactivating the windshield wipers; and

the control device activates at least one of a warning device of the vehicle, a fog lamp of the vehicle and a rear fog lamp of the vehicle if only the second evaluation signal is present.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein the rain sensor is an optoelectronic sensor.