VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH TRAFFIC SIGN RECOGNITION

• US 20180225530A1
• Filed: 02/05/2018
• Published: 08/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kunze, Norbert, Singh, Harjeet
• Granted Patent: US 10,607,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 of traffic signs
• 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

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera and a control. The control determines information on traffic signs and determines whether an indicated speed limit is for the lane being traveled by the vehicle. The vision system determines whether the indicated speed limit is for the lane being traveled by the vehicle responsive to a determination that the sign is at the left side of the lane and has an indicator representative of the right side of the lane and leaves the field of view at its left side, determination that the sign is at the right side of the lane and has an indicator representative of the left side of the lane and leaves the field of view at its right side, or determination of a speed limit sign at both sides of the road being traveled by the vehicle with both signs indicating the same speed limit.

Claims

1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view forward of the vehicle;

a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said control, responsive to image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, determines information on traffic signs present in the forward field of view of said camera;

wherein said control, responsive to detection of at least one speed limit sign at a side of a road being traveled by the vehicle, determines, via image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle; and

wherein said vision system determines whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle responsive to a determination selected from the group consisting of (i) determination that the speed limit sign is at the left side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the left side of the traffic lane and wherein the speed limit sign leaves the field of view at its left side, (ii) determination that the speed limit sign is at the right side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the right side of the traffic lane and wherein the speed limit sign leaves the field of view at its right side, and (iii) determination of a speed limit sign at both sides of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle with both speed limit signs indicating the same speed limit.

2. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system determines whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle responsive to a determination that the speed limit sign is at the left side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the left side of the traffic lane and wherein the speed limit sign leaves the field of view at its left side.

3. The vision system of claim 2, wherein the indicator representing the left side of the traffic lane comprises an arrow pointing toward the right.

4. The vision system of claim 2, wherein the indicator is disposed at any location on the speed limit sign or nearby the speed limit sign.

5. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system determines whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle responsive to a determination that the speed limit sign is at the right side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the right side of the traffic lane and wherein the speed limit sign leaves the field of view at its right side.

6. The vision system of claim 5, wherein the indicator representing the right side of the traffic lane comprises an arrow pointing toward the left.

7. The vision system of claim 5, wherein the indicator is disposed at any location on the speed limit sign or nearby the speed limit sign.

8. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system determines whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle responsive to a determination of a speed limit sign at both sides of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle with both speed limit signs indicating the same speed limit.

9. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system ignores a determined speed limit sign responsive to determination that the determined speed limit sign is at the right side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the left side of the traffic lane.

10. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system ignores a determined speed limit sign responsive to determination that the determined speed limit sign is at the left side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the right side of the traffic lane.

11. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system ignores a determined speed limit sign responsive to determination that the determined speed limit sign is on a road branching off of the road being traveled by the vehicle.

12. The vision system of claim 11, wherein said vision system determines that the speed limit sign is on a road branching off of the road being traveled by the vehicle responsive to determination, via image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, of exit signs ahead of the branching off road.

13. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system determines valid and invalid speed limit signs responsive at least in part to a navigation system of the vehicle.

14. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system determines valid and invalid speed limit signs responsive at least in part to a vehicle to infrastructure communication system.

15. The vision system of claim 1, wherein said vision system determines valid and invalid speed limit signs responsive at least in part to a lane detection system of the vehicle.

16. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view forward of the vehicle;

a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said control, responsive to image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, determines information on traffic signs present in the forward field of view of said camera;

wherein said control, responsive to detection of at least one speed limit sign at a side of a road being traveled by the vehicle, determines, via image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle;

wherein said vision system determines whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle responsive to determination that the speed limit sign is at the right side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the right side of the traffic lane, and wherein the speed limit sign leaves the field of view at its right side;

wherein the indicator is disposed at any location on the speed limit sign or nearby the speed limit sign; and

wherein said vision system ignores a determined speed limit sign responsive to determination that the determined speed limit sign is on a road branching off of the road being traveled by the vehicle.

17. The vision system of claim 16, wherein said vision system determines that the speed limit sign is on a road branching off of the road being traveled by the vehicle responsive to determination, via image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, of exit signs ahead of the branching off road.

18. A vision system for a vehicle, said vision system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view forward of the vehicle;

a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein said control, responsive to image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, determines information on traffic signs present in the forward field of view of said camera;

wherein said control, responsive to detection of at least one speed limit sign at a side of a road being traveled by the vehicle, determines, via image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle;

wherein said vision system determines whether the indicated speed limit is for the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle responsive to determination that the speed limit sign is at the right side of the traffic lane being traveled by the vehicle and has an indicator representing the right side of the traffic lane and wherein the speed limit sign leaves the field of view at its right side;

wherein the indicator is disposed at any location on the speed limit sign or nearby the speed limit sign; and

wherein said vision system determines valid and invalid speed limit signs responsive at least in part to a navigation system of the vehicle.

19. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said vision system determines valid and invalid speed limit signs responsive at least in part to a vehicle to infrastructure communication system.

20. The vision system of claim 18, wherein said vision system determines valid and invalid speed limit signs responsive at least in part to a lane detection system of the vehicle.