Process and device for improving the visibility in vehicles

• US 6,996,253 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Gloger, Joachim, Ritter, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US10/143,152
• Publication Number:
  US 20020172400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 382/104, 382/162, 382/167, 382/270, 382/274, 348/118, 348/122, 348/164, 340/937, 250/330
• US Class Current: 382/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for improving the view in vehicles, in particular at night, bad weather and fog. In the process images of actual traffic scenes are recorded by a camera (2), which is sensitive outside the visible spectrum, and these images are reproduced in the visible spectrum in the vehicle via a display optic (6). According to the invention the type of object which is contained in a traffic scene recorded by the camera (2) is automatically classified according to type, and depending upon the type of the recognized object it is reproduced on the display optic (6) in an intensity and/or color, which corresponds to the intensity and/or color which the associated object typically has by daylight. The process facilitates the recognition by the vehicle operator of images of traffic scenes recorded outside the visible spectrum.

Claims

1. A visibility improving device for traffic situation recognition comprising:

a vehicle mounted headlight emitting radiation outside the visible spectrum,

a camera (2) sensitive to said radiation outside the visible spectrum, for recording video images of actual traffic scenes,

a device (8) for recognizing types of objects contained in the traffic scene recorded by the camera (2),

a device (10, 4) for assigning to a recognized type of object an intensity and/or a color which corresponds to the intensity and/or color which the associated object typically has by daylight, and

an optical display in the vehicle for reproducing the recorded image representing the traffic situation in the visible spectrum including reproducing recognized types of objects with the intensity and/or the color assigned by the device (10, 4).

2. The visibility improving device as in claim 1, wherein device (8) for recognizing types of objects is programmed to recognize at least one of the following types of object:

vehicle, person, animal, street, forest and meadow.

3. The visibility improving device as in claim 1, wherein the device for assigning intensity and/or a color (10, 4) receives location and outline information from said recognition device (8) and assigns color intensity and color to the object within said outline without modifying said outline.

4. The visibility improving device as in claim 1, wherein the device for assigning intensity and/or a color (10, 4) reads object color attributes programmed into an object color attribution memory.

5. The visibility improving device as in claim 4, wherein for color attribution the color matching device (10) receives input from at least one additional input selected from an external thermometer, clock, and rain sensor.

6. A process for improving the visibility in a vehicle, comprising:

recording an image of an actual traffic scene by means of a camera which is sensitive outside the visible spectrum,

automatically recognizing types of objects contained in the traffic scene recorded by the camera (2),

reproducing the recorded image of the actual traffic scene, however in the visible spectrum, within the vehicle on an optical display (6),

wherein objects recognized by type are reproduced in an intensity and/or color which corresponds to the intensity and/or color which the object typically has during daylight, whereby said display facilitates recognition of the traffic situation.

7. A process as in claim 6, further comprising illuminating the traffic scene with a headlight emitting non-visible light.

8. A process as in claim 6, wherein the outline, relative size, and relative motion of the object is not modified.