Vehicular image sensing system
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:
- an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate;
wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle proximate the windshield of the vehicle and wherein said interior portion is at or proximate to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and wherein said imaging sensor has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through the windshield;
a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor;
wherein said image sensing system identifies objects of interest by processing said image data to identify objects of interest based at least on spectral differentiation; and
wherein identification of objects of interest is enhanced by comparing over successive frames image data associated with objects in said forward field of view of said image sensor.
3 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate. The imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle, and may be at or proximate to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle. The system includes a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from the imaging sensor. The image sensing system may identify objects of interest based on spectral differentiation or by comparing over successive frames image data associated with objects in the forward field of view of the image sensor or by objects of interest being at least one of qualified and disqualified based at least in part on object motion in the field of view of the imaging sensor.
390 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:
-
an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate; wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle proximate the windshield of the vehicle and wherein said interior portion is at or proximate to an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and wherein said imaging sensor has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through the windshield; a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor; wherein said image sensing system identifies objects of interest by processing said image data to identify objects of interest based at least on spectral differentiation; and wherein identification of objects of interest is enhanced by comparing over successive frames image data associated with objects in said forward field of view of said image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:
-
an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate; wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and wherein said imaging sensor has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through an area of the windshield that is swept by a windshield wiper of the vehicle; a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor; said processing of image data comprising, at least in part, a comparison by said logic and control circuit of a frame comprising image data to a successor frame in order to identify, at least in part, an object of interest; and wherein an object of interest is at least one of qualified and disqualified based at least in part on object motion in said field of view of said imaging sensor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:
-
an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate; wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and wherein said imaging sensor has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through the windshield; a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor; wherein said image sensing system identifies objects of interest by processing said image data to identify objects of interest based on at least one of (i) spatial differentiation, (ii) spectral differentiation, and (iii) pattern recognition; wherein identification of objects of interest is enhanced by comparing over successive frames image data associated with objects in said forward field of view of said image sensor; and wherein objects of interest are at least one of qualified and disqualified based on object motion in said field of view of said imaging sensor. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:
-
an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate; wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and wherein said imaging sensor has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through an area of the windshield that is swept by a windshield wiper of the vehicle; a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor; wherein said image sensing system identifies objects of interest by processing said image data to identify objects of interest based at least on spectral differentiation; a spectral filter disposed in front of some but not all of said photosensor elements, wherein said spectral filter comprises a red filter that passes visible light of wavelength generally in the visible red spectral band and that substantially attenuates light having wavelengths outside the visible red spectral band; and wherein a comparison is made by said logic and control circuit of a frame comprising image data to a successor frame in order to identify, at least in part, an object of interest. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:
-
an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate; wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and wherein said imaging sensor has a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through an area of the windshield that is swept by a windshield wiper; a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor; wherein said image sensing system processes said image data to identify objects of interest based on at least one of (i) spatial differentiation, (ii) spectral differentiation, and (iii) pattern recognition; wherein said image sensing system further comprises a lens imaging light external of the vehicle onto said array of light sensing photosensor elements, and wherein said lens is bonded to said imaging sensor; and wherein objects of interest are at least one of qualified and disqualified based at least in part on object motion in said field of view of said imaging sensor. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
Specification