Method of detecting a visibility interference phenomenon for a vehicle

• US 7,944,362 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Vision (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Hue, David, Rebut, Julien
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/269,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/457.2, 340/602, 340/603, 340/604, 340/425.5, 382/104, 382/199, 324/658, 324/664, 250/208.1, 250/339.11
• US Class Current: 340/602
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0008 checking presence/absence
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A method of detecting a visibility interference phenomenon for a motor vehicle. The method includes the steps of: determining a region of interest (ROI) in an acquired image (I) of the environment (E) of the vehicle (V); determining a grey-level curve (CL) from the region of interest (ROI); calculating at least one tangent (TG) from at least one point of interest (PT) in the grey-level curve (CL); and determining a directing coefficient (CF) from the tangent (TG).

Claims

1. A detection method for detecting an interference phenomenon (F) creating atmospheric interference so as to cause a loss of visibility for a user of a motor vehicle (V), comprising the steps of:

determining a region of interest (ROI) in an acquired image (I) of an environment (E) of said motor vehicle (V), said region of interest being vertical and occupying parts of said acquired image (I) on each side of a horizon line (H);

determining a grey-level curve (CL), taking into account only the median value of the grey levels of the pixels situated in said region of interest (ROI) of said acquired image (I);

wherein said detection method also comprises the steps of;

calculating at least one tangent (TG) from a point of interest (PT) in said grey-level curve (CL), said point of interest (PT) being situated above said horizon line (H);

determining a directing coefficient (CF) from said at least one tangent (TG);

deducing the presence of said interference phenomenon (F) from the value of said directing coefficient (CF) determined.

2. The detection method according to claim 1, according to which it further comprises the step of:

determining the presence of said interference phenomenon (F) according to at least one threshold value (VS) of said directing coefficient (CF).

3. The detection method according to claim 2, according to which it further comprises the step of:

determining a visibility distance (DVM) according to said directing coefficient (CF) determined.

4. The detection method according to claim 2, according to which said point of interest (PT) is a point characteristic of a start of light diffusion above a cutoff of a light beam (FX) emitted by headlights (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) in the presence of said interference phenomenon (F).

5. The detection method according to claim 2, according to which said point of interest (PT) is the origin of said grey-level curve (CL).

6. The detection method according to claim 2, according to which said motor vehicle (V) has an angle at a steering wheel, and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said acquired image (I) according to said angle at said steering wheel (α

).

7. The detection method according to claim 1, according to which it further comprises the step of:

determining a visibility distance (DVM) according to said directing coefficient (CF) determined.

8. The detection method according to claim 7, according to which said point of interest (PT) is a point characteristic of a start of light diffusion above a cutoff of a light beam (FX) emitted by headlights (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) in the presence of said interference phenomenon (F).

9. The detection method according to claim 7, according to which said point of interest (PT) is the origin of said grey-level curve (CL).

10. The detection method according to claim 7, according to which said motor vehicle (V) has an angle at a steering wheel, and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said acquired image (I) according to said angle at said steering wheel (α

).

11. The detection method according to claim 1, according to which said point of interest (PT) is a point characteristic of a start of light diffusion above a cutoff of a light beam (FX) emitted by headlights (PJ) of said motor vehicle (V) in the presence of said interference phenomenon (F).

12. The detection method according to claim 11, according to which said point of interest (PT) is the origin of said grey-level curve (CL).

13. The detection method according to claim 11, according to which said motor vehicle (V) has an angle at a steering wheel, and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said acquired image (I) according to said angle at said steering wheel (α

).

14. The detection method according to claim 1, according to which said point of interest (PT) is the origin of said grey-level curve (CL).

15. The detection method according to claim 14, according to which said motor vehicle (V) has an angle at a steering wheel, and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said acquired image (I) according to said angle at said steering wheel (α

).

16. The detection method according to claim 1, according to which said motor vehicle (V) has an angle at a steering wheel, and said region of interest (ROI) is determined in said acquired image (I) according to said angle at said steering wheel (α

).

17. Computer program product (PG) containing one or more sequences of instructions executable by an information processing unit, the execution of said one or more sequences of instructions allowing implementation of the method according to claim 1.

18. A device (DISP) for detecting a phenomenon (F) creating an atmospheric interference so as to cause a loss of visibility for a user of a motor vehicle (V), comprising:

a control unit (UC) for;

determining a region of interest (ROI) in an acquired image (I) of an environment (E) of said motor vehicle (V), said region of interest being vertical and occupying parts of said acquired image (I) on each side of a horizon line (H);

determining a grey-level curve (CL), taking into account only the median value of the grey levels of the pixel situated in said region of interest (ROI) of lines of said acquired image (I);

wherein, in addition, said control unit (UC);

calculates at least one tangent (TG) from a point of interest (PT) in said grey-level curve (CL), said point of interest (PT) being situated above said horizon line (H);

determines a directing coefficient (CF) from said at least one tangent (TG);

deduces the presence of said phenomenon (F) from a value of a directing coefficient (CF) determined.