Intelligent headlight control using camera sensors
First Claim
1. An automated visual processing system comprising:
- a memory;
an information processor and controller, communicatively coupled with the memory;
a video imaging system, communicatively coupled with the information processor and controller and the memory, for receiving a plurality of images representing frames of a video sequence of an external environment of a vehicle;
a blob detector, communicatively coupled with the video imaging system, the information processor and controller, and the memory, for identifying a blob within each frame of the plurality of images;
a blob feature extractor, communicatively coupled with the blob detector, for extracting a plurality of features from a blob found by the blob detector;
a blob classifier, communicatively coupled with the blob feature extractor and the blob detector, for recognition of a type of a blob, selected from a plurality of types of blobs, that is found by the blob detector, wherein the blob classifier is a machine learning classifier that utilizes a support vector machine model to recognize the plurality of types of blobs, wherein the support vector machine model has been trained with respect to the plurality of types of blobs; and
an event controller, communicatively coupled with the blob classifier and the blob detector, for determining a binary decision based at least on the recognized type of blob that is found by the blob classifier and a set of rules comprising at least one rule for detecting a given environment type based on calculated ambient brightness and average edge energy of frames of the plurality of images, and performing an action based on such decision.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for intelligently controlling headlights receive a multiplicity of images that represent frames of a video sequence of an external environment of a vehicle. At least one bright spot, or blob, is found that stands out from a dark background of the external environment within each frame of the multiplicity of images. A multiplicity of features is extracted from a found blob. A type is recognized of a found blob that is selected from a multiplicity of types of blobs. A determination is then made whether to turn on a high beam light or a low beam light based at least on the recognized type of the found blob and a set of rules. Finally, an action based on such decision is performed.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated visual processing system comprising:
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a memory; an information processor and controller, communicatively coupled with the memory; a video imaging system, communicatively coupled with the information processor and controller and the memory, for receiving a plurality of images representing frames of a video sequence of an external environment of a vehicle; a blob detector, communicatively coupled with the video imaging system, the information processor and controller, and the memory, for identifying a blob within each frame of the plurality of images; a blob feature extractor, communicatively coupled with the blob detector, for extracting a plurality of features from a blob found by the blob detector; a blob classifier, communicatively coupled with the blob feature extractor and the blob detector, for recognition of a type of a blob, selected from a plurality of types of blobs, that is found by the blob detector, wherein the blob classifier is a machine learning classifier that utilizes a support vector machine model to recognize the plurality of types of blobs, wherein the support vector machine model has been trained with respect to the plurality of types of blobs; and an event controller, communicatively coupled with the blob classifier and the blob detector, for determining a binary decision based at least on the recognized type of blob that is found by the blob classifier and a set of rules comprising at least one rule for detecting a given environment type based on calculated ambient brightness and average edge energy of frames of the plurality of images, and performing an action based on such decision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, with an information processing system, for an intelligent headlight control system, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of images representing frames of a video sequence of an external environment of a vehicle; identifying at least one blob that stands out from a dark background of the external environment within each frame of the plurality of images; extracting a plurality of features from a found blob; recognizing a type of a found blob, selected from a plurality of types of blobs; determining whether to turn on a high beam light or a low beam light based at least on the recognized type of the found blob using a machine learning classifier and a set of rules comprising at least one rule for detecting a given environment type based on calculated ambient brightness and average edge energy of frames of the plurality of images, wherein the machine learning classifier utilizes a support vector machine model to recognize the plurality of types of blobs, and wherein the support vector machine model has been trained with respect to the plurality of types of blobs; and performing an action based on such decision. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer program product tangibly embodying computer readable instructions which, when implemented cause a computer to carry out the steps of a method for intelligently controlling a headlight system, the method for:
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receiving a plurality of images representing frames of a video sequence of an external environment of a vehicle; identifying at least one blob that stands out from a dark background of the external environment within each frame of the plurality of images; extracting a plurality of features from a found blob; recognizing a type of a found blob, selected from a plurality of types of blobs; determining whether to turn on a high beam light or a low beam light based at least on the recognized type of the found blob using a machine learning classifier and a set of rules comprising at least one rule for detecting a given environment type based on calculated ambient brightness and average edge energy of frames of the plurality of images, wherein the machine learning classifier utilizes a support vector machine model to recognize the plurality of types of blobs, and wherein the support vector machine model has been trained with respect to the plurality of types of blobs; and performing an action based on such decision. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification