Vehicle imaging system
First Claim
1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vehicle vision system comprising:
- an image sensor and image processor, wherein said image sensor is disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicle vision system, said image sensor having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle for capturing image data of a scene forward of the equipped vehicle, said field of view encompassing at least a portion of a road surface ahead of and in the direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, said image processor processing captured image data;
wherein, responsive to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, said vehicle vision system detects the presence of an animal on the road surface within said field of view;
wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, said vehicle vision system determines whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is a live animal or a dead animal;
wherein said vehicle vision system reacts differently depending on whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is determined to be a live animal or a dead animal;
wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal, said vehicle vision system determines a location of the dead animal relative to a path of the equipped vehicle;
wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal on the road surface within said field of view and that the dead animal is in the path of the equipped vehicle, said vehicle vision system at least one of (a) generates an alert to alert a driver of the equipped vehicle of the presence of the dead animal and (b) controls the equipped vehicle to avoid hitting the dead animal with the equipped vehicle; and
wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a live animal, said vehicle vision system controls the equipped vehicle to avoid hitting the determined live animal with the equipped vehicle.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vision system for a vehicle includes an image sensor and image processor. The image sensor is disposed at the vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle for capturing image data of a scene forward of the vehicle. The field of view encompasses at least a portion of a road surface ahead of and in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The image processor processes captured image data. Responsive to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, the vehicle vision system determines the presence of an animal on the road surface within the field of view. At least in part responsive to determination of the animal on the road surface within the field of view, the vehicle vision system at least one of (a) generates an alert and (b) controls the vehicle.
303 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A vision system for a vehicle, said vehicle vision system comprising:
-
an image sensor and image processor, wherein said image sensor is disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicle vision system, said image sensor having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle for capturing image data of a scene forward of the equipped vehicle, said field of view encompassing at least a portion of a road surface ahead of and in the direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, said image processor processing captured image data; wherein, responsive to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, said vehicle vision system detects the presence of an animal on the road surface within said field of view; wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, said vehicle vision system determines whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is a live animal or a dead animal; wherein said vehicle vision system reacts differently depending on whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is determined to be a live animal or a dead animal; wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal, said vehicle vision system determines a location of the dead animal relative to a path of the equipped vehicle; wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal on the road surface within said field of view and that the dead animal is in the path of the equipped vehicle, said vehicle vision system at least one of (a) generates an alert to alert a driver of the equipped vehicle of the presence of the dead animal and (b) controls the equipped vehicle to avoid hitting the dead animal with the equipped vehicle; and wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a live animal, said vehicle vision system controls the equipped vehicle to avoid hitting the determined live animal with the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A vision system for a vehicle, said vehicle vision system comprising:
-
an image sensor and image processor, wherein said image sensor is disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicle vision system, said image sensor having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle for capturing image data of a scene forward of the equipped vehicle, said field of view encompassing at least a portion of a road surface ahead of and in the direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, said image processor processing captured image data; wherein, responsive to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, said vehicle vision system detects the presence of an animal on the road surface within said field of view; wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, said vehicle vision system determines whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is a live animal or a dead animal; wherein said vehicle vision system reacts differently depending on whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is determined to be a live animal or a dead animal; wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal, said vehicle vision system determines a location of the dead animal relative to a path of a tire of the equipped vehicle; wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal on the road surface within said field of view and that the dead animal is in the path of the tire of the equipped vehicle, said vehicle vision system at least one of (a) generates an alert to alert a driver of the equipped vehicle of the presence of the dead animal and (b) controls the equipped vehicle to avoid hitting the dead animal with the tire of the equipped vehicle; and wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a live animal, said vehicle vision system controls the equipped vehicle to provide evasive action to avoid hitting the determined live animal with the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A vision system for a vehicle, said vehicle vision system comprising:
-
an image sensor and image processor, wherein said image sensor is disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicle vision system, said image sensor having a field of view exterior of the equipped vehicle for capturing image data of a scene forward of the equipped vehicle, said field of view encompassing at least a portion of a road surface ahead of and in the direction of travel of the equipped vehicle, said image processor processing captured image data; wherein, responsive to image processing of captured image data by said image processor, said vehicle vision system detects the presence of an animal on the road surface within said field of view; wherein, responsive at least in part to processing by said image processor of captured image data, said vehicle vision system determines whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is a live animal or a dead animal; wherein said vehicle vision system reacts differently depending on whether the detected animal present on the road surface within said field of view is determined to be a live animal or a dead animal; wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal, said vehicle vision system determines a location of the dead animal relative to a path of the equipped vehicle; wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a dead animal on the road surface within said field of view and that the dead animal is in the path of the equipped vehicle, said vehicle vision system controls the equipped vehicle to avoid hitting the dead animal with the equipped vehicle; wherein said vision system reacts differently if said vehicle vision system determines the presence of a live animal within said field of view; and wherein, at least in part responsive to determination that the detected animal present on the road surface is a live animal within said field of view, said vehicle vision system controls the equipped vehicle to provide evasive action to avoid hitting the determined live animal with the equipped vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification