Vehicular vision system using adaptive mask at camera

A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

• a camera disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular vision system and having a field of view through the windshield and forward of the vehicle, wherein the camera comprises an imager having a plurality of rows and columns of photosensing elements and a lens that focuses light at the imager, the imager sensing light incident thereat;
• wherein the camera captures image data;
• an adaptive masking element disposed in an optical path of the camera;
• a control comprising electronic circuitry and associated software, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera;
• wherein the control determines an ambient light level at the vehicle and a threshold level of brightness is established based at least in part on the determined ambient light level;
• wherein the control, responsive to processing of image data captured by the camera, determines presence of a light source in the field of view of the camera having a brightness greater than the threshold level of brightness;
• wherein the control, responsive to determination of presence of the light source in the field of view of the camera, determines a location where light emanating from that light source impinges the adaptive masking element;
• wherein the adaptive masking element, responsive to determination of the location where light emanating from that light source impinges the adaptive masking element, generates a light attenuating mask at that location to attenuate the light emanating from that light source so that the imager does not fully sense the light emanating from that light source;
• wherein the adaptive masking element generates the light attenuating mask responsive to determination that the light source has a brightness greater than a threshold level of brightness;
• wherein the threshold level of brightness is adjusted responsive to a determined ambient light level;
• and
• wherein the adaptive masking element adjusts a degree of light attenuation of the light attenuating mask responsive to comparison of the brightness of the light source to the determined ambient light level.

A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:

• a camera disposed at a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular vision system and having a field of view through the windshield and forward of the vehicle, wherein the camera comprises an imager having a plurality of rows and columns of photosensing elements and a lens that focuses light at the imager, the imager sensing light incident thereat;
• wherein the camera captures image data;
• an adaptive masking element disposed in an optical path of the camera;
• wherein the adaptive masking element is operable to adjust alignment of particles within the adaptive masking element to adjust a degree of transmissivity of visible light through the adaptive masking element;
• a control comprising electronic circuitry and associated software, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera;
• wherein the control, responsive to processing of image data captured by the camera, determines presence of a light source in the field of view of the camera;
• wherein the control, responsive to determination of presence of the light source in the field of view of the camera, determines a location where light emanating from that light source impinges the adaptive masking element;
• wherein the adaptive masking element, responsive to determination of the location where light emanating from that light source impinges the adaptive masking element, generates a light attenuating mask at that location to attenuate the light emanating from that light source so that the imager does not fully sense the light emanating from that light source;
• wherein the adaptive masking element generates the light attenuating mask responsive to determination that the light source has a brightness greater than a threshold level of brightness;
• wherein the threshold level of brightness is adjusted responsive to a determined ambient light level;
• and
• wherein the adaptive masking element adjusts a degree of light attenuation of the light attenuating mask responsive to comparison of the brightness of the light source to the determined ambient light level.