Vehicular vision system with infrared emitter synchronization
AssigneeMagna Electronics Inc.
InventorKrishna Koravadi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicular vision system includes a camera and a plurality of infrared light emitters disposed at a vehicle, and an electronic control unit having an image processor. The camera captures frames of image data at a first rate, and infrared light emitters of the plurality of infrared light emitters are pulsed at a second rate. The plurality of infrared light emitters is operable in (i) a first mode, where infrared light emitters of the plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate a region within a field of view of the camera, and (ii) a second mode, where a reduced number of infrared light emitters of the plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate the region.
Claims28
A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:
- a camera disposed at a vehicle, said camera having a field of view, wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array having at least one million photosensor elements arranged in rows and columns;
- a plurality of infrared light emitters disposed at the vehicle and operable to illuminate a region at least partially within the field of view of said camera;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising an image processor that processes image data captured by said camera;
- wherein said camera captures frames of image data at a first rate;
- wherein infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are pulsed at a second rate;
- wherein the first rate is different than the second rate;
- and
- wherein said plurality of infrared light emitters is operable in (i) a first mode, where infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate the region, and (ii) a second mode, where a reduced number of infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate the region.
A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:
- a camera disposed at a vehicle, said camera having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array having at least one million photosensor elements arranged in rows and columns;
- a plurality of infrared light emitters disposed at the vehicle and operable to illuminate a region at least partially within the field of view of said camera;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising an image processor that processes image data captured by said camera;
- wherein said camera captures frames of image data at a first rate;
- wherein infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are pulsed on and off at a second rate;
- wherein the first rate is at least two times the second rate;
- and
- wherein said plurality of infrared light emitters is operable in (i) a first mode, where infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate the region, and (ii) a second mode, where a reduced number of infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate the region.
A vehicular vision system, said vehicular vision system comprising:
- a camera disposed at a vehicle, said camera having a field of view interior of the vehicle, wherein said camera comprises a CMOS imaging array having at least one million photosensor elements arranged in rows and columns;
- a plurality of infrared light emitters disposed at the vehicle and operable to illuminate a region at least partially within the field of view of said camera;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising an image processor that processes image data captured by said camera;
- wherein said camera captures frames of image data at a first rate;
- wherein infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are pulsed on and off at a second rate;
- wherein the first rate is at least two times the second rate;
- and
- wherein said plurality of infrared light emitters is operable in (i) a first mode, where infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate the region, and (ii) a second mode, where a reduced number of infrared light emitters of said plurality of infrared light emitters are operated to emit infrared light to illuminate the region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.