Vehicular imaging system

An imaging system for detecting objects exterior of a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

• an imaging device comprising a CMOS array of photo-sensing pixels;
• wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;
• wherein said imaging device is disposed in a windshield electronics module that is configured to attach at an upper windshield area of an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;
• wherein, with the windshield electronics module attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said imaging device has a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle through an area of the windshield that is cleaned by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated;
• a control disposed at the equipped vehicle;
• said control comprising an image processor operable for processing image data captured by said imaging device;
• wherein said control utilizes edge detection in processing captured image data for detecting objects present exterior of the equipped vehicle within the field of view of said imaging device;
• wherein captured image data is processed at said control for a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, responsive at least in part to processing at said control of captured image data by said image processor, said imaging system distinguishes a headlight from other light sources present in the field of view of said imaging device;
• wherein, responsive at least in part to processing at said control of captured image data by said image processor, said imaging system detects an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging device;
• and
• wherein, in detecting the object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging device and responsive at least in part to processing at said control of captured image data by said image processor, shadows present in the field of view of said imaging device are discerned and distinguished from the object of interest.

An imaging system for detecting objects exterior of a vehicle, said imaging system comprising:

• an imaging device comprising a CMOS array of photo-sensing pixels;
• wherein said imaging device is operable to capture image data;
• wherein said imaging device is disposed in a windshield electronics module that is configured to attach at an upper windshield area of an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said imaging system;
• wherein, with the windshield electronics module attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said imaging device has a field of view forward of the equipped vehicle through an area of the windshield that is cleaned by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle when the windshield wiper is activated;
• a control disposed at the equipped vehicle;
• said control comprising an image processor operable for processing image data captured by said imaging device;
• wherein said control utilizes edge detection in processing captured image data for detecting objects present exterior of the equipped vehicle within the field of view of said imaging device;
• wherein captured image data is processed at said control for a collision avoidance system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein captured image data is processed at said control for a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, responsive at least in part to processing at said control of captured image data by said image processor, said imaging system distinguishes a headlight from other light sources present in the field of view of said imaging device;
• wherein, responsive at least in part to processing at said control of captured image data by said image processor, said imaging system detects an object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging device;
• wherein the object of interest present in the field of view of said imaging device comprises another vehicle;
• and
• wherein, in detecting the other vehicle present in the field of view of said imaging device and responsive at least in part to processing at said control of captured image data by said image processor, shadows present in the field of view of said imaging device are discerned and distinguished from the other vehicle.