Vehicular forward viewing image capture system

A vehicular forward viewing image capture system, said vehicular forward viewing image capture system comprising:

• an accessory module configured for attachment at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular forward viewing image capture system;
• wherein said accessory module comprises a CMOS image sensor, said CMOS image sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensor elements;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said CMOS image sensor has a field of view through the windshield forward of the equipped vehicle;
• a control, said control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said CMOS image sensor;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said CMOS image sensor views through a portion of the windshield that is swept by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and while the equipped vehicle is traveling along a road, captured image data is processed at said control to determine (i) presence of an object of interest in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor, (ii) location of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor and (iii) movement of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor;
• wherein multiple frames of captured image data are processed at said control in determining location of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor;
• wherein multiple frames of captured image data are processed at said control in determining movement of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor;
• whereon the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor comprises a pedestrian;
• wherein said control receives vehicle data via a vehicle communication bus;
• wherein the received vehicle data comprises vehicle speed data and vehicle trajectory data;
• wherein said vehicular forward viewing image capture system automatically compensates for misalignment of said CMOS image sensor;
• wherein said CMOS image sensor captures multiple frames of image data at an image capture rate of greater than or equal to five frames per second and less than or equal to 120 frames per second;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by said CMOS image sensor is processed at said control for an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by said CMOS image sensor is processed at said control for a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said accessory module comprises a printed circuit board assembly, the printed circuit board assembly comprising electronic components and interconnections supporting operation of said CMOS image sensor and said image processor;
• wherein, with said accessory module is attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the printed circuit board assembly electrically connects to a vehicle wiring system of the equipped vehicle;
• and
• wherein said vehicle communication bus comprises a CAN vehicle communication bus.

A vehicular forward viewing image capture system, said vehicular forward viewing image capture system comprising:

• an accessory module configured for attachment at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular forward viewing image capture system;
• wherein said accessory module comprises a CMOS image sensor, said CMOS image sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of photosensor elements;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said CMOS image sensor has a field of view through the windshield forward of the equipped vehicle;
• a control, said control comprising an image processor for processing image data captured by said CMOS image sensor;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said CMOS image sensor views through a portion of the windshield that is swept by a windshield wiper of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and while the equipped vehicle is traveling along a road, captured image data is processed at said control to determine (i) presence of an object of interest in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor, (ii) location of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor and (iii) movement of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor;
• wherein multiple frames of captured image data are processed at said control in determining location of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor;
• wherein multiple frames of captured image data are processed at said control in determining movement of the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor;
• whereon the object of interest present in the forward field of view of said CMOS image sensor comprises a pedestrian;
• wherein said control receives vehicle data via a vehicle communication bus;
• wherein the received vehicle data comprises vehicle speed data and vehicle trajectory data;
• wherein said CMOS image sensor captures multiple frames of image data at an image capture rate of greater than or equal to five frames per second and less than or equal to 120 frames per second;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by said CMOS image sensor is processed at said control for an automatic headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said accessory module is configured to removably attach at an attachment plate, and wherein the attachment plate is attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein, with said accessory module attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, image data captured by said CMOS image sensor is processed at said control for a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said accessory module comprises a printed circuit board assembly, the printed circuit board assembly comprising electronic components and interconnections supporting operation of said CMOS image sensor and said image processor;
• wherein, with said accessory module is attached at the in-cabin side of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, the printed circuit board assembly electrically connects to a vehicle wiring system of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said vehicle communication bus comprises a CAN vehicle communication bus;
• and
• wherein said vehicular forward viewing image capture system, responsive to processing of captured image data by said image processor, automatically recognizes whether the equipped vehicle is being driven on a road of a left hand-drive road system or on a road of a right hand-drive road system.