Vehicular monitoring systems using image processing

A monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of a vehicle, comprising:

• at least one CCD array positioned to obtain images of the environment exterior of the vehicle;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one CCD array and comprising pattern recognition means for processing the images obtained by said at least one CCD array to provide a classification, identification or location of the exterior object,
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.

A vehicle including a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of the vehicle, the monitoring arrangement comprising:

• at least one receiver arranged on a rear view mirror of the vehicle to receive waves from the environment exterior of the vehicle which contain information on any objects in the environment and generate a signal characteristic of the received waves;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one receiver and arranged to classify, identify or locate the exterior object based on the signal;
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.

A monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of a vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of receivers arranged apart from one another and to receive waves from the environment exterior of the vehicle which contain information on any objects in the environment and generate a signal characteristic of the received waves;
• and
• a processor coupled to said receivers and arranged to classify, identify or locate the exterior object based on the signals generated by said receivers,
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation of the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.

A vehicle including a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of the vehicle, the monitoring arrangement comprising:

• at least one receiver arranged on a B-pillar of the vehicle to receive waves from the environment exterior of and on the side of the vehicle which contain information on any objects in the environment and generate a signal characteristic of the received waves;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one receiver and arranged to classify, identify or locate the exterior object based on the signal;
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.

A vehicle including a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of the vehicle, the monitoring arrangement comprising:

• at least one receiver arranged in a door window trim panel of the vehicle to receive waves from the environment exterior of the vehicle which contain information on any objects in the environment and generate a signal characteristic of the received waves;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one receiver and arranged to classify, identify or locate the exterior object based on the signal;
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.

A vehicle including a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of the vehicle, the monitoring arrangement comprising:

• at least one receiver arranged on a rear view mirror of the vehicle to receive waves from the environment exterior of the vehicle which contain information on any objects in the environment and generate a signal characteristic of the received waves;
• a processor coupled to said at least one receiver and arranged to classify, identify or locate the exterior object based on the signal;
• and
• a display viewable by the driver;
• said display being coupled to said processor such that the presence and classification, identification or location of the exterior object is displayed on said display.

A vehicle including a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of the vehicle, the monitoring arrangement comprising:

• at least one receiver arranged to receive waves from the environment exterior of the vehicle which contain information on any objects in the environment and generate a signal characteristic of the received waves;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one receiver and comprising pattern recognition means for processing the signal to provide a classification, identification or location of the exterior object, said pattern recognition means being structured and arranged to apply a pattern recognition algorithm generated from data of possible exterior objects and patterns of received waves from the possible exterior objects;
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.

A vehicle including a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of the vehicle, the monitoring arrangement comprising:

• at least one CCD array positioned to obtain images of the environment exterior of the vehicle;
• and
• a processor coupled to said at least one CCD array and comprising pattern recognition means for processing the images obtained by said at least one CCD array to provide a classification, identification or location of the exterior object,
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.

A vehicle including a monitoring arrangement for monitoring an environment exterior of the vehicle, the monitoring arrangement comprising:

• a plurality of receivers arranged apart from one another and to receive waves from the environment exterior of the vehicle which contain information on any objects in the environment and generate a signal characteristic of the received waves;
• and
• a processor coupled to said receivers and arranged to classify, identify or locate the exterior object based on the signals generated by said receivers,
• whereby a system in the vehicle is coupled to said processor such that the operation of the system is affected in response to the classification, identification or location of the exterior object.