Photosensitive sensor and applications in the automotive field
AssigneeValeo Vision
InventorBenoist Fleury
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention concerns a sensor that is photosensitive vis-à-vis at least part of the radiation in the infrared range and at least part of the radiation in the visible range. This sensor is provided with a filter affecting all or part of a receiving zone of the sensor and able to filter radiation in the wavelengths to which the sensor is sensitive according to a filtering level that varies locally.
Claims43
A sensor photosensitive vis-à-vis at least part of the radiation in the infrared and at least part of the radiation in the visible range, wherein the sensor comprises a filter affecting all or part of a receiving zone of the sensor and able to filter radiation in wavelengths to which the sensor is sensitive according to a degree of filtering that varies locally.
A sensor photosensitive vis-à-vis at least part of the radiation in the infrared and at least part of the radiation in the visible range, wherein the sensor comprises a filter able to filter radiation in the wavelengths to which the sensor is sensitive, this filter affecting only part of a receiving zone of the sensor.
A vehicle image system for use on a vehicle, said vehicle image system comprising:
- a sensor comprising a receiving zone capable of sensing, at least in part, radiation in the infrared and, at least in part, radiation in the visible range;
- and
- a filter associated with said sensor for filtering at least a portion of said receiving zone, said filter removing sufficient infrared radiation to facilitate preventing saturation of at least a portion of said receiving zone during the day and, at night, said receiving zone captures sufficient infrared, thereby enabling said sensor to obtain an image of a desired quality during the day and at night.
A method for facilitating control of a vehicle by capturing images of a desired quality during the day and at night using a sensor having a receiving zone, said method comprising the steps of:
- filtering at least a first portion of said receiving zone with a filter to remove sufficient infrared radiation to facilitate preventing saturation of said at least a first portion of said receiving zone while capturing an image during the day;
- enabling at least a second portion of said receiving zone to capture sufficient infrared at night to obtain a second image of sufficient quality;
- and
- using signals generated by said sensor and corresponding to said first and second images to facilitate controlling the operation of the vehicle by an operator or to trigger a functionality during the day and at night.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.