Imaging system and method for detecting a bright city condition

An imaging method, comprising the steps of:

• providing an image sensor for imaging a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images;
• receiving and analyzing the image data in a processor to detect at least one characteristic of the image data;
• generating a signal in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation;
• selecting a mode of operation from at least the following modes of operation:
• a village mode and at least one non-village mode;
• selecting the village mode if the at least one characteristic reaches a first threshold;
• selecting one of the at least one non-village mode if the at least one characteristic has not or no longer reaches the first threshold;
• monitoring an ambient light level over a period of time;
• and
• modifying the first threshold when the ambient light level reaches a second threshold that indicates that the driver's eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions executed by a processor, the software instructions comprising the steps of:

• imaging a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images;
• receiving and analyzing the image data to detect at least one characteristic of the image data;
• generating a signal in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation;
• selecting a mode of operation from at least the following modes of operation:
• a village mode and at least one non-village mode;
• selecting the village mode if the at least one characteristic reaches a first threshold;
• selecting one of the at least one non-village mode if the at least one characteristic has not or no longer reaches the first threshold;
• monitoring an ambient light level over a period of time;
• and
• modifying the first threshold when the ambient light level reaches a second threshold that indicates that the driver's eyes have adapted to a bright ambient light level.