# US 2014/0153782 A1 · Imaging system and method for detecting a winding road > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153782 A1 - Document ID: US20140153782A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/095,496 - Filed: 2013-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Gentex Corporation - Applicants: Gentex Corporation - Inventors: Peter A. Liken; Christopher B. Case - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153782A1 ## CPC - G06V 20/56: exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle - B60Q 1/143: {combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers} - B60Q 2300/112: Vehicle speed - B60Q 2300/21: Manual control - B60Q 2300/322: Road curvature - B60Q 2300/41: preceding vehicle - B60Q 2300/42: oncoming vehicle - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An imaging system and method are provided where the imaging system is configured to image a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images. A processor is communicatively connected to the image sensor and is configured to receive and analyze the image data. The processor is further configured to detect whether a road on which the controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road and generate a signal in response to detection of a winding road. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging system, comprising: an image sensor configured to image a scene external and forward of a controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a processor communicatively connected to the image sensor, the processor configured to receive and analyze the image data and to detect whether a road on which the controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road and generate a signal in response to detection of a winding road. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive vehicle operating parameters including at least one of: vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, and yaw, and wherein the controller detects a winding road based upon the vehicle operating parameters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the processor detects a winding road by detecting turns in the road and monitoring how often turns occur. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging system of claim 3, wherein the processor detects a winding road by determining whether a predetermined number of turns have been detected within a specified period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The imaging system of claim 4, wherein the processor detects a turn by measuring a curve radius of the road. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation to operate exterior lights of the controlled vehicle in a low beam state until such time that the controlled vehicle is no longer determined to be driving on a winding road. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging system of claim 1, wherein the signal indicates one of the following: the detection of a winding road; that exterior lights of the controlled vehicle should be operated in a low beam state; a winding road mode of operation; and that an automatic control of the exterior lights should be disabled; wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle. ### Claim 8 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 communicatively connected to the image sensor; detecting with the processor whether the road on which the controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road; and generating a signal from the processor in response to detection of a winding road. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the step of detecting further comprises receiving vehicle operating parameters including at least one of: vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, and yaw, wherein the processor detects a winding road based upon the vehicle operating parameters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting turns in the road and monitoring how often turns occur. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the step of detecting further comprises determining whether a predetermined number of turns have been detected within a specified period of time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the processor detects a turn by measuring a curve radius of the road. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation to operate exterior lights of the controlled vehicle in a low beam state until such time that the controlled vehicle is no longer determined to be driving on a winding road. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the signal indicates one of the following: the detection of a winding road; that exterior lights of the controlled vehicle should be operated in a low beam state; a winding road mode of operation; and that an automatic control of the exterior lights should be disabled; wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle. ### Claim 15 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 the controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images; receiving and analyzing the image data in the processor; detecting with the processor whether the road on which a controlled vehicle is traveling is a winding road; and generating a signal from the processor in response to detection of a winding road. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the step of detecting further comprises receiving vehicle operating parameters including at least one of: vehicle speed, steering wheel angle, and yaw, and wherein the controller detects a winding road based upon the vehicle operating parameters. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the step of detecting further comprises detecting turns in the road and monitoring how often turns occur. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of detecting further comprises determining whether a predetermined number of turns have been detected within a specified period of time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the signal is used as a recommendation to operate exterior lights of the controlled vehicle in a low beam state until such time that the controlled vehicle is no longer determined to be driving on a winding road. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the signal indicates one of the following: the detection of a winding road; that exterior lights of the controlled vehicle should be operated in a low beam state; a winding road mode of operation; and that an automatic control of the exterior lights should be disabled; wherein the signal is used as a recommendation for controlling the exterior lights of the controlled vehicle.