Forward sensing system for vehicle

A forward sensing system for a vehicle, said forward sensing system comprising:

• a radar sensor disposed within an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said forward sensing system;
• wherein said radar sensor has a sensing direction forward of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor transmits at a frequency of at least 60 GHz;
• wherein said radar sensor utilizes digital beam forming;
• an image sensor disposed within the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle behind a windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor and said image sensor are housed in a self-contained unit disposed behind and attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said self-contained unit attaches at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and is removable therefrom as a unit;
• wherein the windshield of the equipped vehicle comprises an opaque layer where said self-contained unit is disposed behind the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein the opaque layer comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein, with said self-contained unit attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said image sensor views forward through the windshield of the equipped vehicle via the light-transmitting aperture;
• wherein said image sensor comprises a pixelated imaging array sensor comprising a plurality of photo-sensing pixels;
• a control comprising an image processor, wherein said image processor comprises an image processing chip that processes image data captured by said image sensor utilizing object detection software;
• wherein said image processing chip processes image data captured by said image sensor in order to detect an pedestrian present exterior of the equipped vehicle in a direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle and being imaged at said pixelated imaging array sensor;
• wherein said control, responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by said image processing chip and to sensing by said radar sensor, determines that a potentially hazardous condition exists in a path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein the determined potentially hazardous condition comprises the pedestrian being in the path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor and said image sensor collaborate in a way that enhances sensing capability of said forward sensing system for the pedestrian in the path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor and said image sensor share, at least in part, common circuitry;
• wherein said image processing chip and said common circuitry are housed in said self-contained unit disposed behind and attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• and
• wherein, responsive to determination that the pedestrian is in the path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said control at least in part controls a speed control system of the equipped vehicle.

A forward sensing system for a vehicle, said forward sensing system comprising:

• a radar sensor disposed within an interior cabin of a vehicle equipped with said forward sensing system;
• wherein said radar sensor has a sensing direction forward of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor transmits at a frequency of at least 60 GHz;
• wherein said radar sensor utilizes digital beam forming;
• an image sensor disposed within the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle behind a windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor and said image sensor are housed in a self-contained unit disposed behind and attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said self-contained unit attaches at the windshield of the equipped vehicle and is removable therefrom as a unit;
• wherein the windshield of the equipped vehicle comprises an opaque layer where said self-contained unit is disposed behind the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein the opaque layer comprises a light-transmitting aperture, and wherein, with said self-contained unit attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said image sensor views forward through the windshield of the equipped vehicle via the light-transmitting aperture;
• wherein said image sensor comprises a pixelated imaging array sensor comprising a plurality of photo-sensing pixels;
• a control comprising an image processor, wherein said image processor comprises an image processing chip that processes image data captured by said image sensor utilizing object detection software;
• wherein said image processing chip processes image data captured by said image sensor in order to detect another vehicle present exterior of the equipped vehicle in a direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle and being imaged at said pixelated imaging array sensor;
• wherein said control, responsive at least in part to processing of captured image data by said image processing chip and to sensing by said radar sensor, determines that a potentially hazardous condition exists in a path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein the determined potentially hazardous condition comprises the other vehicle being in the path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor and said image sensor collaborate in a way that enhances sensing capability of said forward sensing system for the other vehicle in the path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said radar sensor and said image sensor share, at least in part, common circuitry;
• wherein said image processing chip and said common circuitry are housed in said self-contained unit disposed behind and attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• and
• wherein, responsive to determination that the other vehicle is in the path of forward travel of the equipped vehicle, said control at least in part controls a speed control system of the equipped vehicle.