Side view camera resolution testing and dirty leftover detection and auto-clean/warning trigger
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsManoj Kumar Sharma, Julien P. Mourou, Jonglee Park, Charles R. Quinn
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Abstract
A vehicle includes an imaging device which operates a camera. The imaging device includes a and a processor. The processor obtains a first image of a test object via the camera, determines a resolution of the first image, determines a contrast ratio of the first image when the resolution is less than a resolution threshold, compares the contrast ratio to a contrast threshold, activates the cleaning system to clean the camera when the contrast ratio is less than the contrast threshold, obtains a second image of the test object, and sends an alert signal to a driver of the vehicle based on the second image.
Claims20
A method of operating a camera of an imaging device of a vehicle, comprising:
- obtaining a first image of a test object via the camera, the camera including an image sensor with an array of pixels;
- determining a resolution of the first image;
- comparing the resolution to a resolution threshold;
- determining a contrast ratio of the first image at a processor when the resolution is less than the resolution threshold, wherein the contrast ratio is based on a difference between a first gray scale value for a first pixel of the first image having a maximum intensity and a second gray scale value for a second pixel of the first image having a minimum intensity;
- comparing the contrast ratio to a contrast threshold at the processor;
- performing, via the processor, a cleaning operation to clean the camera when the contrast ratio is less than the contrast threshold;
- obtaining a second image of the test object;
- and
- sending an alert signal to a driver of the vehicle based on the second image.
An imaging device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a camera including an array of pixels;
- a cleaning system;
- a processor configured to:
- obtain a first image of a test object via the camera;
- determine a resolution of the first image;
- compare the resolution to a resolution threshold;
- determine a contrast ratio of the first image when the resolution is less than the resolution threshold, wherein the contrast ratio is based on a difference between a first gray scale value for a first pixel of the first image having a maximum intensity and a second gray scale value for a second pixel of the first image having a minimum intensity;
- compare the contrast ratio to a contrast threshold;
- activate the cleaning system to clean the camera when the contrast ratio is less than the contrast threshold;
- obtain a second image of the test object;
- and
- send an alert signal to a driver of the vehicle based on the second image.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a test object located on the vehicle;
- an imaging system including:
- a camera including an image sensor having an array of pixels;
- a cleaning system for cleaning a glass surface of the camera;
- a processor configured to:
- obtain a first image of the test object via the camera;
- determine a resolution of the first image;
- compare the resolution to a resolution threshold;
- determine a contrast ratio of the first image when the resolution is less than the resolution threshold, wherein the contrast ratio is based on a difference between a first gray scale value for a first pixel of the first image having a maximum intensity and a second gray scale value for a second pixel of the first image having a minimum intensity;
- compare the contrast ratio to a contrast threshold;
- activate the cleaning system to clean the camera when the contrast ratio is less than the contrast threshold;
- obtain a second image of the test object;
- and
- send an alert signal to a driver of the vehicle based on the second image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.