Vehicle lamp control
AssigneeGentex Corporation
InventorsJoseph S. Stam, Jon H. Bechtel, Spencer D. Reese, John K. Roberts, William L. Tonar, G. Bruce Poe
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Abstract
A system and method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps includes an image sensor and a controller to generate headlamp control signals.
Claims84
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- identifying at least one group of contiguous pixels that is associated with a light source;
- analyzing the associated group of pixels to determine at least one of the following properties of the pixel group:
- the number of pixels in the group, the width, the height, a total gray scale value, and a centroid location;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the at least one property determined in the analysis.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- identifying at least one group of pixels that is associated with a light source;
- analyzing the associated pixels to identify the centroid of at least one group of pixels;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal as a function of the identified centroid.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- identifying at least one group of pixels that is associated with a light source;
- and
- analyzing the associated pixels to determine the average level of the pixel levels,
- wherein the headlights are not controlled responsive to a group of pixels that is greater than the threshold size if the average pixel level in that group of pixels is less than an average pixel level threshold.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- identifying at least one group of pixels that is associated with a light source;
- analyzing the associated pixels to determine the total pixel level for at least one group of pixels;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the analysis.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- identifying at least one group of pixels that is associated with a light source;
- analyzing the associated pixels to determine the average pixel level for at least one group of pixels;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the analysis.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing an image input with red filtering to identify objects of interest;
- analyzing an image input without red filtering in those areas where objects were identified in the step of analyzing with red filtering;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the steps of analyzing.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle beadlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- receiving an ambient light level;
- and
- analyzing an image input from the image sensor according to the ambient light level to selectively generate a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the analysis, wherein daytime running lights are enabled when the ambient light level is above a first threshold, low beam headlamps are enabled when the ambient light level is below the first threshold, and the low beam headlamps and high beam headlamps are enabled when the ambient light level is below a second threshold, and wherein the high beam headlamps are controlled automatically responsive to the pixel levels from the image sensor, the second threshold representing a lower ambient light level than the first threshold.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the image input from the image sensor to determine the number of AC light source objects in the image;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the steps of analyzing, and inhibiting operation of the high beams when the number AC light source objects exceeds a threshold.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the image input from the image sensor to determine the number of objects in the image;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the steps of analyzing, wherein the vehicle headlamps are not adjusted responsive to detection of an object unless it appears in a threshold number of frames,
- wherein the threshold number of frames is a function of the brightness of the objects detected.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle beadlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the image input from the image sensor to determine the number of objects in the image;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the steps of analyzing, wherein the vehicle headlamps are not adjusted responsive to detection of an object unless it appears in a threshold number of frames,
- wherein the brightness of the headlamps are gradually altered after an object is detected for the threshold number of frames.
The method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the image input from the image sensor to determine the number of objects in the image;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the steps of analyzing, wherein the vehicle headlamps are not adjusted responsive to detection of an object unless it appears in a threshold number of frames,
- wherein the headlamp brightness is increased after the image clears for the threshold number of frames.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- identifying pixels that are associated with an object;
- analyzing the associated pixels and storing information associated with at least one detected object in an object list;
- analyzing the objects in the object list to generate a light list;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with an analysis of the light list.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising a sensor for sensing light sources forward of the vehicle and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the passage of an oncoming vehicle;
- and
- if, following passage of the oncoming vehicle, the sensor does not sense any light sources and the high beams are OFF, the high beams are controlled to produce a fast return to bright.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising a sensor for sensing light sources forward of the vehicle and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting the passage of a preceding vehicle;
- and
- if, following passage of the preceding vehicle, the sensor does not sense any light sources and the high beams are OFF, the high beams are controlled to produce a tail light delayed return to bright.
A method of automatically calibrating the aim of an image sensor in a controlled vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- detecting a distant light of an oncoming vehicle;
- detecting a straight road condition;
- and
- generating a new average value from the location of the distant oncoming light averaged with a stored average if the straight road condition is detected, and
- storing the new average value as the stored average signal.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the pixel levels associated with a scene at a specified sensitivity, wherein the specified sensitivity is altered in response to a vehicle turn;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the analysis.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the pixel levels associated with a scene, wherein the analysis is altered when the vehicle turns;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the analysis,
- wherein the analysis of the image is altered when the vehicle heading as detected from a compass is altered.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor, wherein the pixel levels are acquired and stored while the vehicle headlamps are momentarily deactivated;
- analyzing the pixels to detect objects;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the analysis.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged through a windshield, a windshield wiper for clearing the windshield, and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving signals indicative of the location of the windshield wiper;
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor when the windshield wiper is not in front of the image sensor;
- analyzing the associated pixels to identify objects;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the analysis.
A vehicle system, comprising:
- an image sensor for detecting lights;
- an ambient light sensor;
- a glare sensor;
- an electrochromic element for controlling the reflectivity of a mirror;
- headlights;
- and
- a controller coupled to the image sensor, the ambient light detector, the glare sensor, the electrochromic element, and the headlights, wherein the controller is operable to control the headlights responsive to the image sensor and the ambient light sensor, and the controller being further operable to control the transmittance of the electrochromic element responsive to the ambient light sensor and the glare sensor, and further comprising a rearview mirror assembly adapted for mounting to a vehicle and supporting said electrochromic element, wherein said controller is carried on said rearview mirror assembly.
A method of operating an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- identifying a bad pixel if a pixel continuously detects light when adjacent pixels do not detect light;
- and
- selectively compensating for the identified pixels.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the image input from the image sensor using different thresholds for different pixels based on their pixel location;
- changing the different thresholds for the pixels based on their pixel location as the vehicle changes direction;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the steps of analyzing.
A method of automatically controlling vehicle headlamps in a system comprising an image sensor generating a plurality of pixel levels from a scene being imaged and a controller to generate headlamp control signals, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving pixel levels from the image sensor;
- analyzing the image input from the image sensor using different thresholds for different pixels based on their pixel location, the different thresholds rendering the image sensor more sensitive to one side of the car than the other side of the car;
- and
- selectively generating a headlamp control signal in accordance with the results of the steps of analyzing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.