Vehicular image sensing system

An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:

• an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements;
• wherein said imaging sensor is at or proximate to the in-cabin surface of the windshield of a vehicle equipped with said image sensing system, and wherein said imaging sensor has a forward field of view to the exterior of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said imaging sensor is operable to capture image data;
• a control comprising an image processor;
• wherein said image sensing system identifies objects in said forward field of view of said image sensor via processing of said captured image data by said image processor;
• wherein said image processing comprises pattern recognition, and wherein said pattern recognition comprises detection of at least one of (a) a headlight, (b) a taillight and (c) an object, and wherein said pattern recognition is based at least in part on at least one of (i) shape, (ii) reflectivity, (iii) luminance and (iv) spectral characteristic;
• and
• wherein objects are at least one of (a) qualified and (b) disqualified based, at least in part, on object motion in said field of view of said imaging sensor.

An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:

• an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements;
• said imaging sensor having a forward field of view to the exterior of a vehicle equipped with said image sensing system and through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said imaging sensor is operable to capture image data;
• a control comprising an image processor;
• wherein said image sensing system identifies objects in said forward field of view of said image sensor via processing of said captured image data by said image processor;
• wherein said image processing comprises pattern recognition, and wherein said pattern recognition comprises detection of at least one of (a) a headlight, (b) a taillight and (c) an object, and wherein said pattern recognition is based at least in part on at least one of (i) shape, (ii) reflectivity, (iii) luminance and (iv) spectral characteristic;
• and
• wherein said control at least one of (a) controls a headlamp of the equipped vehicle as a function of a speed of the equipped vehicle, (b) controls a headlamp of the equipped vehicle in response to said image processing, (c) controls a speed of the equipped vehicle in response to said image processing, and (d) generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle in response to said image processing.

An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:

• an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements;
• said imaging sensor having a forward field of view to the exterior of a vehicle equipped with said image sensing system and through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said imaging sensor is operable to capture image data;
• a control comprising an image processor;
• wherein said image sensing system identifies objects in said forward field of view of said image sensor via processing of said captured image data by said image processor;
• wherein said image processing comprises pattern recognition, and wherein said pattern recognition comprises detection of at least one of (a) a headlight, (b) a taillight and (c) an object, and wherein said pattern recognition is based at least in part on at least one of (i) shape, (ii) reflectivity, (iii) luminance and (iv) spectral characteristic;
• and
• wherein said image sensing system is operable to at least one of (a) detect lane markers on a road being traveled by the equipped vehicle and present in the field of view of said imaging sensor in order to at least one of (i) assist the driver in steering the equipped vehicle and (ii) provide a warning to the driver of the equipped vehicle, and (b) identify traffic signs.

An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising:

• an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements;
• said imaging sensor having a forward field of view to the exterior of a vehicle equipped with said image sensing system and through the windshield of the equipped vehicle;
• wherein said imaging sensor is operable to capture image data;
• a control comprising an image processor;
• wherein said image sensing system identifies objects in said forward field of view of said image sensor via processing of said captured image data by said image processor;
• wherein said image processing comprises pattern recognition, and wherein said pattern recognition comprises detection of at least one of (a) a headlight, (b) a taillight and (c) an object, and wherein said pattern recognition is based at least in part on at least one of (i) shape, (ii) reflectivity, (iii) luminance and (iv) spectral characteristic;
• wherein said image sensing system identifies objects based, at least in part, on at least one of (i) spatial differentiation, (ii) pattern recognition, (iii) shape and (iv) spectral characteristic;
• and
• wherein said control at least one of (a) controls a headlamp of the equipped vehicle as a function of a speed of the equipped vehicle, (b) controls a headlamp of the equipped vehicle in response to said image processing, (c) controls a speed of the equipped vehicle in response to said image processing, (d) generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle in response to said image processing, (e) detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the equipped vehicle in response to said image processing, and (f) identifies traffic signs in response to said image processing.