Imaging system including dynamic compensation for color attenuation for vehicle windscreens

A vehicle equipment control system comprising:

• an image sensor positioned in the vehicle, the image sensor operable to capture images through a windscreen of the vehicle and generate image data corresponding to the captured images;
• and
• a processor coupled to the image sensor, the processor configured to receive and analyze the image data and detect vehicle light sources in the captured images, wherein the processor is further configured to:
• (a) detect a predetermined number of vehicle light sources;
• (b) average color values of each detected vehicle light source;
• (c) determined differences between the averaged color values and target color values;
• and
• (d) store the differences as color compensation values to compensate color values of subsequently detected vehicle light source,
• wherein the processor is further configured to compensate color values of subsequently detected vehicle light sources and generate a signal used to control a vehicle equipment in response to the detection of color compensated vehicle light sources in the captured images.

A vehicle equipment control system for a controlled vehicle comprising:

• an image sensor positioned in the vehicle for capturing images through a windscreen of the controlled vehicle and for generating image data corresponding to the captured images;
• and
• a processor coupled to the image sensor configured for receiving and analyzing the image data and detecting vehicle light sources in the captured images, wherein the processor is configured to:
• (a) categorize the detected vehicle light sources into at least two light source bands;
• (b) detect vehicle light sources in each light source band;
• (c) average color values of each detected vehicle light source in each light source band;
• (d) determine differences between the averaged color values and target color values in each light source band;
• (e) store the differences as color compensation values in each light source band to compensate color values of subsequently detected vehicle light sources categorized in a corresponding light source band;
• and
• (f) generate a signal used to control a vehicle equipment in response to the detection of color compensated vehicle light sources in the captured images.

A method for controlling equipment of a controlled vehicle, comprising:

• (a) acquiring images of a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images;
• (b) detecting a predetermined number of vehicle light sources;
• (c) averaging color values of each detected vehicle light source;
• (d) determining differences between the averaged color values and target color values;
• (e) storing the differences as color compensation values to compensate color values of subsequently detected vehicle light sources;
• and
• (f) generating a signal used to control a vehicle equipment in response to the detection of color compensated vehicle light sources in the captured images.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon software instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• (a) acquire images of a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and generating image data corresponding to the acquired images;
• (b) detect vehicle light sources;
• (c) average color values of each detected vehicle light source;
• (d) determine differences between the averaged color values and target color values;
• (e) store the differences as color compensation values to compensate color values of subsequently detected vehicle light sources;
• and
• (f) generate a signal to control a vehicle equipment in response to the detection of color compensated vehicle light sources in the captured images.