An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having a field of view exteriorly and forward of the vehicle in its direction of travel, and an image processor operable to process the captured images in accordance with an algorithm. The algorithm comprises a sign recognition routine and a character recognition routine. The image processor processes the image data captured by the imaging device to detect signs in the field of view of the imaging device and applies the sign recognition routine to determine a sign type of the detected sign. The image processor is operable to apply the character recognition routine to the image data to determine information on the detected sign. The image processor applies the character recognition routine to the captured images in response to an output of the sign recognition routine being indicative of the detected sign being a sign type of interest.

Imaging system for vehicle

An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a control. The imaging sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The control receives the captured image, which comprises an image data set representative of the exterior scene. The control may apply an edge detection algorithm to a reduced image data set of the image data set. The reduced image data set is representative of a target zone of the captured image. The control may be operable to process the reduced image data set more than other image data, which are representative of areas of the captured image outside of the target zone, to detect objects present within the target zone. The imaging system may be associated with a side object detection system, a lane change assist system, a lane departure warning system and/or the like.

Object detection system for vehicle

A computing architecture for a motorized land-based vehicle is disclosed. The computing architecture includes a data network comprised of a plurality of interconnected processors, a first group of sensors responsive to environmental conditions around the vehicle, a second group of sensors responsive to the vehicle's hardware systems, and a map database containing data that represent geographic features in the geographic area around the vehicle. A vehicle-environment modeling program, executed on the data network, uses the outputs from the first and second groups of sensors and the map database to provide and continuously update a data model that represents the vehicle and the environmental around the vehicle, including geographic features, conditions, structures, objects and obstacles around the vehicle. Vehicle operations programming applications, executed on the data network, use the data model to determine desired vehicle operation in the context of the vehicle's environment. A driver interface receives the vehicle driver's input. Vehicle control programming, executed on the data network, receives outputs from the vehicle operations programming applications and the driver interface, determines a resolved operation for the vehicle's hardware systems and provides output commands indicative thereof. The vehicle operations programming applications may include adaptive cruise control, automated mayday, and obstacle and collision warning systems, among others. Also disclosed is a new computing architecture that organizes the applications and systems in the vehicle into two groups: driver assistance systems and mobile services and information systems. Also disclosed is a drive recorder that maintains records of the statuses of all vehicle systems and of the driver.

Method and system for an in-vehicle computing architecture

A forward-facing vision system for a vehicle includes a forward-facing camera disposed in a windshield electronics module attached at a windshield of the vehicle and viewing through the windshield. A control includes a processor that, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects taillights of leading vehicles during nighttime conditions and, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle. The control, responsive to lane marker detection and a determination that the vehicle is drifting out of a traffic lane, may control a steering system of the vehicle to mitigate such drifting, with the steering system manually controllable by a driver of the vehicle irrespective of control by the control. The processor, based at least in part on detection of lane markers via processing of captured image data, determines curvature of the road being traveled by the vehicle.

Vision system for vehicle

A vehicular vision system includes a camera having a lens and a CMOS photosensor array having a plurality of photosensor elements. The camera is disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The camera one of (i) views exterior of the equipped vehicle through the windshield of the equipped vehicle and forward of the equipped vehicle and (ii) views from the windshield of the equipped vehicle into the interior cabin of the equipped vehicle. A control includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the photosensor array. The image processor processes captured image data to detect an object viewed by the camera. The photosensor array is operable at a plurality of exposure periods and at least one exposure period of the plurality of exposure periods is dynamically variable.

Vehicular vision system

The invention relates to a method for recognising a change in lane of a vehicle (20). Said device comprises an angular resolution locating device (10) for locating vehicles (VEH1, VEH2, VEH3) travelling in front and a device (44) for determining the individual yaw rate (φ0). The invention is characterised in that the angular speed (φI) of at least one vehicle travelling in front of the first vehicle is measured in relation to the said individual vehicle (20) with the aid of the locating device (10) and a lane change signal (LC) indicating the lane change is formed by comparing the measured angular speed (φi) with the individual yaw rate (φ0).

Method for recognising a change in lane of a vehicle

The apparatus for determining rotational position of a rotatable element without contacting it includes a sensor device having two Hall or AMR sensor elements for sensing a magnetic field of magnetic field strength (B) generated by or influenced by the rotational position of the rotatable element and for producing output signals according to the magnetic field and thus the rotational position of the rotatable element. In order to easily detect the absolute rotational position of the rotatable element, the sensor device is constructed and positioned with respect to the rotatable element so that in every rotational position the field lines from the rotatable element extend at right angles to the sensor structures defined by the direction of an alternating current in the sensor elements. Using different embodiments of an electronic evaluation circuit, the direction components of the magnetic field are evaluated to determine the rotational position by comparing the input current to one of the sensors and the sum of the output signals of the respective sensor elements. Either sinusoidal or rectangular alternating voltages or direct voltages are input to the sensor elements.

Apparatus for determining rotational position of a rotatable element without contacting it

An automatic speed and distance control apparatus responsive to detected signals and operator induced signals for automatically controlling the speed of an automotive vehicle and its distance with respect to objects in its path of movement. A flexible control scheme is provided, which permits a driver to intervene in the operation of the system when he or she wishes to accelerate in preparation for a passing maneuver. Upon interruption of the operation by a vehicle driver, the control apparatus is interrupted for a predetermined period of time and thereafter resuming automatic control function.

Method and apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle and its spacing from a preceding vehicle

The invention relates to a method and device for initiating and executing a deceleration of a vehicle in order to avoid a collision. According to the invention, objects in a sensor detection range are detected by means of a device for regulating distance and speed of the vehicle, and measured quantities are established for each detected object. The detected objects are assigned to different object classes based on the established associated measured quantities, and the movement trajectories of the objects are predicted based on the assignment of the detected objects to the respective class. In addition, a risk of collision is determined from these predicted movement trajectories of the objects and from the associated detected object classes. In the event of a predeterminable risk of collision, the deceleration devices of the vehicle are actuated according to the degree of the risk of collision.

Method and device for initiating and executing a deceleration of a vehicle

A method and an apparatus based thereon for automatically controlling the velocity of a vehicle (14) under consideration of preceding vehicles (15, 16, 17) are described. To select a preceding vehicle as the control target, an area of the possible future travel (18) is determined. When the controlled vehicle is about to and/or is beginning to change lanes, the determined area of future travel is expanded (19).

Hermann Winner

Papers

Method for recognising a change in lane of a vehicle

Apparatus for determining rotational position of a rotatable element without contacting it

Method and apparatus for controlling the speed of a vehicle and its spacing from a preceding vehicle

Method and device for initiating and executing a deceleration of a vehicle

Method and apparatus for controlling the velocity of a vehicle