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

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

An interior rearview mirror system and assembly includes a variable reflectivity reflective element and a video display screen disposed behind the reflective element and operable to display images viewable through the reflective element by a person viewing the interior rearview mirror assembly when it is normally mounted in a vehicle. The video display screen may be operable to brighten or enhance the intensity of images displayed by the video display screen responsive to a dimming condition of the variable reflectivity reflective element. The mirror system may include an image sensor and a decoder that decodes an output signal of the image sensor. The decoder has a microprocessor operable to control the video display screen, such that the captured image data are processed and images are displayed via operation of a common microprocessor. A compass chip may connect to a vehicle wire harness that extends from a vehicle headliner.

Interior mirror assembly with display

A vehicle lane change aid system includes a detector that is operative to detect the presence of an other vehicle adjacent the vehicle, an indicator for providing an indication that a lane change maneuver of the vehicle may affect the other vehicle and a control receiving movement information of the vehicle. The control develops a position history of the vehicle at least as a function of the movement information. The control compares the detected presence of the other vehicle with the position history and provides an indication when a lane change maneuver may affect the other vehicle.

Automotive lane change aid

A near object detection (NOD) system includes a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors for providing detection coverage in a predetermined coverage zone and each of the sensors including a transmit antenna for transmitting a first RF signal, a receive antenna for receiving a second RF signal and means for sharing information between each of the plurality of sensors in the NOD system.

Near object detection system

A CW radar range measuring system having a transmitter adapted to transmit a continuous wave radar signal phase encoded in accordance with a code and a receiver adapted to receive a radar return from the transmitted radar signal. The receiver includes an analog to digital converter section for converting a sequence of samples of the radar return into a corresponding sequence of digital words. A digital correlator/integrator is fed by the digital words and the code for providing an indication of radar return energy as a function of range from the transmitter. A processor is fed by the digital correlator/integrator for determining, from the indicated energy, target range. The system includes a frequency spectrum analyzer for determining a frequency spectrum of the digital words and wherein the processor determines the target Doppler frequency from such determined frequency spectrum. In one embodiment of the invention, the digital correlator/integrator is fed the digital words and the frequency analyzer is coupled between the digital correlator/integrator and the processor. In another embodiment of the invention the frequency analyzer is fed the digital words and the digital correlator/integrator is coupled between the frequency analyzer and the processor. In still another embodiment, target range may be determined to an accuracy less than that corresponding to a time delay of 1/f s , the rate the at which the phase of the transmitted signal is phase encoded.

Mark E Russell

Papers

Near object detection system

CW radar range measuring system with improved range resolution