IP Library Granted Patent US 7,899,213
Granted Patent B2
US 7,899,213 · App. 12/176,744 · Granted Mar 1, 2011

Image processing system and vehicle control system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,899,213
App. No.
12/176,744
Granted
Mar 1, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image processing system including an imaging unit mounted on a subject vehicle, and an image analysis unit that acquires images photographed by the imaging unit. The image analysis unit acquires plural images with different exposures that the imaging unit photographed, detects light spots emitted from the other vehicles from the plural images with different exposures, and detects positions of the other vehicles. The plural images are an image photographed with a first exposure, and an image photographed with a second exposure greater than the first exposure. The image analysis unit extracts a first area containing a first color component from the image photographed with the first exposure to determine the first area to be a first three-dimensional object, and extracts a second area containing a second color component from the image photographed with the second exposure to determine the second area to be a second three-dimensional object.

Claims (11)

1. An image processing system comprising an imaging means mounted on a subject vehicle, and an image analysis means that acquires images photographed by the imaging means and analyzes the images,

wherein the image analysis means acquires plural images with different exposures that the imaging means photographed, detects light spots emitted from other vehicles from the plural images with different exposures, and detects positions of the other vehicles;

wherein the plural images with different exposures are an image photographed with a first exposure, and an image photographed with a second exposure greater than the first exposure;

wherein the image analysis means extracts a first area containing a first color component from the image photographed with the first exposure to determine the first area to be a first three-dimensional object, and extracts a second area containing a second color component from the image photographed with the second exposure to determine the second area to be a second three-dimensional object;

wherein, when there are more than two light spots in a horizontal direction of the image photographed by the imaging means, a position of the other vehicle is calculated from a spacing of a two light spots, wherein the position of the other vehicle calculated from the spacing of the two light spots is compared with a position of other vehicle calculated from a depression angle information of one light spot; and the position of the other vehicle being in a shorter distance from the subject vehicle is control information for controlling the subject vehicle.

2. The image processing system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first color component is white and the second color component is red; and

the first three-dimensional object is an opposing vehicle and the second three-dimensional object is a preceding vehicle.

3. The image processing system according to claim 2 , wherein the image analysis means:

calculates the positions of the other vehicles, when there are more than two light spots in the horizontal direction of the image photographed by the imaging means, on the basis of a spacing of the two light spots; and

calculates the positions of the other vehicles, when there is one light spot in the horizontal direction of the image photographed by the imaging means, on the basis of depression angle information from the imaging means.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 30, 2021
From: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
To: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058481/0935 →
DEMERGER Recorded Nov 29, 2021
From: HITACHI, LTD.
To: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058960/0001 →