Object detection system
View Patent ↗An object detection system for a vehicle comprising an infrared camera for gathering an image of at least a part of the surroundings of the vehicle; and a processor for applying an algorithm to at least a part of the image gathered by the camera, the algorithm identifying non-relevant hot or warm objects ( 5, 6, 7 ) detected by the camera and reducing the brightness and/or distinctiveness of the non-relevant objects ( 5, 6, 7 ) in the image; and a display for displaying the image to a driver of the vehicle, characterized in that the infrared camera forms an image in the far infrared; and the algorithm identifies non-relevant hot or warm objects ( 5, 6, 7 ) detected by the camera.
1. In a vehicle having an object detection system for assisting a driver of the vehicle, the object detection system including an infrared camera operatively connected to a processor, the improvement comprising:
the infrared camera for gathering an image of at least a partial surrounding of the vehicle;
the processor for applying an algorithm to at least a part of the image gathered by the camera, the algorithm identifying non-relevant hot or warm objects detected by the infrared camera and reducing at least one of a brightness and distinctiveness of the non-relevant objects in the image; and
a display for displaying the image to the driver of the vehicle,
wherein the infrared camera forms the image from wavelengths of light ranging generally from 5 μm to 20 μm.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein non-relevant objects include at least one of exhaust pipes, warm buildings, and lamps.
3. In a vehicle having an object detection system for assisting a driver of the vehicle, the object detection system including an infrared camera operatively connected to a processor, the improvement comprising:
the infrared camera for gathering an image of at least a partial surrounding of the vehicle;
the processor for applying an algorithm to at least a part of the image gathered by the camera, the algorithm identifying non-relevant hot or warm objects detected by the infrared camera and reducing at least one of a brightness and distinctiveness of the non-relevant objects in the image; and
a display for displaying the image to the driver of the vehicle,
wherein the infrared camera forms the image from wavelengths of light ranging generally from 5 μm to 20 μm,
wherein the non-relevant objects include objects having a shape which changes at a rate below a predetermined threshold.
4. A system according claim 1 , wherein the non-relevant objects include objects having a shape which does not correspond to one of a set of predetermined templates.
5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-relevant objects include objects having a size outside a predetermined range.
6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-relevant objects include objects having a temperature outside a predetermined range.
7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the algorithm further identifies relevant hot or warm objects in the image.
8. A system according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of a brightness and distinctiveness of the relevant objects in the image is increased.
9. A system according to claim 8 , wherein the relevant objects in the image are displayed with at least one of an increased brightness, a different colour, or having a border applied thereto.
10. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the camera forms an image from wavelengths of light ranging generally from 7.5 μm to 14 μm.
11. A method of enhancing images, comprising the steps of:
gathering an infrared view of at least a partial surrounding of a vehicle;
applying an algorithm to the gathered image to identify non-relevant hot or warm objects in the image,
reducing at least one of a brightness and distinctiveness of the non-relevant objects in the image; and
displaying the image to a driver of the vehicle, wherein the view is formed from wavelengths of light ranging generally from 5 μm to 20 μm.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the non-relevant objects include objects having a shape which changes at a rate below a predetermined threshold.