Image sensing system for a vehicle

Abstract

An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a logic and control circuit. The imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate, and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The logic and control circuit comprises an image processor for processing image data derived from the imaging sensor. The image sensing system may generate an indication of the presence of an object within the field of view of the imaging sensor. Preferably, video images may be captured by said imaging sensor and may be displayed by a display device for viewing by the driver when operating the vehicle. The logic and control circuit may generate at least one control output, and the at least control output may control an enhancement of the video images.

1 . An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising: 
 an imaging sensor;    said imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements;    wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements and at least a portion of said logic and control circuit are commonly formed on a semiconductor substrate;    said imaging sensor having a field of view exterior of the vehicle;    wherein said image sensing system generates an indication of the presence of an object within the field of view of said imaging sensor;    wherein said indication comprises at least one of a visual warning and an audible warning;    a logic and control circuit; and    said logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor.    
   
   
       2 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements is formed on said semiconductor substrate as a CMOS device.  
   
   
       3 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements and at least a portion of said logic and control circuit are commonly formed on a semiconductor substrate as an integrated circuit.  
   
   
       4 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements and at least a portion of said logic and control circuit are commonly formed on a semiconductor substrate as a CMOS device.  
   
   
       5 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said logic and control circuit generates at least one control output, said control output being indicative of another vehicle rearward of and approaching the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       6 . The image sensing system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one control output is indicative that a lane change may not be safely undertaken by the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       7 . The image sensing system of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one control output is generated based on at least one of distance and speed of a trailing vehicle.  
   
   
       8 . The image sensing system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one control output controls an alarm audible to the driver when operating the vehicle.  
   
   
       9 . The image sensing system of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one control output controls a display device visible to the driver when operating the vehicle.  
   
   
       10 . The image sensing system of  claim 5 , wherein video images captured by said imaging sensor are displayed by a display device for viewing by the driver when operating the vehicle.  
   
   
       11 . The image sensing system of  claim 10 , wherein the driver of the vehicle has a field of view through the windshield of the vehicle and wherein said display device may be observed by the driver at the upward portion of said driver's field of view.  
   
   
       12 . The image sensing system of  claim 10 , wherein said display device is disposed at or proximate an interior mirror assembly location of the vehicle.  
   
   
       13 . The image sensing system of  claim 10 , wherein said display device comprises a display device selected from the group comprising (i) a back lit liquid crystal display device, (ii) a plasma display device, and (iii) a field emission display device.  
   
   
       14 . The image sensing system of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one control output controls an enhancement of said video images.  
   
   
       15 . The image sensing system of  claim 14 , wherein said enhancement of said video images comprises at least one of (i) a graphic overlay, (ii) displaying an imaged object in a particular color, and (iii) flashing an imaged object.  
   
   
       16 . The image sensing system of  claim 15 , wherein said enhancement is a function of the speed of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       17 . The image sensing system of  claim 14 , wherein said enhancement of said video images displayed by said display device is a function of at least one of (i) the travel direction of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, (ii) the speed of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, (iii) the rate of turn of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, and (iv) the separation distance of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor to adjacent objects.  
   
   
       18 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein video images captured by said imaging sensor are displayed by a display device for viewing by the driver when operating the vehicle in a forward direction of travel.  
   
   
       19 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said logic and control circuit comprises at least one of (i) an analog-to-digital converter, (ii) a logic circuit, (iii) a clock, (iv) a random access memory, and (v) a digital-to-analog converter.  
   
   
       20 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said field of view comprises a blind spot to the rear of the vehicle.  
   
   
       21 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor comprises a distance-measuring system.  
   
   
       22 . The image sensing system of  claim 21 , wherein said distance-measuring system comprises at least one of (a) a radar sensor, (ii) an ultrasonic sensor, (ii) an infrared sensor and (ii) a stereoscopic sensor.  
   
   
       23 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle through a window of the vehicle.  
   
   
       24 . The image sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein said imaging sensor comprises a night vision imaging sensor.  
   
   
       25 . The image sensing system of  claim 24 , wherein said night vision imaging sensor comprises a monochrome imaging sensor.  
   
   
       26 . The image sensing system of  claim 25 , wherein said monochrome night vision imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle through a window of the vehicle.  
   
   
       27 . An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising: 
 an imaging sensor;    said imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements;    wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate as a CMOS device;    said imaging sensor having a field of view exterior of the vehicle;    a logic and control circuit;    said logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor;    a display device visible to the driver when operating the vehicle;    wherein video images captured by said imaging sensor are displayed by said display device for viewing by the driver when operating the vehicle;    wherein said logic and control circuit generates at least one control output, and wherein said at least one control output controls an enhancement of said video images; and    wherein said enhancement enhances the driver's awareness of the presence of an object within the field of view of said imaging sensor.    
   
   
       28 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements and at least a portion of said logic and control circuit are commonly formed on a semiconductor substrate as at least one of (i) an integrated circuit and (ii) a CMOS device.  
   
   
       29 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said control output is a function of a determination by said logic and control circuit of another vehicle rearward of and approaching the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       30 . The image sensing system of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one control output is indicative that a lane change may not be safely undertaken by the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       31 . The image sensing system of  claim 30 , wherein said indication is generated based on at least one of distance and speed of a trailing vehicle.  
   
   
       32 . The image sensing system of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one control output controls an alarm audible to the driver when operating the vehicle.  
   
   
       33 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said logic and control circuit comprises at least one of (i) an analog-to-digital converter, (ii) a logic circuit, (iii) a clock, (iv) a random access memory, and (v) a digital-to-analog converter.  
   
   
       34 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said video images are visible to the driver when operating the vehicle in a forward direction of travel.  
   
   
       35 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said field of view comprises a blind spot to the rear of the vehicle.  
   
   
       36 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said display device is disposed at or proximate an interior mirror assembly location of the vehicle.  
   
   
       37 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said display device comprises a display device selected from the group comprising (i) a back lit liquid crystal display device, (ii) a plasma display device, and (iii) a field emission display device.  
   
   
       38 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said enhancement of said video images comprises at least one of (i) a graphic overlay, (ii) displaying an imaged object in a particular color, and (iii) flashing an imaged object.  
   
   
       39 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said enhancement is a function of the speed of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       40 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor comprises a distance-measuring system.  
   
   
       41 . The image sensing system of  claim 40 , wherein said distance-measuring system comprises at least one of (a) a radar sensor, (ii) an ultrasonic sensor, (ii) an infrared sensor and (ii) a stereoscopic sensor.  
   
   
       42 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said enhancement of said video images displayed by said display device is a function of at least one of (i) the travel direction of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, (ii) the speed of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, (iii) the rate of turn of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, and (iv) the separation distance of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor to adjacent objects.  
   
   
       43 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle through a window of the vehicle.  
   
   
       44 . The image sensing system of  claim 27 , wherein said imaging sensor comprises a night vision imaging sensor.  
   
   
       45 . The image sensing system of  claim 44 , wherein said night vision imaging sensor comprises a monochrome imaging sensor.  
   
   
       46 . The image sensing system of  claim 45 , wherein said monochrome night vision imaging sensor imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the vehicle and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle through a window of the vehicle.  
   
   
       47 . An image sensing system for a vehicle, said image sensing system comprising: 
 an imaging sensor;    said imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements;    wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements is formed on a semiconductor substrate;    said imaging sensor having a field of view exterior of the vehicle;    a logic and control circuit;    said logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from said imaging sensor;    a display device visible to the driver when operating the vehicle;    wherein video images captured. by said imaging sensor are displayed by said display device for viewing by the driver when operating the vehicle;    wherein said logic and control circuit generates at least one control output, and wherein said at least control output controls an enhancement of said video images;    wherein said enhancement enhances the driver's awareness of the presence of an object within the field of view of said imaging sensor; and    wherein at least one of (i) said field of view comprises a blind spot to the rear of the vehicle and (ii) said control output is a function of a determination by said logic and control circuit of another vehicle rearward of and approaching the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.    
   
   
       48 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements is formed on said semiconductor substrate as a CMOS device.  
   
   
       49 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements and at least a portion of said logic and control circuit are commonly formed on a semiconductor substrate.  
   
   
       50 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said array of light sensing photosensor elements and at least a portion of said logic and control circuit are commonly formed on a semiconductor substrate as at least one of (i) an integrated circuit and (ii) a CMOS device.  
   
   
       51 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said control output is a function of a determination by said logic and control circuit of another vehicle rearward of and approaching the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor and wherein said at least one control output is indicative that a lane change may not be safely undertaken by the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       52 . The image sensing system of  claim 51 , wherein said indication is generated based on at least one of distance and speed of a trailing vehicle.  
   
   
       53 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said logic and control circuit comprises at least one of (i) an analog-to-digital converter, (ii) a logic circuit, (iii) a clock, (iv) a random access memory, and (v) a digital-to-analog converter.  
   
   
       54 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said at least one control output controls an alarm audible to the driver when operating the vehicle.  
   
   
       55 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said display device comprises a display device selected from the group comprising (i) a back lit liquid crystal display device, (ii) a plasma display device, and (iii) a field emission display device.  
   
   
       56 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said enhancement of said video images comprises at least one of (i) a graphic overlay, (ii) displaying an imaged object in a particular color, and (iii) flashing an imaged object.  
   
   
       57 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said enhancement is a function of the speed of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor.  
   
   
       58 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor comprises a distance-measuring system.  
   
   
       59 . The image sensing system of  claim 58 , wherein said distance-measuring system comprises at least one of (a) a radar sensor, (ii) an ultrasonic sensor, (ii) an infrared sensor and (ii) a stereoscopic sensor.  
   
   
       60 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said enhancement of said video images displayed by said display device is a function of at least one of (i) the travel direction of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, (ii) the speed of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, (iii) the rate of turn of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor, and (iv) the separation distance of the vehicle equipped with said imaging sensor to adjacent objects.  
   
   
       61 . The image sensing system of  claim 47 , wherein said imaging sensor comprises a color imaging sensor.