Vehicle and method for operating a camera arrangement for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9524438-B2
Application number	US-201114117919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2011
Priority date	May 16, 2011
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle ( 10 ) with at least one camera ( 16 ), by means of which at least one image area of a surrounding of the vehicle ( 10 ) is capturable, the image area comprising a plurality of pixels and being arranged obliquely above a vehicle front as viewed in the direction of travel of the vehicle ( 10 ), and with a tunnel detection device ( 44 ) designed for determining an average brightness of the at least one image area. The tunnel detection device ( 44 ) comprises a device ( 46 ) for feature or edge detection, by means of which differences in the brightness of pixels differing from each other are capturable and thus features characterized by abrupt changes in brightness are detectable in the at least one image area. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for operating a camera arrangement for a vehicle ( 10 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
at least one camera for capturing at least one image area of a surrounding of the vehicle, the image area comprising a plurality of pixels and being arranged in front of the vehicle; and
a tunnel detection device for determining an average brightness of the at least one image area, wherein the tunnel detection device comprises a device for feature detection, by means of which differences in the brightness of pixels differing from each other are capturable and thus features characterized by abrupt changes in brightness are detectable in the at least one image area,
wherein a height of the at least one image area above the road surface is adjustable in dependence on an inclination of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the tunnel detection device is designed for determining a ratio of the pixels assigned to the detected features in the at least one image area in relation to the total number of pixels in the at least one image area.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein a threshold value for the ratio is deposited in the tunnel detection device, which in particular amounts to less than 5%, allowing for a conclusion as to the presence of a tunnel.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera a second image area arranged below the first image area in front of the vehicle is capturable, wherein by the tunnel detection device an average brightness of the second image area is determinable.

5. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the first image area is larger than the second image area.

6. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein a distance between the first image area and the second image area arranged below same is pre-determinable.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein a height and/or a width of the second image area is variable in dependence on the set distance.

8. The vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein the tunnel detection device is designed to allow for a conclusion as to the presence of a tunnel on the basis of the features detected in the first image area.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one blur device for blurring a captured image.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is for capturing an electromagnetic radiation in the range visible to the human eye and for capturing infrared radiation.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a threshold value for the ratio is deposited in the tunnel detection device, which in particular amounts to about 2%, allowing for a conclusion as to the presence of a tunnel.

12. A method for operating a camera arrangement for a vehicle, in which by means of at least one camera at least one image area of a surrounding of the vehicle is captured, the image area comprising a plurality of pixels and being arranged in front of the vehicle, the method comprising:
determining an average brightness of the at least one image area, wherein by means of a device for feature detection differences in the brightness of pixels differing from each other are identified in the at least one image area and possibly existing features characterizing abrupt changes in brightness are thus detected,
wherein a height of the at least one image area above the road surface is adjustable in dependence on an inclination of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein a ratio of the pixels assigned to the detected features in relation to the total number of pixels in the at least one image area is determined and in dependence on the ratio it is concluded whether a tunnel is present or not.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein, by the at least one camera, a second image area arranged below the first image area in front of the vehicle is captured, wherein an average brightness of the second image area is determined.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein on the basis of the features detected in the first image area it is concluded whether a tunnel is present or not.

Assignees

• Wedajo Brouk
• Quelquejay Yan
• Ahiad Samia
• Robert Caroline
• Valeo Schalter & Sensoren Gmbh

Inventors

• Wedajo Brouk
• Quelquejay Yan
• Ahiad Samia
• Robert Caroline

Classifications

• G06K9/00791 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06V20/56 Primary

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title

• B60R2001/1253

  with cameras, video cameras or video screens · CPC title

• B60R1/00

  Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles · CPC title