System and method for adjusting an image capture setting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9723274-B2
Application number	US-201414290243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2014
Priority date	Apr 19, 2011
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

An imaging system and method of a trailer backup assist system is provided and includes a camera having an image sensor. The camera is mounted on the rear of a vehicle and images a target provided on a trailer. A controller is included for adjusting an image capture setting of the camera based on a status input from a vehicle lighting system, image data from the camera, and locational input from a positioning device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging system comprising:
a rear vehicle camera for imaging a target on a trailer; and
a controller
configured to set a reference point on the target and analyze image data with respect to the reference point to determine whether an adjustment to the image capture setting of the camera is needed;
wherein the controller further determines whether to make the adjustment based on a status input indicating whether a rear vehicle light is activated; and
wherein if the status input indicates that the rear vehicle light is activated, the controller subtracts a predetermined color cast specific to the rear vehicle light from an image captured by the camera.

2. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the image capture setting comprises at least one of a white balance and an exposure of the camera.

3. The imaging system of claim 1 , wherein if the status input indicates that the rear vehicle light is activated, the controller performs one of modifying an exposure of each pixel of the image sensor and compensating an image after being captured by the camera.

4. An imaging method comprising the steps of:
using a camera to image a target on a trailer;
providing a controller for:
setting a reference point on the target and analyzing image data with respect to the reference point to determine whether an adjustment to an image capture setting of the camera is needed; and
further determining whether to make the adjustment based on a status input indicating whether a rear vehicle light is activated, wherein if the status input indicates that the rear vehicle light is activated, subtracting a predetermined color cast specific to the rear vehicle light from an image captured by the camera.

5. The imaging method of claim 4 , wherein the image capture setting comprises at least one of a white balance and an exposure of the camera.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Lavoie Erick Michael

Classifications

• B60W2540/215

  Selection or confirmation of options · CPC title

• G01B11/26

  for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title

• B60W30/00

  Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units · CPC title

• B62D15/027

  Parking aids, e.g. instruction means · CPC title

• B60W50/0097

  Predicting future conditions · CPC title