The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2008
Method for distinguishing between reflectors arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights in the dark
Michael Walter, Heerbrugg, CH;
Thomas Fechner, Wasserburg, DE;
Michael Walter, Heerbrugg, CH;
Thomas Fechner, Wasserburg, DE;
ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH, Lindau, DE;
Abstract
A method and a device for distinguishing between reflectors arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights and for identifying said reflectors and vehicle lights for use in an automatic light control system in a vehicle with a camera sensor oriented towards the surroundings of the vehicle. The method includes recording a sequence of images of the surroundings of the vehicle. Light spots are found and subjected to temporal tracking within the sequence of images. Afterwards, for each light spot, a decision is made whether the light source of the light spot is a vehicle light or a reflector. A statistical map for the entire camera image is determined from the position of the light spots found with the statistical map comprising regions that are predominantly occupied by reflectors and regions that are predominantly occupied by vehicles driving ahead or by oncoming vehicles. All light sources that are found within the regions occupied by reflectors are identified as potential reflectors and all light sources within the regions occupied by vehicle lights are identified as potential vehicle lights.