Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting surroundings around a vehicle may include the step of periodically scanning the surroundings in a first detection region by a laser scanner. The method may also include detecting the surroundings in a second detection region by an optical camera. The first detection region and the second detection region may at least overlap each other. An optical sensor in the camera may be exposed at least twice within one period of the laser scanner. A first exposure time for a first exposure of the at least two exposures of the optical sensor may be chosen and synchronized with the laser scanner so that the first exposure occurs within a first time window, in which the laser scanner scans the first detection region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting surroundings around a vehicle may include the step of periodically scanning the surroundings in a first detection region by a laser scanner. The method may also include detecting the surroundings in a second detection region by an optical camera. The first detection region and the second detection region may at least overlap each other. An optical sensor in the camera may be exposed at least twice within one period of the laser scanner. A first exposure time for a first exposure of the at least two exposures of the optical sensor may be chosen and synchronized with the laser scanner so that the first exposure occurs within a first time window, in which the laser scanner scans the first detection region.

Abstract: A device for controlling a driving light of a vehicle includes a headlight with a light source, a device for pivoting a produced light distribution and an optical element that provides adjustable light distribution. The optical element includes a light passage opening pivotable into an optical axis of the light source. A beam of the light distribution is limited or deflected such that a limited light field is produced in a pre-settable region in front of the vehicle, which light field has an external form of the light passage opening. Further light passage structures provide a “high beam” or “partial high beam” light pattern and thereafter the “high beam” light pattern by turning, pivoting and/or displacing the optical element in one direction, and another further light passage structure provides a “motorway” and thereafter a “country road” light pattern by turning, pivoting and/or displacing the optical element in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A device for controlling a driving light of a vehicle includes a headlight with a light source, a device for pivoting a produced light distribution and an optical element that provides adjustable light distribution. The optical element includes a light passage opening pivotable into an optical axis of the light source. A beam of the light distribution is limited or deflected such that a limited light field is produced in a pre-settable region in front of the vehicle, which light field has an external form of the light passage opening. Further light passage structures provide a “high beam” or “partial high beam” light pattern and thereafter the “high beam” light pattern by turning, pivoting and/or displacing the optical element in one direction, and another further light passage structure provides a “motorway” and thereafter a “country road” light pattern by turning, pivoting and/or displacing the optical element in an opposite direction.

Abstract: Method for at least one of model-based classification and target recognition of an object. The method includes recording an image of an inanimate object, determining a feature that represents a part of the inanimate object, determining at least one condition associated with the feature that indicates an applicability of the feature based on at least one of geometry of the object, distance of the object from a camera, illumination conditions, contrast, speed of the object, height of the object, and relative position of the object to a camera, and carrying out the at least one of classification and target recognition of the object by recording the feature when the at least one condition indicates the applicability of the feature. At least one of object classification and target recognition is carried out for a feature of the object that is visible and recordable according to the position of the object.

Abstract: Poor visibility at night is a tiring and dangerous situation in traffic, feared by many drivers. As a result of poor visibility, the frequency of accidents at night is significantly higher than during the day with good visibility conditions. Cars are thus prospectively fitted with night vision systems, in order to increase safety in traffic. A night vision system used for this purpose generally comprises an illumination unit for illuminating the environment surrounding the vehicle, an image recording unit for collecting environmental data, and an image processing unit for evaluating the environmental data. So that the operation of the night vision system can be adapted to different situations, it must be designed in a flexible manner. To this end, the individual components of the night vision system must be able to be operated in different combinations. In order to achieve this, the components of the night vision system can be individually controlled by means of at least one control signal.

Abstract: Assistance systems are increasingly being used to assist vehicle drivers when driving their vehicles. To this end, a camera is used to record image data from the area surrounding a vehicle, and at least some of the image data (1) are shown on a display following object identification and image processing. After the image data have been recorded by the camera, they are processed using object identification in order to identify objects (2, 3) in the recorded image data. At least some of the objects (2, 3) which have been identified in this manner are highlighted when showing the image data (1) on the display. In this case, the identified objects (2, 3) are highlighted in such a manner that the image data (1) to be shown are divided into two types of regions. In this case, the first type of region comprises the objects (2, 3) which have been identified and are to be highlighted and a surrounding region (2a, 3a) which respectively directly adjoins the latter in a corresponding manner.

Abstract: Future motor vehicles will require additional lighting means. Additional lighting means are required, above all, in conjunction with environmental sensors, especially sensors which are used in night vision systems. As a result of the generally increasing number of electric and electronic systems in motor vehicles, such systems must be easy to operate for the driver. The invention thus relates to a switching arrangement which enables a plurality of lighting systems to be ergonomically operated on one motor vehicle. Said switching arrangement comprises a single switch having a plurality of switching stages. In this way, all switching stages pertaining to different lighting systems are located in the same switching region, enabling the lighting systems to be operated in a simple and intuitive manner.

Abstract: A method for detecting surroundings by an automotive night vision system comprising several areas, including a detection area (3) in which surroundings related data is detected, an evaluation area within which the surroundings-related data detected by the night vision system is evaluated, and an area of representation in which information about the surroundings-related data detected therein is represented to the driver by an optical display unit. The area of representation is therefore restricted in the inventive method for detecting surroundings such that the area of representation comprises no more than the high beam area (2). The driver is shown only the surroundings related data which he/she would see anyway when actuating the conventional high beam due to the fact that the area of representation is restricted.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automobile infrared-night viewing device comprising an infrared camera used to receive image data representing the surroundings of the automobile. Said device also comprises an image processing unit which is connected to the infrared-camera and which processes the image data supplied by said camera in such am manner that a continuous image section from the supplied image data is selected and said selected data is retransmitted to a display. Said display then completely or almost completely reproduces the selected data, thereby renouncing any other further representations of the image data. Preferably, the selection of the image data is made according to the speed of the vehicle, the surroundings of the vehicle or the driver.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automobile display unit, an automobile infrared night vision device and an automobile with such a display unit or, as the case may be, with such an infrared night vision device. The display includes an image processing unit which processes the image data supplied to it such that contiguous areas of maximal light intensity are recognized and these image data are adapted to the extent that they are at least partially replaced by image data with reduced light intensity values. These changed image data are supplied to the display, which reproduces these image data. This display unit makes possible a reduction or a prevention of blinding by brilliant light, which is particularly disturbing in a case of display of infrared night vision image information.

Abstract: First commercial automobile night vision systems are already available on the market. These should assist the driver in difficult situations involving poor visibility, particularly in darkness or fog. To this end, systems of this type have an active infrared illuminating device (2), a camera (3) for recording infrared images, and an image display (1) for playing back the image information obtained by the system. In doing this, the activation of the active infrared illuminating device (2) ensues according to an evaluation of operating parameters (5) and parameters (6) of the surroundings (4). In addition, according to a feature of the present invention, a controller (7), which is independent of the evaluator (4), is provided for directly activating/deactivating the image display (1). The controller (7) enables the driver to immediately obtain information regarding a successful activation of the night vision system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting surroundings by means of an automotive night vision system comprising several areas, including a detection area (3) in which surroundings-related data is detected, an evaluation area within which the surroundings-related data detected by means of the night vision system is evaluated, and an area of representation in which information about the surroundings-related data detected therein is represented to the driver by means of an optical display unit. All previous commercially available night vision systems are configured so as to be able to display objects at the greatest possible distance. However, said systems involve the great risk of leading the driver into driving faster than would be possible without the night vision system in situations where visibility is poor or in the dark.

Abstract: Future motor vehicles will require additional lighting means. Additional lighting means are required, above all, in conjunction with environmental sensors, especially sensors which are used in night vision systems. As a result of the generally increasing number of electric and electronic systems in motor vehicles, such systems must be easy to operate for the driver. The invention thus relates to a switching arrangement which enables a plurality of lighting systems to be ergonomically operated on one motor vehicle. Said switching arrangement comprises a single switch having a plurality of switching stages. In this way, all switching stages pertaining to different lighting systems are located in the same switching region, enabling the lighting systems to be operated in a simple and intuitive manner.

Abstract: Environment detection systems are used to aid drivers in road vehicles. To this end, optical sensors are applied to the road vehicle in order to record environmental data. The recorded environmental data is processed to form an image by means of a computing unit, and is then presented to the driver, for example on a display. In addition, the image data can be subjected to a further evaluation, for example, in order to identify objects located therein. For this purpose, a very large amount of data must be processed however, such that the requirements for the efficiency of the hardware are very high, in order to provide the system with a real-time capacity. The invention thus relates to a method which provides the system with a real-time capacity by means of simple data processing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor array (3, 28) with a number of sensors (17, 18, 19, 20) arranged in periodic groups (21, 29, 30) for detection of electro-magnetic radiation, including sensors (17) of a first type for detection of radiation in an infrared spectral range and sensors (18, 19, 20) of at least a second type for detection of light in a visible spectral range. In each group (21, 29, 30) the number of sensors (17) of the first type exceeds the number of sensors (18, 19, 20) of the second type. Also disclosed is a camera (2) with such a sensor array (3, 28) as well as an image reproduction system (1) with such a camera (2) and a vehicle with such an image reproduction system (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for improving visibility in a motor vehicle. It includes a radiation source for illumination of the vehicle environment with infrared radiation, an infrared sensitive camera for detection of at least a portion of the illuminated vehicle environment and a display for depicting the image information detected by the camera. In accordance with the invention the camera is provided with a homogenous IR-filter, which exhibits various spectral transmission characteristics. The IR-filter exhibits a degree of transmission of about 1 in at least a partial range of the infrared spectrum. In the visual spectral region, the typical blocking effect of an IR-filter is 10?5 or less. In the visual spectrum the transmission of the IR-filter according to the invention is not continuous, and includes at least one narrow band transmissive region with a degree of transmissivity of approximately or greater than 10?3 for visible light.

Abstract: In a camera system to be installed in a passenger compartment of motor vehicle, a camera (3) is surrounded by a housing (7) and is oriented towards the windshield (1) of the passenger compartment. Between the camera (3) and the windshield (1) a shield (11) is provided, which is moveable between a closed position in which the camera (3) is shielded against scatter light from the passenger compartment and an open position in which access may be had to the front lens (4) of the camera (3) and the area (6) of the windshield lying in the field of view of the camera (3).

Abstract: A method for at least one of model-based classification and target recognition of an object. The method further includes recording an image of an object and determining a feature that represents a part of the object. Moreover, the method includes determining at least one condition associated with the feature that indicates an applicability of the feature based on at least one of: covering by parts of the object, a current illumination situation, time the image is recorded, movement information of the object, movement information of other objects, and a position and orientation of the object. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automobile infrared-night viewing device comprising an infrared camera used to receive image data representing the surroundings of the automobile. Said device also comprises an image processing unit which is connected to the infrared-camera and which processes the image data supplied by said camera in such am manner that a continuous image section from the supplied image data is selected and said selected data is retransmitted to a display. Said display then completely or almost completely reproduces the selected data, thereby renouncing any other further representations of the image data. Preferably, the selection of the image data is made according to the speed of the vehicle, the surroundings of the vehicle or the driver.