Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes a forward facing photosensor array and a control responsive to the photosensor array. The control processes an image data set indicative of captured images, and the control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set to determine whether an object of interest is within a target zone of the captured image. The reduced image data set is representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a particular grouping of the photosensor elements. The control adjusts the reduced image data set so as to be representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a different particular grouping of the photosensor elements, and adjusts the reduced image data set in response to a determination of a change in a focus of expansion of the captured images.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of the vehicle with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image exterior of the vehicle. The control may process the captured images and may determine that the imaging array sensor is misaligned when the imaging array sensor is disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly at the side of the vehicle. The control, responsive to a determination of misalignment of the imaging array sensor, may at least partially compensate for the determined misalignment of the imaging array sensor.

Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of forward travel of the vehicle. The imaging device captures image data and the control processes the captured image data to detect an object of interest generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the illumination source in response to detection of an object of interest. The imaging device may be synchronized with flashing of at least one lighting element of the illumination source to capture image data during a time period that the lighting element is being flashed. The control may adjust the illumination source to direct illumination toward an area encompassing a detected object of interest when the object of interest is detected.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The imaging array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is disposed at an exterior rearview mirror assembly at a side of the vehicle with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image exterior of the vehicle. The control may process the captured images and may determine that the imaging array sensor is misaligned when the imaging array sensor is disposed at the exterior rearview mirror assembly at the side of the vehicle. The control, responsive to a determination of misalignment of the imaging array sensor, may at least partially compensate for the determined misalignment of the imaging array sensor.

Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a detection device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and has an adjustable principal axis of illumination. The detection device may be operable to determine a gaze direction of a driver or driving instructor of a vehicle or may detect a sign or other object of interest, such as a deer or pedestrian or the like, generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the principal axis of illumination of the illumination source in response to an output of the detection device so as to provide enhanced illumination at areas sideward and forward of the vehicle.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The image array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at the vehicle with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image exterior of the vehicle. The control may process the captured images and may determine that the imaging array sensor is not aligned within a desired tolerance when the imaging array sensor is positioned at the vehicle. The control, responsive to a determination of a misalignment of the imaging array sensor at the vehicle, may adjust at least one of the captured images or an image data set and the image processing to at least partially compensate for the determined misalignment of the imaging array sensor.

Abstract: A predictive suspension system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor, and energy source and a control. The imaging sensor is disposed at a vehicle and has a generally downward field of view, with the field of view encompassing an area forward of a tire of the vehicle. The energy source is operable to emit illumination in at least one linear pattern so that the linear pattern is projected onto a portion of the area forward of the tire of the vehicle that is encompassed by the field of view of the imaging sensor. The control processes image data captured by the imaging sensor and detects surface irregularities on a surface in front of the vehicle tire in response to the image processing.

Abstract: An object detection system for a vehicle includes an imaging device, an image processor and a Lidar device. The imaging device is operable to capture image data representative of a scene exterior the vehicle. The image processor processes image data to detect an object of interest in the field of view of the imaging device. The Lidar device is responsive to the image processing so as to have its line of sight guided to point toward the detected object of interest. The Lidar device is operable to measure the distances between the host vehicle and the detected object of interest.

Abstract: An imaging system suitable for use in a vehicle includes an imaging sensor having a two-dimensional array of photosensing elements, an image processor for processing image data captured by the imaging sensor, and a display for displaying images responsive to the image processor. The array has a plurality of sub-arrays, with each of the sub-arrays having a first pixel sensing primarily a first color, a second pixel sensing primarily a second color, a third pixel sensing primarily a third color and a fourth pixel sensing primarily infrared radiation. The image processor processes the output of the fourth pixel to determine an infrared component of the imaged scene and subtracts the infrared component from the outputs of the first, second and third pixels to obtain a more accurate or true color response for the pixels and to limit or avoid infrared color wash-out.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor (12) and a display device (15) for displaying images representative of image data captured by the imaging sensor. The imaging sensor (12) has a rearward field of view when mounted at the vehicle. The imaging system generates a plurality of graphic overlays (130a, 130b, 130c) on the displayed images to enhance the driver's cognitive awareness of an object rearward of the vehicle. The graphic overlays comprises a plurality of graphic overlay segments. The graphic overlay segments convey three dimensional information to a person viewing the displayed images and the graphic overlays. The imaging system may adjust at least one of a color, an intensity and a rate of flashing of at least one of the plurality of graphic overlay segments in response to an object being detected rearward of the vehicle and within a distance threshold.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The image array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at the vehicle with a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image exterior of the vehicle. The control may process the captured images and may determine that the imaging array sensor is not aligned within a desired tolerance when the imaging array sensor is positioned at the vehicle. The control, responsive to a determination of a misalignment of the imaging array sensor at the vehicle, may adjust at least one of the captured images or an image data set and the image processing to at least partially compensate for the determined misalignment of the imaging array sensor.

Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor and a control. The image array sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing pixels and is positioned at the vehicle with a field of view exteriorly of the vehicle. The imaging array sensor is operable to capture an image of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The captured image comprises an image data set representative of the exterior scene. The control algorithmically processes the image data set to a reduced image data set of the image data set. The control processes the reduced image data set to extract information from the reduced image data set. The control selects the reduced image data set based on a steering angle of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle vision system includes an image sensor having a forward field of view and capturing image data of a road surface forward of the vehicle. An image processor processes the image data and the vehicle vision system determines at least an estimate of a traction condition of at least a portion of the imaged road surface. The vision system may detect objects forward of the vehicle and may distinguish between live and dead animals in the field of view of the image sensor, and may at least one of (a) generate an alert and (b) control the vehicle to assist in avoiding a collision. The system may detect situations in which the vehicle lighting system can be turned off or operated under reduced power consumption in order to enhance fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

Abstract: A predictive suspension system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor, and energy source and a control. The imaging sensor is disposed at a vehicle and has a generally downward field of view, with the field of view encompassing an area forward of a tire of the vehicle. The energy source is operable to emit illumination in at least one linear pattern so that the linear pattern is projected onto a portion of the area forward of the tire of the vehicle that is encompassed by the field of view of the imaging sensor. The control processes image data captured by the imaging sensor and detects surface irregularities on a surface in front of the vehicle tire in response to the image processing.

Abstract: A vehicular imaging system includes a forward facing photosensor array and a control responsive to the photosensor array. The control processes an image data set indicative of captured images, and the control processes a reduced image data set of the image data set to determine whether an object of interest is within a target zone of the captured image. The reduced image data set is representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a particular grouping of the photosensor elements. The control adjusts the reduced image data set so as to be representative of a portion of the captured images as captured by a different particular grouping of the photosensor elements, and adjusts the reduced image data set in response to a determination of a change in a focus of expansion of the captured images.

Abstract: An automatic lighting system for a vehicle includes a detection device, an illumination source and a control. The illumination source is directed generally forwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the vehicle, and has an adjustable principal axis of illumination. The detection device may be operable to determine a gaze direction of a driver or driving instructor of a vehicle or may detect a sign or other object of interest, such as a deer or pedestrian or the like, generally forwardly and sidewardly of the vehicle. The control is operable to adjust the principal axis of illumination of the illumination source in response to an output of the detection device so as to provide enhanced illumination at areas sideward and forward of the vehicle.

Abstract: A black ice detection system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor disposed at the vehicle and having a forward field of view in a direction of forward travel of the vehicle and a control operable to process images captured by the imaging sensor and operable to detect and discern black ice on a surface in front of the vehicle in response to the image processing.

Abstract: A discrete transform image data compression system in which frequency transform coefficients are modified in accordance with a matrix of quantizer values employs a predefined plurality of quantization matrices to adaptively select, on a document-by-document basis, an approximate memory packet size for each document's compressed image data storage by selecting one of the plurality of quantization matrices in accordance with the packet size estimate obtained for each document image. Additionally, the system employs generation of contrast reduction and gray level stretch remapping curves as a function of global image data characteristics, such as a gray level histogram of the document image data. The remapping curves are utilized to preprocess the image data for more effective data compression.