Abstract: A camera for identifying soiling on a protective screen, such as a vehicle windscreen, is focused on a scene through the protective screen and can be used to identify soiling and for other applications, e.g. to identify driving lanes and/or objects in the scene. Soiling is identified merely by evaluating successively recorded image frames, and artificial reference frames or reference objects are not required. A prerequisite is that the relative speed vrel between the camera and at least one recorded object in the scene is not equal to zero and its trajectory in the image is predicted. By comparing the relevant image frame sections, possible soiling on subregions of the protective screen is identified.

Abstract: A vehicle antenna unit for participation in vehicle-to-surroundings communication in accordance with the DSRC or ITS-G5 standard having an adhoc network antenna for sending and receiving in the region of 5.9 GHz, having a satellite antenna for receiving satellite locating signals and having driver elements, which are set up to send, bit by bit, and/or to receive data with the adhoc network antenna and the satellite antenna, and having a computation unit for conditioning the data. In order to allow the vehicle to participate in the vehicle-to-surroundings communication, the computation unit is set up to evaluate the satellite locating signals and for the purpose of independent participation by the vehicle antenna unit in the vehicle-to-surroundings communication.

Abstract: A method for the automatic light control for a motor vehicle with a camera sensor for monitoring the environment in front of the motor vehicle is presented. With the camera sensor, an image sequence of the motor vehicle environment in front of the motor vehicle is recorded. The lane of the own motor vehicle is estimated from the image data. At least one evaluation window along the lane is set in the image, so that preceding and oncoming motor vehicles are recorded. Points of light in the image sequence are pursued (tracked). On the basis of the image data, the lights of other motor vehicles are detected, and the front headlights are controlled in such a manner that the drivers of other motor vehicles are not blinded.

Abstract: A method for detecting front headlights and tail lights of a motor vehicle uses a color camera sensor that has a plurality of red pixels, i.e. image points which are only sensitive in the red spectral range, and a plurality of pixels of other colors. In a first evaluation stage, only the intensity of the red pixels in the image is analyzed in order to select relevant points of light in the image.

Abstract: A method for detecting road lane markings for a motor vehicle in motion with an image recording unit is presented. The image recording unit points to the road in front of the vehicle and in the recorded image data, brightness differences (contrasts) are analysed and/or edges are extracted. Road lane markings are detected by means of their periodic arrangement. For evaluation purposes, the measuring signal of the image recording unit is transformed into another coordinate system, and the auxiliary function thus obtained is tested for periodic structures.

Abstract: A method for detecting and categorizing points of light for a motor vehicle with a camera sensor directed towards the motor vehicle environment is presented. Here, at least one first category for passive, illumined reflectors and at least one second category for self-radiating, moving lights, in particular motor vehicle lights, is provided. For this purpose, the time progression of the intensity of a point of light is analysed. On the basis of the intensity fluctuation, points of light are categorized as motor vehicle lights or as reflectors.

Abstract: A method for regulating the velocity of a motor vehicle in a complex traffic situation is presented. The motor vehicle is equipped with a sensor system for recording the environment. In order to regulate the velocity, an at least partially covered object and/or at least one object on an adjacent lane is viewed.

Abstract: In a frequency-modulated radar system and method for detecting the surroundings, a compensation of interfering effects is achieved by varying one of the following values: a) a time spacing or temporal distance between the transmitted frequency ramps or the time gap between the frequency ramps, b) a time from the start of the respective transmitted frequency ramp to the beginning of the scanning of the received signal, c) a frequency at the start of the transmitted frequency ramp, and d) a sign of the slope of the transmitted frequency ramps.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for calibrating a camera-based system of a vehicle (F), having a pane (S), in particular of a camera-based driver assistance system. A type of the pane (S), in particular the tinting thereof, is detected by way of the camera-based system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for operating a video-based driver assistance system in a vehicle (F), wherein, by using image data recorded by an imaging unit and processed by an image processing unit, a vehicle environment and/or at least one object (O) in the vehicle environment and/or status data are determined. In the determination of the vehicle environment, of the object (O) in the vehicle environment and/or of the status data, a pixel offset (P) present in the image data of consecutive images is determined and compensated for. Also disclosed is an apparatus for operating a video-based driver assistance system in a vehicle (F).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distinguishing between approaching vehicle lights (VL) and retroreflectors (R) in the dark, which are recorded as light surfaces by an image recording device oriented towards the surroundings of a vehicle. The image recording device records at least one image of the vehicle surroundings. The image is evaluated by an image processing unit. Light surfaces present on the image are analyzed. A decision is then taken as to whether the light surface is a vehicle light (VL) or a retroreflector (R). Light surfaces whose optical interaction with other objects is shown in the image are identified as vehicle lights (VL).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining relevant objects in the vicinity of a motor vehicle by an environmental detection sensor. A calculation of the probable trajectory of objects is thus not necessary. The only objects that are classified as relevant are those with a greater probability of a collision despite an average driver response such as evasive action and/or braking. The probability of a collision is determined in accordance with at least two values that are calculated from vehicle and environmental data. A first value describes future evasive action or evasive action that has already been initiated and a second value describes a deceleration operation. Each of the two or more values is delimited by a threshold value, which indicates the start of a critical range. The braking devices are activated if at least one of the determined values lies in the critical range.

Abstract: A method for a motor vehicle for the predictive classification of a future vehicle environment and its lighting conditions. To this end, a camera system is oriented with respect to a region ahead of the vehicle. A sequence of images is recorded. In a predefined central image detail, the change of brightness per unit of time and/or distance is determined and this is used to infer the environment ahead of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one threshold value S for distinguishing, in the dark, between reflectors and vehicle lights that are recorded as light spots by a camera sensor oriented towards the surroundings of a vehicle. The camera sensor records a series of images of the surroundings of the vehicle. At least one light spot in the series of images is tracked. When the tracking of a light spot is completed, at least one parameter (for example the maximum intensity Imax of the light spot in the entire series of images, or the lifetime ? of the light spot) is determined from measured values, for example from the intensity of the light spot in each image. The threshold value S is then adapted to the determined parameter/s. The determined parameter value of the light spot is included in a frequency distribution of the parameter values from previously tracked light spots.

Abstract: A method for detecting the course of a traffic lane, including the following steps: measuring structures of the traffic lane; evaluating the homogeneity of the measurements; and determining the course of the traffic lane on the basis of the evaluated homogeneity.

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.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting a motion state of a motor vehicle. The sensor device includes at least one laser unit having a light source for emitting coherent light which is transmitted in the direction of a roadway surface, and an interference detector which is designed to detect at least one measurement variable which characterizes interference between the light scattered at the surface and the light of the light source. The measurement variable represents a speed component of the sensor device and/or a distance between the sensor device and the roadway surface. The laser unit is coupled to an evaluation device which is designed to determine, from the measurement variable, at least one variable which characterizes the motion state of the vehicle, in particular a speed component of the center of gravity of the vehicle, a rotational angle or a rotation rate of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a frequency-modulated radar system for detecting the surroundings with compensation of interfering effects, the compensation being achieved by varying one of the following sizes: a) temporal distance between the transmitted frequency ramps and temporal gap, respectively, between the frequency ramps, b) time from the start of the transmission ramp to the beginning of the scanning of the receiving signal, c) frequency at the start of the transmitted frequency ramp, and d) sign of the slope of the frequency ramps.

Abstract: In a method for the calibration of a yaw rate measurement in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle features at least one device for determining the yaw rate, a camera system which is oriented in the forward direction, and, if applicable, a steering angle sensor or a lateral acceleration sensor. At least one initial calibration is carried out at a standstill and at least one second calibration is carried out when the motor vehicle is moving. The second calibration uses image data of the camera system, which detects the environment in front of the motor vehicle, to predict the course of the roadway lane on which the vehicle is driving, from which the yaw rate is estimated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for distance control of the vehicle in question in relation to a vehicle driving ahead, which method is distinguished in that the vehicle in question is kept at a distance from a vehicle driving ahead by a drive torque (M) which is predefined by means of an accelerator pedal position (G) which is set by the driver.