Abstract: A system and method for releasing a parking brake of a vehicle after assessing driver alertness is provided. In one embodiment, a controller in the vehicle determines whether the driver is alert (e.g., by providing a field sobriety test using component(s) in the vehicle) and allows the vehicle to unpark only if it determines that the driver is alert. The controller can also determine if the driver is an authorized driver and use that as an additional condition to release the parking brake.

Abstract: A processing device controls an associated display. The processing device includes an input for receiving electronic signals from an object detector. The object detector detects an object relative to a vehicle. The processing device also includes a means for predicting a position of the vehicle at a future time, a means for generating first signals for causing an image of the vehicle at the predicted position at the future time relative to the object to be displayed on the associated display device, and an output transmitting the first signals to the associated display for causing the image of the vehicle at the predicted position at the future time relative to the object to be displayed on the associated display device.

Abstract: A processing device controls an associated display. The processing device includes an input for receiving electronic signals from an object detector. The object detector detects an object relative to a vehicle. The processing device also includes a means for predicting a position of the vehicle at a future time, a means for generating first signals for causing an image of the vehicle at the predicted position at the future time relative to the object to be displayed on the associated display device, and an output transmitting the first signals to the associated display for causing the image of the vehicle at the predicted position at the future time relative to the object to be displayed on the associated display device.

Abstract: A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating environment recognition system on a carrier, in which, in order to distinguish the light conditions in the area of the image-evaluating environment recognition system with regard to day or night, at least the gain and/or the exposure time of the at least one image sensor detecting the environment is/are monitored, a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time against time with relatively high gain or relatively long exposure times characterizing night-time light conditions, and a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time with relatively low gain and/or relatively short exposure times characterizing daytime light conditions. The environment recognition system according to the invention can also be used to search the detected environment for bright objects, the headlights of another carrier being used as additional information, for example.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating environment recognition system on a carrier, in which, in order to distinguish the light conditions in the area of the image-evaluating environment recognition system with regard to day or night, at least the gain and/or the exposure time of the at least one image sensor detecting the environment is/are monitored, a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time against time with relatively high gain or relatively long exposure times characterizing night-time light conditions, and a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time with relatively low gain and/or relatively short exposure times characterizing daytime light conditions. The environment recognition system according to the invention can also be used to search the detected environment for bright objects, the headlights of another carrier being used as additional information, for example.

Abstract: A method and system for reflection detection in road video images, is provided. One implementation involves detecting road surface reflections, by receiving an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device, determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image, and detecting road surface reflections in the region of interest.

Abstract: A method for image-based weather condition detection, using image processing methods in moving vehicles, is described. The method includes detecting road weather conditions by identifying a group of bright pixels in video images produced by an image-based road characterization, and determining whether the bright pixels are caused by reflections due to one of rainfall, snowfall, a wet surface, or a snowy surface, where a driving assistant system includes a lane-keeping system.

Abstract: A method and system for video-based road lane curvature measurement is provided. An image processing system receives roadway scene images from a vehicle-mounted video camera to measure road curvature. Road boundary indicators, such as lane markings, are used for identifying the road boundaries. The road curvature is approximated using a relation between the slope of a line connecting two points on a lane marking, and the average longitudinal distance from the camera to the line.

Abstract: A method and a system for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating adaptive cruise control system on a moving support, especially a vehicle which moves on a roadway, are disclosed. Irregularities, especially tar strips or tar joints on the roadway are evaluated due to their geometric shapes, their brightness, their contrast and/or their reflectivity to distinguish them from markings relating to the predetermined trajectory.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating surroundings-detection system on a moved carrier, preferably a vehicle (1), are proposed, wherein areas in the sensor images captured by a camera (4) which are dark in relation to the surroundings are evaluated in chronologically successive evaluation steps in order to determine whether said dark areas are moving toward the carrier at the speed of said carrier, and in that these dark areas are detected as shadows (7) of a static object and corresponding signaling is performed.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating environment recognition system on a carrier, in which, in order to distinguish the light conditions in the area of the image-evaluating environment recognition system with regard to day or night, at least the gain and/or the exposure time of the at least one image sensor detecting the environment is/are monitored, a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time against time with relatively high gain or relatively long exposure times characterizing night-time light conditions, and a profile of the gain and/or the exposure time with relatively low gain and/or relatively short exposure times characterizing daytime light conditions. The environment recognition system according to the invention can also be used to search the detected environment for bright objects, the headlights of another carrier being used as additional information, for example.

Abstract: The present invention relates to video-based driver assistance systems being used in vehicles today to perform a variety of functions, such as lane or road departure warning. These functions often require that parts of the video image be identified as, for example, a traffic sign, a bridge, lane markings, etc. Particularly the present invention relates to a method and system for online calibration of a vehicle video system using vanishing points, evaluated from frames of a camera image contains identified markings or edges on a road.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating adaptive cruise control system on a moving support, especially a vehicle (1) which moves on a roadway (2). According to the invention, irregularities, especially tar strips (8) or tar joints on the roadway (2) are evaluated due to their geometric shapes, their brightness, their contrast and/or their reflectivity to distinguish them from markings (7) relating to the predetermined trajectory.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating surroundings-detection system on a moved carrier, preferably a vehicle (1), are proposed, wherein areas in the sensor images captured by a camera (4) which are dark in relation to the surroundings are evaluated in chronologically successive evaluation steps in order to determine whether said dark areas are moving toward the carrier at the speed of said carrier, and in that these dark areas are detected as shadows (7) of a static object and corresponding signaling is performed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to video-based driver assistance systems being used in vehicles today to perform a variety of functions, such as lane or road departure warning. These functions often require that parts of the video image be identified as, for example, a traffic sign, a bridge, lane markings, etc. Particularly the present invention relates to a method for video image-based weather and/or road condition detection. A method and a system is described, according to which method, weather and/or conditions are detected by identifying bright pixels or groups of bright pixels in video images and by deciding whether or not said bright pixels are caused by reflections, due to rain- or snowfall, and/or due to a wet or snowy surface. Also a computer program product is described, stored on a computer usable medium comprising computer readable program means for causing a computer to perform such a method, wherein said computer program product is executed on a computer.

Abstract: A method and system for video-based road lane curvature measurement is provided. An image processing system receives roadway scene images from a vehicle-mounted video camera to measure road curvature. Road boundary indicators, such as lane markings, are used for identifying the road boundaries. The road curvature is approximated using a relation between the slope of a line connecting two points on a lane marking, and the average longitudinal distance from the camera to the line.

Abstract: A method and system for reflection detection in road video images, is provided. One implementation involves detecting road surface reflections, by receiving an image of a road in front of a vehicle from an image capturing device, determining a region of interest in an identified road in the image, and detecting road surface reflections in the region of interest.

Abstract: A method and system for video-based road departure warning for a vehicle on a road, is provided. Road departure warning involves receiving an image of a road in front of the vehicle from a video imager, and detecting one or more road markings in the image corresponding to markings on the road. Then, analyzing the characteristics of an image region beyond the detected markings to determine a rating for drivability of the road corresponding to said image region, and detecting the lateral offset of the vehicle relative to the markings on the road based on the detected road markings. A warning signal is generated as function of said lateral offset and said rating.