Abstract: Systems and method for a driver assistance system including a surround view system are provided. In an example method for automatically selecting a virtual camera position in the surround view system, the method includes selecting one of the one or more vehicle surrounding the host vehicle as a threat vehicle based on at least one of a geographic position, and a velocity of the vehicle relative to one or more of a position, a heading, and a speed of the host vehicle. Based on the selected threat vehicle, the method includes selecting a virtual camera position such that the threat vehicle and a portion of the host vehicle are in view of a virtual camera, and displaying an image from the virtual camera position to a driver of the host vehicle.

Abstract: A driver active safety control system for a vehicle includes a plurality of image capture sensors, a central control module and at least one radar sensor. The control module at least includes an image processor that processes image data captured by at least a forward viewing image capture sensor for automatic braking of the vehicle. The central control module receives vehicle data relating to operation of the vehicle, the vehicle data relating to at least one of (i) vehicle speed, (ii) vehicle steering, (iii) vehicle yaw rate, (iv) vehicle type and (v) vehicle acceleration. The central control module at least in part controls the vehicle responsive, at least in part, to processing of (i) vehicle data, (ii) image data, (iii) radar data and (iv) data from at least one of (a) the Car2Car communication system and (b) the Car2X communication system.

Abstract: An imaging system of a vehicle includes a tail lamp assembly that illuminates a field of illumination rearward of the vehicle. A light source control may operate at least one light source of the tail lamp assembly in a repeating cycle that includes (i) a first illumination period wherein light emitted by the tail lamp assembly has a first brightness level and (ii) a second illumination period wherein light emitted by the tail lamp assembly has a second brightness level that is lower than the first brightness level. A camera is operable to capture image data representative of a region that is at least in part encompassed by the field of illumination. A camera control may operate the camera to capture image data during at least part of the first illumination period.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera configured to be disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The camera, when disposed at the vehicle windshield, has a field of view at least forward of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the front camera when disposed at the vehicle windshield, lane markers ahead of the vehicle on a road being traveled along by the equipped vehicle are detected. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the front camera when disposed at the vehicle windshield, a pothole in front of the equipped vehicle in the road being traveled along by the equipped vehicle is detected.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras mounted at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. The cameras include a CMOS image sensor and a serial data interface configured for transmission of captured image data to an image processing system via a serial data bus linking the respective camera to the image processing system, which processes the transmitted captured image data. The vehicular vision system transmits data to the cameras via the respective serial data bus linking the respective camera to the image processing system. The vehicular vision system activates at least one camera of the plurality of cameras (i) responsive to a gear position of the vehicle, (ii) based on situational analysis information derived from the image processing system, or (iii) based on a driving condition.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system for a vehicle includes a camera and an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. During a maneuver of the vehicle, the vehicular vision system, responsive at least in part to an output of a radar sensor, detects an object that is located within the radar sensor's field of sensing and outside of the camera's field of view and determines movement of the object relative to the vehicle. During the maneuver of the equipped vehicle, information pertaining to movement of the detected object toward an area within the field of view of said camera is provided to said vehicular vision system. During the maneuver of the equipped vehicle, and responsive to the provided information and with the detected object present within the camera's field of view, the vehicular vision system determines that the detected object is an object of interest.

Abstract: A vehicular event recording system suitable includes a camera and an event recorder having memory. An image processor processes image data captured by the camera for detecting objects. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of captured image data, a potential lane leaving event or potential collision event is determined. The event recorder receives vehicle data via a vehicle data bus of the vehicle. Captured image data and received vehicle data during first and second time periods are stored in buffer memory of the event recorder and overwritten in respective subsequent time periods. Following determination of an event, captured image data and received vehicle data stored in buffer memory is transferred to data storage of the event recorder and captured image data and received vehicle data during a post-event time period is stored in data storage.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras mounted at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. The cameras include a serial data interface for transmitting captured image data to a control via a serial data bus linking the respective camera to the control. The control sends instructions to the cameras via the respective serial data bus linking the camera to the control. The control activates at least one of the cameras responsive to (i) a gear position of the vehicle, (ii) (ii) a driving condition, (iii) a steering angle of the vehicle, (iv) situational analysis information and/or (v) other vehicular sensing systems. Video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the activated camera are displayed at a video display screen of the vehicle for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) and a plurality of cameras including side-viewing cameras and a front or forward-viewing camera and/or a rearward-viewing camera. The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective LVDS serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable by LVDS. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective LVDS de-serializer of the ECU. The image processor of the ECU may process a de-serialized image signal to detect a vehicle present in the field of view of the front camera, whereby, responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle and the detected vehicle may collide, the system may, at least in part, control a braking system of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera and an image processor. The camera has a forward field of view exterior of the vehicle. The image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. At least one device is operable to detect objects that are present forward of the vehicle and outside of the forward field of view of the camera. The device may include at least one of (i) a sensor, (ii) an element of a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system and (iii) an element of a vehicle-to-infrastructure communication system. Responsive to detection of the object being indicative of the object about to enter the field of view of the camera, the image processor anticipates the object entering the field of view of the camera and, upon entering of the field of view of the camera by the object, the image processor detects the object.

Abstract: A technique for generating one or more maneuver points includes determining a first location at which a maneuver is initiated by a vehicle and determining a difference between the first location and a stored location that corresponds to the maneuver. The technique further includes, in response to determining that the difference exceeds a threshold value, transmitting the first location to an update application. The update application modifies the stored location based on the first location to generate an updated location.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a plurality of cameras, a plurality of sensors and a central electronic control unit. Image data captured by at least one of the cameras and sensor data sensed by at least one of the sensors is provided to and processed at the central electronic control unit. Data relevant to a current geographical location of the vehicle is provided to and processed at the central electronic control unit. The central electronic control unit is operable to at least partially control the vehicle. The central electronic control unit may include a threat recognizer and a risk assessor. Responsive at least in part to threat recognition/evaluation by the threat recognizer and risk assessment by the risk assessor, the central electronic control unit may control at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) braking of the equipped vehicle and (ii) steering of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a front camera, a rear camera and an electronic control unit (ECU). The cameras connect with the ECU via respective coaxial cables. Image data captured by the cameras is converted at a respective LVDS serializer to a respective image signal and is carried to the ECU via the respective coaxial cable by LVDS. The image signals are de-serialized at the respective LVDS de-serializer of the ECU. The image processor of the ECU may process a de-serialized image signal to detect a vehicle present in the field of view of the front camera, whereby, responsive to determination that the equipped vehicle and the detected vehicle may collide, the system, at least in part, controls a braking system of the equipped vehicle. The image processor may process a de-serialized image signal to detect objects present in the rearward field of view of the rear camera.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a camera configured to be disposed at an in-cabin side of a windshield of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular vision system. The camera, when disposed at the vehicle windshield, has a field of view at least forward of the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the front camera when disposed at the vehicle windshield, lane markers ahead of the vehicle on a road being traveled along by the equipped vehicle are detected. Responsive at least in part to processing by the image processor of image data captured by the front camera when disposed at the vehicle windshield, a pothole in front of the equipped vehicle in the road being traveled along by the equipped vehicle is detected.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for retrofitting a vehicle are presented. The method relates to a vehicle with a factory-installed first apparatus which communicates with a factory-installed second apparatus through a vehicle data bus using a first message. The method includes electrically disconnecting the vehicle data bus between the first apparatus and the second apparatus and electrically connecting a retrofit apparatus to the vehicle data bus. The method further includes transmitting a second message from the retrofit apparatus to the first apparatus which is indistinguishable from the first message.

Abstract: A vehicular event recording system suitable includes a camera and an event recorder having memory. An image processor processes image data captured by the camera for detecting objects. Based at least in part on processing by the image processor of captured image data, a potential lane leaving event or potential collision event is determined. The event recorder receives vehicle data via a vehicle data bus of the vehicle. Captured image data and received vehicle data during first and second time periods are stored in buffer memory of the event recorder and overwritten in respective subsequent time periods. Following determination of an event, captured image data and received vehicle data stored in buffer memory is transferred to data storage of the event recorder and captured image data and received vehicle data during a post-event time period is stored in data storage.

Abstract: A driver assistance system is presented, including an event detector which comprises a set of rules defining a surprising event based on signals reflecting a vehicle operator input signals from an object detection sensor. An event data file generator is configured to generate an event data file according to rules comprised in the event detector, the event data file comprising a video signal received from a camera, a signal from at least one dynamic vehicle sensor, and target object information received from the object detection sensor. The event data file generator is further configured to initiate data file generation responsive to a surprising event being detected by the event generator, and wherein the contents of the data file are specified by the rules comprised in the event detector. In this way, surprising events may be collected and analyzed off-board in order to generate updates for the driver assistance system.

Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras mounted at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle. The cameras include a serial data interface for transmitting captured image data to a control via a serial data bus linking the respective camera to the control. The control sends instructions to the cameras via the respective serial data bus linking the camera to the control. The control activates at least one of the cameras responsive to (i) a gear position of the vehicle, (ii) (ii) a driving condition, (iii) a steering angle of the vehicle, (iv) situational analysis information and/or (v) other vehicular sensing systems. Video images derived at least in part from image data captured by the activated camera are displayed at a video display screen of the vehicle for viewing by a driver of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular control system includes a plurality of cameras, a radar device and a central electronic control unit. The vehicular control system is operable to fuse image data captured by at least one of the cameras with radar data sensed by the radar device. The central electronic control unit is operable to at least partially control the vehicle. Threat recognition/evaluation by a threat recognizer/evaluator of the central electronic control unit and risk assessment by a risk assessor of the central electronic control unit is responsive, at least in part, to (i) image data captured by at least one of the cameras, (ii) radar data sensed by the radar device and (iii) map data associated with a current geographical location of the vehicle. The central electronic control unit, responsive at least in part to threat recognition/evaluation and risk assessment, controls braking of the equipped vehicle.

Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vision system, the camera having a field of view at least forward of the equipped vehicle. A control includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the camera. The control, via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, determines position of the sun relative to a driver's forward view through the windshield. Responsive to determining, via processing by the image processor of image data captured by the camera, that the position of the sun is likely to hinder the driver's forward view through the windshield, the control controls a sun visor of the equipped vehicle to limit sunlight from reaching the driver's eyes.