Abstract: An image pickup device that acquires images is controlled by an image pickup device controller that accepts image acquisition requests from multiple application programs, and an application scheduler selects application programs to be executed. Information indicative of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates required for each of the multiple application programs is stored and used to select multiple concurrently executable application programs on the basis of the image data volumes and image data acquisition rates. An image acquisition scheduler determines the timing and intervals at which the multiple executable application programs repeat receiving image data from the image pickup device, without overlapping in terms of time. In addition, an operations section, which explicitly presents concurrently executable application programs to a user and commands the startup of these programs, is displayed on a navigation screen menu.

Abstract: A photographing system having plural image pickup units for a moving apparatus with enhanced user's visibility of images for a driver of the apparatus. A system control part controls the image pickup units. Image pickup unit picks up images ahead of the moving apparatus. Image pickup unit picks up images aback. System control unit predicts surrounding state of the moving apparatus based on map information or position information and, when the moving apparatus enters a tunnel, issues a control instruction to image pickup unit so as to increase exposure quantity of image pickup device thereof, and then, when level of output image signal of the image pickup unit enters within a specified range, issues a control instruction to image pickup unit so as to increase exposure quantity of the image pickup device thereof.

Abstract: Integrated processing unit captures range images shot by CCD cameras which are respectively provided on front, rear, left and right sides of a vehicle and image processor. Location-allocation unit creates a location-allocation model of an obstacle from the range images and road surface images (heights of images above road surface). Vehicular swept path calculating unit calculates a swept path of each representative point. Collision decision calculates intersection of the obstacle of the location-allocation model with the swept paths of the representative points and judges whether the points cross the obstacle. When a representative point may possibly cross the obstacle, the point is enhanced and displayed together with the obstacle (object) on monitor.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing system capable of precisely locating the positions of the light spots covering near headlights through far tail lamps by using one camera. The invention, discriminating the headlights and tail lamps from noise lights such as a traffic light, streetlight, and vending machine, enhances the vehicle detection performance at night. The system includes an image input means that inputs images in front of a vehicle, an image analysis means that analyzes the images inputted by the image input means. The image input means has a means of photographing more than two images with different exposures. The image analysis means analyzes the images photographed by the image input means to transform them into the position information of the vehicles traveling in front.

Abstract: An image processing system including an imaging unit mounted on a subject vehicle, and an image analysis unit that acquires images photographed by the imaging unit. The image analysis unit acquires plural images with different exposures that the imaging unit photographed, detects light spots emitted from the other vehicles from the plural images with different exposures, and detects positions of the other vehicles. The plural images are an image photographed with a first exposure, and an image photographed with a second exposure greater than the first exposure. The image analysis unit extracts a first area containing a first color component from the image photographed with the first exposure to determine the first area to be a first three-dimensional object, and extracts a second area containing a second color component from the image photographed with the second exposure to determine the second area to be a second three-dimensional object.

Abstract: A lane marker recognition method comprises the steps of inputting an image including a lane marker, extracting luminance change points in the image, and estimating the position of the lane marker using the extracted edge points. The edge extracting step includes calculating an angle of orientation of each of the edges and the lane marker position estimating step includes extracting edge points that are oriented toward a vanishing point of a road, from among the edge points extracted in the edge extracting step.

Abstract: A driving lane recognition system which can improve the lane recognition accuracy by stably detecting the various kinds of lane markers is disclosed. An image processing means 6 for image-processing a road image taken by a camera 5 has a plurality of different kinds of image processing algorithms 9 to 11. A driving lane is detected by selecting an image processing algorithm suitable for the driving lane out of the plurality of different kinds of image processing algorithms 9 to 11 corresponding to a road on which a vehicle is running.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a lamp which emits light to a glass, an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the lamp and reflected by the glass, and an optical filter, located between the glass and the imaging device, which transmits rays with a specific wavelength of the reflected light. A lens is provided in front of the imaging device, and a focus of the lens is adjusted to a point beyond the glass, and an image processor is provided which processes an image captured by the imaging device and detects moisture on the glass.

Abstract: A traffic environment recognition system includes an image-processing unit, an information-merging unit, a radar unit, and a network connected to the image-processing unit, the radar unit, the information-merging unit and a vehicle control unit capable of controlling the traveling operation of a host vehicle. The image-processing unit recognizes headway distance, the azimuth, relative speed and width of the preceding vehicle, and the position of the host vehicle in a lane. The radar unit recognizes headway distance, the azimuth and relative speed of the preceding vehicle. The information-merging unit receives recognition results provided by the image-processing unit and the radar unit through the network, merges the recognition results, identifies recognition objects relating to the recognition results.

Abstract: An image processing system that detects foreign matter on a glass window of a vehicle and objects in front of the vehicle. The system includes an image processor, a first lamp, and a second lamp. On/off control of the first and second lamps is controlled by the image processor. Light from the first lamp is reflected from the outer sauce of the glass when raindrops are present on the outside of the glass. Light from the second lamp is reflected from the inner surface of the glass when moisture is present on the inside of the glass. Any reflected light goes through a lens and an optical filter with prescribed optical characteristics to an image device. The lens is focused to a point beyond the window so that the image processor an also detect objects in front of the vehicle.

Abstract: A photographing system having plural image pickup units for a moving apparatus with enhanced user's visibility of images for a driver of the apparatus. A system control part controls the image pickup units. Image pickup unit picks up images ahead of the moving apparatus. Image pickup unit picks up images aback. System control unit predicts surrounding state of the moving apparatus based on map information or position information and, when the moving apparatus enters a tunnel, issues a control instruction to image pickup unit so as to increase exposure quantity of image pickup device thereof, and then, when level of output image signal of the image pickup unit enters within a specified range, issues a control instruction to image pickup unit so as to increase exposure quantity of the image pickup device thereof.

Abstract: Integrated processing unit captures range images shot by CCD cameras which are respectively provided on front, rear, left and right sides of a vehicle and image processor. Location-allocation unit creates a location-allocation model of an obstacle from the range images and road surface images (heights of images above road surface). Vehicular swept path calculating unit calculates a swept path of each representative point. Collision decision calculates intersection of the obstacle of the location-allocation model with the swept paths of the representative points and judges whether the points cross the obstacle. When a representative point may possibly cross the obstacle, the point is enhanced and displayed together with the obstacle (object) on monitor.

Abstract: Information of light from a subject is converted into information of the electric charges to generate image data for one screen in an image pickup device, the image data is outputted to an image processing LSI, only the image data belonging to a plurality of areas is selected by a processing amount reduction unit, the selected image data is transferred to a RAM in a single chop by a data transfer unit, and the processing of recognizing a white line is executed by a CPU on the basis of the image data stored in the RAM.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a lamp which emits light to a glass, an imaging device which captures light which is emitted from the lamp and reflected by the glass, and an optical filter, located between the glass and the imaging device, which transmits rays with a specific wavelength of the reflected light. A lens is provided in front of the imaging device, and a focus of the lens is adjusted to a point beyond the glass, and an image processor is provided which processes an image captured by the imaging device and detects moisture on the glass.

Abstract: Information of light from a subject is converted into information of the electric charges to generate image data for one screen in an image pickup device, the image data is outputted to an image processing LSI, only the image data belonging to a plurality of areas is selected by a processing amount reduction unit, the selected image data is transferred to a RAM in a single chop by a data transfer unit, and the processing of recognizing a white line is executed by a CPU on the basis of the image data stored in the RAM.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to make one image pickup device sharable, with high reliability, among the multiple application programs that dynamically vary camera parameters. In order to achieve this object, the invention includes an image pickup device 6 that acquires images, an image pickup device controller 13 that accepts image acquisition requests from the multiple application programs 151 to 15N and controls the image pickup device, an application scheduler 14 that selects application programs to be executed.

Abstract: A vehicle detection apparatus has a classifier that receives features of an image and judges whether the image is a vehicle. The features extracted from the picked-up image are supplied to the classifier so that judgment can be made of whether the image is the vehicle. If the judgment result and the result from a radar are not matched, the picked-up image pattern is registered in teaching data. The classifier is updated by learning from the teaching data.

Abstract: A measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle includes an image processing device, which is mounted on a vehicle, photographs a circumferential state of the vehicle and processes the image signal; a radar signal processing device, which radiates radio wave or light to process a receiving signal; and a control device for controlling a brake, a throttle valve or a transmission based on the output results of the image processing device and the radar signal processing device. In such a measuring and controlling apparatus for a vehicle, the respective output information of the image processing device and the radar signal processing device includes time information at the time of photographing and time information at the time of measuring and the order of the photographed time and the measured time are adjusted.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing system capable of precisely locating the positions of the light spots covering near headlights through far tail lamps by using one camera. The invention, discriminating the headlights and tail lamps from noise lights such as a traffic light, streetlight, and vending machine, enhances the vehicle detection performance at night. The system includes an image input means that inputs images in front of a vehicle, an image analysis means that analyzes the images inputted by the image input means. The image input means has a means of photographing more than two images with different exposures. The image analysis means analyzes the images photographed by the image input means to transform them into the position information of the vehicles traveling in front.

Abstract: An image processing system which detects foreign matter on window of a vehicle with high reliability. The system includes an image processor, a first lamp, and a second lamp and when to turn on the first and second lamps is controlled by the image processor. Light from the first lamp passes through the glass. If there are raindrops on the outer surface of the glass, light is reflected by raindrops and light from the second lamp is reflected by a surface of the glass and such reflected light goes through a lens and an optical filter with prescribed optical characteristics to an imaging device.