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: The variable transmissivity window system comprises a camera for detecting light from a light source, a transmissivity control unit for controlling the transmissivity of light passed through the windshield, and a transmissivity modifying unit for modifying the transmissivity of each of blocks into which the windshield is divided. The camera calculates light source information including the direction, size and intensity of the light source. The transmissivity control unit calculates a position of the windshield block for the transmissivity to be modified, a range of the position thereof for the transmissivity to be modified, and a value for the transmissivity. The imaging unit decides whether or not the light source gives glare to the occupant, and when the imaging unit decides that the light source gives glare to the occupant, the imaging unit changes a glare decision threshold according to an ambient light level outside the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of auxiliary equipment of a vehicle by receiving an output of a surroundings detection sensor for detecting the surrounding of the vehicle and an output of the vehicle information sensor, for detecting operation of the vehicle, wherein the distance to and the direction of an overtaking vehicle, an oncoming vehicle, or a preceding vehicle and the light intensities of the right and the left headlamps are controlled independently. A plurality of processes required for controlling the vehicle auxiliary equipment are performed by the time division processing.

Abstract: A camera apparatus for vehicles including an imaging element and a lens comprises a gradation generation unit for stepwise changing the light amount reaching a whole or part of the imaging element. By this, a gradation region is formed on the imaging element and it absorbs assembling errors during manufacturing and positional shifts attributed to a road surface slope or the like. Even when an inverse light state is caused, it is possible to improve the image processing performance with an ecconomical configuration.

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: To provide an auto light system which allows the driver to confirm the head light beam direction and range easily and to switch the light state easily in the auto light system for controlling the head light beam direction and range. The auto light system comprises a light control means 4 for controlling the light 6 of the vehicle, a manual light operating means 8 for operating manually the light 6, said manual light operating means 8 operated in response to the output signal from the light control means 4, and a display means 7 for displaying the control state of the light 6 controlled by the light control means 4.

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.

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.