Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted camera system equipped with a vehicle-mounted camera which captures an image of surroundings of a vehicle includes a margin-of-communication obtainer and a restriction determiner. The margin-of-communication obtainer works to determine a value of the margin of differential signaling between the vehicle-mounted camera and the control apparatus. When the value of the margin of differential signaling is lower than a restriction threshold value, the restriction determiner restricts at least one of a communication characteristic of the differential signaling, an application using the captured image, a frame rate in the vehicle-mounted camera, and an image-capturing area. This achieves the control apparatus for the vehicle-mounted camera system which is high in robustness in the differential signaling.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle-mounted camera system equipped with a vehicle-mounted camera which captures an image of surroundings of a vehicle includes a margin-of-communication obtainer and a restriction determiner. The margin-of-communication obtainer works to determine a value of the margin of differential signaling between the vehicle-mounted camera and the control apparatus. When the value of the margin of differential signaling is lower than a restriction threshold value, the restriction determiner restricts at least one of a communication characteristic of the differential signaling, an application using the captured image, a frame rate in the vehicle-mounted camera, and an image-capturing area. This achieves the control apparatus for the vehicle-mounted camera system which is high in robustness in the differential signaling.

Abstract: A headlight control apparatus that controls an illumination state of a headlight that illuminates an area ahead of a vehicle includes an illuminance sensor that detects luminance around the vehicle, an illumination control section that switches on or off the headlight in accordance with the luminance detected by the illuminance sensor, a forward detection sensor that detects an object that is present within a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle, and a dimming control section that dims the headlight when the forward detection sensor detects an object after start of the vehicle.

Abstract: A camera system mounted on a vehicle includes a first substrate including an image sensor that generates image information by photoelectric conversion and a first communication unit, and a second substrate including a second communication unit for performing wireless communication with the first communication unit and a first information processing section at least capable of recognition processing for recognizing a situation outside the vehicle based on the image information acquired via the second communication unit.

Abstract: A target recognition apparatus of one embodiment is installed in a vehicle, and includes a data acquisition means which acquires received data from a transceiver having a plurality of transmission and receiving channels which transmit and receive radar waves; an image acquisition means which acquires image data from an image sensor which picks up an image of a state around an own vehicle; and a detection means which detects a target which has reflected the radar waves based on the received data and the image data.

Abstract: A headlight control apparatus that controls an illumination state of a headlight that illuminates an area ahead of a vehicle includes an illuminance sensor that detects luminance around the vehicle, an illumination control section that switches on or off the headlight in accordance with the luminance detected by the illuminance sensor, a forward detection sensor that detects an object that is present within a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle, and a dimming control section that dims the headlight when the forward detection sensor detects an object after start of the vehicle.

Abstract: An imaging device mounted on a vehicle is provided. The imaging device includes an imaging element, a plurality of transparent members and a housing. The imaging element is configured to capture an object and output an image signal of the object. The plurality of transparent members includes at least one lens, and is arranged on a light transmission path of light that reaches the imaging element. The housing is configured to hold the imaging element and the plurality of transparent members. Moreover, the imaging device is provided with a moth-eye structure arranged on at least one surface among the plurality of transparent members.

Abstract: A headlight control apparatus 1 that controls an illumination state of a headlight 10 that illuminates an area ahead of a vehicle includes an illuminance sensor 21 that detects luminance around the vehicle, an illumination control section 31 that switches on or off the headlight 10 in accordance with the luminance detected by the illuminance sensor 21, a forward detection sensor 22 that detects an object that is present within a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle, and a dimming control section 32 that dims the headlight 10 when the forward detection sensor 22 detects an object after start of the vehicle.

Abstract: A camera system mounted on a vehicle includes a first substrate including an image sensor that generates image information by photoelectric conversion and a first communication unit, and a second substrate including a second communication unit for performing wireless communication with the first communication unit and a first information processing section at least capable of recognition processing for recognizing a situation outside the vehicle based on the image information acquired via the second communication unit.

Abstract: A headlight control apparatus 1 that controls an illumination state of a headlight 10 that illuminates an area ahead of a vehicle includes an illuminance sensor 21 that detects luminance around the vehicle, an illumination control section 31 that switches on or off the headlight 10 in accordance with the luminance detected by the illuminance sensor 21, a forward detection sensor 22 that detects an object that is present within a predetermined distance ahead of the vehicle, and a dimming control section 32 that dims the headlight 10 when the forward detection sensor 22 detects an object after start of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular lighting apparatus includes a front detection sensor, a driving support ECU, a headlight ECU, a leveling motor and a headlight. When a subject vehicle is determined as being in an automatic following state with respect to a forward vehicle or a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and the forward vehicle is determined by a vehicle-to-vehicle distance determining portion as being short, the vehicular lighting apparatus changes. If a high-beam lamp or a low-beam lamp is illuminating, the illumination state changes such that the low-beam lamp illuminates more downward than normal. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower the degree of dazzling an occupant of the forward vehicle. Moreover, if a daytime running lamp is illuminating, the vehicular lighting apparatus turns the daytime running lamp off. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower a battery load of the subject vehicle.

Abstract: A target recognition apparatus of one embodiment is installed in a vehicle, and includes a data acquisition means which acquires received data from a transceiver having a plurality of transmission and receiving channels which transmit and receive radar waves; an image acquisition means which acquires image data from an image sensor which picks up an image of a state around an own vehicle; and a detection means which detects a target which has reflected the radar waves based on the received data and the image data.

Abstract: An imaging mechanism provided in a forward surveillance camera can adjust, without using a mechanical constitution, light intensity brought into an image sensor by adjusting the light intensity passing through a liquid crystal shutter disposed in an adjusting part. For example, when the light intensity is great during the day, or the like, the resolution of images taken during the day can be improved by the light passing through the adjusting part being shielded and the light intensity brought into the image sensor being reduced. When there is little light intensity at night, or the like, the brightness of images taken at night can be improved by light passing through the adjusting part and the light intensity brought into the image sensor being increased.

Abstract: A vehicular lighting apparatus includes a front detection sensor, a driving support ECU, a headlight ECU, a leveling motor and a headlight. When a subject vehicle is determined as being in an automatic following state with respect to a forward vehicle or a vehicle-to-vehicle distance between the subject vehicle and the forward vehicle is determined by a vehicle-to-vehicle distance determining portion as being short, the vehicular lighting apparatus changes. If a high-beam lamp or a low-beam lamp is illuminating, the illumination state changes such that the low-beam lamp illuminates more downward than normal. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower the degree of dazzling an occupant of the forward vehicle. Moreover, if a daytime running lamp is illuminating, the vehicular lighting apparatus turns the daytime running lamp off. Consequently, it becomes possible to lower a battery load of the subject vehicle.

Abstract: In a lane boundary detection device, a plurality of edge components are extracted from a captured image capturing the periphery of the own vehicle. Candidates of a curve (including straight lines) that is to be the boundary of a driving area are extracted as boundary candidates based on the placement of the plurality of edge components. Then, an angle formed by a tangent in a predetermined section of each extracted boundary candidate and a vertical line in the captured image is calculated. Boundary candidates of which the formed angle is less than an angle reference value are set to have low probability. The boundary candidate having the highest probability among the boundary candidates is set as the boundary of the driving area.

Abstract: In a lane boundary detection device, a plurality of edge components are extracted from a captured image capturing the periphery of the own vehicle. Candidates of a curve (including straight lines) that is to be the boundary of a driving area are extracted as boundary candidates based on the placement of the plurality of edge components. Then, an angle formed by a tangent in a predetermined section of each extracted boundary candidate and a vertical line in the captured image is calculated. Boundary candidates of which the formed angle is less than an angle reference value are set to have low probability. The boundary candidate having the highest probability among the boundary candidates is set as the boundary of the driving area.

Abstract: An image filter 1 produces an emphasized output in response to a brightness change between a dark portion and a bright portion of a picked-up image, with a sign of the emphasized output reversing according to a transitional direction of the brightness change between the dark portion and the bright portion. An image filter 2 produces an output representing an angular momentum of respective pixels about a central pixel in a predetermined processing zone set on the picked-up image. The angular momentum is defined by vectorial quantities of pixel values. An image filter 3 produces an output representing an accumulative absolute value of the respective pixels in the predetermined processing zone. An output difference between the image filters 2 and 3 is obtained as an index representing a lane mark.

Abstract: The present invention aims to facilitate easy correction of the center axis of an obstacle detecting apparatus for a vehicle by calculating deflection of the center axis with respect to the vehicle. Each of most obstacles recognized as moving objects is a preceding vehicle 93, and when the subject vehicle 91 is moving straight, the preceding vehicle 93 is detected in a position straight ahead of the subject vehicle 91. If the optical axis 95 of the transmitting/receiving section 31 is oriented straight ahead of the subject vehicle 91, the preceding vehicle 93 will be detected on the optical axis 95. On the other hand, when the optical axis 95 deviates from the center axis of the vehicle, the preceding vehicle 93 is detected in a position deviated from the optical axis 95 by an angle &thgr; m. In this case, the value &thgr; of deflection of optical axis 95 is equal to −&thgr; m.

Abstract: An estimated travelling curve La (radius Rea) of a system vehicle is obtained based on a first group of sampling data (X1, Y1) through (X5, Y5). Alarm area WA1a is set as a region surrounded by a pair of circular arcs parallel shifted from curve La by .+-.1 m and a pair of straight lines (Y=Y1 and Y=Y5). Similarly, an estimated travelling curve Lb (radius Reb) is obtained based on a second group of sampling data (X3, Y3) through (X5, Y5). Alarm area WA1b is set as a region surrounded by a pair of circular arcs parallel shifted from curve Lb by .+-.1 m and straight lines (Y=Y1 and Y=Y5). At the entrance and exit of a curved road, values of radii Rea and Reb are differentiated. Hence, the collision judgement is performed by using different alarm areas WA1a and WA1b.

Abstract: In an obstacle recognition system for a vehicle, transmission wave is irradiated per given angle for recognizing an obstacle ahead of the subject vehicle based on angle/distance data obtained from received reflected wave. A position of the obstacle is estimated based on a previously recognized position of the obstacle. The estimated position of the obstacle and an actually recognized position of the obstacle are compared so as to determine whether the obstacle currently recognized is identical with the obstacle previously recognized. Relative acceleration is derived for the obstacle which has been determined plural times to be identical with the previously recognized obstacle. When the derived relative acceleration is outside a given range, the corresponding obstacle is excluded from objects of further obstacle recognition.