Abstract: An operation control map of a white line detection apparatus, including a white line detection portion that detects a white line on a road based on a captured image of the road surface, that references the operation control map to determine whether to allow operation of the white line detection portion. The operation control map includes a region in which operation of the white line detection is allowed, and a region in which operation is not allowed, based on the gain of a road surface image signal and the temperature of a road surface imaging portion. The allowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection, due to the thermal noise generated in the solid-state imaging sensor, falls within an acceptable range, and the disallowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection falls outside of the acceptable range.

Abstract: In an exposure control apparatus for exposure control of a vehicle-mounted camera which captures successive images of a scene ahead of the vehicle, two different regions (sets of picture elements) in each image are selected for use in measuring the brightness of an object such as a preceding vehicle and the brightness of the road surface, respectively. The camera exposure is controlled based upon both of these brightness measurement results.

Abstract: In an exposure control apparatus for a vehicle-installed camera which captures images of an external scene ahead of the vehicle as respective arrays of picture elements, highest-brightness and lowest-brightness picture elements of each image are excluded from processing for measuring the brightness of a region in the scene ahead of the vehicle, thereby enabling stable measurement of brightness with reduced effects of incident light from oncoming vehicle headlights, dark patches on the road surface, etc.

Abstract: In an exposure control apparatus for a vehicle-installed camera which captures images of an external scene ahead of the vehicle as arrays of picture elements, a measured brightness value is obtained from each image based on respective spatial-domain average brightness values of a plurality of picture element groups, such as horizontal rows of picture elements. For each of at least part of the groups, time-axis filtering is applied to a plurality of average brightness values that have been successively obtained for that group, to obtain an average brightness values with reduced effect of time-axis variations in brightness.

Abstract: In an electronic apparatus, a first microcomputer is monitored by a second microcomputer, which periodically transmits data relating to a main function to the first microcomputer to be processed. The first microcomputer periodically updates a variable value, performs a predetermined calculation operation whose final result should be a specific fixed value, adds that final result to the updated variable value to obtain a sum value, and transmits the sum value and updated variable value concurrently to the second microcomputer. The second microcomputer determines that the first microcomputer is operating abnormally if the difference between the received sum value and variable value is not equal to the specific fixed value.

Abstract: An operation control map of a white line detection apparatus, including a white line detection portion that detects a white line on a road based on a captured image of the road surface, that references the operation control map to determine whether to allow operation of the white line detection portion. The operation control map includes a region in which operation of the white line detection is allowed, and a region in which operation is not allowed, based on the gain of a road surface image signal and the temperature of a road surface imaging portion. The allowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection, due to the thermal noise generated in the solid-state imaging sensor, falls within an acceptable range, and the disallowed region is set if the reduced accuracy of white line detection falls outside of the acceptable range.

Abstract: In an exposure control apparatus for a vehicle-installed camera which captures images of an external scene ahead of the vehicle as respective arrays of picture elements, highest-brightness and lowest-brightness picture elements of each image are excluded from processing for measuring the brightness of a region in the scene ahead of the vehicle, thereby enabling stable measurement of brightness with reduced effects of incident light from oncoming vehicle headlights, dark patches on the road surface, etc.

Abstract: In an exposure control apparatus for exposure control of a vehicle-mounted camera which captures successive images of a scene ahead of the vehicle, two different regions (sets of picture elements) in each image are selected for use in measuring the brightness of an object such as a preceding vehicle and the brightness of the road surface, respectively. The camera exposure is controlled based upon both of these brightness measurement results.

Abstract: In an exposure control apparatus for a vehicle-installed camera which captures images of an external scene ahead of the vehicle as arrays of picture elements, a measured brightness value is obtained from each image based on respective spatial-domain average brightness values of a plurality of picture element groups, such as horizontal rows of picture elements. For each of at least part of the groups, time-axis filtering is applied to a plurality of average brightness values that have been successively obtained for that group, to obtain an average brightness values with reduced effect of time-axis variations in brightness.

Abstract: In an electronic apparatus, a first microcomputer is monitored by a second microcomputer, which periodically transmits data relating to a main function to the first microcomputer to be processed. The first microcomputer periodically updates a variable value, performs a predetermined calculation operation whose final result should be a specific fixed value, adds that final result to the updated variable value to obtain a sum value, and transmits the sum value and updated variable value concurrently to the second microcomputer. The second microcomputer determines that the first microcomputer is operating abnormally if the difference between the received sum value and variable value is not equal to the specific fixed value.