Abstract: In a method for detecting light sources operated in pulsed mode using a camera, the camera records a series of images, and the time interval between two successive recordings of individual images is varied while the series of images is recorded.

Abstract: A method and a device for analyzing trafficability use a computer to perform the following steps: receiving image data representing an image of surroundings in front of a vehicle, analyzing the image data to identify different zones in the image of the surroundings, and analyzing the identified different zones in terms of trafficability thereof for the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and a camera-based driver assistance system in a subject vehicle uses image processing to automatically recognize dynamic intangible symbols that are projected as light onto the road by another vehicle, and responds in an appropriate manner based on the recognized symbols. For example, advice is given to the driver or signals are transmitted to vehicle devices in order to bring about an appropriate vehicle response, such as an emergency braking action or a distance alert.

Abstract: For recognizing traffic signs that include a main sign and an associated additional sign, a method involves using a camera to record image data of an environment outside a vehicle, evaluating the image data to detect the presence and the class of the main sign and to detect the presence and partially classify the content of the additional sign by pattern recognition, performing text recognition to read and interpret text of the additional sign, and comparing the recognized text with actual current situational information to determine whether the main sign is currently applicable.

Abstract: A traffic sign recognition method analyzes and classifies image data of a sensor in an information processing unit. The image data is analyzed to select an image portion judged to contain a traffic sign of a particular sign class. A class-specific feature is identified in the image portion. A modified image portion is created, in which the class-specific feature has been shifted to a center of the modified image portion. Then the modified image portion is evaluated by a learning-based algorithm to recognize the traffic sign of the particular sign class.

Abstract: A method of detecting a roadway edge and/or a traffic lane on a roadway includes: acquiring at least one image of surroundings of a vehicle with a camera; detecting a driving corridor from the at least one image; and performing a structure detection on the at least one image while taking the determined driving corridor into consideration in order to determine a course of a roadway edge from the at least one image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle including a camera for detecting roadway marking. According to the invention a device is provided for detecting a parked or stopped mode of the vehicle. Furthermore, a control device receives image data of the surroundings of the vehicle from the camera in the parked or stopped mode and analyzes the image data with respect to roadway markings which indicate no-parking and/or no-stopping spots, wherein the control device controls a signaling device such that the signaling device outputs a warning message in the event that a roadway marking indicating a no-parking spot or a no-stopping spot is detected in the surroundings of the stopped or parked vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for analyzing trafficability using a computer, said method comprising the following steps: receiving image data of surroundings (10) in front of a vehicle (S10), analyzing the image data to identify different zones (12, 14, 16, 18, 24) in an image of the surroundings (S12, S14, S16, S18, S20); and analyzing identified different zones (16, 18) in terms of trafficability for the vehicle (S22, S24).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for detecting light sources operated in pulsed mode using a camera. For this purpose, the camera takes a series of images, wherein the time interval between two subsequent takes of individual images is varied while the series of images is taken.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recognizing projected information on the carriageway. In particular, the present invention relates to a camera-based driver assistance system which uses image processing methods to automatically recognize dynamic, in most cases colored, symbols or information which is/are projected onto the road by a vehicle ahead, and is able to respond in an appropriate manner based on the recognized symbols. For example, advice can be given to the driver or signals can be transmitted to vehicle devices in order to bring about an appropriate vehicle response. In particular, an emergency braking action or a distance alert can be brought about.

Abstract: For recognizing road signs, a camera captures image data of the surroundings of a vehicle. The image data are analyzed to determine a region that contains a potential road sign. The image region is evaluated by a first classification unit to identify a road sign belonging to a particular class based on a recognized class-specific feature. Then, the brightness or color intensity of at least a portion of the road sign is analyzed along radially extending scanning beams, to determine potential contour points of an information-bearing part of the road sign, which is then extracted and semantically interpreted in a second classification unit to determine the information content thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for traffic lane detection with the steps of acquiring at least one image of the surroundings of a vehicle by means of a camera; detecting a driving corridor from the at least one image; and structure detection while taking the determined driving corridor into consideration in order to determine the course of at least one verge from the at least one image.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recognition of traffic signs that at least include one main sign and one assigned additional sign, and to a respective device. A method according to the invention comprises the following steps: A camera records at least one image of the vehicle environment. The presence and class of one or several main traffic signs is recognized from the data of the image recorded by the camera. The presence of one or several additional sign(s) assigned to the main sign is recognized. The additional sign(s) is/are classified to the extent possible using a pattern recognition method. If classification was not or not completely possible using the pattern recognition method, a text recognition method reads and interprets the text of the additional sign to determine its information content.

Abstract: To support a driver in guiding a road vehicle, the lane markings of the road, traffic signs and/or vehicle license plates are detected by an environment sensor system, which produces corresponding image data, which is evaluated by an image evaluation system by comparison to stored country-specific data. From that evaluation, at least one country estimation signal is generated in an image processor, and then a country signal indicating the current location of the vehicle is generated from the at least one country estimation signal by a microprocessor. The country signal correspondingly activates a driver information device outputting country-specific information for guidance of the vehicle and/or the country signal is fed to a driver assistance system that supports the guidance of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for the recognition of road signs (1). According to an inventive method for road sign recognition, images of a region surrounding the vehicle are acquired by means of a camera. The image data of the camera are analyzed, wherein at least one image region (10) that contains a potential road sign is determined. The image region is submitted to a first classification unit that identifies the potential road sign, on the basis of at least one class-specific feature, as a road sign (1) belonging to this particular class. After that, the brightness of the or the color intensity of the surface of the road sign (1) is analyzed along radially extending scanning beams (5) starting from a defined starting point. Potential contour points (6) of an information-bearing part (3) of the road sign (1) are determined from the results of brightness or color intensity analysis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for supporting the driver of a road-bound vehicle in guiding the vehicle, in which the vehicle environment, in particular the markings that delimit the lanes of a road and traffic signs, are detected by means of an environment sensor system (1) and evaluated by means of an image evaluation system.

Abstract: A camera for identifying soiling on a protective screen, such as a vehicle windscreen, is focused on a scene through the protective screen and can be used to identify soiling and for other applications, e.g. to identify driving lanes and/or objects in the scene. Soiling is identified merely by evaluating successively recorded image frames, and artificial reference frames or reference objects are not required. A prerequisite is that the relative speed vrel between the camera and at least one recorded object in the scene is not equal to zero and its trajectory in the image is predicted. By comparing the relevant image frame sections, possible soiling on subregions of the protective screen is identified.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle including a camera for detecting roadway marking. According to the invention a device is provided for detecting a parked or stopped mode of the vehicle. Furthermore, a control device receives image data of the surroundings of the vehicle from the camera in the parked or stopped mode and analyzes the image data with respect to roadway markings which indicate no-parking and/or no-stopping spots, wherein the control device controls a signaling device such that the signaling device outputs a warning message in the event that a roadway marking indicating a no-parking spot or a no-stopping spot is detected in the surroundings of the stopped or parked vehicle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for traffic sign recognition that analyzes and classifies the image data of a sensor (1) in an information processing unit, wherein at least one image detail (10) that sufficiently probably contains an object that is a traffic sign belonging to a particular class of traffic signs is determined on the basis of the results of an analysis in a first procedure step, and this image detail (10) is submitted, in a second procedure step, to a classificator (5) that recognizes a traffic sign belonging to the particular class on the basis of the selected image detail (10) by means of a learning-based algorithm; according to the invention a class-specific feature (11) is identified in the image detail (10) in the first procedure step, a modified image detail (12) with the class-specific feature (11) in the image center thereof is generated, wherein the image regions (13, 14, 15) created by shifting the class-specific feature (11) to the image center are padded with suitable pixels,

Abstract: In a method for the calibration of a yaw rate measurement in a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle features at least one device for determining the yaw rate, a camera system which is oriented in the forward direction, and, if applicable, a steering angle sensor or a lateral acceleration sensor. At least one initial calibration is carried out at a standstill and at least one second calibration is carried out when the motor vehicle is moving. The second calibration uses image data of the camera system, which detects the environment in front of the motor vehicle, to predict the course of the roadway lane on which the vehicle is driving, from which the yaw rate is estimated.