Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the contrast within an image. An enhanced image can be generated in a real-time or substantially real-time manner from an initial image. A low-contrast image is enhanced, including the visibility of text within the low-contrast image. A logarithm transform method is used to enhance the overall contrast and visibility within the image. A power transform method is used to enhance the visibility and contrast of written text, symbols and other forms of signs within the enhanced image.

Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the contrast within an image. An enhanced image can be generated in a real-time or substantially real-time manner from an initial image. The pixel values of the initial image can be used to populate a histogram or otherwise serve as the basis for subsequent processing. A valley can be identified within the range of pixel values for use as a stretch metric used by a stretch heuristic to expand the contrast of the pixel values in the initial image by expanding the range of pixel values associated with the pixels in the histogram. In some embodiments, the initial image is first divided into image regions that are each associated with individualized processing. A bilinear interpolation step can then be performed to smooth the integrated image after the individualized processing is used to stretch the pixels within the individual image regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling a vehicle having adaptive cruise control to reduce its speed in a turn according to the vehicle's position within the turn as well as ignoring objects detected during the turn that are not in the vehicle's path. The method of the present invention includes the steps of operating the vehicle in an adaptive cruise control mode such that the vehicle is traveling at a set speed; determining whether the vehicle is in a turn in the vehicle's path by detecting change in the vehicle's lateral acceleration; and when the vehicle is determined to be in the turn, reducing the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle's position in the turn, monitoring for objects and maintaining the vehicle's speed if an object is positioned out of the path of the vehicle.