Abstract: In a light control system, a captured image of a cruising direction of a vehicle is acquired, and a light source is extracted from the captured image. A probability for estimating a light source to be a vehicle light source originating from a vehicle is calculated based on light source parameters for differentiating the light source. A dark section that is darker than the periphery and is present below the light source in the captured image is extracted. The probability is set to be higher for the light source of which the dark section is extracted. The light source having a probability that is a reference value set in advance or higher is estimated to be a light source of another vehicle. When the dark section that is detected as a shadow of a vehicle is detected, the probability of the light source being a vehicle light source is set to be high.

Abstract: In a light control system, a captured image of a cruising direction of a vehicle is acquired, and a light source is extracted from the captured image. A probability for estimating a light source to be a vehicle light source originating from a vehicle is calculated based on light source parameters for differentiating the light source. A dark section that is darker than the periphery and is present below the light source in the captured image is extracted. The probability is set to be higher for the light source of which the dark section is extracted. The light source having a probability that is a reference value set in advance or higher is estimated to be a light source of another vehicle. When the dark section that is detected as a shadow of a vehicle is detected, the probability of the light source being a vehicle light source is set to be high.

Abstract: In a light control system, a captured image of a cruising direction of a vehicle is acquired, and a light source is extracted from the captured image. A probability for estimating a light source to be a vehicle light source originating from a vehicle is calculated based on light source parameters for differentiating the light source. A dark section that is darker than the periphery and is present below the light source in the captured image is extracted. The probability is set to be higher for the light source of which the dark section is extracted. The light source having a probability that is a reference value set in advance or higher is estimated to be a light source of another vehicle. When the dark section that is detected as a shadow of a vehicle is detected, the probability of the light source being a vehicle light source is set to be high.

Abstract: An on-vehicle apparatus detects other vehicle lights from an image picked up outside the vehicle. The apparatus acquires an image around the vehicle and extracts light sources from the image. The apparatus calculates a target area probability that is a probability of a light source in a target area being different vehicle light, in accordance with a probability that light-source feature quantities at least including either of a color of light source and a shape of light source coincide with target-area feature quantities, the target area indicating a preset site that is a part of an area indicating each of the light sources. The target-area feature quantities are prepared as feature quantities of vehicle light, being correlated to the position of a target area. The apparatus outputs information that a light source having the target area probability of not less than a preset threshold is different vehicle light.

Abstract: A driving environment detection device acquires a captured image of the direction the host vehicle is travelling in, and from the captured image, extracts parameters relating to brightness of a road surface for a road driven by the host vehicle. Then, on the basis of the parameters, the driving environment of the vehicle is estimated. By way of such a light control system, it is possible to more accurately detect ambient brightness by estimating the driving environment in accordance with the parameters related to the brightness of the road surface. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the driving environment.

Abstract: In a road sign recognition system, a high luminance region indicating a region with a luminance higher than a predetermined reference luminance in the captured image is extracted (S120, S220), and a vehicle light source that represents a light source derived from the vehicle in the captured image is extracted (S130, S230). Then, a region that matches the vehicle light source in the high luminance region is excluded (S140, S240), and another region excluding the region that matches the vehicle light source in the high luminance region is set as a target region for recognizing the road sign (S150, S250), and the road sign is recognized in the target region. As a result, it is possible to narrow the region of performing the process of recognizing the road sign, thus it is possible to reduce the process load during recognizing the road sign.

Abstract: A driving environment detection device acquires a captured image of the direction the host vehicle is travelling in, and from the captured image, extracts parameters relating to brightness of a road surface for a road driven by the host vehicle. Then, on the basis of the parameters, the driving environment of the vehicle is estimated. By way of such a light control system, it is possible to more accurately detect ambient brightness by estimating the driving environment in accordance with the parameters related to the brightness of the road surface. Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect the driving environment.

Abstract: In a light control system, a captured image of a cruising direction of a vehicle is acquired, and a light source is extracted from the captured image. A probability for estimating a light source to be a vehicle light source originating from a vehicle is calculated based on light source parameters for differentiating the light source. A dark section that is darker than the periphery and is present below the light source in the captured image is extracted. The probability is set to be higher for the light source of which the dark section is extracted. The light source having a probability that is a reference value set in advance or higher is estimated to be a light source of another vehicle. When the dark section that is detected as a shadow of a vehicle is detected, the probability of the light source being a vehicle light source is set to be high.

Abstract: An on-vehicle apparatus detects other vehicle lights from an image picked up outside the vehicle. The apparatus acquires an image around the vehicle and extracts light sources from the image. The apparatus calculates a target area probability that is a probability of a light source in a target area being different vehicle light, in accordance with a probability that light-source feature quantities at least including either of a color of light source and a shape of light source coincide with target-area feature quantities, the target area indicating a preset site that is a part of an area indicating each of the light sources. The target-area feature quantities are prepared as feature quantities of vehicle light, being correlated to the position of a target area. The apparatus outputs information that a light source having the target area probability of not less than a preset threshold is different vehicle light.

Abstract: In a wiper control apparatus, a water drop detector outputs an output signal in accordance with water drops adhering to a windshield of a vehicle. When a traveling determination portion determines that the vehicle is traveling, a first level setting portion sets a sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a first sensitivity. When the traveling determination portion determines the vehicle is not traveling, a second level setting portion sets the sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a second sensitivity that is larger than the first sensitivity. A water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield when a determination waiting time elapses in a state where detection of the output signal continues. A driving control portion controls a wiper driving portion to drive the wiper when the water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield.

Abstract: In a wiper control apparatus, a water drop detector outputs an output signal in accordance with water drops adhering to a windshield of a vehicle. When a traveling determination portion determines that the vehicle is traveling, a first level setting portion sets a sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a first sensitivity. When the traveling determination portion determines the vehicle is not traveling, a second level setting portion sets the sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a second sensitivity that is larger than the first sensitivity. A water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield when a determination waiting time elapses in a state where detection of the output signal continues. A driving control portion controls a wiper driving portion to drive the wiper when the water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield.

Abstract: A change computing arrangement computing an amount of change in a measured value of a measurement signal of a raindrop sensor in a raindrop quantity sensing execution time period that is a time period, during which a wiper blade moves outside of a sensing range of the raindrop sensor. A difference computing arrangement computes a difference between a predetermined reference value and an initial measured value of the measurement signal of the raindrop sensor. A determining arrangement determines the quantity of raindrops on the windshield based on the amount of change, which is computed by the change computing arrangement, and the difference, which is computed by the difference computing arrangement.

Abstract: A raindrop sensor outputs a measurement signal, which corresponds to a quantity of raindrops in a predetermined sensing range in a wiping range on a windshield. A prohibited time period setting arrangement sets a time period, during which a wiper blade is predicted to pass through the predetermined sensing range, as a raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period based on an elapsed time from a time point of supplying a drive command signal to a wiper motor, which drives the wiper blade. The determining arrangement determines the quantity of raindrops on the windshield based on the measurement signal outputted from the raindrop sensor in a raindrop quantity sensing execution time period, which is outside of the raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting wetting on a windshield includes a light emission element for emitting a light, a first light reception element for receiving the light in a first light path that includes reflective redirection by the windshield, and a second light reception element for receiving the light in a second light path that does not include reflective redirection by the windshield. The sensor device uses a ratio of the amount of the received light by the first light reception element and the amount of the received light by the second light reception element to determine wetting on the windshield.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting wetting on a windshield includes a light emission element for emitting a light, a first light reception element for receiving the light in a first light path that includes reflective redirection by the windshield, and a second light reception element for receiving the light in a second light path that does not include reflective redirection by the windshield. The sensor device uses a ratio of the amount of the received light by the first light reception element and the amount of the received light by the second light reception element to determine wetting on the windshield.

Abstract: An inter-device communication system for a wiper control apparatus that includes a rain detection device and a wiper driving device includes communication circuits having a transmission line for unidirectionally sending a rain detection signal to the wiper driving device, a transmission circuit arranged in the wiper driving device for short-circuiting a potential of the signal unidirectionally sent through the transmission line, and a recognition circuit arranged in the rain detection device for recognizing transmitting information sent in an opposite direction to a direction of the unidirectional transmission, i.e., from the wiper driving device to the rain detection device based on the short-circuited signal.

Abstract: A a raindrop sensor outputs a measurement signal, which corresponds to a quantity of raindrops in a predetermined sensing range in a wiping range on a windshield. A prohibited time period setting arrangement sets a time period, during which a wiper blade is predicted to pass through the predetermined sensing range, as a raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period based on an elapsed time from a time point of supplying a drive command signal to a wiper motor, which drives the wiper blade. The determining arrangement determines the quantity of raindrops on the windshield based on the measurement signal outputted from the raindrop sensor in a raindrop quantity sensing execution time period, which is outside of the raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period.

Abstract: A change computing arrangement computing an amount of change in a measured value of a measurement signal of a raindrop sensor in a raindrop quantity sensing execution time period that is a time period, during which a wiper blade moves outside of a sensing range of the raindrop sensor. A difference computing arrangement computes a difference between a predetermined reference value and an initial measured value of the measurement signal of the raindrop sensor. A determining arrangement determines the quantity of raindrops on the windshield based on the amount of change, which is computed by the change computing arrangement, and the difference, which is computed by the difference computing arrangement.

Abstract: A wiper control system for detecting an amount of raindrops landed on a windshield of a vehicle and driving a wipe operation of a wiper to wipe the landed raindrops. The wiper control system includes raindrop sensing means, average landed raindrop amount calculation means, vehicle acceleration sensing means, and wipe operation mode selection means. The raindrop sensing means is capable of detecting the amount of landed raindrops for each of a plurality of wipe cycles of the wiper. The average landed raindrop amount calculation means calculates an average value of the amount of landed raindrops for the plurality of wipe cycles. The vehicle acceleration sensing means detects an acceleration of the vehicle. The wipe operation mode selection means selects a wipe operation mode based on the acceleration of the vehicle and any one of the amount of landed raindrops and the average amount of landed raindrops.

Abstract: A sensor device for detecting wetting on a windshield includes a light emission element for emitting a light, a first light reception element for receiving the light in a first light path that includes reflective redirection by the windshield, and a second light reception element for receiving the light in a second light path that does not include reflective redirection by the windshield. The sensor device uses a ratio of the amount of the received light by the first light reception element and the amount of the received light by the second light reception element to determine wetting on the windshield.