Driving system and anti-glare method thereof

Abstract

A driving system to be disposed within a vehicle. The driving system includes a camera, a first controller, a light controller, and a second controller. The camera is used for sensing images in front of the vehicle. The first controller is electrically connected to the camera and is used for identifying a same-direction vehicle and an opposite-direction vehicle of the vehicle in the image. The light controller is used for being arranged on a windshield of a vehicle. The second controller is electrically connected to the first controller and the light controller. The second controller analyzes the image and converts the camera view high-brightness position coordinate with the brightness greater than or equal to a brightness threshold value into a driving view high-brightness position when the brightness is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold value in the position of the opposite vehicle in the camera view of the opposite vehicle. And then the light controller is controlled to reduce the light transmittance at the high-brightness position of the driving visual field. The invention also provides an anti-dazzle method for the driving system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a driving system and a method for preventing glare. Background Technology

[0002] With advancements in autonomous driving technology, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and adaptive lighting technology, driving safety on the road has significantly improved. However, these systems still cannot completely eliminate the dangers posed by the glare from oncoming vehicles. Besides temporarily impairing the driver's perception of road conditions and surrounding objects, the glare also requires more reaction time to handle sudden traffic situations, such as a vehicle stopping in the same lane ahead. Therefore, the development of new driving systems is still necessary to address the problems caused by the glare from oncoming vehicles. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a driving system and a method for preventing glare, which can reduce the interference of sudden strong light in the driver's field of vision.

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention provides a driving system for installation in a vehicle. The driving system includes a camera, a first controller, a light controller, and a second controller. The camera is used to sense an image in front of the vehicle. The first controller is electrically connected to the camera and is used to identify vehicles traveling in the same direction and oncoming vehicles in the image. The light controller is installed at the windshield of the vehicle. The second controller is electrically connected to the first controller and the light controller. The second controller analyzes the image, and when a brightness greater than or equal to a brightness threshold occurs at the position of the oncoming vehicle in the camera's field of view, it converts the coordinates of the high-brightness position in the camera's field of view with brightness greater than or equal to the brightness threshold into a high-brightness position in the driver's field of view, and then controls the light controller to reduce the light transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for anti-glare in a driving system, comprising the following steps: sensing an image in front of the vehicle; identifying vehicles traveling in the same direction and oncoming vehicles in the image; analyzing the image, and when a brightness greater than or equal to a brightness threshold occurs at the position of the oncoming vehicle in the camera's field of view, converting the coordinates of the high-brightness position in the camera's field of view with brightness greater than or equal to the brightness threshold into a high-brightness position in the driver's field of view, and then controlling the light controller to reduce the light transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view.

[0006] Based on the above, in a driving system and its anti-glare method according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the brightness at the position of the oncoming vehicle in the camera's field of view is greater than or equal to a brightness threshold, a coordinate transformation is performed, and then the light controller is controlled to reduce the light transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view. Therefore, the driving system and its anti-glare method can improve visual clarity while reducing the interference of strong light on vision, thereby shortening driving reaction time and improving driving concentration, thus reducing the risk of traffic accidents and increasing driving safety. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a driving system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figures 2A to 2D This is a schematic diagram illustrating how a driving system controls a light controller to reduce light transmittance at high-brightness locations in the driver's field of vision, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Figures 3A to 3B This is a schematic diagram of a driving system control head-up display projecting markings of vehicles traveling in the same direction and vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of a method for preventing glare in a driving system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Detailed flowchart of step S40.

[0012] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Detailed flowchart of step S300.

[0013] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0014] 10: Driving System

[0015] 20: Control Panel

[0016] 100: Camera

[0017] 200: First Controller

[0018] 300: Second controller

[0019] 400: Light Controller

[0020] 420, 420': Sub-optical controller

[0021] 500: Head-up Display

[0022] CAN-FD: Controller Area Network with Flexible Data Rate

[0023] GPIO: General Purpose Input / Output

[0024] IMG: Images

[0025] LVDS: Low Voltage Differential Signaling Technology Interface

[0026] OV: Oncoming vehicles

[0027] S10, S20, S30, S40, S100, S200, S300, S320, S340, S400: Steps

[0028] SIMG, SIMG': Sub-image

[0029] SV: Vehicles traveling in the same direction

[0030] WS: Windshield Detailed Implementation

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a driving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 An embodiment of the present invention provides a driving system 10 for installation in a vehicle. The driving system 10 includes a camera 100, a first controller 200, a light controller 400, and a second controller 300.

[0032] In this embodiment, the camera 100 may be a light sensor such as a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), a charge-coupled device (CCD), or a photodiode, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0033] In this embodiment, the first controller 200 and the second controller 300 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable controller, a programmable logic device (PLD), or other similar devices or combinations thereof, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the functions of the first controller 200 and the second controller 300 may be implemented as multiple program codes. These program codes are stored in a storage unit and executed by the first controller 200 and the second controller 300. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the functions of the first controller 200 and the second controller 300 may be implemented as one or more circuits. The present invention does not limit the implementation of the functions of the first controller 200 and the second controller 300 in software or hardware. In addition, in another embodiment, the first controller 200 and the second controller 300 may be integrated into a single controller, such as a device composed of a supercomputer, a computer cluster, or other high-performance computing (HPC) system.

[0034] Figures 2A to 2D This is a schematic diagram illustrating how a driving system controls a light controller to reduce light transmittance at high-brightness locations in the driver's field of vision, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figures 1 to 2D In this embodiment, the camera 100 is used to sense an image (IMG) in front of the vehicle. A first controller 200 is electrically connected to the camera 100 and is used to identify oncoming vehicles (SV) and parallel vehicles (OV) in the image IMG. Figure 2A As shown. In one embodiment, the first controller 200 may be implemented as an advanced driver assistance system, but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0035] In this embodiment, the light controller 200 is disposed on the windshield of a vehicle. The light controller 200 is, for example, a photochromic layer, a thermochromic layer, photochromic glass, or thermochromic glass. In a preferred embodiment, the light controller 200 may be an electrochromic layer or electrochromic glass. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 As shown, the second controller 300 is electrically connected to the optical controller 200, for example, via a general-purpose input / output (GPIO), but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0036] In this embodiment, the second controller 300 is electrically connected to the first controller 200 and the light controller 400. The second controller 300 analyzes the image IMG and, when a brightness greater than or equal to a brightness threshold occurs in the oncoming vehicle's (OV) camera field of view at the oncoming vehicle's position, it highlights the high-brightness position in the camera field of view (e.g., in...) where the brightness is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold. Figure 2B The coordinates of the sub-image SIMG' in the multiple sub-images SIMG are converted into the high-brightness position in the driver's field of vision, and then the light controller 400 is controlled to reduce the transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of vision (e.g., in...). Figure 2D The transmittance of sub-light controller 420' among the multiple sub-light controllers 420 is reduced.

[0037] In this embodiment, the optical controller 400 may include p × q sub-optical controllers 420, where p ≥ 2 and q ≥ 2. For example, Figure 2D The diagram illustrates that the optical controller 400 includes 4 × 8 sub-optical controllers 420. During image IMG analysis, the second controller 300 (corresponding to the number of sub-optical controllers 420) divides the image IMG into p × q sub-image SIMGs, as shown... Figure 2B As shown, when the standard deviation of light intensity in a sub-image SIMG exceeds a luminance threshold, the sub-light controller 420' of the corresponding sub-image SIMG' with a standard deviation of light intensity exceeding the luminance threshold is controlled to reduce the transmittance. Wherein,

[0038]

[0039] In each sub-image SIMG, σ represents the standard deviation of light intensity, and b(x,y) represents the light intensity at each pixel location. Let n be the average light intensity, and n×m be the sum of the number of pixels. For example, the brightness threshold can be set to 200-500 cd / m. 2 The range.

[0040] In one embodiment, the second controller 300 binarizes the image IMG, such as... Figure 2C As shown, it is then determined whether a brightness greater than or equal to a brightness threshold occurs in the oncoming vehicle's (OV) position within the camera's field of view. For example, in Figure 2A In 2B, pixels with brightness values ​​exceeding a threshold are set to 1, and pixels with brightness values ​​below the threshold are set to 0. Pixels set to 1 are displayed as black (normally 0 is displayed as black and 1 as white. However, for illustrative purposes...). Figure 2C (Presented in the opposite way), thus producing Figure 2C .

[0041] Figures 3A to 3B This is a schematic diagram illustrating the projection of signs for vehicles traveling in the same direction and vehicles traveling in the opposite direction onto a head-up display, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 1 , Figures 3A to 3B In this embodiment, the driving system 10 also includes a head-up display 500. The head-up display 500 is electrically connected to a second controller 300. The second controller 300 converts the camera's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle (SV) and the oncoming vehicle (OV) into the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the oncoming vehicle (OV), and then controls the head-up display 500 to project the markings of the same-direction vehicle (SV) and the oncoming vehicle (OV) onto the windshield WS at the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the oncoming vehicle (OV), such as... Figure 3B As shown.

[0042] In one embodiment, the head-up display 500 may be an augmented reality head-up display (AR HUD) system. The head-up display 500 may include, for example, a control unit composed of a microcontroller (MCU), a picture generation unit, and an optical engine (e.g., a projector). Furthermore, the first controller 200 and the second controller 300 are electrically or signal-connected to the head-up display 500, for example, via a Low Voltage Differential Signaling (LVDS) interface or a Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate (CAN-FD) interface.

[0043] like Figure 3A As shown, the head-up display 500 can project an image onto the windshield WS based on calibration storage information, navigation information, traffic object information, and vehicle information. The calibration storage information includes, for example, coordinate transformation parameters and distortion correction parameters. The navigation information includes, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation trajectory, navigation text, the vehicle's GPS location, and the vehicle's original data. The traffic object information includes, for example, vehicle information, category, lane markings, traffic signs, and pedestrian crossing information. The vehicle information includes, for example, vehicle speed and tire pressure.

[0044] Information from the first controller 200 includes the image IMG and information on vehicles traveling in the same direction (SV) and vehicles traveling in the opposite direction (OV). The image IMG and information on vehicles traveling in the same direction (SV) and vehicles traveling in the opposite direction (OV) can be transformed into coordinates using the aforementioned correction storage information, navigation information, and traffic object information. This coordinate transformation can be accomplished using parameters including ARHUD distortion correction parameters, world coordinates to driver's field of vision coordinates, and driver's field of vision coordinates to HUD coordinates. The projected image is then generated through processes of drawing, color adjustment, contrast adjustment, correction compensation, and ARHUD distortion correction.

[0045] Please refer to this again. Figure 1 In addition, the driving system 10 may also include a control panel 20. The control panel 20 is used to turn the anti-glare system on / off. The control panel 20 is, for example, an in-vehicle infotainment system panel.

[0046] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of a method for preventing glare in a driving system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 4 An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for anti-glare in a driving system, comprising the following steps: Step S10, determining whether there is an oncoming vehicle. Step S20, setting whether to enable automatic start. Step S30, determining whether to disable anti-glare. Step S40, if yes, entering anti-glare mode.

[0047] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A detailed flowchart of step S40 is provided. Please refer to it. Figure 5 In this embodiment, step S40 includes the following steps: Step S100, sensing the image IMG in front of the vehicle. Step S200, identifying the same-direction vehicle (SV) and oncoming vehicle (OV) in the image IMG. Step S300, analyzing the image IMG, and when the brightness of the oncoming vehicle (OV) in the camera's field of view is greater than or equal to a brightness threshold, converting the high-brightness position coordinates of the camera's field of view with brightness greater than or equal to the brightness threshold into a high-brightness position in the driver's field of view, and then controlling the light controller 400 to reduce the transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view.

[0048] In this embodiment, step S40 above further includes the following step. Step S400: Convert the camera view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle SV and the opposite-direction vehicle OV into the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle, and then control the head-up display 500 to project the markings of the same-direction vehicle SV and the opposite-direction vehicle OV onto the windshield WS at the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle.

[0049] Figure 6 yes Figure 5Detailed flowchart of step S300. Please refer to it. Figure 6 In this embodiment, step S300 further includes the following steps: Step S320: Binarize the image IMG, and then determine whether the brightness is greater than or equal to a brightness threshold in the oncoming vehicle position within the camera's field of view of the oncoming vehicle OV. Step S340: Divide the image IMG into p×q sub-images SIMG, and when the standard deviation of light intensity in a sub-image SIMG is greater than the brightness threshold, control the sub-light controller 420' of the corresponding sub-image SIMG' with the standard deviation of light intensity greater than the brightness threshold to reduce the transmittance.

[0050] In summary, in one embodiment of the present invention, the driving system and its anti-glare method sense the image in front of the vehicle, and then, by analyzing the image, when the brightness of the oncoming vehicle's position in the camera's field of view is greater than or equal to a brightness threshold, a coordinate transformation is performed, and then the light controller is controlled to reduce the light transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view. Therefore, the driving system and its anti-glare method can improve visual clarity while reducing the interference of strong light on vision, thereby providing the driver with clarity in observing road conditions and the surrounding environment. By reducing sudden changes in brightness in the field of view, the driver can react more quickly to road and vehicle conditions, thereby reducing visual obstacles and misjudgments, and thus reducing the occurrence of traffic accidents. At the same time, in addition to reducing misjudgments, reducing strong light interference also reduces the mental stress caused by strong light, allowing the driver to drive more focused and calmly, thus improving driving safety.

Claims

1. A driving system for installation in a vehicle, comprising: A camera is used to sense an image of the front of the vehicle; A first controller, electrically connected to the camera, is used to identify vehicles traveling in the same direction and vehicles traveling in the opposite direction in the image. A light controller, for installation on the windshield of the vehicle; and A second controller is electrically connected to the first controller and the optical controller. The second controller analyzes the image and, when the brightness of the oncoming vehicle's position in the camera's field of view is greater than or equal to a brightness threshold, converts the coordinates of the high-brightness position in the camera's field of view that is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold into the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view, and then controls the light controller to reduce the transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view.

2. The driving system of claim 1, further comprising: A heads-up display is electrically connected to the second controller. The second controller converts the camera's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle into the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle, and then controls the head-up display to project the markings of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle onto the windshield at the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle.

3. The driving system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light controller comprises p × q sub-light controllers, where p ≥ 2 and q ≥ 2. The second controller divides the image into p×q sub-images, and when the standard deviation of light intensity in these sub-images exceeds the brightness threshold, it controls the sub-light controller of the sub-image with the standard deviation of light intensity exceeding the brightness threshold to reduce the transmittance.

4. The driving system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: In each sub-image, σ represents the standard deviation of the light intensity, and b(x,y) represents the light intensity at each pixel location. Let n be the average light intensity, and n×m be the sum of the number of pixels.

5. The driving system of claim 1, wherein the second controller binarizes the image and then determines whether a brightness greater than or equal to the brightness threshold occurs in the oncoming vehicle's position within the camera's field of view of the oncoming vehicle.

6. The driving system of claim 1, wherein the light controller is an electrochromic layer or electrochromic glass.

7. A method for preventing glare in a driving system, comprising: Sensing an image of the front of a vehicle; Identify vehicles traveling in the same direction and opposite direction as the vehicle in the image; as well as The image is analyzed, and when the brightness of the oncoming vehicle's position in the camera's field of view is greater than or equal to a brightness threshold, the coordinates of the high brightness position in the camera's field of view that is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold are converted into the high brightness position in the driver's field of view. Then, the light controller is controlled to reduce the transmittance at the high brightness position in the driver's field of view.

8. The method for preventing glare in a driving system as described in claim 7, further comprising: The camera's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle are converted into the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle. Then, a head-up display is controlled to project the markings of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle onto the windshield at the driver's view coordinates of the same-direction vehicle and the opposite-direction vehicle.

9. The method for preventing glare in a driving system as described in claim 7, wherein the steps of analyzing the image and, when the brightness is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold at the oncoming vehicle position in the camera's field of view of the oncoming vehicle, converting the coordinates of the high-brightness position in the camera's field of view where the brightness is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold into the high-brightness position in the driving field of view, and then controlling the light controller to reduce the transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driving field of view, include: The image is divided into p×q sub-images. When the standard deviation of light intensity in these sub-images exceeds the brightness threshold, the light controller of the sub-image corresponding to the sub-image with the standard deviation of light intensity exceeding the brightness threshold is controlled to reduce the transmittance.

10. The method for preventing glare in a driving system as described in claim 7, wherein the steps of analyzing the image and, when the brightness is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold at the oncoming vehicle position in the camera's field of view of the oncoming vehicle, converting the coordinates of the high-brightness position in the camera's field of view where the brightness is greater than or equal to the brightness threshold into the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view, and then controlling the light controller to reduce the transmittance at the high-brightness position in the driver's field of view, include: The image is binarized, and then it is determined whether there is a brightness greater than or equal to the brightness threshold in the position of the oncoming vehicle within the camera's field of view of the oncoming vehicle.

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