Vehicle Headlight Detection Using Motion-Based Spot Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle headlight control systems that use cameras face challenges in maintaining image quality for other vehicle control applications like lane departure warning and forward collision warning, as they require specific camera settings that reduce sensitivity and compatibility, especially with the use of infrared filters, leading to performance issues in dark scenes and incompatibility with near-infrared sensing applications.
Innovation Solution
A method using radial basis functions (RBF) for real-time detection and classification of oncoming vehicle headlights, leading vehicle taillights, and streetlights in image frames from a camera-mounted vehicle, allowing for adaptive headlight control without constraining camera settings, thus enabling simultaneous use of image frames for multiple vehicle control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If camera settings are optimized for headlight detection using spectral separation and infrared filters, then headlight control accuracy is improved, but image frame quality for other vehicle control applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image processing task by detecting spots of measurable brightness and classifying them based on motion characteristics rather than processing the entire image with specialized filters. This allows the camera to capture full-spectrum images suitable for multiple control systems while extracting headlight information through motion-based spot classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the camera system universal by using it for multiple vehicle control applications simultaneously. The spot detection and classification method works for headlight detection while maintaining image quality suitable for lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and other control systems that require unfiltered image frames.
2Measurement precision
If infrared filters are used to detect headlight spectral characteristics, then spectral discrimination capability is improved, but sensitivity in dark scenes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical spectral separation system (infrared filters) with a motion-based classification system. By tracking spot motion across multiple image frames and analyzing motion characteristics, the system achieves spectral discrimination without using infrared filters, thereby maintaining sensitivity in dark scenes.
3Reliability
If special camera controls are implemented for headlight detection, then headlight control performance is improved, but compatibility with near-infrared sensing applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic motion analysis to classify light sources. By tracking the motion of bright spots across multiple frames and analyzing their motion characteristics, the system achieves headlight detection without imposing static constraints on camera settings, maintaining compatibility with near-infrared sensing and other specialized applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A method in a computerized system including an image sensor mounted in a moving vehicle. The image sensor captures image frames consecutively in real time. In one of the image flames, a spot is detected of measurable brightness; the spot is matched in subsequent image frames. The image frames are available for sharing between the computerized system and another vehicle control system. The spot and the corresponding spot are images of the same object. The object is typically one or more of headlights from an oncoming vehicle, taillights of a leading vehicle, streetlights, street signs and/or traffic signs. Data is acquired from the spot and from the corresponding spot. By processing the data, the object (or spot) is classified. producing an object classification. The vehicle control system controls preferably headlights of the moving vehicle based on the object classification. The other vehicle control system using the image frames is one or more of: lane departure warning system, collision warning system and/or ego-motion estimation system.