System for controlling vehicle equipment

Abstract

A system for automatically controlling vehicle equipment includes a controller to generate control signals. The control signals are derived based on information obtained from the image sensor as well as other detected parameters pertaining to the detected light source(s), the vehicle having the inventive control system, and the ambient environment. The control circuit may simply turn certain vehicle equipment, for example exterior lights, on or off, or change the brightness, aim, focus, etc. to produce various beam patterns that maximize the illuminated area in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare in the eyes of other drivers.

1 . An automatic vehicle exterior light control system comprising:
 an image sensor having an array of pixels; and   a controller in communication with said image sensor, said controller configured to determine a status of at least one windshield wiper;   wherein said controller is configured to provide an output with respect to control of at least one exterior vehicle light as a function of at least part of an image captured by said image sensor and said status of at least one windshield wiper.   
     
     
         2 . The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of  claim 1 , wherein said output of said controller comprises an output to turn on low beam headlamps if said status of at least one windshield wiper is that said wiper has been turned on. 
     
     
         3 . The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of  claim 1 , wherein said output of said controller comprises an output to deactivate an automatic control status such that a high beam headlamp are not automatically turned on while said wiper is activated. 
     
     
         4 . The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of  claim 1 , wherein said status of at least one windshield wiper is determined by said controller being configured to receive a signal over a vehicle bus. 
     
     
         5 . The automatic vehicle exterior light control system of  claim 1 , wherein said status of at least one windshield wiper is determined by said controller being configured to receive a signal from a rain sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A vehicle control system comprising:
 an image sensor having an array of pixels;   a filter in optical communication with said image sensor, wherein said filter comprises a pattern of red filters and clear filters; and   a controller in communication with said image sensor, said controller configured to detect objects as a function of an image sensed through said filter, wherein said controller is further configured to generate at least one vehicle control signal as a function of at least a portion of said image;   wherein said vehicle control signal comprises at least two of:   an automatic vehicle exterior light control system signal;   an adaptive cruise control system signal; and   a collision avoidance system signal.   
     
     
         7 . The vehicle control system of  claim 6 , wherein each filter is associated with substantially a single pixel of said array of pixels. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle control system of  claim 6 , wherein said pattern of filters comprises said alternating red filters and clear filters. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle control system of  claim 8 , wherein said alternating red filters and clear filters comprises alternating said red and clear filters at every pixel of said array of pixels. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle control system of  claim 6  further comprising a radar system. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle control system of  claim 6 , wherein said controller is further configured to create an object list for each frame received from said image sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle control system of  claim 11 , wherein said controller is further configured to detection motion of said object as a function of a plurality of object lists. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle control system of  claim 12 , wherein said detection of motion of said object is computed to quantify a rate and direction of motion of said object.