Enhancement of vehicle interior digital images
US7123747B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 27, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30268
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for helping to control a vehicle occupant protection device (22) includes taking an image of the vehicle interior with a digital imager (50) having an array of pixels (53). A contiguous portion of the image less than the entire image is selected. At least one image enhancement technique is applied to the selected image portion. The enhanced image portion is combined with the other portions of the image to make an enhanced image. The enhanced image is analyzed to detect at least one of features and characteristics of the enhanced image. Alternatively, a selected non-contiguous group of the pixels (53) of the imager (50) are read out, as representative of the entire image, to estimate the illumination levels across the entire array of pixels. In one aspect, the imager shutter (56) speed may be controlled to enhance the image.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.