Method of operation for a vision-based occupant sensing system
US7791670B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 2005 |
| Grant date | Sep 7, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 8, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N23/74
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Image processing parameters of an imaging chip in a vision-based occupant sensing system are adjusted for each frame based on ambient illumination responsive information obtained in the idle period preceding that frame. The same sensing data is also used to determine if active illumination is needed to supplement existent ambient illumination during the ensuing image acquisition interval. The inter-frame ambient illumination is detected with an external light sensor or with selected pixels of the imaging chip, and the information is used to calculate and set the gain and integration time of the imaging chip. In applications where the resolution of the imaging chip significantly exceeds the resolution required for occupant sensing, intensity data from one or more otherwise inactive pixels is averaged with the intensity data from the normally active pixels to adapt the sensitivity of the imaging chip to changing ambient illumination.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.