A light-diffusing optical element with efficient coupling to light sources with high numerical aperture. The light-diffusing optical element includes a higher index core surrounded by a lower index cladding. The cladding includes scattering centers that scatter evanescent light entering the cladding from the core. The scattered light exits the element to provide broad-area illumination along the element. Scattering centers include dopants, nanoparticles and/or internal voids. The core may also include scattering centers. The core is glass and the cladding may be glass or a polymer. The element features high numerical aperture and high scattering efficiency.

A vision system for a vehicle includes a forward viewing camera disposed at a mirror head of an interior rearview mirror assembly of the vehicle and having a forward field of view through the windshield of the vehicle. A sensor is disposed at the mirror head and determines a change in position of the mirror head relative to a mirror mount of the mirror assembly when the vehicle driver adjusts the mirror head. A control includes a processor operable to process image data captured by the forward viewing camera. Responsive to determination by the sensor of a change of position of the forward viewing camera relative to the mirror mount, the control selects an active sub-array of photosensors to provide an effective field of view of the forward viewing camera. The processor processes image data captured by the active sub-array of photosensors for a driver assistance system of the vehicle.

In a vehicle or a lane change timing determination method, when a distance from a vehicle to a nearby vehicle is outside of a first distance threshold value, lane changing is determined to be permitted. When the distance is within the first distance threshold value, lane changing is determined not to be permitted. After determining lane changing to be not permitted, lane changing not being permitted is switched to lane change being permitted when the nearby vehicle decelerates or accelerates to move further away from the vehicle than a second distance threshold value, even if the distance is still within the first distance threshold value.

An RDM controller executes RDM control (steering suppression control). However, the RDM controller does not execute RDM control in cases in which lane changing has been determined to be possible by a LC determination section and a torque sensor has detected a steering input of a predetermined amount or greater.

In a vehicle-mounted image recognition apparatus, a resolution of an image projected on an imaging plane of an image sensor is different at a position away from a center between a circumferential direction and a radial direction. To make a circumferential resolution higher than a radial resolution, at least a lower half of the imaging plane is located closer to a circumferential focus than a middle of a radial focus and the circumferential focus at a position off the optical axis center of the image projected on the image sensor through the image-forming optical system. This is achieved by adjusting the position of the imaging plane when manufacturing or by selecting a lens with high circumferential resolution. This apparatus improves recognition accuracy in recognizing traffic lanes without using an expensive lens exhibiting high resolution both in the circumferential direction and in the radial direction.

The disclosure relates to a driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, such as a truck. The driver assistance system includes an environment camera with an image sensor and an optical system. The driver assistance system also includes an imaging unit and a display element in the interior of the motor vehicle. The environment camera, the imaging unit, and the display element form a digital exterior mirror, where the digital exterior mirror is arranged such that at least two visual field regions, namely a first visual field region and a second visual field region, are mapped with different magnifications.

A three-dimensional object detection device includes an image capturing unit, an image conversion unit, a three-dimensional object detection unit, a light source detection unit and a control unit. The image conversion unit converts a viewpoint of the images obtained by the image capturing unit to create bird's-eye view images. The three-dimensional object detection unit detects a presence of a three-dimensional object within the adjacent lane. The three-dimensional object detection unit determines the presence of the three-dimensional object within the adjacent lane-when the difference waveform information is at a threshold value or higher. The control unit set a threshold value higher so that the three-dimensional object is more difficult to detect in a forward area than rearward area with respect to a line connecting the light source and the image capturing unit when the light source has been detected.

A lane-keeping system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a camera, an inertial-measurement-unit, and a controller. The camera is configured to detect a lane-marking of a roadway traveled by a vehicle. The inertial-measurement-unit is configured to determine relative-motion of the vehicle. The controller in communication with the camera and the inertial-measurement-unit. When the lane-marking is detected the controller is configured to steer the vehicle towards a centerline of the roadway based on a last-position, and determine an offset-vector indicative of motion of the vehicle relative to the centerline of the roadway. When the lane-marking is not detected the controller is configured to: determine an offset-position relative to the last-position based on information from the inertial-measurement-unit, determine a correction-vector used to steer the vehicle from the offset-position towards the centerline of the roadway based on the last-position and the offset-vector, and steer the vehicle according to the correction-vector.

A driving consciousness estimation device includes a driving readiness estimation unit configured to estimate a driving readiness relating to a driving consciousness of the driver from a driver's reaction to the travelling environment, a driving task demand estimation unit configured to estimate a driving task demand which is an index required for the driver with respect to the driving readiness from the travelling environment, and an attention awakening unit configured to execute awakening of attention for the driver relating to the driving of the vehicle based on the result of comparison between the driving readiness and the driving task demand.

An image control unit of an image display device provides, on display screens of a display unit, a captured-image-only region in which only a captured image is displayed when the display unit displays the captured image, and multiple-image regions in which the captured image or a different image that is different from the captured image is selectively displayed when the display unit displays the captured image. In an embodiment, the image control unit fixes a position of the captured-image-only region on the display screens.