Patent ID: 8908029
Filing Date: 2014-12-09
Classification: B60Q,B60R,G06K

Abstract:
1. In a motor vehicle including a camera system that is oriented with respect to a region ahead of the motor vehicle to record a sequence of images, a processor unit for data processing of image data, and a memory unit for storage of image data, a method for predictive classification of a future vehicle environment of the motor vehicle comprises: recording a sequence of images using the camera system; determining a change of brightness per time and/or distance unit in a first image detail that is arranged in a central image region of an image; recognizing, independent of a roadway sign, at least one object in another region of the image separate from the central image region; and classifying an environment ahead of the vehicle by using the change of brightness to detect that the environment ahead of the vehicle is different than a current environment of the vehicle and by using the at least one recognized object to classify the environment ahead of the vehicle as being one of a plurality of environments known to the processor unit.