Jaguar Cars, TI, and Cranfield University have developed an advanced
Night Vision System (NVS) based on a Near Infra Red (NIR) digital
video camera (DSPCAM), and a head-up display (HUD). NVS enables
drivers to see objects in the dark that otherwise would not be
visible using normal headlights.
The first manufacturer to demonstrate the application of a night vision system in a road car, Jaguar was inspired by TI technology being used for vision enhancement in the aerospace sector. Commenting on the latest developments, Jaguar's NVS project leader Paul Mulvanny said, "Advanced vision sensors and processing techniques are taking a prominent role in future vehicle applications. These include collision avoidance, overtaking and reversing aids, lane departure warning, and night vision systems. These systems have in common the need for high-fidelity sensors and for real-time signal processing. Jaguar Cars, Texas Instruments, and Cranfield University are working in partnership to optimize sensor and DSP technologies for an NVS which will meet social, user, and business requirements."
The DSPCAM is mounted on the inside of the roof close to the sun visor, and detects the forward images which are illuminated by the NIR lamps. It then converts the invisible NIR images into an electronic signal which is manipulated and enhanced by the DSP before being fed to the HUD. The range of the camera/ sensor coupled with the NIR illuminator is far greater than that of standard dipped or full-beam headlights.
The DSPCAM is a monochrome digital video camera that employs the TI TC237 charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor, an array of photo detector cells which convert incident energy, focused by a lens, into electrical energy. The TC237 is a low-cost, high-resolution, 680 ´ 500 pixel image sensor with high sensitivity in the NIR region. For image processing, the DSPCAM uses the 'C25 DSP to analyze the image and compute the exposure so that the picture is always displayed in optimal viewing condition. Various image-analyzing algorithms can be programmed into the DSP to accomplish this task.
Depending on TI's TC237 CCD Area Image Sensor and the real-time, cost-effective capabilities of the TI TMS320C25 DSP, Jaguar's NVS has performed well in performance trials, making the transition from prototype to production status a realistic possibility by the year 2000.