Automotive night vision

An automotive night vision system uses a thermographic camera to increase a driver's perception and seeing distance in darkness or poor weather beyond the reach of the vehicle's headlights.

[2] The automotive night vision system is a combination of NVDs such as infrared cameras, GPS, Lidar, and Radar, among others to sense and detect objects.

The gated system uses a pulsed light source and a synchronized camera that enable long ranges (250m) and high performance in rain and snow.

During night-time operations, police officers with range gated near infrared cameras can read license plates at a distance of up to 1.2 km.

[14][15] In February 2008 the Toyota Crown Hybrid added a feature which highlights pedestrians[16] and presents them in a box on an LCD display in front of the driver.

With the camera constantly in operation and the near infra-red projectors activating at speeds over 10 MPH to enhance system efficiency, night view will display an area up to 65 feet in front of the vehicle.

The system provides a real-time video image that also depicts on the Control Display persons, animals and other objects emitting heat when they are outside of the light beam and warns in the event of an impending collision.

As soon as the remote infrared detects pedestrians or larger animals on course for collision in the dark, the system directs two separately controlled Dynamic Light Spots at them without creating an unpleasant glare.

[27] This system was developed with Raytheon and worked by using a passive infrared sensor camera mounted behind the vehicle's grille.

[28][29][30] Because this system outputs a standard NTSC composite video signal and the used parts are somewhat easy and inexpensive to find, it has become a popular choice for fitting thermal night vision to other vehicles.

[33][34] The night vision system uses a separate heads up type display projected on the center bottom of the windshield.

The infrared cameras do not require a light source, and the software is able to detect human like figures, surround the image with a red box and give audible caution tones.

[citation needed] A digital instrument cluster shows the driver the area around the car in infrared, with a yellow line around any sources of potential danger.