Active systems[edit]

Active systems use an infrared light source built into the car to illuminate the road ahead
with light that is invisible to humans. There are two kinds of active systems: gated and
non-gated. The gated system uses a pulsed light source and a synchronized camera
that enable long ranges (250m) and high performance in rain and snow.

Pros: higher resolution image, superior picture of inanimate objects, works better
in warmer conditions, smaller sensor can be mounted to rearview mirror.

Cons: does not work as well in fog or rain, lower contrast for animals, shorter
range of 150200 meters or 500650 feet

Mercedes-Benz[edit]

Night View Assist infrared projector visible next to Bi-Xenon HID main headlight, MercedesBenz S-Class (W221)

Night View Assist prototype was shown in 2003 on the Mercedes-Benz F500concept.
Series production Night View Assist system introduced in 2005 on the
redesignedMercedes-Benz S-Class (W221). It was the first system to use the instrument
cluster's LCD as a display.[5]
2009: Night View Assist Plus added a pedestrian detection function calling the revised
system on the redesigned Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W212) and refreshedS-class,
[6]
however, the E-class uses the navigation screen's display.
2011: Night View Assist Plus with Spotlight Function premiere: the Mercedes-Benz
CL-Class (C216) became the first series production car with night visionguided pedestrian spotlighting (HID version)[7] can flash at any pedestrians it detects in
order to warn both the driver and the pedestrians. The flashing light is directed in such a
way that vehicles in front and oncoming traffic are not dazzled. [8]
2013: Night View Assist Plus with animal detection on the W222 S-Class.[9]

Toyota[edit]

Night View system on the 2003 Lexus LX 470

In 2002 Toyota Night View was the first worldwide series production activeautomotive
night vision system, introduced on the Toyota Landcruiser Cygnus orLexus LX470. This
system uses the headlight projectors emitting near infrared light aimed like the car's
highbeam headlights and a CCD camera then captures that reflected radiation, this
signal is then processed by computer which produces a black-and-white image which is
projected on the lower section of the windshield. [10][11]
In February 2008 the Toyota Crown Hybrid added a feature which
highlightspedestrians[12] and presents them in a box on an LCD display in front of the
driver.[13] This was the first pedestrian detection feature for an active system.[14]
In 2009 Lexus Night View in Japan, on LS.
In 2012 Lexus introduced Night View worldwide, on LS[15] and GS. The Night View
system combines a windshield mounted near infra-red camera and near infra-red
projectors within the headlamps with a Night View ECU to display an image of the road
ahead on center console display screen. Moving the image from the drivers instrument
display to the center console offers drivers a larger display and an easier viewing angle.
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.[15][16] Discontinued for 2014 in US.[17]

Passive systems[edit]
Passive infrared systems do not use an infrared light source, instead they
capture thermal radiation already emitted by the objects, using a thermographic camera.

Pros: greater range of about 300 meters or 1,000 feet, higher contrast for living
objects[2]

Cons: grainy, lower resolution image, works poorly in warmer weather conditions,
larger sensor

Audi[edit]

Night Vision Assistant infrared camera visible on Audi A8 grill, right circle

Night Vision Assistant was introduced in 2010 on the Audi A8. It uses a thermal
imaging camera behind the four rings at the front of the car which can "see" 300 meters
(984 ft) ahead. The display in the instrument cluster highlights humans with yellow
markings. More importantly, the computer can determine if the person on the road
moves in a way that could lead to a collision with the car. In that case the pedestrian is
being marked in red color and the driver of the car receives an audible warning. [18]
2013 update added animal detection.[19] and Pedestrian Marker Lights: As soon as
a pedestrian is detected by the Night Vision Assistant in a critical range in front of the
vehicle, individual Matrix LEDs flash briefly 3 times in succession to alert that person,
who is then clearly visible to the driver.[20]

BMW[edit]
BMW Night Vision introduced in 2005 on the BMW 7 Series (E65). This system
processes far infrared radiation, which minimizes non-essential information placing a
greater emphasis on pedestrians and animals, allows for a range of 300 meters or nearly
1,000 feet, and avoids "dazzle" from headlights, road lights and similar intense light
sources.[21]
2008 update added pedestrian detection system on the redesigned BMW 7 Series
(F01), which flashes a caution symbol on the navigation/information screen
and automotive head-up display when it detects pedestrians.[22]
2013 update added Dynamic Light Spot.
2013 update added animal detection. 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. The Dynamic Light Spot is produced by a special headlight that directs the light
beam onto the recognised persons or animals respectively, thus drawing the drivers
attention to possible hazards in good time. 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.
In the event of an acute risk, an acoustic warning signal is also sounded and the brakes
are set to maximum standby. For the model year 2014, BMW 5-series will also have
these new features.

Cadillac[edit]
First worldwide series production automotive night vision on 2000 Cadillac Deville: Night
Vision, however it was discontinued in 2004.[23] This system was developed
with Raytheon and worked by using a passive infrared sensor camera mounted behind
the vehicle's grille. Infrared radiation is picked up by the sensor, processed by computer
and then displayed on the windshield using a head-up display. Information is displayed
as a black-and-white image with warmer objects in white, while cooler objects appear
black.[24][25][26] 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. [27]
Cadillac CT6 features Enhanced Night Vision.[28]

Honda[edit]
In 2004: Honda introduced first worldwide system with pedestrian detection on
redesigned Honda Legend: Intelligent Night Vision. It detected far infrared radiation.
The pedestrian detection feature alerted the driver with an audio warning and visually
enclosed the pedestrian in a box on the display which was presented via head-up

display.[29][30] 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.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled an auxiliary spotlight feature for its so-called Active Night
View Assist headlamps to provide what it describes as an enhanced level of pedestrian
safety.
Until now Active Night View Assist has used an infra-red camera to record ghostly video
of pedestrians within a pre-determined field ahead of the car and subsequently play it in
real time on a monitor within instrument binnacle - thus alerting the driver to a potential
safety hazard at night or in low light conditions.

The new feature, which is designed to work at speeds above 45kph, sets out to provide
not only the driver but also pedestrians with an enhanced warning by employing a
spotlight to illuminate the area where the camera detects their presence. The spotlight
feature relies on the existing infra-red camera mounted within the headlamp assembly to
detect pedestrians at distances of up to 80 metres and uses the main beam function of
the headlamps to light up the immediate area where they are detected. Depending on
the existing speed, pedestrians can be illuminated up to four times before the car
arrives.
A second camera mounted within the windscreen, where it also assists the functions for
Mercedes Speed Limit Assist and Lane Keeping Assist, records the position of other
cars and determines whether it is safe to illuminate the area where pedestrians are
detected. If the headlamps are set to dipped beam, the pedestrian is illuminated with the
spotlight function beyond the field of the dipped beam.

5. DISCUSSION
The scope of this study is to combine the present technologies available in
night vision system such as pedestrian detection, intelligent vision of
automobiles during night (IVAN) and True Colour Night Vision and to
display this information from the night vision system directly to the
windscreen rather than to a small centre console display. Head up display
is one of the prominent and simple techniques which are used for

windscreen display.
Head up display consists of small display unit that generates the image
which is being reflected on the windscreen using a partial reflecting film.
In present HUD no image is projected on the screen. Instead of projection
technology, the image formed on the display is reflected to generate an
image on the windscreen. But this kind of windscreen has its own draw
backs. It cannot be prominently visible during day time and also can't be
projected on a wider area of windscreen as the image is formed in a small
display unit which is being reflected.
The data provided by the IVAN and the pedestrian detection system when
combined with vehicle navigations and other information, it gets
congested and confusing for the driver when displayed on small screen.
IVAN and pedestrian detection system is used only during night time, so it
is well suited for windscreen projection since there is no background with
high intensity lights. Hence, the use of projection technology is been
adopted to use the windscreen itself as a projecting screen.
Windscreen projection uses holographic LASER projection technology. In
this technology high intensity light beams is used to display the
notification information on the windscreen. The colours like blue, red and
green has the capacity of being projected by itself on the windscreen. The
image projection unit can be mounted above the hood to provide
projection of the image at an angle of 120 degree. This setup provides the
light beam to fall at a critical angle which intern causes TOTAL INTERNAL
REFLECTION of light beam in the windscreen.