Method of controlling sensitivity of imaging unit on vehicle and its circumference monitoring apparatus for applying the method

摘要

A sensitivity control method is provided to control sensitivity of a CCD camera installed in an owner's vehicle. The information about the owner's vehicle and the circumferential information are collected on the basis of a picture taken by the CCD camera. The circumferential information includes both brightness of the circumference and lighting condition of the circumferential vehicle. The information about the owner's vehicle also includes the lighting condition of the owner's vehicle. Further, by considering both of the circumferential information and the owner's vehicle information overall, an appropriate sensitivity is calculated for the CCD camera. <IMAGE>