Lexus Night View System

System Outline

- A LEXUS night view system uses night view projectors and a night view camera to capture an image of a field of vision farther than the forward field of vision visible to the driver at night. Then, it displays the image at the bottom of the front windshield to supplement the driver's vision.
- While infrared rays in general cannot be seen by the naked eye, near-infrared rays are characterized by their ability to become reflected by objects. This system uses night view projectors that emit near-infrared rays in front of the vehicle in the same distance as the high-beam headlights. Then, a night view camera receives the reflected rays and converts them into image data. Due to the properties of the near-infrared rays that cause them to become reflected by objects, this system can capture a natural image of the objects in front of the vehicle. Because near-infrared rays are also included in the light that is emitted by the headlights, the night view camera also captures the resulting reflected rays.
- The two night view projectors are mounted on the front bumper, and the night view camera is mounted above the front windshield.
- The night view display, located above the instrument panel at the driver side, displays the image, which was captured by the night view camera, at the bottom area of the driver side of the front windshield.
- The operation of this system is permitted only when the ignition switch is ON, the headlights are ON, and the light control sensor of the automatic light control system has determined that the surroundings of the vehicle has become dark. The system activates when the driver turns ON the night view switch under these conditions.