In this paper, we propose a method to detect a road sign from a road scene image in the daytime. In order to utilize color feature of sign efficiently, color distribution of sign is examined, and then color similarity map is constructed. Additionally, color similarity shown on the map is incorporated into image energy of an active net model. A road sign is extracted as if it is wrapped up in an active net. Some experimental results obtained by applying an active net to images are presented.

An integrated ambient light sensor (ALS) system in low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal-displays (TFT-LCDs) is proposed and prototyped in this study. It is designed as a 4-bit (16-step-grayscale) ALS and includes a noise subtraction circuit, a comparator as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), 4-bit counters, and a parallel-to-serial converter. LTPS lateral p-i-n diodes with a long i-region are employed as photodetectors in the system. An LSI source driver is mounted on the LCD panel with a sensor control block which provides programmable clocks and reference voltages to the ALS circuit on the glass substrate for sensitivity tuning. The reliability tests were conducted for 300 hours with 30000 lux illumination at 70 °C and at -20 °C. The observed deviations of the ALS values for dark, 1000 lux, and 10000 lux were within ±1.