Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110115615 | REAR-VIEW MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CAMERA SYSTEM - A rear-view camera system for a vehicle. The rear-view camera system includes a first camera positioned on a rear side of the vehicle. The first camera produces a first data set that includes image data corresponding to a first field of view. A second camera is positioned on the rear side of the vehicle spaced a horizontal distance from the first camera. The second camera produces a second data set that includes image data corresponding to a second field of view. The first field of view and the second field of view cover a space adjacent the rear side of the vehicle. An electronic control unit receives the first data set and the second data set and processes the first data set and the second data set to determine the presence of an object in the space adjacent the rear side of the vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to stitch the first data set and the second data set to produce a panoramic image that corresponds to the space adjacent the rear side of the vehicle. A human-machine interface includes a viewing screen positioned adjacent an operator of the vehicle, and the human-machine interface is configured to receive the panoramic image and display the panoramic image on the viewing screen. | 05-19-2011 |
20110251768 | VIDEO BASED INTELLIGENT VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM - A system for longitudinal and lateral control of a vehicle. The system includes a camera generating a plurality of images representative of a field of view in front of the vehicle, and a controller receiving the plurality of images. The controller detects an object in the plurality of images, extracts a plurality of features from the plurality of images, generates a reference feature depiction based on the plurality of features from one or more of the plurality of images, generates a comparison feature depiction based on the plurality of features from one of the plurality of images, compares the reference feature depiction and the comparison feature depiction, and determines a longitudinal position of the vehicle relative to the object based on differences between the reference feature depiction and the comparison feature depiction. | 10-13-2011 |
20120010797 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE ENGINE OF A VEHICLE - A system for controlling an engine of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one monitoring device mounted on the vehicle, a controller in electronic communication with the at least one monitoring device, and a computer readable memory storing instructions executed by the controller. The instructions cause the controller to determine a current driving path of the vehicle based on data received from the at least one monitoring device, to detect a traffic congestion ahead of the vehicle in the current driving path based on data received from the at least one monitoring device, and to determine an alternative driving path of the vehicle based on data received from the at least one monitoring device. The instructions further cause the controller to calculate, using a first statistical model, a first probability that the traffic congestion will not move within a defined time period, and to stop the engine before the vehicle comes to a full stop when the first probability is greater than a first threshold. | 01-12-2012 |
20120092497 | DUAL-SIDED DISPLAY FOR VEHICLE REAR-VIEWING SYSTEM - A display system for a vehicle including a dual-sided display panel pivotably mounted to the interior ceiling of the vehicle. The dual-sided display panel displays an image from a media device to a rear-seat passenger of the vehicle and displays a different image to the driver on a second side of the display panel. The second side of the display panel is viewable by a driver of the vehicle through a rear-view mirror. A user-operated switch indicates what video source is displayed to the driver on the second side of the display panel. A first selectable video source is a camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle to capture rear-view images of the exterior behind the vehicle. A second selectable video source is a camera mounted in the rear passenger area of the vehicle to capture images of a rear-seat passenger. | 04-19-2012 |
20120162797 | ADJUSTABLE REAR-VIEWING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - A system for adjusting one or more mirror in a vehicle based on an estimated location of the driver's head in both a vertical and horizontal plane. A controller receives a linear position signal indicating a linear position of an adjustable driver's seat and an angular position signal indicating an angular position of the back-rest of the driver's seat. The controller calculates an estimated location of the driver's head in both the vertical and horizontal plane based at least in part on the linear position and angular position. The controller then changes the orientation of at least one of the three mirrors of the vehicle based on an intersection of the estimated location of the driver's head in the vertical and horizontal planes. | 06-28-2012 |
20120268646 | MULTIPLE BAND IMAGER AND METHOD - Apparatus for imaging a scene, comprising a focusing structure for focusing light emanating from a scene on an imaging subsystem, and an imaging subsystem. The imaging subsystem includes an imager, disposed within the optical path of the focusing structure, having an array of pixels sensitive to light at frequencies higher than far infrared frequencies, and a frequency shifter disposed between the lens element and the imager. The frequency shifter includes an array of frequency-shifting elements disposed over a subset of the array of pixels, the elements shifting the far infrared frequencies from the focused light to higher frequencies and transmitting the resulting signals to the subset of the array of pixels. | 10-25-2012 |
20130226390 | HITCH ALIGNMENT ASSISTANCE - A system for assisting a driver in aligning a trailer hitch of a vehicle with a trailer coupling of a trailer. The system includes a camera system with a field of view behind the vehicle. A controller analyzes image data from the camera system and detects a first target affixed to the trailer coupling. The first target is of a known size and dimensions. The controller determines the location of the trailer coupling relative to the trailer hitch based on the image data and the known size and dimensions of the trailer coupling marker. The controller then determines a path of travel from the current position of the vehicle to a second position where the trailer hitch will be positioned within a predetermined threshold distance from the trailer coupling. | 08-29-2013 |
20130253796 | MULTI-SURFACE MODEL-BASED TRACKING - Systems and methods for detecting a vehicle. One system includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive images from a camera mounted on a first vehicle, identify a surface of a second vehicle located around the first vehicle based on the images, and generate a three-dimensional model associated with the second vehicle. The model includes a first plane and a second plane approximately perpendicular to the first plane. The first plane of the model is associated with the identified surface of the second vehicle. The controller is further configured to track a position of the second vehicle using the three-dimensional model after the identified surface falls at least partially outside of a field-of-view of the at least one camera. | 09-26-2013 |
20140118484 | REAR-VIEW MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CAMERA SYSTEM WITH PANORAMIC IMAGE DISPLAY FEATURES - A rear-viewing camera system for a vehicle is described. The rear-viewing system includes a first camera, a second camera, an electronic control unit, and a display. The electronic control unit receives a first image data set from the first camera and a second image data set from the second camera. The electronic control unit then produces a panoramic image based on the first image data set and the second image data set and displays the panoramic image on the display. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118485 | REAR-VIEW MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CAMERA SYSTEM WITH THREE-DIMENSIONAL DATA ANALYSIS FEATURES - A rear-viewing camera system for a vehicle is described. The rear-viewing system includes a first camera and a second camera. The first and second cameras are positioned with partially overlapping fields of view. An electronic control unit is configured to receive image data from the cameras and generated three-dimensional data for the overlapping portion of the fields of view. The electronic control unit then analyzes the movement of vehicles within the overlapping field of view based on the three-dimensional data. Movement of vehicles in the non-overlapping fields of view is analyzed based on two-dimensional image data from either the first camera or the second camera. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118486 | REAR-VIEW MULTI-FUNCTIONAL CAMERA SYSTEM WITH DRIVING CORRIDOR MONITORING FEATURES - A rear-viewing camera system for a vehicle is described that includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to identify a driving corridor in image data received from at least one camera. The driving corridor corresponds to a predicted path of motion of the vehicle travelling in reverse. When a moving object is detected in the image data, the electronic control unit predicts, based on the image data, whether the moving object will enter the driving corridor. If the moving object is predicted to enter the driving corridor, the electronic control unit calculates an estimated time when the object is predicted to enter the driving corridor. | 05-01-2014 |