With Camera Patents (Class 340/937)
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Patent number: 8610550Abstract: An in-vehicle device for displaying a plurality of screen data generated by a mobile terminal device on one display is provided. A registering unit is configured to register partial area information in which disposition information indicating disposition of each of a plurality of partial areas which are disposed on a display area of the display are associated with priority information indicating priority of each of the partial areas. A adjusting unit is configured to adjust the display area by allocating one of the screen data to one of the partial areas based on the priority information included in the partial area information when receiving a request to display the one of the screen data on the display. A display control unit is configured to display the one of the screen data allocated to the one of the partial areas on the display based on the disposition information included in the partial area information.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Fujitsu Ten LimitedInventors: Masayuki Hagiwara, Satoshi Ohta
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Patent number: 8599001Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a control and an imager having a lens and a CMOS photosensor array. The imager is disposed at an interior portion of a vehicle and views exterior of the vehicle through a windshield of the vehicle and forward of the vehicle. The control includes an image processor for processing image data captured by the photosensor array. The image processor processes captured image data to detect an object viewed by said imager. The photosensor array may be operable at a plurality of exposure periods that include a first exposure period and a second exposure period, with the time period of exposure of the first exposure period being longer than the time period of exposure of the second exposure period. The imager may be disposed in a module attached at the windshield of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Schofield, Mark L. Larson
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Patent number: 8593302Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle treatment installation with a drive-in area for a vehicle to be treated, a treatment gantry that can move along a drive-in direction, and at least one camera for creating an image of the drive-in area and vehicle. Such known vehicle treatment installations often fail and/or are maintenance-intensive. The task of providing an installation and also a method for its operation that simplifies, with simple means, the drive-in process into the correct treatment position for the driver of a vehicle to be treated is achieved by a display device that is visible to the driver of the vehicle during the drive-in process, and at least one mark. The subject matter of the invention is also a method for the operation of the vehicle treatment installation.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: WashTec Holding GmbHInventor: Robert Auer
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Patent number: 8586902Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to an outdoor lighting fixture that includes a ballast for controlling the amount of current provided to a lamp. The lighting fixture also includes a fixture housing at least partially surrounding the ballast and the lamp and a mounting system for holding the fixture housing to at least one of a wall and a pole. The lighting fixture yet further includes a camera coupled to the housing and a control circuit wired to the camera. The lighting fixture also includes a radio frequency transceiver wired to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to cause information from the camera to be wirelessly transmitted by the radio frequency transceiver.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.Inventor: Neal R. Verfuerth
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Patent number: 8587222Abstract: Saving energy includes at least one object sensor that is coupled to at least one light sensing if at least one object is present adjacent to the at least one light. If it is further determined that the time of day corresponds to a desired start-up time, the at least one light may then be illuminated by a control system.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLCInventor: Velayutham Kadal Amutham
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Method for distinguishing between reflectors arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights in the dark
Patent number: 8587456Abstract: A method and a device for distinguishing between reflectors arranged on the roadside and vehicle lights and for identifying said reflectors and vehicle lights for use in an automatic light control system in a vehicle with a camera sensor oriented towards the surroundings of the vehicle. The method includes recording a sequence of images of the surroundings of the vehicle. Light spots are found and subjected to temporal tracking within the sequence of images. Afterwards, for each light spot, a decision is made whether the light source of the light spot is a vehicle light or a reflector. A statistical map for the entire camera image is determined from the position of the light spots found with the statistical map comprising regions that are predominantly occupied by reflectors and regions that are predominantly occupied by vehicles driving ahead or by oncoming vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbHInventors: Michael Walter, Thomas Fechner -
Patent number: 8583329Abstract: Vehicle control system and method in which restrictions on travel of the vehicle are determined based on an indication of the visibility of a driver and information about objects moving in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle are considered. The travel restrictions include preventing a passing maneuver on a two-lane road when an oncoming vehicle precludes safely initiating or completing an already-initiated passing maneuver. A warning system is provided to warn a driver about the travel restrictions so that the driver will, hopefully, not attempt an unsafe maneuver.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLCInventor: David S. Breed
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Patent number: 8576069Abstract: Mobile monitoring systems and methods are disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a plurality of vehicles and a base communication station that are in communication with each other. Each of the vehicles includes a camera that generates image data, a location device that generates geographic coordinates of the vehicle, a computing device that receives the image data from the camera and the geographic coordinates of the vehicle and forms a processed image signal that includes the image data, the geographic coordinates and a time stamp, and a communication device that receives the processed image signal from the computing device and wireless transmits the processed image signal to the base communication station. The base communication station receives the processed image signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Siemens CorporationInventors: Tamer M. Nadeem, Michael T. Loiacono
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Publication number: 20130271297Abstract: An autonomous system for automated monitoring of traffic patterns on a designated surface including at least one mobile monitoring and recording module. The at least one mobile monitoring and recording module includes at least one support and stabilization section and an erector section, at least one autonomous source of energy, at least one energy storage device, and at least one control and information storage unit. The at least one support and stabilization section incorporates a transportation subsection arranged to provide mobility when coupled to a source of a mechanical force and at least one stabilizing subsection arranged to stabilize the at least one mobile monitoring and recording module in a stationary traffic monitoring position. The erector section includes an erector arranged to erect at least one speed measuring device, at least one traffic imaging device, and at least one illumination device at respective predetermined heiqhts above the designated surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Jacobo Marcos Sirota, Jose Patricio Tillard, David Keshvar Mostofi, Donald Mitchell Cornwell, JR., Miodrag Cekic
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Patent number: 8560164Abstract: A vehicle-based complex event processing (CEP) engine executes on a hardware computer processor in a vehicle. The CEP engine receives a first input stream onto which vehicle information related to the vehicle is published, and applies at least one query to the first input stream. The CEP engine then assesses, based on application of the query/queries, if a vehicle-related event has occurred and, if so, the CEP engine publishes an indication of occurrence of the vehicle-related event on at least one output stream of the CEP engine. In one example, the CEP engine may receive a second input stream onto which image information is published, wherein the image information is based at least in part on data provided by at least one on-board vehicle camera.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
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Patent number: 8547298Abstract: A method to display a graphic illustrating an operational environment of a vehicle includes monitoring informational inputs describing the operational environment of the vehicle, processing the informational inputs to determine critical information, monitoring location of the eyes of an operator of the vehicle, determining a registered graphic describing the critical information hidden from a view of the operator by a non-transparent component of the vehicle based upon the location of the eyes of the operator, and displaying the registered graphic describing the critical information hidden from the view of the operator upon the non-transparent component of the vehicle, the non-transparent component including a material reactive to display graphics in response to an excitation projector.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Joseph F. Szczerba, Thomas A. Seder, Dehua Cui
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Patent number: 8542129Abstract: A parking aid system is disclosed. The parking aid system includes: a parking space borderline recognition section configured to recognize two borderlines of the parking space based on a captured image, which is captured by an imaging device mounted to the vehicle, the two borderlines respectively being two parts of the parking space boundary opposite to each other in a width direction of the parking space; a displacement calculation section configured to calculate displacement of the vehicle in the width direction with respect to the two borderlines based on positions of the two borderlines in the captured image and an imaging range of the imaging device; and a notifier configured to notify the displacement calculated by the displacement calculation section.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2010Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Daisuke Taniguchi, Ryusuke Kawano
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Patent number: 8542131Abstract: A musical key fob vehicle locator is disclosed that provides the ability to locate one's vehicle audibly. The musical key fob vehicle locator provides a radiofrequency linked controller to a vehicle and contains a digital audio file system to play music, a song, a riff or other recorded music composed and performed by musicians using actual musical instruments to facilitate the recording. This approach provides a pleasant, personalized, and uniquely recognizable audio locator that reflects the taste, personality, and likes of the vehicle owner.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Inventor: Deborah Michelle Jahn
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Patent number: 8542096Abstract: An intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system may define a security zone or group of zones. The system may identify vehicles and individuals entering or exiting the zone through image recognition of the vehicle or individual as compared to prerecorded information stored in a database. The system may alert security personnel as to warrants or other information discovered pertaining to the recognized vehicle or individual resulting from a database search. The system may compare images of a suspect vehicle, such as an undercarriage image, to standard vehicle images stored in the database and alert security personnel as to potential vehicle overloading or foreign objects detected, such as potential bombs. The system may track individuals or vehicles within a zone or between zones. The system may further learn the standard times and locations of vehicles or individuals tracked by the system and alert security personnel upon deviation from standard activity.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Inventor: John C. Pederson
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Patent number: 8531281Abstract: A device and a method for detecting motor vehicles and their approach angles by passive or active transponders which are provided on the motor vehicles is described, which can be triggered by a transceiver device to transfer information stored in the transponders. It is recommended that on a motor vehicle at least two transponders are arranged with a restricted emission angle range and a different emission direction, and that information suitable for identifying the motor vehicle is stored in the transponders.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignees: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG, ADC Automotive Distance Controls Systems GmbHInventors: Ulrich Stählin, Jürgen Diebold, Wilfried Mehr
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Patent number: 8504293Abstract: A travel guiding apparatus, method, and program for a vehicle store map information and marker pattern identification information used to identify a marker pattern for each road type, wherein the marker pattern is a pattern of a marker included in a lane marking. The apparatus, method, and program determine a type of road on which the vehicle is traveling and detect the maker pattern on the road. The apparatus, method, and program again determine the type of the road based on the detected marker pattern and change the type of determined road from a road other than an expressway to an expressway, if the first detected type of road is a road other than an expressway and the type of road detected based on the marker pattern is an expressway.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Aisin AW Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tomoaki Ishikawa, Masaki Nakamura, Masao Maura
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Patent number: 8497783Abstract: The invention relates to the determination of direction, speed and/or distance of vehicles on a roadway by means of a sensor, which operates according to the light-section procedure and is directed onto the roadway, for recording the surface contour of a vehicle, and an evaluation unit, which is connected to the sensor and determines the direction, speed and/or distance of the vehicles therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Kapsch Trafficcom AGInventors: Alexander Leopold, Andreas Schechora, Oliver Nagy
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Patent number: 8493195Abstract: A method is used for detecting the environment of a vehicle and utilizes a number of sensors, the sensors having different detection ranges, and a transition of an object between two detection ranges is bridged by prediction by using a handover algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2007Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Wei-Chia Lee
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Patent number: 8493238Abstract: The invention relates to the detection of wheel axles of a vehicle on a roadway by means of a sensor, which operates according to the light-section procedure and emits at least one fan of light from a first location along the roadway to project a line of light onto the roadway and a vehicle possibly located thereon, and records this line of light from a second location along the same side of the roadway and detects a wheel axle as soon as the recorded line of light exhibits, in its course emanating from the said side of the roadway, a shift-free change in direction differing from its course when the roadway is empty.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Kapsch Trafficcom AGInventor: Oliver Nagy
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Patent number: 8494741Abstract: A vehicle control device performs a program including the step of obtaining a target point for movement based on information from a vehicle exterior camera, the step of obtaining a distance X to the target point, the step of resetting a distance counter, the step of causing the vehicle to enter accelerated running at set acceleration, the step of causing the vehicle to change from the accelerated running to constant-speed running when the distance counter reaches X, and the step of causing the vehicle to change from the constant-speed running to decelerated running when the distance counter reaches X.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideki Takamatsu
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Patent number: 8487787Abstract: A near-to-eye display allows an operator of a vehicle, such as a pilot of an aircraft, to see an obstacle on a conformal pathway, such as a runway or taxiway. The obstacle may be boundaries of the pathway or an object captured by an optional Infrared camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Carl A. Best, Frank Cupero
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Patent number: 8471729Abstract: A road-vehicle communication system enabling resumption of the transmission/reception from the rest of data between the vehicle and the road if the transmission/reception is interrupted. Specifically, the road-vehicle communication system includes a roadside apparatus for distributing a content and a vehicle-mounted device which can play a distributed content, the roadside apparatus is connected communicatively with the vehicle-mounted device, and a series of contents are distributed from the roadside apparatus to the vehicle-mounted device. The roadside apparatus includes a control unit for determining a content which the roadside apparatus starts transmitting to the vehicle-mounted device, which is a communication party, from among the series of contents and distributing the other contents succeeding the determined transmission start content. Thus, if the transmission/reception of data between the road and vehicle is interrupted, the transmission/reception can be resumed.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha KenwoodInventors: Kouji Kuga, Hideyuki Nagatomo
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Patent number: 8467932Abstract: A vehicle-based complex event processing (CEP) engine executes on at least one hardware computer processor in a first vehicle. The CEP engine receives a first input stream onto which vehicle information related to the first vehicle is published, and applies one or more queries to the first input stream to assess if a vehicle-related event has occurred. If it is determined that the vehicle-related event has occurred, the CEP engine publishes an indication of occurrence of the vehicle-related event on an output stream of the vehicle-based CEP engine, and transmits the indication of occurrence of the vehicle-related event from the first vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2010Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Certusview Technologies, LLCInventors: Steven Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
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Patent number: 8466806Abstract: An alert system for a vehicle includes a forward facing camera having a field of view that encompasses the road ahead of and traveled on by the equipped vehicle, and may include a radar detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road and/or an image-based detector having a field of view to the side of and rearward of the equipped vehicle as it travels along the road. The alert system determines a lane change into a side lane by the equipped vehicle and detects a vehicle in that side lane, and an alert is generated to the driver of the equipped vehicle. The alert may be generated irrespective of the status of a turn signal of the equipped vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2009Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: Donnelly CorporationInventor: Kenneth Schofield
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Publication number: 20130141253Abstract: A method for monitoring of traffic patterns and securely processing events of violations of traffic regulations on at least one designated surface incorporating steps of positioning at least one mobile traffic monitoring and recording module arranged to monitor traffic on at least one designated surface, to detect events of potential violations of traffic regulations, to store information pertinent to the monitored traffic and detected events of potential violations of traffic regulations, and to transmit, using a secure wireless method, at least a portion of the stored information for further processing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: SIGMA SPACE CORPORATIONInventors: Jacobo Marcos Sirota, David Keshvar Mostofi, Stephen John Kay, Mario Alberto Bohorquez
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Patent number: 8456327Abstract: An automatic vehicle equipment control system and methods thereof are provided, the system includes at least one imager configured to acquire a continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, a processor, a color spectral filter array including a plurality of color filters, at least a portion of which are different colors, and pixels of an imager pixel array being in optical communication with substantially one spectral color filter, and a lens, wherein the imager is configured to capture a non-saturated image of nearby oncoming headlamps and at least one of a diffuse lane marking and a distant tail lamp in one image frame of the continuous sequence of high dynamic range single frame images, and the system configured to detect at least one of said highway markings and said tail lamps, and quantify light from the oncoming headlamp from data in the one image frame.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Gentex CorporationInventors: Jon H. Bechtel, Jeremy C. Andrus, Gregory S. Bush, David J. Wright, Jim L. Schneider, Tom B. Sherman
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Patent number: 8451142Abstract: A meter-less remote parking monitoring system, incorporating a plurality of vehicle detector and Radio Frequency Identification Reader (RFID) units deployed in individual parking spaces; a plurality of Cellular Gateway Radios, each Cellular Gateway Radio being connected to one of said plurality of vehicle detector and Radio Frequency Identification Units; a Command and Control Server; the plurality of Cellular Gateway Radios being connected to said Command and Control Server via the internet.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Inventors: Eric Groft, Larry Berman
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Patent number: 8451331Abstract: A motor vehicle monitoring system comprises controller 100, processor 110, memory 120, wireless transceiver 200, audio recording device 300, video recording device 400, information storage device 500, vehicle tracking device 600, video display device 700, and stimulus sensing device 800.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Inventor: Christopher L. Hughes
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Patent number: 8446467Abstract: A combination speed-detection, video-recording, and timing device that can be hand-held. The device contains one or more speed detection means, including, but not limited to, a radar detection or laser detection device. The device includes a camera able to capture video in digital form, and a timing device, similar in function to a stopwatch. The device is pointed at the object whose speed is to be measured, or the events to be recorded, and can be operated by means of a trigger on a handle. The device may further include a display, along with display controls. Storage means is used to store the speed, video and timer data. The device may contain its own power supply, or may be externally powered.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Inventors: Scott K. Tilton, William Clifford Robinson, Jr.
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Patent number: 8446269Abstract: An object detection system for a vehicle comprising an infrared camera for gathering an image of at least a part of the surroundings of the vehicle; and a processor for applying an algorithm to at least a part of the image gathered by the camera, the algorithm identifying non-relevant hot or warm objects (5, 6, 7) detected by the camera and reducing the brightness and/or distinctiveness of the non-relevant objects (5, 6, 7) in the image; and a display for displaying the image to a driver of the vehicle, characterized in that the infrared camera forms an image in the far infrared; and the algorithm identifies non-relevant hot or warm objects (5, 6, 7) detected by the camera.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Mattias Hanqvist
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Patent number: 8433100Abstract: The lane mark recognition device is equipped with a lane mark detecting unit which executes a lane mark detection process in each predetermined control cycle, and adds a detection presence/absence data to a ring buffer, a detection presence/absence data addition inhibiting unit which inhibits addition of the detection presence/absence data to the ring buffer when the vehicle is traveling in the intersection, and a lane mark position recognizing unit which recognizes a relative position of the vehicle and the lane mark, when the lane mark is detected in the situation where a lane mark detection rate calculated from the data of the ring buffer is higher than a reliability threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takuma Nakamori, Tomoyoshi Aoki, Jun Tanaka, Sachio Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8433510Abstract: A system and method for the anticipated detection of a bend on a portion of road taken by a motor vehicle comprising the following steps: establishing, by means of a first system, called as the navigation system, a first set of information on the bend in question, the first set of information being associated with a first confidence index; establishing, by means of a second system, called as the image processing system, a second set of information on the bend in question, the second set of information being associated with a second confidence index; and establishing, from the first set of information and the second set of information and by taking into account the first confidence index and the second confidence index, a third set of information on the bend in question.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: Valeo VisionInventors: Benazouz Bradai, Anne Herbin, Michel Basset, Jean-Philippe Lauffenburger
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Patent number: 8416300Abstract: Embodiments described herein comprise a system and method for improving visibility of a roadway using an improved visibility system. The method comprising receiving data from a plurality of fog detectors located proximate a roadway and determining, based on the data from the plurality of fog detectors, that fog is present about the roadway. The method further comprising obtaining, after the determining that fog is present about the roadway, a plurality of images of the roadway by activating a plurality of cameras located proximate the roadway. The method further comprising creating a composite image by combining two or more of the plurality of images, wherein the composite image depicts the roadway unobstructed by fog and transmitting the composite image to a display device located in a vehicle traveling along the roadway.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Giuseppe Longobardi
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Patent number: 8411900Abstract: There is provided a road boundary detection/judgment device resistant to environmental change and capable of detecting even a road boundary demarcated by a three-dimensional object in the distance.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Inventors: Takuya Naka, Tatsuhiko Monji
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Patent number: 8410919Abstract: A driving support ECU comprises: a roadside object detection section for detecting, in a case where a lane marking WR on at least one of the right side and left side is detected by a white line detection section and another lane marking WL is not detected, a roadside object GL on the other of the right side and left side; a white line estimation part for estimating a position of a lane marking VL1 on the other of the right side and the left side based on the detected roadside object GL; and an information outputting section for determining a departure from the lane in which the vehicle VC is running, based on the estimated position of the lane marking VL1 on the other of the right side and left side.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroaki Kataoka
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Patent number: 8413039Abstract: A system for conducting inspections and generating reports comprising: a device equipped with a global positioning system, a camera and broadband wireless Internet access and on which is installed a client application that comprises an inspection form; a Web services layer; a server; and a browser for accessing a Web application. A field worker enters data into the inspection form, the client application creates one or more records based on the data entered by the field worker, and the Web services layer transmits the record(s) to the server in real time if Internet access is available. The Web application enables a user to view records in real time and create reports based on the records transmitted to the server. A method for conducting inspections and generating reports utilizing the system described above.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: IO Services, Inc.Inventor: Martin D. Casey
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Patent number: 8406943Abstract: A method of verifying clearance of a rail crossing includes: (a) detecting the presence of a train near the crossing, the train being equipped with a locomotive control unit; (b) in response to detection of the train near the crossing, generating a unique code; (c) capturing an image of the crossing; (d) transmitting the unique code along with the image to a remote operator control unit; (e) using the locomotive control unit, waiting for a response from the operator control unit containing the unique code; and (f) if the response containing the unique code is received by the locomotive control unit, permitting further operation of the train and, if the unique code is not received by the locomotive control unit, carrying out an automatic response which prevents movement of the train through the crossing.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2012Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Brand, Jared Klineman Cooper, Gregory Hrebek, Brian McManus
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Patent number: 8400329Abstract: According to one embodiment, an imaging unit inputs a camera image of surroundings of a vehicle. The surroundings include at least one of a front side and a back side of the vehicle. A first image generation unit generates a mask image to conceal a protection region of personal information included in a region of a first vehicle on the camera image. The first vehicle exists at the front side or the back side of the user's vehicle. A surroundings-monitoring unit decides whether a second vehicle exists at a front side or a back side of the first vehicle by monitoring the camera image. A second image generation unit generates an identification image of the second vehicle when the second vehicle exists. A processing unit generates a composite image by combining the mask image and the identification image with the camera image, and displays the composite image to present to a user of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Toshiba Alpine Automotive Technology CorporationInventor: Yusuke Kumagami
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Patent number: 8401715Abstract: Provided is a vehicle periphery monitoring device having: a first distance calculating unit (25) which calculates a distance between a vehicle (10) and an object, using a parallax gradient of image sections of the same object among a plurality of images captured by infrared cameras (2R, 2L) at different times within a predetermined sampling interval; a vehicular velocity sensor (4) which detects a vehicular velocity of the vehicle (10); and a sampling interval setting unit (23) which sets the sampling interval shorter with the increase of the vehicular velocity of the vehicle (10).Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Makoto Aimura, Nobuharu Nagaoka
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Patent number: 8395529Abstract: A substantially transparent windscreen head up display includes one of light emitting particles or microstructures over a predefined region of the windscreen permitting luminescent display while permitting vision through the windscreen. A method to display a graphic based upon a traffic infrastructure indication upon a substantially transparent windscreen head up display of a vehicle includes monitoring the traffic infrastructure indication, analyzing the traffic infrastructure indication, and displaying the graphic upon the transparent windscreen head up display based upon analyzing the traffic infrastructure indication.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Thomas A. Seder, Joseph F. Szczerba, Dehua Cui
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Patent number: 8391558Abstract: A method for determining at least one threshold value S for distinguishing, in the dark, between reflectors and vehicle lights that are recorded as light spots by a camera sensor oriented towards the surroundings of a vehicle. The camera sensor records a series of images of the surroundings of the vehicle. At least one light spot in the series of images is tracked. When the tracking of a light spot is completed, at least one parameter (for example the maximum intensity Imax of the light spot in the entire series of images, or the lifetime ? of the light spot) is determined from measured values, for example from the intensity of the light spot in each image. The threshold value S is then adapted to the determined parameter/s. The determined parameter value of the light spot is included in a frequency distribution of the parameter values from previously tracked light spots.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: ADC Automotive Distance Controls Systems GmbHInventors: Dieter Krökel, Thomas Fechner, Carlos Almeida, Christian Schaale
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Patent number: 8390476Abstract: An image recording apparatus suitable for recording a traffic signal violation at an intersection controlled by a traffic light is described. The image recording apparatus includes a first camera focused on the intersection, and a second camera focused on a first lane of a street leading to the intersection. A first control circuit is coupled to the first camera causes the first camera to capture a first image at substantially an instant of time that the traffic light indicates a change of traffic control status. The apparatus also includes a detection circuit to detect when a portion of a vehicle crosses a trigger location in the first lane after the change in traffic control status. A second control circuit coupled to the second camera causes the second camera to capture a close-up image of the vehicle in the event that the detection circuit detects the portion of the vehicle at the trigger location after a change in traffic control status.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Redflex Traffic Systems Pty LtdInventor: Roy William Lock
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Patent number: 8378805Abstract: An automatic signaling system for a vehicle having a turn signal light, includes a sensor configured for sensing at least a portion of a lane, and a processor coupled to the sensor, wherein the processor is configured to activate the turn signal light of the vehicle based at least on a signal received from the sensor. A method for activating a turn signal light of a vehicle includes sensing at least a portion of a lane in which the vehicle is traveling, and automatically activating a turn signal light of the vehicle based at least on the sensed portion of the lane.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Inventors: Anita Au, Gerald Chan
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Patent number: 8378851Abstract: A vehicle warning system that includes: a first camera mounted on the vehicle at a first longitudinal position along the length of the vehicle, which acquires consecutively in real time a plurality of first camera image frames; a second camera mounted on the vehicle at a second longitudinal position along the length of the vehicle, which acquires second camera image frames; and a processor configured to use information in both first and second camera image frames to determine whether there is a danger of a collision between the vehicle and an object shown in both the first and second camera images. The first and second longitudinal positions may be at different positions along the length of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Mobileye Technologies LimitedInventors: Gideon Stein, Amnon Shashua, Yoram Gdalyahu, Harel Livyatan
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Patent number: 8368559Abstract: A Network of Traffic Behavior-monitoring Unattended Ground Sensors (NeTBUGS) is configurable to detect the passing of vehicles, determine when and where individual vehicles have stopped for a period of time that raises suspicion of illegal or dangerous activity, track the vehicles after the stop and to generate a location-tagged alert for the timely dispatch of a response asset to investigate the anomalous behavior of the vehicle. NeTBUGS sensors are small, camouflaged, easily concealed, and operate for long durations independent of the electrical grid or large, obvious power generators and thus well suited for operation in a hostile environment.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Michael D. Pixley, Martt Harding
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Patent number: 8368761Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image correction method for a camera system, which minimizes the amount of data that must be stored by a camera system and which can conveniently correct mounting errors of cameras. In the image correction method for a camera system, image data about a reference ground, which is captured by a camera and on which at least one ground mark is indicated, is acquired. Coordinates of a captured ground mark are obtained based on the image data. A preset Look-Up Table (LUT) is corrected using errors between the coordinates of the captured ground mark and coordinates of a preset reference mark. The ground mark and the reference mark may respectively have four or more corresponding correction points.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventor: Wung Chul Chung
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Patent number: 8354926Abstract: The present invention is a method to ensure business processes are followed, comprising the steps of capturing sensory data from one or more sensors; storing the sensory data from the one or more sensors in a data storage device; processing the sensory data from the sensors to detect primitive events in the sensory data using a computer processor; correlating two or more primitive events, weighted by attribute data representing information about the sensors used to sense the primitive events, to determine one or more correlated events using the computer processor; and performing one or more actions to ensure business processes are followed based on the correlation performed in the correlating step.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2012Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: KD Secure LLCInventors: John J Donovan, Daniar Hussain
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Patent number: 8350684Abstract: A vehicle lane departure warning system and method are provided having a trailer mode. The system includes an imager capturing images of a roadway forward of a vehicle and an input receiving a towing signal indicative of whether the vehicle is towing a trailer. The system also includes a processor for processing the captured images and determining whether the vehicle or trailer is expected to be departing from a lane on the roadway based on the captured images and a threshold width value. The processor selects the threshold width value based on the input towing signal such that an enhanced threshold width value is employed when the vehicle is towing a trailer. An output is provided for outputting a lane departure warning signal based on the processed images and selected threshold width value.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Kirk E. McClure
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Patent number: 8350923Abstract: A mobile camera system is disclosed. The camera system connects plural camera apparatuses including at least first and second camera apparatuses mounted on a mobile body to one another and combines images photographed by the first and the second camera apparatuses, wherein reference data obtained by the first camera apparatus is transferred to the second camera apparatus via a camera control unit, signal processing is performed in the second camera apparatus on the basis of the reference data transferred to generate a corrected image, and an image from the first camera apparatus and the corrected image outputted from the second camera apparatus are combined to output a combined image.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2007Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Nobutaka Nakayama, Katsumi Katoh, Kazushi Hamada
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Patent number: 8344907Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for vehicle traffic flow data acquisition and reporting for onboard vehicle navigation. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for vehicle traffic flow data acquisition and reporting for onboard vehicle navigation can include acquiring imagery of multiple vehicles traveling on a roadway between two locations and individually identifying the different vehicles in the imagery. An elapsed time of travel can be determined for the individually identified vehicles between the two locations and a rate of travel can be computed for each of the individually identified different vehicles based upon the elapsed time of travel. Thereafter, the rate of travel for at least one of the individually identified different vehicles can be broadcast to a subscriber for at least one of the two locations.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2012Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: SRR Patent Holdings, LLCInventor: Leigh M. Rothschild