Vehicular Patents (Class 348/148)
  • Patent number: 11823539
    Abstract: A video data collection and sharing platform is provided capable of detecting high-priority events and communicating alerts to users. A high-priority event is captured by a video capturing device with one or more sensor modules, including one or more video cameras for recording video footage. A network connection is established and input from one or more sensor modules is received. The input includes image data from the one or more video cameras. An input from the one or more sensor modules is analyzed to determine a potential high-priority event. Upon determining a potential high-priority event, conditions of the network connection are measured and an amount of data to be transmitted to a remote server through the network connection is determined based, at least in part, on the measured conditions of the network connection. The determined amount of data is then transmitted to the remote server. The transmitted data includes at least part of the image data from the one or more video cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Hodge, Nathan Ackerman, Benjamin Griffin Petroski
  • Patent number: 11821177
    Abstract: An example wear detection system receives a left image and a right image of a bucket of a work machine having at least one ground engaging tool (GET). The example system identifies a first region of interest from the left image corresponding to the GET and a second region of interest from the right image corresponding to the GET. The example system also generates a left-edge digital image corresponding to the first region of interest and a right-edge digital image corresponding to the second region of interest. Further, the example system determines a sparse stereo disparity between the left-edge digital image and the right-edge digital image, and also determines a wear level or loss for the at least one GET based on the sparse stereo disparity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A Mianzo, Tod A Oblak, John M Plouzek, Shawn Nainan Mathew, Raymond Alan Wise
  • Patent number: 11820300
    Abstract: This image generation device is provided with: an image acquisition unit that acquires a rear-side image of the rear side of a vehicle; and an image generation unit. When the rear-side image includes an overlapped portion where an image region, in which an auxiliary line for assisting in the backward driving of the vehicle is overlaid, overlaps an image region in which a specific target is positioned, the image generation unit generates, in at least the overlapped portion, an image in which the auxiliary line is not overlaid or is overlaid in a semi-transparent state; and when the rear-side image does not include the overlapped portion, the image generation unit generates an image in which the auxiliary line is overlaid on the rear-side image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11820452
    Abstract: A bicycle safety enhancement device includes an elongated member having a distal portion mountable to a bicycle handlebar. A proximity sensor is coupled to a proximal portion of the elongated member and is arranged so that when the elongated member is mounted to a handlebar of a bicycle being ridden by a cyclist, the ultrasonic sensor detects objects adjacent to and/or behind the bicycle and which come within a prescribed distance of the bicycle. An illumination source is coupled to the proximal portion of the elongated member. The illumination source provides a visible warning signal directed toward the detected object when the elongated member is mounted to the handlebar of the bicycle. A camera is coupled to the proximal portion of the elongated member and is arranged to capture images of the detected object as the detected object passes in front of the bicycle being ridden by the cyclist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Daniel Latt, Rachel J. Sinclair, Tyler J. Mills, Ricardo Padilla Vera, Bridget Slomka, Daniel Taylor, Gavin S. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11815598
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein include an anti-collision and motion monitoring system includes light detection and ranging (LiDAR) systems configured to detect locations of objects in an environment. The anti-collision and motion monitoring system also includes camera systems configured to capture images of the objects in the environment that are detected by the LiDAR systems. The anti-collision and motion monitoring system further includes processing circuitry configured to coordinate operation of the LiDAR systems and the camera systems, to receive inputs from the LiDAR systems and the camera systems relating to the objects in the environment, to process the inputs received from the LiDAR systems and the camera systems to determine outputs relating to monitoring, control, and alerting relating to the objects in the environment, and to communicate the outputs to a central coordinator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew James Pratt, Monil Dinesh Morar, Mark Alan Foresman
  • Patent number: 11813987
    Abstract: A vehicular trailer hitching assist system includes a rear backup camera disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle and a control disposed in the vehicle. A display device includes a video display screen operable to display video images for viewing by a driver of the vehicle. Responsive to the driver initiating a hitching maneuver event by engaging reverse gear of the vehicle, rear backup video images derived from image data captured by the rear backup camera are displayed at the video display screen. An overlay overlays the displayed rear backup video images and aids in guiding connection of a trailer hitch of the equipped vehicle to a trailer tongue of a trailer. Continued display of rear backup video images that are overlaid by the overlay is ceased upon elapse of a threshold period of time or upon exceeding a threshold speed or upon exceeding a threshold distance traveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Lee Karner, Kenneth Schofield, Niall R. Lynam
  • Patent number: 11813985
    Abstract: A collision avoidance assembly for reducing collisions with a semitrailer includes a rear and side facing alert modules, which are mountable to a semitrailer, and a control module, which is mountable in a cab of a semitruck engaged to the semitrailer. Each alert module comprises a sensor, a camera, and a speaker. The sensors detect and the cameras image an approaching vehicle. The speaker and the control module provide audible alerts to a driver of the approaching vehicle and an operator of the semitrailer, respectively, so as to facilitate collision avoidance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Bradley Enno
  • Patent number: 11813997
    Abstract: An airbag deployment apparatus includes: an active sensor detecting information of a collision object to a vehicle; a pressure sensor detecting pressure applied to the vehicle during a collision of the vehicle; an inertia sensor detecting acceleration of the vehicle; a first collision determination part determining whether a vehicle collision occurs or not by information of the active sensor; a second collision determination part additionally determining whether a vehicle collision occurs or not by information of the pressure sensor and a result of the first collision determination part; a third collision determination part additionally determining whether a vehicle collision occurs or not by information of the inertia sensor and results of the first and second collision determination parts; and an airbag deployment determination part determining whether an airbag is deployed or not by a result of the third collision determination part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Choong Ryung Lee
  • Patent number: 11816787
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for representing an environmental region of a motor vehicle in an image, in which real images of the environmental region are captured by a plurality of real cameras of the motor vehicle and the image is generated from these real images, which at least partially represents the environmental region, wherein the image is represented from a perspective of a virtual camera arranged in the environmental region, and the image is generated as a bowl shape, wherein at least one virtual elongated distance marker is represented in the image, by which a distance to the motor vehicle is symbolized in the virtual bowl shape. The invention also relates to a computer program product and a display system for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Connaught Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Huanqing Guo, Fergal O'Malley, Guenter Bauer, Felix Ruhl
  • Patent number: 11813951
    Abstract: An automated charging system for an electric vehicle is disclosed that includes a plug with a built-in camera assembly. The camera assembly captures images of a charging port of the electric vehicle, which are processed by one or more processors to estimate the location of the charging port relative to the plug. A control system generates signals for one or more actuators to move the plug relative to the charging port, thereby inserting the plug into the charging port to connect a power supply to the electric vehicle. The images may be processed via an image recognition algorithm and/or one or more machine learning algorithms. In an embodiment, the images are processed by a neural network to estimate the location of the charging port relative to the plug. The plug can also include a tapered structure to make fine adjustments to the position or orientation of the plug during connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Matthew Hetrich, Gregory A. Cole
  • Patent number: 11813988
    Abstract: A display image is obtained by superimposing an image showing a vehicle on a captured image obtained by capturing an image on a rear side from the vehicle. For example, the image showing the vehicle is a computer graphics image. For example, a change is made in a superimposed positional relationship between the captured image and the image showing the vehicle in accordance with motion of a viewpoint of a driver. Since the display image is not only made from the captured image obtained by capturing an image on a rear side from the vehicle, but the display image is obtained by superimposing the image showing the vehicle on the captured image, it is possible to easily provide a sense of distance by motion parallax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nagata, Takashi Saitoh, Koji Aoyama, Kazuki Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11807299
    Abstract: There is provided a display device for a vehicle, the display device including: a display unit that is visible to an occupant of a vehicle; a memory; and a processor that is connected to the memory, the processor changing a content image displayed on the display unit so as to be displayed in the same direction as a direction in which a travel path of the vehicle curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Hirota, Koji Aikawa, Shigeto Muramatu
  • Patent number: 11807265
    Abstract: In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes determining a first set of data acquisition characteristics of a first sensor of an autonomous driving vehicle. The method also includes determining a second set of data acquisition characteristics of a second sensor of the autonomous driving vehicle. The method further includes synchronizing a first data acquisition time of the first sensor and a second data acquisition time of the second sensor, based on the first set of data acquisition characteristics and the second set of data acquisition characteristics. The first sensor obtains first sensor data at the first data acquisition time. The second sensor obtains second sensor data at the second data acquisition time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignees: BAIDU USA LLC, BAIDU.COM TIMES TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuai Wang, Manjiang Zhang, Yaoming Shen, Lingchang Li, Shuangcheng Guo
  • Patent number: 11807574
    Abstract: A trim element for a motor vehicle that includes at least one glass sheet having an absorption coefficient lower than 5 m?1 in the wavelength range from 1051 nm to 1650 nm and having an external and an internal faces. An infrared-based remote sensing device in the wavelength range from 1051 nm to 1650 nm is placed behind the internal face of the glass sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: AGC GLASS EUROPE
    Inventors: Thomas Lambricht, Yannick Sartenaer, Quentin Fraselle, Nicolas Chorine, Maxime Collignon
  • Patent number: 11808429
    Abstract: An assembly of a lamp and a camera for an automobile, the assembly including: a light source configured to emit light forward; a camera provided on one side of the light source and configured to capture an external image; a lens unit provided in front of the light source and the camera; and a light blocking member which is provided to surround an outer side of a camera lens provided in the camera and which is configured to block at least a portion of light emitted from the light source. The light blocking member is provided in close contact with the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myeong Je Kim, Jung Sub Lim, Han Seong Yu
  • Patent number: 11807235
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to speed control in an autonomous vehicle. For example, an autonomous vehicle may include a user interface which allows the driver to input speed preferences. These preferences may include the maximum speed above the speed limit the user would like the autonomous vehicle to drive when other vehicles are present and driving above or below certain speeds. The other vehicles may be in adjacent or the same lane the vehicle, and need not be in front of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: David I. Ferguson, Dmitri A. Dolgov
  • Patent number: 11809053
    Abstract: An electrical color control film includes: an underlying layer located on a metal plate; a first transparent conductive layer located on the underlying layer; an electrochromic layer located on the first transparent conductive layer; and a second transparent conductive layer located on the EC layer. The EC layer is configured in such a manner that color of the EC layer is controlled by electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Murai, Shinji Tani
  • Patent number: 11803235
    Abstract: A display controlling device includes a position detecting unit for detecting a position of the head of a driver and a position of an eye of the driver; a region adjusting unit for adjusting the position of a region, to be displayed on a display, in an outside image, depending on the detection result by the position detecting unit; and a display controlling unit for displaying, on the display, a region corresponding to the region of the position adjusted by the region adjusting unit. When there is a change in the position of the head so as to move in both the vertical direction in the crosswise direction of the vehicle, the region adjusting unit prevents adjustment of the position of the region to a position corresponding to the change, in the vertical direction, of the position of the eye, and adjusts the position of the region to a position corresponding to a change in the position of the eye in the crosswise direction and/or the front/rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Clarion Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshige Furugori
  • Patent number: 11801846
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first sensor for acquiring image data of a rear side, a second sensor for acquiring gaze data of a user, a display for outputting a screen of the image data, an input device for setting a sensitivity to a movement of a user gaze, and a controller for determining reference vector data based on the gaze data at a point in time at which the gaze data starts to be acquired or the gaze data that is preset, for outputting a control signal to output a screen of the image data corresponding to the reference vector data, for acquiring result data including relative position data and relative velocity data of gaze movement data with respect to the reference vector data, and for controlling a signal to output a screen of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Myoungwon Lee, Hyeon Seok Hwang
  • Patent number: 11804129
    Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to detecting stalking of an individual who is traveling in a connected vehicle. In an example method, a first individual traveling in a first connected vehicle may enter into a personal device (a smartphone, for example), a request to perform a surveillance operation. The personal device may respond to the request by communicating with a cloud computer. The personal device and/or the cloud computer may obtain data from a vehicle computer of the first connected vehicle and/or from a vehicle computer of a second connected vehicle and evaluate the data to detect a travel pattern of a second individual traveling in either the first connected vehicle or the second connected vehicle. The travel pattern of the second individual is then evaluated to determine whether the second individual is stalking the first individual. A report of the surveillance procedure may be provided to the first individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Nithya Somanath
  • Patent number: 11801791
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving a video feed from a trailer control module disposed in a vehicle trailer are described. One method includes aggregating a trailer front view, a trailer rear view, a trailer left view, and a trailer right view into an aggregated birds-eye view at a first control module disposed on the trailer, and sending the aggregated view to a vehicle towing the trailer via a single auxiliary video channel integrated into a trailer hitch wiring harness. The method further includes receiving the feed of the birds-eye view at the second control module disposed in the vehicle via the single auxiliary camera input channel, and displaying the trailer birds-eye view video feed at an output display disposed in a cabin of the towing vehicle. The birds-eye view may be output on a split screen in conjunction with a rear-view of the trailer, obtained from a vehicle camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Schondorf, Aaron Bresky, Ali Nizar Yassine, Matthew Flis
  • Patent number: 11801894
    Abstract: A method for determining an orientation of a trailer, the trailer being configured to be coupled to a towing vehicle, includes detecting a relation of movements of at least two wheels of the trailer, upon moving the trailer, with at least one sensor arranged at the trailer for detecting a respective state of the at least two wheels. The method further includes calculating an orientation of a coupling device of the trailer based on the relation of the at least two wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Schreibmueller, Mauro Cesar Zanella, David Nieto Lara, Guilherme Lima
  • Patent number: 11801838
    Abstract: A vehicle control device performs first control for causing a vehicle to perform lane change to a fourth lane adjacent to a third lane by causing the vehicle to pass through an area between a first other vehicle and a second other vehicle in a traveling direction and an area between a third other vehicle and a fourth other vehicle in the traveling direction, when it is determined that a relationship between the first other vehicle and the vehicle satisfies a first condition, a relationship between the second other vehicle and the vehicle satisfies a second condition stricter than the first condition, a relationship between the third other vehicle and the vehicle satisfies a third condition stricter than the first condition, and a relationship between the fourth other vehicle and the vehicle satisfies a fourth condition stricter than the second condition and the third condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kaijiang Yu
  • Patent number: 11801795
    Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a camera housing, a lens assembly having a lens, an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB), and a heating device. The imager PCB is disposed at the camera housing and the lens is aligned with an imager disposed at the imager PCB. The heating device is disposed at at least a portion of the lens assembly and includes an electrically connecting portion having electrical contacts at an end thereof, with the electrical contacts disposed at an inner surface of the camera housing. The heating device is electrically connected to circuitry of the vehicular camera via electrical connectors that electrically connect with the electrical contacts of the electrically connecting portion of the heating device at the camera housing as the vehicular camera is assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Sauer, Rene Dreiocker, Steven V. Byrne, Jonathan D. Conger
  • Patent number: 11794765
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for receiving proximity characteristics at a nomadic device, the proximity characteristics including mapped obstruction data identifying locations of one or more obstructions of an area surrounding a vehicle; calculating at last one unobstructed pose orientations for establishing a secure connection between the nomadic device and the vehicle based on the proximity characteristics, the unobstructed pose orientation determined at least in part on the mapped obstruction data; and displaying the unobstructed pose orientation on the nomadic device within an array of augmented reality pose orientations on the nomadic device. In some embodiments, the systems and methods include displaying an interactive overlay as a direction to a user of the nomadic device, the interactive overlay coaching the user to locate to the at least one unobstructive pose orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Nelson, Hemanth Yadav Aradhyula, Erick Michael Lavoie, Ryan Joseph Gorski
  • Patent number: 11794655
    Abstract: A vehicle information display device 100 includes: an environment determination unit (115) that predicts an occurrence of a backward movement of a vehicle based on an output from an environment information acquisition unit, an image processing unit (121) that receives an image captured by a camera and generates an image to be displayed on a display screen, and a display switching unit that switches a display of a monitor screen provided in a vehicle in accordance with a traveling status of the vehicle. When the environment determination unit (115) predicts an occurrence of a backward movement, the image processing unit (121) starts image processing for the backward movement in advance, and When the user performs the backward movement operation, the output image from the image processing unit is displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Hamano
  • Patent number: 11794680
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an underbody camera disposed at an underside of a body of a vehicle and viewing a ground surface under the body of the vehicle and being traveled on by the vehicle. The underbody camera captures image data as the vehicle is moving, An illumination source, when operated to emit light, emits near infrared light illuminating the ground surface under the body of the vehicle. An electronic control unit (ECU) is disposed at the vehicle and includes an image processor that processes image data captured by the underbody camera. The underbody camera views at least forward towards a front portion of the underside of the body of the vehicle. The vehicular vision system, via processing at the ECU of image data captured by the underbody camera, determines presence of an object forward of the underbody camera and having height greater than a threshold height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore J. Church, Clarence P. McElroy, Timothy M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 11796999
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a self-driving vehicle are presented. The system comprises a camera, a processor, a communications transceiver, a computer-readable medium, and a display device. The processor can be configured to receive an image of a self-driving vehicle from the camera, and vehicle information from the self-driving vehicle. A graphic comprising the image of the self-driving vehicle and a visual representation of the vehicle information is then displayed on the display device. The vehicle information may comprise any or all of vehicle-status information, vehicle-mission information, vehicle-metric information, and vehicle-environment information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CLEARPATH ROBOTICS INC.
    Inventors: Anthony William Tod, Ryan Christopher Gariepy
  • Patent number: 11794770
    Abstract: The disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods for evaluating a driving environment of a vehicle for hearing impairment conditions, detecting a request related to hearing impairment conditions, activating an accessibility mode in response to the request based on the hearing impairment condition, the accessibility mode providing sensory aids in response to the hearing impairment conditions, and altering vehicle motion to enable driver attention to the driving environment. The detecting the request related to hearing impairment conditions includes receiving a driver request for accessibility, a predetermined setting implementing a driver profile indicating a request for accessibility, and an alert from a drivers assisted technology system using artificial intelligence (AI) that the driving environment has hearing impairment conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Noha Ghannam, Clara Bennie, Cheri Hansen
  • Patent number: 11800085
    Abstract: A mounting device for selectively positioning an optical element within a field-of-view of an optical sensor of a vehicle includes: a housing defining an opening sized to fit over an aperture of the optical sensor; a holder for the optical element connected to the housing and positioned such that, when the holder is in a first position, the optical element is at least partially within the field-of-view of the optical sensor; and a motorized actuator. The motorized actuator can be configured to move the holder to adjust the position of the optical element relative to the field-of-view of the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Argo AI, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. McMenamin, Jr., Timothy S. Riggs, Jack Work
  • Patent number: 11800050
    Abstract: A rearview display system is provided for a vehicle having: a rear camera generating a rearward video stream, a right-side camera generating a right-side stream, and a left-side camera generating a left-side stream. The system includes a processing circuit for generating a composite video stream from: (a) the rearward stream and the right-side stream, (b) the rearward stream and the left-side stream, and (c) at least the rearward stream. When the composite stream is formed from the rearward stream and the right-side stream, the rearward stream extends across the whole composite stream with the exception of a right corner where the right-side stream is superimposed over the rearward stream. When the composite stream is formed from the rearward stream and the left-side stream, the rearward stream extends across the whole composite stream with the exception of a left corner where the left-side stream is superimposed over the rearward stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: GENTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark A VanVuuren, Leah R. Hoffmeyer, Ethan J. Lee
  • Patent number: 11800222
    Abstract: A vehicular camera system includes a camera module disposed at a vehicle that captures image data. The camera module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having an imager disposed thereat that includes an imaging array having at least one million photosensors arranged in rows and columns. The camera module includes a lens aligned with the imager. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) with electronic circuitry and associated software. With the camera module disposed at the vehicle, and responsive to images imaged at the imager not being focused, the vehicular camera system adjusts position of the imager relative to the PCB to bring images imaged at the imager into focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Evan T. Hulscher
  • Patent number: 11794654
    Abstract: An electronic mirror system includes, a camera which can be attached to a side of an automobile and which is able to image a moving image diagonally behind the automobile; and a monitor apparatus which can be attached in the passenger compartment of the automobile and which can display the moving image imaged by the camera. The monitor apparatus includes a movable portion which can move the display which displays the moving image with relation to a wall to where the monitor apparatus is attached in the passenger compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Ozawa, Takayoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 11794778
    Abstract: A system and method include a control unit configured to detect a presence of a vehicle within a route area based on sensor signals output by an observer device that monitors the route area. The control unit is configured to determine a distance of the vehicle from the observer device and to determine a vehicle location of the vehicle based on the distance and a predetermined location of the observer device. The system and method include a communication device configured to communicate the vehicle location to at least one of the vehicle or a remote control device that is off-board the vehicle prior to the vehicle starting to move along a route occupied by the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Ryan Staats, Joseph Gorman, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Stuart J. Barr
  • Patent number: 11794580
    Abstract: A display device displays a host vehicle and other vehicles running in driving lanes together with the driving lanes on an information display screen. When the other vehicles are present at a far region at a front side in a direction of vehicle advance outside a display range of the screen, the display device displays marks showing that the other vehicles are present at a far region at a front side in a direction of vehicle advance outside a display range of the screen at fixed positions of the driving lanes displayed on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hironori Ito, Takeshi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11787342
    Abstract: A vehicular driver monitoring system includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and viewing at least a head region of a driver of the vehicle. Image data captured by the camera is provided to an electronic control unit (ECU) and is processed at the ECU for determining attentiveness of the driver. The vehicular driver monitoring system, responsive to selection by the driver of a video-conference function, initiates a video conference telecommunication whereby video image data derived from the provided captured image data is wirelessly communicated to an external receiver that is located remote from the vehicle for viewing by another person communicating with the driver of the vehicle via the external receiver. Communication data generated at the external receiver is wirelessly communicated to the vehicular driver monitoring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Solar
  • Patent number: 11790539
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for sensing or tracking relative position between objects or locations. A digital camera or imager captures one or more fiducials in its field of view. By calibration and processing, the imaged fiducials can be identified and distinguished from other objects and background in camera space, and position of imaged fiducials in camera space relative to a reference can be translated to position of the actual fiducials in physical space. In one example, the fiducials are IR LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ag Leader Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Trenton Anagnostopoulos
  • Patent number: 11787290
    Abstract: A system includes a camera aimed externally to a vehicle, a window of the vehicle, a projector positioned to project on the window, and a computer communicatively coupled to the camera and the projector. The computer is programmed to, upon receiving data from the camera indicating a first person outside the vehicle, instruct the projector to project an image on the window depicting a second person inside the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Hussein H. Berry
  • Patent number: 11787386
    Abstract: A driving support device that controls a steering unit such that a hitch angle between a tow vehicle, which tows a towed vehicle, and the towed vehicle becomes a target angle set as a target includes: an image control unit that causes a display unit to perform display of a captured image obtained by an imaging unit provided in the tow vehicle or the towed vehicle in a mirror image state and display of a setting image including a slider indicating the target angle input through an input unit; an acquisition unit that acquires input of the target angle at the time of backward movement of the tow vehicle from the input unit, in a state where the setting image is displayed; and a setting unit that sets the target angle based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Watanabe, Tetsuya Maruoka, Kinji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11787340
    Abstract: A sideview mirror assembly for a vehicle can comprise a body including a sideview mirror housing. The sideview mirror assembly can include a camera located in the body about the sideview mirror housing. The camera can have a field-of-view including an above-horizontal region directed rearward toward an overhead target position past the sideview mirror housing. The camera can be mounted for movement relative to the body between a normal position, in which the sideview mirror housing intersects the camera and the overhead target position in the above-horizontal region, and an extended position, in which the sideview mirror housing does not intersect the camera and the overhead target position in the above-horizontal region. Movement of the camera from the normal position to the extended position can unblock camera visibility of the overhead target position by the sideview mirror housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice P. Silva, Nicholas E. Merkel
  • Patent number: 11787432
    Abstract: When a vehicle is parked while the position of a power-receiving unit with respect to a power-transmitting unit is adjusted, an ECU in a parking assistance apparatus implements first assistance control if it is determined that the power-receiving unit is within a first range and implements second assistance control for controlling the vehicle such that a displacement of the vehicle per unit time is less than that during the first assistance control if it is determined that the power-receiving unit is within a second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoya Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 11789454
    Abstract: A movable carrier auxiliary system includes an environmental detecting device, a control device, a state detecting device, and an automatically parking device. The environmental detecting device includes an image capturing module and an operation module. A parking controlling method thereof includes capture an environmental image around a movable carrier with the image capturing module; analyze whether the environmental image has a parking space with the operation module; detect a movement state of the movable carrier with the state detecting device; control the control device with the automatically parking device based on an analysis result of the operation module and the movement state of the movable carrier, thereby to move the movable carrier to the parking space, improving a convenience and a safety when parking the movable carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: ABILITY OPTO-ELECTRO NICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeong-Ming Chang, Chien-Hsun Lai, Yao-Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 11787334
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver assistance (DA) system and method for vehicle flank safety. This system and method also have utility in autonomous driving (AD) applications. The system and method optionally pair one or more cameras with one or more proximity sensors to provide free space awareness and contact avoidance related to the flank of a vehicle, providing a virtual distance grid overlay on one or more camera views available to an operator, predefined safety boundary intrusion detection under low-speed maneuvering conditions, door-open obstruction and danger detection, and a flank illumination system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Sihao Ding, Andreas Wallin, Megha Maheshwari
  • Patent number: 11785082
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a CI replication service that can replicate domain data from IDCS control plane to data plane and to all subscribed regions of a domain. For instance, the CI replication service can provide replication of required resources of a domain for AuthN and AuthZ from an IDCS local region to other regions for high availability (e.g., to improve latency). The CI replication service can replicate the resources from a domain's home region to all subscribed regions for local availability of data for workloads running in those regions. Further, when a new region is subscribed for a domain, then the service can bootstrap that domain's data from home region before enabling that region for the domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arsalan Ahmad, Pradyumna Reddy Vajja, Ashwin Kumar Vajantri, Nikhil Yograj Vaishnavi, Girish Yashawant Mande, Girish Nagaraja, Gregg Alan Wilson
  • Patent number: 11783507
    Abstract: A camera calibration includes; a camera configured to acquire a first forward image from a first viewpoint and a second forward image from a second viewpoint; an event trigger module configured to determine whether to perform camera calibration; a motion estimation module configured to acquire information related to motion of a host vehicle; a three-dimensional reconstruction module configured to acquire three-dimensional coordinate values based on the first forward image and the second forward image; and a parameter estimation module configured to estimate an external parameter of the camera based on the three-dimensional coordinate values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Jaewoo Lee, Sangjun Lee, Wonju Lee
  • Patent number: 11780435
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reverse assist method for a vehicle, comprising: transforming an i-th image in a reversing direction acquired by a camera unit at time Ti into an i-th top plan view, wherein i?1; generating an i-th result image based on the i-th top plan view, wherein when i is greater than 1, the i-th top plan view and an intermediate image are spliced to generate an i-th result image; outputting the i-th result image; and wherein the intermediate image is a view transformed from an image of an outside environment in the reversing direction acquired at a time earlier than Ti, and the intermediate image is updated according to a predetermined condition during reversing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Black Sesame Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Wenxue Li
  • Patent number: 11780371
    Abstract: A method for automatically panning a view for a commercial vehicle includes determining a plurality of estimated trailer angles. Each estimated trailer angle is determined using a distinct estimation method, and method assigns a confidence value to each estimated trailer angle in the plurality of estimated trailer angles. The method determines a weighted sum of the plurality of estimate trailer angles, and automatically pans the view based at least in part on the weighted sum and a current vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Stoneridge, Inc.
    Inventors: Utkarsh Sharma, Liang Ma, Troy Otis Cooprider
  • Patent number: 11785177
    Abstract: A record-and-replay control device includes a video data acquiring unit, an event detecting unit, a replay control unit, an event detection direction acquiring unit, a recording control unit, and a display control unit. The video data acquiring unit is configured to acquire video data from an imaging unit to capture an image of outside of a vehicle. The event detecting unit is configured to detect an event of the vehicle. The event detection direction acquiring unit is configured to acquire an event detection direction of the vehicle. The recording control unit is configured to store video data caused by the detected event as event recording data with a first angle of view. The replay control unit is configured to replay the event recording data. The display control unit is configured to display the event recording data by adopting a second angle of view with enlargement in the event detection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Taniyama, Yasutoshi Sakai, Keita Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11782264
    Abstract: The systems and methods provided herein are directed to a flight motion simulator. The target axes are replaced by a system of Risley pairs. Light is projected to the unit under testing at a range of angles by rotating elements within the Risley pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Joshua K Lentz
  • Patent number: 11780361
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical systems, vehicles, and methods that are configured to illuminate and image a wide field of view of an environment. An example optical system includes a camera having an optical axis and an outer lens element disposed along the optical axis. The optical system also includes a plurality of illumination modules, each of which includes at least one light-emitter device configured to emit light along a respective emission axis and a secondary optical element optically coupled to the at least one light-emitter device. The secondary optical element is configured to provide a light emission pattern having an azimuthal angle extent of at least 170 degrees so as to illuminate a portion of an environment of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventor: Giulia Guidi